social psychology chapter 13. social psychology the scientific study of how we think about,...

Social Psychology

Chapter 13

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Social Psychology

The power of the situation can be harnessed for good, or for evil…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdTpU5WZHHM

Social Psychology

Powerful examples of the power of the situation…

Social Psychology

Powerful examples of the power of the situation…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-fQnltrg6w

Social Psychology

Powerful examples of the power of the situation…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyDDyT1lDhA

Social Psychology

Powerful examples of the power of the situation…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRoiTWkBHU

Social Psychology

Powerful examples of the power of the situation…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZwfNs1pqG0

Social Psychology

Social Thinking

Attributing Behavior to Persons or to Situations

Fundamental attribution error – the tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Jones and Harris: Subjects served as “debaters” in discussion of U.S. attitudes toward Cuba and Castro.

In full view of other debaters, subjects were randomly assigned to read aloud debate speeches that were either pro-Castro or anti-Castro

Then these other debaters rated speech readers’ true attitudes toward Castro…

The Effects of Attribution

Attributions differ: Some people blamed the New Orleans residents for not evacuating before Katrina. Others attributed their inaction to the situation—to their not having transportation.

The Effects of Attribution

Social Psychology

Social Thinking

Attitudes and Actions

Attitudes Affect Actions

Attitude – feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people and events.

Attitudes Affect Actions

Attitude – feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people and events.

Actions Affect Attitudes

Role-Playing – When we adopt a new role, we strive to follow social prescriptions. In the famous Stanford Prison experiment, a toxic situation triggered degrading behaviors among those assigned to the guard role.

Actions Affect Attitudes

Cognitive Dissonance – the idea that we act to reduce discomfort when our actions conflict with our attitudes (or beliefs).

Social Psychology

Social Influence

Social Psychology

Social Influence

Conformity and Obedience

Credit: Michael E Ray

Group Pressure and Conformity

Conformity – adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

Group Pressure and Conformity

Which of the three comparison lines is the same length as the standard line?

Group Pressure and Conformity

Conditions that strengthen conformity: (1) The group has at least three people. (2) The group is unanimous. (3) The individual is made to feel incompetent. (4) Culture strongly encourages respect for social standards.

Social Psychology

Social Influence

Why do we conform?

Group Pressure and Conformity

After seeing Slides 1 and 2, participants judge which person in Slide 2 was the same as the person in Slide 1. Difficulty is manipulated by varying the time to view Slide 2 (5 seconds or ½ second)…

Group Pressure and Conformity

And importance is manipulated by telling participants that they will receive $20 if they are the most accurate participant in the experiment (or not telling them this).

Group Pressure and Conformity

Obedience

Obedience

The most fundamental lesson of our study is that ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive proces.

- Stanley Milgram

Social Psychology

Social Influence

Group Influence

Individual Behavior in the Presence of Others

Social facilitation – stronger responses or better performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others.

Individual Behavior in the Presence of Others

Deindividuation – the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster anonymity.

Alone

Group

Non-Anonymous Anonymous

Alone

Group

Non-Anonymous Anonymous

7.5%

20.8%

21.4%

57.2%