Social Psychology – Modules Social Psychology – Modules 53-5553-55

How we How we thinkthink about, about, influenceinfluence and and relate relate to othersto others

Attribution TheoryAttribution Theory How people explain someone’s behaviorHow people explain someone’s behavior Behavior is attributed either to Behavior is attributed either to

dispositiondisposition or or situationssituations Disposition – Disposition – Internal factors – Internal factors –

Personality traitsPersonality traits Situations – Situations –

External factors -External factors -

EnvironmentEnvironment Ex. A hostile studentEx. A hostile student

Fundamental Attribution Error -Fundamental Attribution Error -

People have a tendency to default to People have a tendency to default to what “kind” of a person someone is what “kind” of a person someone is rather than rather than the environmentrather than rather than the environment

***Tend to favor disposition over ***Tend to favor disposition over situationsituation

Ex. “Rude” waitress Ex. “Rude” waitress

talking backtalking back Ex. Quiet student in classEx. Quiet student in class Ex. Poverty/UnemploymentEx. Poverty/Unemployment

The Foot in the Door The Foot in the Door PhenomenonPhenomenon A tendency for people who agree to a A tendency for people who agree to a

small request to comply later with a small request to comply later with a larger one – larger one – Ex. Army Recruitment Ex. Army Recruitment CentersCenters

Attitudes are also affected by role Attitudes are also affected by role playingplaying

Cognitive Dissonance Cognitive Dissonance TheoryTheory People are motivated to have consistent People are motivated to have consistent

attitudes and behaviorsattitudes and behaviors People often change their attitudes to People often change their attitudes to

bring them into agreement with their bring them into agreement with their actionsactions

Individuals experience tension when Individuals experience tension when thoughts and actions don’t coincidethoughts and actions don’t coincide

Social InfluenceSocial Influence Conformity, ComplianceConformity, Compliance and and Group Group

BehaviorBehavior can illustrate the enormous can illustrate the enormous power of social influence on our attitudes, power of social influence on our attitudes, beliefs, decisions and actionsbeliefs, decisions and actions

Advertisers and salespeople use principles Advertisers and salespeople use principles of social influence to sway our decisions to of social influence to sway our decisions to buy, vote, donate, etc.buy, vote, donate, etc.

ConformityConformity Adjusting our thinking or behavior to bring it Adjusting our thinking or behavior to bring it

in line with some group standards Why in line with some group standards Why conform?conform?

Suggestibility can have devastating resultsSuggestibility can have devastating results Ex. Following the death of Marilyn Monroe, Ex. Following the death of Marilyn Monroe,

suicides in U.S. spiked by more than 200suicides in U.S. spiked by more than 200 Ex. In Germany and the U.S., suicide rates Ex. In Germany and the U.S., suicide rates

escalate following fictional suicides on Soap escalate following fictional suicides on Soap OperasOperas

Reasons for ConformingReasons for Conforming Why do we clap when others clap? Eat Why do we clap when others clap? Eat

as others eat? Wear what others wear? as others eat? Wear what others wear? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxB-H6f3crY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxB-H6f3crY

We are sensitive to We are sensitive to Social NormsSocial Norms – – understood rules for accepted and understood rules for accepted and expected behavior because of the expected behavior because of the potential price for being differentpotential price for being different

We seek to avoid rejection and strive We seek to avoid rejection and strive to gain social approvalto gain social approval

Ex. Marco Lokar – Seton Hall Basketball Ex. Marco Lokar – Seton Hall Basketball Player - 1991Player - 1991

ObedienceObedience

People often People often comply with social comply with social pressures – How pressures – How do they respond to do they respond to outright outright commands?commands?

Milgram Study – Milgram Study – Nazi Germany – “ I Nazi Germany – “ I was only following was only following orders”orders”

Behavior in the presence of others Behavior in the presence of others --

Social Social Facilitation – Facilitation – Performance is Performance is often stronger in often stronger in the presence of the presence of othersothers

***Opposite can ***Opposite can also be truealso be true

Social loafingSocial loafing

Group Pressure and Conformity - Solomon Asch Group Pressure and Conformity - Solomon Asch – Suggestibility test - – Suggestibility test - http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=TYIh4MkcfJAv=TYIh4MkcfJA Conformity is strengthened when:Conformity is strengthened when: We are made to feel insecure or incompetentWe are made to feel insecure or incompetent The group has at least three peopleThe group has at least three people The group is unanimousThe group is unanimous We admire the group’s status and We admire the group’s status and

attractivenessattractiveness We have made no prior commitment to a We have made no prior commitment to a

responseresponse Others in the group observe our behaviorOthers in the group observe our behavior Our culture strongly encourages respect for Our culture strongly encourages respect for

social standardssocial standards

Group PolarizationGroup Polarization The tendency of a group to make The tendency of a group to make

more extreme decisions than the more extreme decisions than the group members would make group members would make individuallyindividually

