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What do personality psychologists primarily focus on when explaining behavior?
What do personality psychologists primarily focus on when explaining behavior?
How does social psychology differ from sociology in its level of analysis?
How does social psychology differ from sociology in its level of analysis?
What is fundamental attribution error in social psychology?
What is fundamental attribution error in social psychology?
What aspect do personality psychologists typically ignore in their studies?
What aspect do personality psychologists typically ignore in their studies?
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Which of the following best describes the focus of social psychologists?
Which of the following best describes the focus of social psychologists?
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What might be a consequence of underestimating social influences on behavior?
What might be a consequence of underestimating social influences on behavior?
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In what way does sociology approach the study of groups compared to social psychology?
In what way does sociology approach the study of groups compared to social psychology?
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What does the powerful role of social influence imply for understanding human behavior?
What does the powerful role of social influence imply for understanding human behavior?
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What is the primary focus of social psychology?
What is the primary focus of social psychology?
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How does social psychology differentiate itself from other social sciences?
How does social psychology differentiate itself from other social sciences?
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Which of the following best describes social influence?
Which of the following best describes social influence?
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What does social psychology seek to uncover about human nature?
What does social psychology seek to uncover about human nature?
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In what way are social psychologists interested in social environments?
In what way are social psychologists interested in social environments?
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What is an example of conflicting social influences?
What is an example of conflicting social influences?
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Which aspect does social psychology examine that distinguishes it from journalism or philosophy?
Which aspect does social psychology examine that distinguishes it from journalism or philosophy?
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Which disciplines are related to social psychology?
Which disciplines are related to social psychology?
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What role do basic human motives play in construals according to the outlined theories?
What role do basic human motives play in construals according to the outlined theories?
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How do individuals tend to respond to mortality salience in terms of self-esteem?
How do individuals tend to respond to mortality salience in terms of self-esteem?
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What is the self-esteem approach primarily concerned with?
What is the self-esteem approach primarily concerned with?
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What common behavior might people exhibit when faced with major deficiencies in themselves?
What common behavior might people exhibit when faced with major deficiencies in themselves?
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When individuals undergo unpleasant experiences to join a group, how do they typically feel about that group afterward?
When individuals undergo unpleasant experiences to join a group, how do they typically feel about that group afterward?
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Why can negotiation between nations often be challenging according to the research by social psychologists?
Why can negotiation between nations often be challenging according to the research by social psychologists?
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What is a significant consequence of high self-esteem concerning reality perception?
What is a significant consequence of high self-esteem concerning reality perception?
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What phenomenon might lead individuals to justify their past behavior despite evidence of personal shortcomings?
What phenomenon might lead individuals to justify their past behavior despite evidence of personal shortcomings?
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What drives individuals to maintain a positive self-image?
What drives individuals to maintain a positive self-image?
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What does the social cognition approach emphasize about human judgment?
What does the social cognition approach emphasize about human judgment?
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How can our expectations influence the social world?
How can our expectations influence the social world?
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What was the main finding of the study by Fitchten & Sunderton regarding horoscopes?
What was the main finding of the study by Fitchten & Sunderton regarding horoscopes?
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What does the Barnum effect imply about personality assessments?
What does the Barnum effect imply about personality assessments?
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Why do people often act based on incomplete information?
Why do people often act based on incomplete information?
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What role does the self-fulfilling prophecy play in individual belief?
What role does the self-fulfilling prophecy play in individual belief?
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What is a key characteristic of cognitive miser behavior?
What is a key characteristic of cognitive miser behavior?
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What type of feedback was given to participants regarding their personality in the study?
What type of feedback was given to participants regarding their personality in the study?
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What was observed in the participants after they received false feedback about their personality?
What was observed in the participants after they received false feedback about their personality?
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What was the purpose of injecting saltwater into the jaws of participants in the placebo experiment?
What was the purpose of injecting saltwater into the jaws of participants in the placebo experiment?
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What was found to increase in participants who received placebo treatment in the experiment?
What was found to increase in participants who received placebo treatment in the experiment?
