AP PsychologyUnit XIV – Social

Psychology

Social Psychology

The arena of psychology that focuses on how individuals perceive, influence, and relate to others.

F.A.E. = Fundamental Attribution Error Attribution Theory: the tendency to explain the cause(s) of others’

behavior

DISPOSITIONAL ATTRIBUTION: to identify behavior as a result of a person’s trait(s)

SITUATIONAL ATTRIBUTION: to identify a behavior as a result of a particular situation

Fundamental Attribution Error: to make the assumption that a person’s trait is the cause of a behavior in a way that underestimates the possibility of other factors

Example: Sam usually walks in his neighborhood. Josie sees Sam walking quickly by her house for the second time within 5 minutes, shrugs, and assumes that Sam decided to take 2 laps down her street, and goes back into her house. However, Sam is being followed by a rabid dog that is just 12 feet behind him!

Video Clip: “Fundamental

Attribution Error”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scTBLOl6tD0

AttitudesEmotions based upon one’s beliefs, experiences, and/or perceptions

Attitudes Affect ActionsCentral Route Persuasion

Offers facts and persuasive debates that aim to win over individuals

Appeals those who are naturally analytical or previously interested in the topic

SOLIDIFIES one’s judgment!

Peripheral Route Persuasion Promotes participation

by injection of cues (celebrities, objects, enticing odors and sights)

Does not encourage systematic or analytical thinking

SPUR OF THE MOMENT judgments!

Actions Affect Attitudes Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

Technique designed to successfully get someone to comply with a relatively large request by FIRST getting them to comply with a smaller request

Video Clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKm24MjSuBs

Door-in-the-face phenomenon Technique designed to successfully get someone to comply with

the desired request by requesting something outrageously out-of-the-question first

Video Clip:

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

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Premise: One’s behaviors must be in alignment with one’s beliefs/value system

If the beliefs/value system shifts, one’s behavior must shift as well and vice versa

Pair Partner Discussion Do you have an attitude or tendency you would like to

change? Using the attitudes-follow-behavior principle, how might

you go about changing that attitude?

Scenario:Driving to school one snowy day, Marco narrowly misses a car that slides

through a red light. “Slow down! What a terrible driver,” he thinks to himself. Moments later, Marco himself slips through an intersection and yelps, “Wow! These roads are awful. The city plows need to get out here.” What social psychology principle has Marco just demonstrated? Explain.

Conformity, Norms, and Social Norms Conformity: shifting our outward behavior to be in alignment with the

outward behavior of another or group of people

Norm: any thing that is a pattern of expected behavior for one or more person(s); may be positive/negative, legal/illegal

Social Norms: pattern of expected behavior within any given social group

Example: At Sandy’s house, no one is to begin eating dinner unless everyone has washed their hands, are seated in their assigned seat at the table, grace is said, and the patriarch of the family lifts his fork.

Example: At Central High School, all students stand, throw their arms around their neighbor’s shoulders, and sway while singing the school’s alma mater at the top of their lungs.

Normative vs. InformationalNormative Social

Influence Appeals to one’s emotion

Trust is based upon the person’s relationship or social status

You conform because you need to avoid rejection or to gain social approval

Example: Your adorable 2 year old nephew walks up to you and hands you a flyer that is inviting you to a Toddler Fashion Show. You decide to attend because your nephew is participating and you don’t want to hurt your sister’s feelings.

Informational Social Influence

Appeals to one’s logic/reasoning

Trust is based upon factual information that is written or visual evidence

You conform because you need to be accurate

Example: You listen to both sides of the debate on whether or not school districts should provide nutritional lunches so you know how to communicate your views with your US Senator.

Pair Partner DiscussionIs CONFORMITY a positive or negative force?

Use real-life scenarios to support your position.

Solomon Asch’s Experiment of Conformity

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

Stanley Milgram’s Experiment of Obedience to Authority

(See documentary video)

Reflective Writing

Define conformity and obedience. Then, provide an example of each.

Stanley Milgram’s research on obedience triggered a debate over ethics. Explain the concern and what might Milgram’s defense have been.

Group Activity:“Group Behavior”

Tasks:

Discuss your group’s topic

Plan a group skit that demonstrates your topic “crystal clear” for your classmates

Perform your skit

Group #s & Topics:

Group 1: social facilitation

Group 2: social loafing

Group 3: deindividuation

Group 4: group polarization

Group 5: groupthink

Group 6: norms

Group Behavior

Social Facilitation The tendency to amp up one’s performance when one is aware that others are

present.

Example:

When Tedrick plays solo Ping Pong in his garage he is relaxed. He may miss some volleys, but he picks up and begin ahead, casually. When he sees the cute girl from two houses down the street passing by his open garage door, his muscles becomes tense, he concentrates, and begins zinging the ping pong ball against the wall like a professional player. When he sees that she has passed by, he relaxes once again and casually volleys the ball.

It is possible to perform worse on a difficult task when others are present.