***In a group setting there is ***In a group setting there is Diffusion of ResponsibilityDiffusion of Responsibility

Ex. Ex. In 1,500 cases where judges sat In 1,500 cases where judges sat alone they took an extreme course of alone they took an extreme course of action only 30% of the time. However action only 30% of the time. However when sitting in a group of 3 this when sitting in a group of 3 this figure more than doubled to 65% figure more than doubled to 65%

Group ThinkGroup Think Coined by Irving Coined by Irving

JanisJanis Groups often make Groups often make

poor decisions poor decisions when too little when too little conflict exists conflict exists within the groupwithin the group

Flaws of a plan are Flaws of a plan are often overlooked to often overlooked to avoid “rocking the avoid “rocking the boat”boat”

Group Think - continuedGroup Think - continued

Occurs when members of the group are Occurs when members of the group are more concerned with preserving solidarity more concerned with preserving solidarity than objectively evaluating all the than objectively evaluating all the alternativesalternatives

Symptoms associated with Group Symptoms associated with Group Think:Think:

Close-mindednessClose-mindedness RationalizationRationalization Ignoring dissentIgnoring dissent Feelings of invulnerabilityFeelings of invulnerability

Minority InfluenceMinority Influence

A minority in the A minority in the group that group that unswervingly holds unswervingly holds to its position is far to its position is far more successful in more successful in swaying the swaying the majority than the majority than the minority that minority that waffleswaffles

Ex.Ex. Members of a Members of a juryjury

Social RelationsSocial Relations

Aggression –Aggression – Any physical or Any physical or verbal behavior intended to verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy, whether done hurt or destroy, whether done out of hostility or as a out of hostility or as a calculated means to an endcalculated means to an end

Ex. An assertive, persistent Ex. An assertive, persistent salesperson is salesperson is notnot aggressive aggressive

A dentist who makes you feel A dentist who makes you feel pain is pain is notnot aggressive aggressive

Cyber bully…aggressiveCyber bully…aggressive

The Biology of AggressionThe Biology of Aggression

There are three There are three levels of levels of physiological physiological influences – influences – Genetic,Genetic, Neural,Neural, and and BiochemicalBiochemical

Twins independently Twins independently admitted to having admitted to having a “violent temper”a “violent temper”

““Vicious Mice”Vicious Mice”

Finnish Psychologist Kirsti Finnish Psychologist Kirsti LagerspetzLagerspetz

Bred aggressive and more passive Bred aggressive and more passive mice for 25 generationsmice for 25 generations

Neural InfluencesNeural Influences AP Exam Review…AP Exam Review… Animal and Human Animal and Human

brains have neural brains have neural systems that, systems that, when stimulated, when stimulated, produce produce aggressive aggressive behavior. Which behavior. Which portions of the portions of the brain?brain?

Biochemical InfluencesBiochemical Influences Hormones and other substances in Hormones and other substances in

the blood influence the neural the blood influence the neural systems that activate and inhibit systems that activate and inhibit aggressionaggression

A raging bull will become gentle A raging bull will become gentle when testosterone levels are reduced when testosterone levels are reduced – vice versa– vice versa

Biochemical Influences – cont’dBiochemical Influences – cont’d

Violent Criminals tend to be Violent Criminals tend to be muscular, young males with lower muscular, young males with lower than average intelligence scores and than average intelligence scores and higher than average testosterone higher than average testosterone levelslevels

High testosterone levels correlate High testosterone levels correlate with delinquency, hard drug use and with delinquency, hard drug use and aggressive behavior – these effects aggressive behavior – these effects are also intensified by alcoholare also intensified by alcohol

Frustration-Aggression PrincipleFrustration-Aggression Principle Frustration causes Frustration causes

anger, which often anger, which often generates generates aggressionaggression

Aggressive behavior Aggressive behavior can be learned can be learned through direct through direct rewards – children rewards – children who grow up who grow up observing observing aggressive models aggressive models often imitate the often imitate the behaviors that they behaviors that they seesee

Tidbits about AggressionTidbits about Aggression

Watching violence on Watching violence on TV does correlate TV does correlate with violence in real with violence in real lifelife

Over the last 3 plus Over the last 3 plus decades, America’s decades, America’s known rape rate has known rape rate has tripled – Unreported tripled – Unreported rapes greatly rapes greatly outnumber those outnumber those reportedreported

Aggression Tidbits – cont’dAggression Tidbits – cont’d

Correlational studies show that in times Correlational studies show that in times and places where sexual materials are and places where sexual materials are freely available, rates of sexual violence freely available, rates of sexual violence are higherare higher

Hawaii – Number of reported rapes rose Hawaii – Number of reported rapes rose almost 900% between 1964-1974, almost 900% between 1964-1974, dropped when pornography restraints dropped when pornography restraints were temporarily imposed, then rose were temporarily imposed, then rose again when the restraints were liftedagain when the restraints were lifted

Exceptions to every rule - JapanExceptions to every rule - Japan

Lab ExperimentLab Experiment One group viewed sexually explicit films for One group viewed sexually explicit films for

six weeks – A second group viewed non-six weeks – A second group viewed non-erotic films during the same spanerotic films during the same span

Three weeks later, both groups viewed a Three weeks later, both groups viewed a newspaper report about a man convicted, newspaper report about a man convicted, but not yet sentenced for raping a hitchhikerbut not yet sentenced for raping a hitchhiker

