JOURNALS

EE YUN SHAN

0319990

9.00am-11.00am MONDAY

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY30203)

FNBE

JOURNAL 1

Chapter 1

Entry 1：

Social Loafing

The definition of Social loafing is the phenomenon of people exerting less effort to achieve

a goal when they work in a group than when they work alone. In 1883 Max Ringelmann

conducted a study from which he concluded that an individual’s performance actually gets

worse in the presence of others. This appears to be a direct contradiction to Social

Facilitation, but can be explained by the differing circumstances in which it occurs. In

particular, when we are working in a group, it can be easier to conceal laziness when

working in a group of people who are working together. Therefore, individual effort will be

ignore by others because others will see the work or project as a group work. So that the

people will not work as hard as they can and will become selfish.

For an example, my tutor was giving me a project to build a model of town last time. Our

group have seven members, but some of them did not help anything or just perfunctory to

the work. They think that the work already have another person to do on it and will

complete in time. They will gets the same marks as others when submit the project. This

situation make them appeared their selfishness and laziness. But in another way, when they

are doing their individual assignment or work, they will concentrated and hard-working on

it to get a higher marks or grade. I feel so angry and unfair to it because when we work as a

group everyone should carry on the part that allocation to them so that we can complete the

project faster, more excellent and more efficient. The group work project will not drag

others by their selfish and lazy.

In conclusion, the social loafing is not good to our partners or group members. It might

affect to the result of work and giving a bad image to others that work with us.

JOURNAL 2

Chapter 2

Entry 1：

Self-Serving Biases

The definition of self-serving bias is people's tendency to attribute positive events to their

own character but attribute negative events to external factors. It's a common type of

cognitive bias that has been extensively studied in social psychology. When the bad things

was occurs, we will straight forward to blame on others and when the good things was

occurs we will feel that all the achievement is done by ourselves. We make external

attributions for negative outcomes and make internal attributions for positive outcomes.

We will become not responsibility to our false or even shirk the false to others. Essentially,

we tend to believe that our successes are due to internal traits and talents, while our failures

are caused by variables outside of our control.

For an example, when I was seventeen years old I am taking examination of mid-year test.

I get a poor result, I fail half of the subject. When my mother was asking me what was

happening to my result, I just explain that our teachers did not teach us properly when

having class and the question of text was so tricky and difficult. But in the SPM, my result

was great, I tell my mother that I was so clever and hard-working when taking the

examination. The questions was so hard but I still can have an excellent result. This

situation make me more understand about the self-serving attribution. We always blame on

others when a negative things happens and recognize all the positive things is done by

ourselves.

In conclusion, self-serving bias is a self-deception and not responsibility action. We have to

understand our false when a negative events happened and praise others when the good

things were happened that the achievement is not just done by ourselves.

JOURNAL 3

Chapter 3

Entry 1：

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

The definition of self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes

itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback

between belief and behaviour. The prediction of others will cause it come true. If a person

thinks we are clever or stupid or whatever, they will treat us that way. If we are treated as if

we are clever, stupid or whatever, we will act, and even become, this way. The person has

thus had their prophecy about us fulfilled. This is also known as the Pygmalion effect.

Example like when others predict that you is a bad guy and they treats you as a bad guy,

slowly u will agree and belief their prediction and further you will behave like a bad guy

and be a real bad guy.

For an example, last year I have a friend name Mandy. The first impression that she gave

me is a very pretty girl. But, when I know her everyone is saying she is a very lazy girl

because she always does not submit her assignment or homework in time. So that,

everyone is ignore her and treat her like a lazy girl as well. From the start I think that this

situation is a bias because she is a sickly girl, she always absent to school due to her

healthy problems. After that , when we be friend more longer time, I found that she always

absent class is not be like before. She just simply skip school day, does not submit the

assignment that giving by teachers or even did not present when we have a group meeting

to do a group project together. Now, she become a lazy girl as they said. The self-fulfilling

was occurs she become the lazy girl when others think her and treats her like a stupid girl.

In conclusion, that is very important effect that others think about us. We will make the

things come true accidentally. If the image or treatment is in a positive ways that will

encourage us and it can make us improve ourselves. Do not simply gossip about others, it

will effects other life easily.

JOURNAL 4

Chapter 4

Entry 1：

Confirmation bias

The definition of confirmation bias is a tendency to search for or interpret information in a

way that confirms one's preconceptions, leading to statistical errors. Confirmation bias is a

filter through which you see a reality that matches your expectations. It causes you to think

selectively, but the real trouble begins when confirmation bias distorts your active pursuit

of facts. We will try to find out some evidence to prove what we think as well, no matter

the things or person is a negative or positive. We will also selective filtering the opposition

and just belief what we think even though others are telling that the imagination of us is

nonsense or fantasy. We will also try our best to find out the real or false evidence

sometimes and not easily give up.

For an example, last time my friend was selling a product. It was a pyramid direct sell. The

product is just a substitute substance to cover the real. I did not realise that this kind of

product will make us rich though this marketing approach. I realise that is only a liar

technique to gain money. I start to go their propaganda programme and start to research

this company. Some of my other friends also joining this company, they has instilled me

that direct sell also a very good ways to gain a big number of money. Although they gains a

lot of money. I still try to find out that the company is a deceptive company. At the end

until now I still belief that what I realise is true and I never accept the positive image of this

company whether all my friend that joining the company were telling me that they have

some achievement due to tis company and gain a lot of money.

In conclusion, it is very clear that people will not easily change their mind that they trust

and belief. Their will regardless all the things that deny their minded or the people who

make an opposition to them.

JOURNAL 5

Chapter 5

Entry 1：

Observational Learning

Observational learning is learning that occurs through observing the behaviour of others.

Albert Bandura, who is known for the classic Bobo doll experiment, identified this basic

form of learning in 1961. Observational learning is sometimes also referred to as

shaping, modelling, and vicarious reinforcement. While it can take place at any

point in life, it tends to be the most common during childhood as children learn

from the authority figures and peers in their lives. It also plays an important role in

the socialization process, as children learn how to behave and respond to others

by observing how their parents and other caregivers interact with each other and

with other people.

For an example, when I was young I will survey and study others behave. I study

about eating, talking and reading from my parents. After that, I also always follow

my brother carry on different activities such as play game, buy things and other.

When I was in primary school I start to learning resolution about good and bad

things from teachers. Following, I start to be independent like others in secondary

school and I will taking care myself. Badly in university, my friend start smoking.

when I observed them, I start to smoke. I also learnt how to work as a group like

others and how to be responsibility in campus. Last, I have learnt working from my

father which is handle the unexpected situations and solve it as well. The

observational learning is happened all the time in my life.

In conclusion, we always study through observation no matter it is a false or true

things. But, it is good that study the positive things than the negative things that

happened surrounding us.