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The quote attributed to Lao Tzu suggests a progression from thoughts to destiny. What does this imply about personal beliefs?
The quote attributed to Lao Tzu suggests a progression from thoughts to destiny. What does this imply about personal beliefs?
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According to the implications of self-fulfilling prophecies, what strategy may help overcome this phenomenon?
According to the implications of self-fulfilling prophecies, what strategy may help overcome this phenomenon?
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What psychological realm distinguishes itself by studying the influence of social situations on individual behavior?
What psychological realm distinguishes itself by studying the influence of social situations on individual behavior?
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Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a motive that guides construals in social psychology?
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a motive that guides construals in social psychology?
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Study Notes
Introducing Social Psychology
- The Empirical Basis of Social Psychology: Social psychology uses scientific methods (empirical research) to understand social behavior.
- Social Psychology's Focus: Unlike other social sciences, social psychology focuses on the individual's behavior within a social context.
- Historical Roots: Philosophers provided insights into human behavior, but social psychology relies on systematic, empirical testing of its assumptions about human social behavior.
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Key Concepts in Social Psychology:
- Social Influence: The real or imagined presence of others impacts our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Direct and Indirect Influence: Social psychology studies both direct attempts at influence and indirect effects.
Social Influence vs. Other Disciplines
- Social Psychology vs. Personality Psychology: Personality psychology focuses on individual differences and traits, while social psychology examines the powerful role of social situations in shaping behavior.
- Social Psychology vs. Sociology: Sociology examines society at large, while social psychology centers on the individual within a social context.
The Power of the Situation
- Fundamental Attribution Error: People tend to underestimate the influence of social situations and overestimate the role of personality in shaping behavior.
- False Security: Underestimating social influence can lead to a false sense of security and vulnerability to destructive social influences.
Construal and the Subjectivity of Social Situations
- Construal: How people perceive and interpret the social world.
- Social Cognition Approach: This perspective focuses on how people think about the world, recognizing that our interpretations, though not always accurate, guide our decisions and judgements.
Motives Behind Construal
- The Need to Be Accurate (Social Cognition Approach): People strive to understand and predict social situations, acting as “amateur detectives.”
- The Need to Feel Good About Ourselves (Self-Esteem Approach): People often distort perceptions to maintain positive self-esteem, even if it means misrepresenting the world.
- Self-Esteem: People’s evaluations of their self-worth.
- Mortality Salience: When self-esteem is low, people may defend their worldview when confronted with reminders of their own mortality.
Justifying Past Behavior
- Self-Justification: People often distort reality in order to justify their past actions, even if it means ignoring negative consequences.
- Suffering and Self-Justification: We may actually like a group more if we experienced negative situations to gain membership. This is due to a need to justify the suffering by holding a positive view of the group.
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true.
- Example: Horoscopes & Barnum Effect (Forer's Effect): People often accept generalized statements as accurate descriptions of themselves, even if they are universally applicable (ex: horoscopes).
- Can Personality Tests Change Behavior? Studies show that receiving false feedback on personality traits can lead people to believe the feedback and behave in ways consistent with it.
Harnessing the Power of the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
- Placebo Effect: Belief in a treatment, even if it's ineffective, can lead to actual improvements in symptoms. Placebos can even trigger the release of endorphins, which are pain reducing hormones.
Additional Motives Influencing Construal
- Biological Drives: Basic motivators like hunger, thirst, or sex drive
- Desire for Rewards: The pursuit of positive outcomes and reinforcement.
- Need for Control: The motivation to have agency and make choices over one's environment.
Summary & Review
- Key Points: Social psychology is an empirical science, with a focus on the individual in social contexts. It distinguishes itself from other disciplines through its methods and its specific area of investigation.
- Central Concepts: Central concepts include social influence, the power of the situation, and the ways in which we construe the world.
- Motives: Construal is driven by the need to be accurate and to maintain a positive sense of self.
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Description
This quiz explores the foundational concepts of social psychology, emphasizing its empirical basis and focus on individual behavior within social contexts. Learn how social influence profoundly impacts thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Dive into the key distinctions between social psychology and other disciplines.