Example:

Charlotte is taking a Unit Test for her AP Physics class. Since this is a challenging class for her, she studies 3 extra hours than usual for this test so that she feels prepared. During the test, Charlotte’s teacher walks around the room and stands near Charlotte’s desk for several minutes, causing Charlotte to tense up and draw a blank while reading her test questions. When her graded unit test is returned, she sees that she missed all 4 questions that she answered while the teacher stood near her desk.

Social Loafing

The decision consciously or subconsciously made when working within a group to not put forth as much effort as when working/performing individually because one assumes that others will share the responsibility of the outcome.

1. Less accountability; easy to hide one’s uncertainty or weaknesses

2. Individual contributions are dispensable

3. Equal benefits leads to a free ride on others’ efforts

4. Leaders that emerge in these situations tend to benefit in later individual tasks; Social loafers tend to suffer in later individual tasks

Deindividuation

Aka “Mob Mentality”

Arouses strong emotion (i.e. fear, anger, frustration, excitement) and increases a sense of anonymity

Video Clip: Rodney King – L.A. Riot in 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9C51OawLFA

Examples:

The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina frustration, hunger, desperation led to massive crowds looting stores, gas stations, etc.

During a rock concert, a small group near the stage breaks through the barriers and soon the majority of the crowd storms the musicians and singers on the stage.

During WWII, 10 Nazi soldiers are told to taunt the Jews loading the trains to the ghettos, within minutes hundreds of German citizens gather on the sidewalk to join the taunting of their Jewish neighbors, landlords, businessmen, and former friends.

Group Polarization & Groupthink

Group Polarization

Group begins discussion with opposing viewpoints. As the discussion continues the opposing viewpoints becomes more pronounced, instead to compromising or coming to a consensus

Groupthink

An assumption made by the leaders in a group that the members have agreed to a consensus/idea, when the group members simply suppressed their opposition during the decision making process.

False sense of group unity

Causes:

Members fear opposing the ideas of the leader(s)

Members are considering the feelings of those who submit ideas

Members are unsure of how their ideas will be received by others

Passive aggressiveness

Social Power

Social control the power of the situation

Example: Susan was excited because she landed a job, bought a new home, and earned a salary where she could afford to join the local Country Club and play golf there. However, because of the Country Club’s stringent rules about home ownership, Susan was not able to join. Susan now has to commute 15 miles to the west of town to play golf.

Personal control the power of the individual

Example: Susan thought the rules of the local Country Club are simply outrageous and advocated for her Homeowner’s Association to create an expansive golf club on the edge of her new neighborhood. Six months later, because of Susan proactive efforts, her neighborhood opened a new golf club that was the envy of the town.

Minority control the power of a few individuals to persuade the majority

Example: Susan felt that she was not taken seriously at the local Country Club when appealing her membership at their golf course because most of the members were men. Therefore, she joined forces with three other women in her new neighborhood who were also avid golfers who wanted membership. After petitioning for Country Club/golf course membership allowance for women in her new neighborhood for 8 months, Susan and the other three women were granted membership and the Country Club amended their rules.

Culture & Norms

CULTURES

The behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Preservation of innovation

Language

Food/Eating Rituals

Division of labor

Monetary systems

Sports

Food/Drink

Ceremonies/Rites of Passage

NORMS

Rules for accepted and expected behavior

Prejudice & Discrimination

Prejudice (LITERALLY means “pre-judgment”): typically an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward any particular group (i.e. gender, ethnic, religious, cultural group)

Components of Prejudice:

Beliefs (Stereotypes)

Emotions (Usually Anger, Fear, Frustration)

Predispositions to Action (Likely to Discriminate)

So….how prejudiced are people?

OVERT (obvious acts) prejudice is decreasing

Examples: “We refuse to serve you here!”

“You are not welcomed here.” SUBTLE (not-so-obvious/hard to prove) prejudice is increasing

Examples: “I’m sorry, but we just hired someone for that position…” (but the help wanted

sign remains in the window even weeks later)

What Would You Do? – Racial Profiling - Video Clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxNH_qCrT1s

Other-race effect: the tendency to recognize face details of one’s own race while dismissing the details of another race (“They-all-look-alike-to-me Mentality”)

Ingroup vs. Outgroup

Ingroup bias: the likelihood to esteem someone from within your group over someone else who is not in your group.

Scapegoat Theory:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f1zJFYY0Ek

Finding someone to blame to divert attention in order to provide a target for action Levels of incidences in populations increases among

economically frustrated people who are dealing with new, temporary frustrations

Negative emotions feeds prejudice. Ingroup bias intensifies during times of frustration. Negative emotions may escalate to incidences of threats and

acts of terror

Exit Ticket:

What are some examples of ingroup bias in your community?

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

AggressionPhysical or verbal behavior intended to physically, psychologically, or socially hurt or destroy another person or animal (or thing).