When asked to suggest a prison term, those When asked to suggest a prison term, those who viewed the sexually explicit films who viewed the sexually explicit films recommended sentences half as long as the recommended sentences half as long as the other groupother group

The Bystander Effect – “The Genovese The Bystander Effect – “The Genovese Syndrome”Syndrome”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPnK0NCn_MQ v=zPnK0NCn_MQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=N26pYx0rgWIv=N26pYx0rgWI 1964 – Queens, NY – Kitty 1964 – Queens, NY – Kitty

Genovese was stabbed and Genovese was stabbed and raped around 3:30AMraped around 3:30AM

38 people reported either 38 people reported either seeing or hearing the incidentseeing or hearing the incident

Attacked fled, and returned to Attacked fled, and returned to stab her 8 more timesstab her 8 more times

30 minutes later, someone 30 minutes later, someone finally called for helpfinally called for help

Bystander Effect – cont’dBystander Effect – cont’d Three steps are important in helping:Three steps are important in helping: The incident must be noticedThe incident must be noticed The incident must be interpreted as an The incident must be interpreted as an

emergencyemergency The bystander must assume responsibility for The bystander must assume responsibility for

helpinghelping ***When people think that it is their sole ***When people think that it is their sole

responsibility to help, they are more likely to responsibility to help, they are more likely to do so. Opposite is true due to do so. Opposite is true due to Diffusion of Diffusion of ResponsibilityResponsibility

Odds of Helping are best when…Odds of Helping are best when… We have just observed someone else We have just observed someone else

being helpfulbeing helpful We are not in a hurryWe are not in a hurry The victim appears to need, and deserve The victim appears to need, and deserve

helphelp We are, in some way, similar to the victimWe are, in some way, similar to the victim We are in a small town, or rural areaWe are in a small town, or rural area We feel guiltyWe feel guilty We are focused on others, and not We are focused on others, and not

preoccupiedpreoccupied We are in a good moodWe are in a good mood

The Psychology of HelpingThe Psychology of Helping

Social Exchange Theory –Social Exchange Theory – If the If the anticipated rewards of helping anticipated rewards of helping exceed the anticipated costs…you exceed the anticipated costs…you helphelp

The Psychology of Helping – cont’dThe Psychology of Helping – cont’d Social NormsSocial Norms also influence helping also influence helping The The Reciprocity NormReciprocity Norm teaches us that teaches us that

we should return help, not harm, to we should return help, not harm, to othersothers

AttractionAttraction What factors predict whether two people will What factors predict whether two people will

become close friends or romantically involved?become close friends or romantically involved? Proximity – Proximity – Before friendships develop, they Before friendships develop, they

must begin – Geographic Nearness is perhaps must begin – Geographic Nearness is perhaps the most powerful predictor of friendshipthe most powerful predictor of friendship

Studies reveal people are most likely to marry Studies reveal people are most likely to marry those from same neighborhood, office, parking those from same neighborhood, office, parking lot, etc.lot, etc.

Part of the Part of the Mere Exposure Effect – Mere Exposure Effect – Repeated Repeated Exposure to stimuli increases our likelihood of Exposure to stimuli increases our likelihood of liking themliking them

Attraction – cont’dAttraction – cont’d

Physical Attractiveness – Physical Attractiveness – What What most impacts your first impressions?most impacts your first impressions?

Intelligence?Intelligence? Personality?Personality? Sincerity?Sincerity? Hundreds of studies indicated it is Hundreds of studies indicated it is

much more superficial…much more superficial…AppearanceAppearance http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=kS_jdcV5QsM&feature=relatedv=kS_jdcV5QsM&feature=related

Attraction – cont’dAttraction – cont’d Attractive people are perceived as Attractive people are perceived as

happier, more sensitive, more happier, more sensitive, more successful, and more socially skilledsuccessful, and more socially skilled

However… they are often viewed as However… they are often viewed as less honest, and less compassionateless honest, and less compassionate

Do you love someone because they are Do you love someone because they are beautiful, or is the person beautiful beautiful, or is the person beautiful because you love them?because you love them?

Attraction – cont’dAttraction – cont’d

Similarity – Similarity – Do opposites attract?Do opposites attract? Not usually…we tend to like things Not usually…we tend to like things

or people that are like usor people that are like us http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=GLeKEr5JCFM&feature=relatedv=GLeKEr5JCFM&feature=related Friends and couples are not usually Friends and couples are not usually

paired with people unless they share paired with people unless they share common attitudes, beliefs or common attitudes, beliefs or interestsinterests

Attraction – cont’dAttraction – cont’d

Romantic Love – Romantic Love – Two types of loveTwo types of love Temporary Passionate Love –Temporary Passionate Love –

Key ingredient is arousalKey ingredient is arousal Companionate Love –Companionate Love – More More

enduring, based on equity and enduring, based on equity and trust. Vital ingredient is trust. Vital ingredient is self-self-disclosure disclosure – revealing intimate – revealing intimate details about yourselfdetails about yourself