Questions and Answers
What is social psychology?
What is social influence?
The effect that the words, actions, or mere presence of other people have on our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or behaviors.
What kinds of questions do social psychologists deal with?
Empirical questions that can be derived from experimentation or measurement.
Are we often influenced by the presence of others?
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How does social psychology differ from its closest cousins?
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What is the fundamental attribution error?
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What was the study that Lee Ross conducted?
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What is behaviorism?
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For social psychologists, what are people's behaviors dependent on?
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What is construal?
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What school of psychology does the concept of construal have roots in?
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Who was the founding father of social psychology?
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According to Lee Ross, what is 'naive realism'?
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Construals range from simple questions like 'How are you feeling?' to complex ones such as international negotiations.
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What are the two main motives that concern social psychologists?
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What is self-esteem?
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What do people often do to feel good about themselves?
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What was the experiment that investigated why people justify their experiences with suffering?
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Human beings might prefer people and things for whom they have suffered over those associated with ease and pleasure.
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What is social cognition?
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How do researchers with the social cognition perspective understand social behavior?
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We always interpret our social world accurately.
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What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
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Study Notes
Key Concepts in Social Psychology
- Social Psychology: Scientific study of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others' presence, whether real or imagined.
- Social Influence: The impact of others' words, actions, or mere presence on individual thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors.
Research Focus
- Empirical Questions: Social psychologists investigate empirical questions, deriving answers from experimentation and measurement rather than opinion.
- Influence of Presence: Individuals are frequently influenced by the presence of others in social situations.
Distinctions from Related Fields
- Social vs. Personality Psychology: Social psychology examines mutual influences among individuals, while personality psychology focuses on unique individual traits.
- Social Psychology vs. Sociology: Sociology studies groups and societies broadly, in contrast to the individual-centric focus of social psychology.
Behavioral Insights
- Fundamental Attribution Error: A common misattribution of behavior to internal factors while downplaying situational influences.
- Behaviorism: A psychology school emphasizing environmental reinforcement in understanding human behavior, prominently represented by B.F. Skinner.
Influences on Behavior
- Behavior Dependence: Behavior is contingent on situational factors and personal interpretation (construal).
- Construal: The process of perceiving, comprehending, and interpreting social situations, influenced by Gestalt psychology.
Historical Foundations
- Kurt Lewin: Recognized as the founding father of social psychology, associated with Gestalt theories.
Perception and Reality
- Naive Realism: A shared belief that one's perceptions reflect reality accurately.
- Complexity of Construals: Ranges from simple inquiries like "How are you feeling?" to complex situations like international negotiations.
Motivational Factors
- Self-Esteem Approach: The need to maintain a positive self-image.
- Social Cognition Approach: The drive to achieve accuracy in understanding social scenarios.
Self-Image and Justification
- Self-Esteem: Individuals' evaluations of their worth, encompassing feelings of goodness, competence, and decency.
- Justification of Actions: People often rationalize their behaviors to reinforce their self-esteem.
Experimental Findings
- Hazing Study: Research indicated that harsher initiation processes lead members to hold more favorable views of the group as a means of justifying their suffering.
Preference Patterns
- Preference for Challenging Experiences: Human beings may favor people and things associated with hardship over those linked with ease.
Understanding Social Cognition
- Social Cognition: Examines how individuals process and interpret social information to form judgments and decisions.
- Assumption of Accuracy: Researchers assume that individuals strive for accurate worldviews, though this is often compromised by expectations.
Prophetic Behavior
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: The phenomenon where expectations lead to actions that ensure those expectations come true, influencing behavior outcomes.
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Description
Explore key concepts in social psychology with these flashcards. Learn definitions and important terms that highlight how social influence shapes human behavior. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of social interactions and dynamics.
