History of Social Psychology

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Questions and Answers

Which concept argues that behavior results from the interaction between a person and their environment?

Skinner's Behaviorism

Lewin's Interactionalism (correct)

Social Facilitation Theory

Cognitive Revolution

What is the main focus of the Cognitive Revolution in psychology?

The reinforcement of mental states

The influence of situational forces on behavior

The role of cognition in driving behavior (correct)

The study of conformity and obedience

Which experiment is known for studying obedience to authority figures?

Triplett’s Social Facilitation Experiment

Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment

Festinger’s Conformity Studies

Milgram’s Obedience Experiment (correct)

What significant impact did World War II have on social psychology?

Influenced studies on conformity and obedience Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following figures is considered the father of experimental social psychology?

Floyd Allport Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that the presence of others can both enhance and inhibit performance?

Social Facilitation Theory Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical issue was highlighted by the Milgram and Zimbardo experiments?

The potential for psychological harm Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary concern associated with the replication crisis in social psychology?

Inadequate methodologies in early studies Signup and view all the answers

What is one method researchers can use to protect against cognitive biases during data collection?

Blinding Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is essential for researchers to understand to avoid misinterpretation of data?

Effect size Signup and view all the answers

What is a main ethical requirement regarding deception in psychological experiments?

Participants need to be fully debriefed afterwards Signup and view all the answers

What does the replication crisis highlight about psychological research?

There is a need for more rigorous methodological training Signup and view all the answers

How can collaboration improve psychological research?

By pooling resources and data Signup and view all the answers

Which concept relates to priming in psychology?

Exposure to stimuli influencing responses Signup and view all the answers

What should be avoided to ensure reproducibility in research?

P-hacking Signup and view all the answers

Why is study pre-registration important in research?

It reduces publication bias Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that the mere presence of others can enhance competitive instincts?

Dynamogenic Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of Drive Theory as explained in the content?

It does not account for personality factors. Signup and view all the answers

What did John Ioannidis argue about published research findings?

Many findings are likely false due to poor practices. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of replication attempts to repeat a study using the same methods?

Exact Replication Signup and view all the answers

How did the Open Science Collaboration's study impact perceptions of replication in psychology?

Only a small percentage of studies could be replicated. Signup and view all the answers

According to Uziel's Theory, which personality traits are linked to better performance in social situations?

Extraversion and high self-esteem Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social facilitation, what specifically enhances the performance of dominant responses?

Arousal generated by social influences Signup and view all the answers

What controversy arose from Daryl Bem's studies on ESP?

His findings were met with skepticism and criticism. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Aristotle believed society shapes human development
Comte argued individuals are both products and producers of society

Key Historical Figures and Milestones

1879: Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab, separating psychology from philosophy and biology
1898: Norman Triplett's work on social facilitation laid groundwork
1908: McDougall and Ross published early social psychology textbooks
1920s-1930s: Floyd Allport focused on individual dispositions over societal influences, and studied the Great Depression.
1930s-1940s: Sumner critiqued racial biases in IQ tests
1940s-1950s: Festinger studied conformity, obedience, and authority during WWII. This period was impacted by WWII
John Dewey emphasized collectivism's role in shaping society

Important Research and Concepts

Skinner (Behaviorism): Mental states conditioned through reinforcement and punishment
Cognitive Revolution: Challenged behaviorism, arguing thoughts and cognition drive behavior

Lewin's Interactionalism

Behavior is a result of interaction between person and environment
Conducted field research impacting propaganda resistance and social change

Social Facilitation (Triplett, 1898): Presence of others boosts performance, especially on familiar tasks (e.g., cyclists racing faster with others.)
Social Facilitation Theories: Various theories like suction effect, encouragement, and dynamogenic effect, explaining how others influence performance.
Social Inhibition (Zajonc, 1965): Arousal by others enhances dominant responses while hindering non-dominant responses. Examples of this were given in the studies.
Limitations of Drive Theory: Lack of clear criteria for defining difficulty and lack of consideration for personality/mood aspects in performance impact

John Ioannidis (2005): Many published research findings are likely false due to poor scientific practices.
Open Science Collaboration (2015): 100 replications found only 25% successfully replicated initial findings

Improving Research Practices

Protecting against cognitive biases: Use blinding, improve training (e.g. understanding effect size, null hypothesis and P-values) and ensure methodological rigor.
Independent methodology support: Multidisciplinary teams to review research methods, avoid conflicts of interest and mitigate potential biases.
Collaboration and team science: Increased generalizability and reduces false positives through collaboration.
Study pre-registration: Transparency in research design, avoiding publication bias.
Reproducibility: Ensure methods are clearly reported to enable replication. Address issues of incentives in research and publication.

Priming Theory

Priming: Exposure to stimuli influences subsequent related responses often without awareness.
Example: Age-related words influencing walking speed.
Criticism of priming: Not always replicable (e.g., Lynott et al., 2014 found no significant effect of priming on walking speed.)

Deception: Commonly used in experiments but must be ethically sound; participants must be debriefed and consent should allow for withdrawal

Key Takeaways for Replication & Research Reliability

Replication Crisis: Highlights need for transparency and accurate methodologies. The need for accurate reporting and avoiding potential biases
Collaboration, pre-registration, and improved ethical standards: Necessary to improve the quality of psychological research.

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Description

Explore the evolution of social psychology through its key historical figures and milestones. From Aristotle's views on society to the pivotal developments in the 20th century, this quiz covers the foundations and significant research that shaped the field. Test your knowledge on influential theorists and crucial concepts.