• Can be done out of overt anger or slow, methodical calculations as a means to an end

Biopsychosocial Influences on Aggression

Genetic/Biogical Influences

genetic predisposition to quick temper (personality trait passed down)

amygdala (controls temper) malfunctions;

malfunctions of the frontal lobes of the brain (controls social inhibitions)

High levels of testosterone (in men and women)

Some drugs (i.e. alcohol reduces social inhibitions)

Psychological Influences

Frustration-aggression principle: extended periods of frustration increases likelihood of aggressive acts

Baseball has lost 3 consecutive games due to perceived unfair penalties by the referees fight breaks out in the 9th inning when a member of the opposing team makes a surly comment to a team member who strikes out

Social Influences

Social scripts: mental files for acceptable behavior in certain scenarios

Reality shows lead to a society believing that it is expected to sabotage the efforts of others when they seem to be succeeding with a goal

AttractionCompanionate vs Passionate LOVE

Components of Attraction:

1. Proximity

Mere exposure effect – the more often you are likely to see an individual, the more likely you are likely to find a person attractive and seek to develop a relationship

2. Physical Attractiveness

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” ~Anonymous

Social Darwin Theory – Survivor of the Fittest (Charles Darwin) certain traits are considered advantageous within a culture in attracting a mate.

Pair Partner DiscussionCreate a list of 5 positive physical traits for men and 5 positive physical traits that might be

considered advantageous in attracting others in our society.

3. Similarity

Need for similar value system to establishing a lasting relationship

ROMANTIC LOVE

Passionate Love Involves physical/sexual arousal

Involves cognitive appraisal

Pleasant visual arousal positive cognitive appraisal emotional attachment

Involves adrenaline/epinephrine rush; can only be sustained for a relatively short period of time

Companionate Love A deep, affectionate attachment

Involves deeper levels or respect, trust, and admiration

“friendship”

Sustains a romantic relationship beyond the confines of passionate love

Ingredients for Sustaining a Romantic Relationship

1. Commonality - values, goals, and beliefs

2. Equity of effort – both persons need to receive a balanced proportion to what they give

3. Intimacy

Self-disclosure – the willingness to reveal intimate details about ourselves

Likes/dislikes

Dreams/worries

Strengths/weaknesses

Achievements/failures

Fears

Altruism, Conflict, and Peacemaking

Altruism: the unselfish regard for the welfare of others

Terrorism at Boston Marathon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnn3Cf1Uhh0

Pair Partner Activity:

What factors might influence an individual to suddenly behave in a manner that is in disregard for their own

personal welfare or safety?

Bystander Effect: the tendency for a person to hesitate to give help with others or nearby

Likelihood to help in emergency situations increases when:

The person appears to need and deserve help. (Just-world phenomenon)

The person is in some way similar to us. (Relatability/Empathy)

The person is female. (Social Role)

Someone else has begun to help. (social facilitation)

We are not in a hurry.

We are in a small town or rural area. (decrease in likelihood of other possible help)

We are feeling guilty. (Cognitive Dissonance)

We are focused on others and not preoccupied.

We are in a good mood.

Social Exchange Theory

Belief that our social behavior is an exchange process Cost-Benefit Analysis

What are the benefits? What are the rewards?

Example: Should you donate blood for the Community Blood Drive?

Time, Discomfort, Anxiety versus Reduced Guilt, Social Approval, Good Feelings

Reciprocity Norm

This is the social expectation that we should return help, not harm, to those who have helped us. “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” Show gratitude for gifts by giving thank you notes OR

offering a gift in exchange Giving a reward of $150 to someone who returns your

“iPhone 6” and your wallet with $500 in cash inside.

Conflict A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

Pair Partner Activity:Identify a conflict…

a) …with your parents

b) …with your friends

c) …with an authority figure

d) …within the government

e) ….on the international scene

…then identify any and all commonalities within these conflicts.

…with what methods/techniques might the conflicts be resolved?

Social Traps

When all parties involved are more focused on their personal goals and

interests rather than reaching a consensus/compromise

STALEMATE --No One Wins!!!

Enemy Perceptions

Mirror-Image Perceptions: both parties see each other as “evil” and “untrustworthy, but see themselves as “peace-loving” and “reasonable”

Whole Class Discussion:

Why was the Cold War an example of Mirror-image perceptions?

What might the consequences be of such perceptions? Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: a belief that subconsciously

causes its own fulfillment

Methods to Promote Peace

1. Close Contact

2. Cooperation – mutual willingness to work together

3. Open Communication – transparency and clear statement of intention (i.e. “thinking and communicating with clarity and precision”)

4. Conciliation – mutual willingness to compromise

*GRIT – Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction

5. Statement of Mutual Interest and Intention to Reduce Tension (Conference/Summit Meeting between 2 or more Political Leaders)

6. Small Acts of Kindness and Good Intention (State Dinner/Gift of Statue/Reduction of International Trading Taxes/More Trading Opportunities)

7. Reciprocity by the Other Party (State Dinner/Official Visit/ Reduction of International Trading Taxes/More Trading Opportunities)