Chapter 1 - Introduction to Social Psychology PDF

Chapter 1 What is social psych? Definitions The scientific study of how individuals think, influence, relate and behave in the real or implied presence of others. The scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate with one another. Versions: American, European, As...

Chapter 1 What is social psych? Definitions The scientific study of how individuals think, influence, relate and behave in the real or implied presence of others. The scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate with one another. Versions: American, European, Asian  Social Psychology Social Social Social Thinking Influence Relations Culture Self- Aggression Attributions Comparison Judgements Conformity Attitudes Attraction Persuasion Obedience Prejudice Helping  Social Thinking: Attributions, Judgements , Self- Comparison, Attitudes 1. We construct our social reality There is an objective reality out there, but its always viewed through a specific lens (critical realism/contextualism) 2. Our social intuitions are powerful There are helpful parts of our mind that are beyond consciousness These are found to be erroneous in special situations 3. Attitudes shape and are shaped by behavior We take part in a massive cycle Social Influence: Culture, Conformity, Obedience, Persuasion 4. Social influences shape behavior We respond to the immediate contexts, almost automatically Sometimes even if we consciously know we are wrong The power of “just going along with it”. 5. Dispositions shape behavior Certain parts of ourselves are NOT malleable – personality These contribute to shifts in the cycle  Social Relations: Prejudice, Aggression, Attraction, Helping 6. Social behavior is also biological behavior There is a biological basis that moderates the shifts of these cycles Norms are built around and (at times wrongfully) justify these biological roots Social Neuroscience 7.*Feelings and actions towards people are sometimes negative, sometimes positive How we label people, events, and places, serve as the range of interpretation Some labels can become empowering, even if initially negative  Social Thinking: Social Influence: Social Relations: Attributions Culture Prejudice Judgements Conformity Aggression Self-Comparison Obedience Attraction Attitudes Persuasion Helping 1. We construct our 4. Social influences 6. Social behavior is also social reality shape behavior biological behavior 2. Our social intuitions 5. Dispositions shape 7.Feelings and actions are powerful behavior towards people are 3. Attitudes shape and sometimes negative, are shaped by sometimes positive behavior Social Psychology = LIFE* *most things in  Is social psychology common sense? How do values affect science/social psychology? Research topics Who/what we choose as a topic of research As a culture-based bias In defining best/worst states In how we label things In the concepts we make In professional advice These are not true: If someone is a visual/auditory/haptic learner, they tend to learn better through their respective learning style. Catharsis of anger is healthy; it empties out the emotion. We have better romantic relationships with a partner that complements our personality and preferences. Criminals become as such because they tend to be less cooperative, reciprocal, and empathic.  We tend to believe immediately in what seems remotely probable: Hindsight Bias: We tend to believe that we could have foreseen the outcome after it has occurred. “I knew it all along.” Confirmation Bias: We tend to look for evidence that confirms our initial hypothesis Why? To shield ourselves from (the distress of) facing the unknown  Methods in Social Psychological Research Research Theory Methodologies Tested: Formulated Applied Hypotheses Qualitativ Quantitati Mixed e Methods ve Methods Methods Correlation Experimental Field al Studies Research Archival Survey Correlational Studies Correlation =/= Causation: bi-directionality, unknown third variable Correlation = prediction? Random Sampling: Obtaining participants of a given population in a manner that equalizes any member’s chances of being part of the sample. Forms what is called a representative sample Allows generalizations to be made about the population. Correlational Studies Survey Research: considerations Framing: Unrepresentative Sampling The way questions Order of Questions or issues are Response Options positioned to Wording of Questions others What’s wrong with these items? 1. I believe in my family and my country. 2. Climbing mountains are challenging. Do you believe you have what it takes “to be on top”? 3. It is somewhat or very likely that I pass out when I drink alcohol. 4. I do not want to never eat french fries. 5. I heard about the new Harry Potter schools from: __ a friend __a social networking site ___ the internet ___a video By Patricia Anne V. Roxas June 28, 2018 Majority of Filipino adults remain unaware of the federal system of government, but 37 percent of them agree with it, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey result revealed on Thursday. The SWS survey for the first quarter of 2018, which as conducted on March 23 to 27, found that one in four or 25 percent Filipino adults nationwide said they know about the federal system of government, while 75 percent learned about it only during the survey. Correlational Studies Correlation =/= Causation: bi-directionality, unknown third variable Correlation = prediction? Random Sampling: Obtaining participants of a given population in a manner that equalizes any member’s chances of being part of the sample. Forms what is called a representative sample Allows generalizations to be made about the population. Experimental Studies Variables: Independent, Dependent, Control Random Assignment: Ensures that one can infer cause and effect Assigning participants to the different conditions of an experiment in such a way that all persons have the same chance of being in any of the conditions. Allows cause and effect: NOT Random Sampling Experimental Studies Mundane Realism: Experiments are assumed not to be necessarily like real life Experimental Realism: Experiments are expected to engage its participants into response Demand Characteristics: Cues in experiments that give way to expected behavior. Must be minimized. Deception: Deliberate misinformation about the purpose or methods of the study. Must be minimized. Validity & Reliability For All Studies Ethics: Minimize Deception Informed Consent Eliminate Unnecessary Harm Ensure Confidentiality Debriefing Doing Science in Psychology Removal of biases Management of Theories: An integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events. Good theories encapsulates/summarizes many observations, makes clear predictions (hypotheses). Predictions can confirm, modify the theory Predictions can generate new areas of explanation Predictions can suggest practical applications Doing Science in Psychology Testing of hypotheses: Testable propositions that describes a relationship that may exist between variables. Replication: Repeating a study with different participants to determine whether a previous finding can be reproduced. Often, in different cultures, the contents of a phenomenon are different BUT: The process are mostly similar Some Criticisms of (Northern American) S-Psy Too individualistic; the loss of “social” in ”social psychology”. Becomes too specific to be considered theories (e.g. attitude theories) Experimental/methodological fetishism: leads to replication crisis