Foundation in Natural

and Built Environment

Social Psychology

[PSY 30203]

Name: Aida Junita binti Zulkiflee

Student ID: 0317766

Group/Session: 2/12p.m. - 3p.m.

Submission Date: 10 November 2014

Entry #1

11th August 2014 | 6:15 p.m.

Today marked the first lecture for Social Psychology module. During the first lesson, one

of the concepts introduced to the class was confirmation bias – paying attention only to

information that supports an individual’s beliefs and disregarding information that conflicts those

beliefs.

Prior to learning about confirmation bias, I believed that my opinion is based on years of

objective analysis. Upon learning this concept, it hit me that we encounter confirmation bias just

as it is in everyday decision-making. After understanding the meaning and examples of

confirmation bias, I have learnt that my opinion is nothing more than a collection of information

I chose to pay attention to.

For instance, in the last General Election, people were divided into supporting either the

government or the opposition party. Naturally, the people who supported the government would

actively seek out information that supports their beliefs, which in this case is any evidence that

shows the positive side of the government, and almost completely disregard information that

refutes their beliefs. Similarly, supporters of the opposing party cognitively behaved in that

manner. Belief perseverance was also a common attribute displayed by the supporters of both

sides as they maintained their original beliefs, even in the face of contradictory data.

As for myself, I do not strongly favour either party as I favour change for betterment and

I firmly believe that for a country to grow, it not only needs a better government in ruling, but

also better countrymen. Having said that, during the times of election, I had the tendency to look

out for posts on social media which involved favouring information that confirmed previously

existing beliefs or biases I had have. For instance, I would “retweet” posts on Twitter that would

touch on equality and anti-corruption for both parties, and ones that show support for the people.

On a less serious note, I have also experienced confirmation bias in my shopping choices.

As an example, when I purchased my smartphone, I chose to buy an Apple iPhone instead of

other choice of brands of smartphones. Due to my pre-existing bias that Apple products are more

efficient and user-friendly, I completely ruled out other brands such as Samsung or HTC as one

of my possible choices.

Entry #2

18th August 2014 | 5:35 p.m.

Before continuing my studies at Taylor’s University, I had previously worked part time at

a bookstore. During the period that I worked, I had observed and experienced social loafing.

Social loafing occurs when individuals’ performance gets worse in the presence of

others. These individuals make less of an effort when in a group than they would if they were

attempting to achieve the goal on their own.

At the bookstore, daily schedules would be posted to inform each employee of their tasks

throughout the day. One of the tasks included wrapping books with plastic sheets manually, and

this task could be performed by every employee while manning the cash register or information

counter or even at the wrapping corner itself. Naturally, by having every employee wrap books at

all times, especially when they’re free and not attending to any customers, it would maximize the

amount of books wrapped. However, there were employees who would just stand around and do

nothing at all because they felt that they had no need to perform the task as everyone else was

already doing it.

Another example where I have experienced social loafing is during group assignments.

For instance, in Semester 1, I had a group assignment for the module Elements in Natural and

Built Environment. For that particular assignment, students were to work in a group of six

members to make an info graphic exhibition model based on the topic given by the lecturer.

While most of the group members contributed in completing the model, two of my group

members gave minimal to zero contribution and depended on the rest of the group to complete

the assignment. This shows social loafing as the individual effort of people who performed a task

as part of a group could not be identified.

Entry #3

25th August 2014 | 7:20 p.m.

After finishing high school, I participated in a student exchange program to the United

States of America for a period of six months. Having growing up watching American television

shows and films, my friends, family and even myself, had our own preconceived notion of what

America would offer and how the people are like. With what was shown in those shows, I had a

stereotype that American high schools are full of drama and cliques of their own.

Stereotype is to assume that all members of a group share some common feature. Before

leaving for America, I had expectations and assumed that people at the high school I was going

to attend would be in cliques of malicious teenage girls. However, after arriving and getting to

know my peers, I learnt that the stereotype that I had learnt from the television shows and films

were not true as the people at the high school were more than pleasant.

Conversely, the people at the high school also had a stereotype in mind about me. Before

my arrival, people at the high school only knew that I am from Malaysia. With some having not

heard of Malaysia and others having minimal information about Malaysia, they had a stereotype

that I would not be able to speak any English or could only speak a little.

Entry #4

15th September 2014 | 6:20 p.m.

First impression is an initial opinion about people upon meeting them. First impression

may not always be accurate or truly reflect who the person is as an individual. Many times I have

been proven wrong of the first impressions I have had of other people.

For instance, when I first met my best friend in high school, she stroked off as a quite

boring individual. Her slurred speech and lack of eye contact during our first conversation did

not interest me in getting to know her better. However, as we engaged in more conversations

during class assignments, I found that she and I shared more things in common such as taste in

music and our views in life. Today, we have been best friends for more than eight years.

In another event, my first impression of another person proved to be right. A teacher that

I had in high school appeared to be very strict and cold. Naturally teachers should put up a

serious façade to have boundaries between students and teachers but my teacher gave off a cold

and unpleasant vibe more than stern. As it turns out, my teacher continued to behave the way she

did when I first met her, hence proving my first impression of her to be accurate.

Entry #5

22nd September 2014 | 6:45 p.m.

Discovered by Russian psychologist, Ivan Pavlov in 1955, classical conditioning is a

learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a

naturally occurring stimulus. In classical conditioning, two unrelated stimuli are repeatedly

paired, and over time a reaction to the second stimulus can be achieved by the first stimulus

alone. In the experiment conducted by Pavlov, he paired the stimuli of ringing a bell, and then

giving food to a dog. After several times of first ringing a bell and then feeding the dog,

eventually when Pavlov rung the bell, the dog would start to salivate without the presence of the

food. With only the first stimulus, which is the bell, the reaction of the second stimulus –

salivating to the food, was achieved.

An example of classical conditioning that I have experienced is related to a traumatic

experience which instilled fear. Until I was about six years old, I was fond of monkeys and found

them adorable, especially since my Chinese animal zodiac is monkey as well. When I was six

years old, I went to a botanical garden with my family for a picnic. During the picnic, I walked

around with a doughnut in my hand, and by having food in hand, naturally it attracted the

monkeys in the botanical garden. Being that young of age, I froze when a group of monkeys

surrounded me and eyed for my doughnut. Since that incident, I experience anxiety whenever

there are monkeys in sight even if they are more than a hundred metres away.

Another example is how I have been conditioned to move away from the shower head in

my bathroom whenever I hear someone using the tap in the kitchen. When I first moved into my

current house, I took a shower with the water heater on. During my shower, I heard someone in

the kitchen turning on the tap and immediately when the person turned off the tap, the water

temperature of my shower increased and naturally I flinched. After having this incident happen

several times, every time I hear the tap in the kitchen turned on, I would automatically move

away from the shower head and wait for a few seconds after I hear the tap turned off before

resuming showering.