Week 3: Social Psychology - PDF

WEEK 3 LIB450: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Dr Hamizah Sahharon SOCIAL COGNITION UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL COGNITION Social cognition refers to how individuals perceive, interpret, and understand the social world around them. It involves the cognitive processes that influence how we interact with othe...

WEEK 3 LIB450: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Dr Hamizah Sahharon SOCIAL COGNITION UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL COGNITION Social cognition refers to how individuals perceive, interpret, and understand the social world around them. It involves the cognitive processes that influence how we interact with others, make judgments, and navigate social situations. CONT. Employing Simple Rules in Social Cognition Simple rules are mental shortcuts or heuristics that help us make quick decisions in social interactions. These rules are often based on past experiences and societal norms, guiding our behavior without conscious awareness. Schemas in Social Cognition Schemas are mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information about the social world. They influence how we perceive others, form expectations, and make sense of social situations. Automatic vs. Controlled Processing in Social Thoughts Automatic processing involves unconscious, effortless mental operations that occur quickly and without conscious control. Controlled processing, on the other hand, requires conscious effort, attention, and cognitive resources to process social information.  THE ROLE OF SIMPLE RULES IN SOCIAL COGNITION Simple rules are cognitive shortcuts that help individuals navigate social interactions efficiently. Function of Simple Rules They provide quick decision-making frameworks based on past experiences and social norms. Influence on Social Perception Simple rules shape how individuals perceive and interpret social cues and behaviors. Role in Social Judgements They play a crucial role in forming initial impressions and making rapid judgements about others. Impact on Behavior Simple rules influence how individuals behave in social situations, guiding their responses and actions.  EXPLORING SCHEMAS IN SOCIAL COGNITION Schemas are mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information in our social world. They are like blueprints that guide our understanding of people, situations, and interactions. Role of Schemas in Social Cognition Schemas play a crucial role in how we process social information. They help us make sense of complex social situations quickly by allowing us to categorize and interpret incoming information efficiently. Formation of Schemas Schemas are developed through experiences, cultural influences, and social learning. They are constantly evolving based on new information and can impact our perceptions and behaviors in social interactions. Influence on Social Judgements Schemas can lead to cognitive biases and stereotypes, affecting how we perceive and interact with others. They can shape our expectations, attributions, and interpretations of social cues. Challenges in Schema Processing While schemas provide cognitive shortcuts, they can also lead to oversimplification and errors in judgement. It is important to be aware of the limitations of schemas and actively work to challenge and update them. 5  Automatic Processing in Social Cognition Unconscious, effortless, rapid mental operations. Involves quick, instinctive reactions to social stimuli. DIVING INTO AUTOMATIC PROCESSING IN SOCIAL Characteristics of Automatic Processing THOUGHTS Driven by heuristics for quick social judgments. Based on past experiences and social norms. Examples of Automatic Processing Halo effect: Attributing positive qualities to physically attractive individuals. Availability heuristic: Relying on readily available information for judgments. Impact on Social Interactions Essential for efficient social navigation. Can lead to biases and judgment errors. Needs controlled processing. Interaction with Controlled Processing Overrides automatic responses. Involves conscious effort, reasoning, deliberation. Promotes thoughtful decisions. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTROLLED PROCESSING IN SOCIAL COGNITION Controlled processing in social cognition refers to the deliberate and effortful mental operations involved in interpreting social information. Cognitive Flexibility Controlled processing allows for cognitive flexibility, enabling individuals to adapt their social responses based on situational demands. Higher Order Thinking It involves higher-order thinking processes such as reasoning, problem-solving, and decision- making in social interactions. Regulation of Emotions Controlled processing plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and managing social situations effectively. Reducing Biases By engaging in controlled processing, individuals can reduce cognitive biases and stereotypes that may influence social judgments.  APPLYING SIMPLE RULES IN SOCIAL COGNITION 1 Utilizing Heuristics 01 05 5 Adaptability and Flexibility in Social Contexts Individuals use mental shortcuts. Beneficial for simple rules. Facilitates quick judgments and decisions. Individuals adapt cognitive processes. Streamlines cognitive processes. Ensures optimal social outcomes. 2 Efficiency in Decision-Making 02 Applying simple rules like liking similar people. Efficiently navigating social situations. Reducing cognitive resource expenditure. 03 3 Influence of Social Norms Simple rules based on social norms guide behavior. Examples include reciprocity and fairness. Shapes social interactions within a context. 4 Cognitive Economy Benefits: Reduces cognitive load for complex social information. Contributes to cognitive economy. Enables quicker decision-making. UNPACKING SCHEMAS IN SOCIAL THOUGHTS Schemas are mental frameworks that organize and interpret social information. They guide our understanding of the world and help us make sense of complex social situations. Types of schemas include self-schemas, person schemas, and role schemas. Schemas are formed through experiences, interactions, and cultural influences. They can lead to cognitive biases and stereotypes, shaping attitudes and behaviors. 9  Understanding Social Cognition: Automatic and Controlled Processing DIFFERENTIATING Automatic Processing: Involved, unconscious mental operations. AUTOMATIC AND Fast, parallel, and can handle multiple tasks. CONTROLLED Example: Quick judgment of emotions based on facial expressions. PROCESSING Controlled Processing: Conscious, effortful, deliberate cognitive activities. Slow, serial, and demands cognitive resources. Example: Careful evaluation of complex social situations. Differentiation: Nature: Spontaneous, reflexive, reflective, strategic. Flexibility: Rigid, inflexible, rigid. Resource Demand: Resource-intensive, mentally taxing.  ENHANCING SOCIAL COGNITION THROUGH SIMPLE RULES 01 Understanding Social Cognition Social cognition refers to how individuals perceive, interpret, and navigate social interactions and relationships. 02 Employing Simple Rules in Social Cognition Simple rules act as cognitive shortcuts that help individuals make quick judgments and decisions in social situations. 03 Utilizing Schemas Schemas are mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information, guiding our understanding of social cues and behaviors. 04 Balancing Automatic and Controlled Processing Automatic processing involves quick, unconscious reactions based on ingrained patterns, while controlled processing requires deliberate thought and analysis in social contexts. 05 Enhancing Social Cognition By leveraging simple rules, individuals can enhance their social cognition by efficiently navigating complex social environments and making informed decisions. 11  CHALLENGES IN APPLYING CONTROLLED PROCESSING IN SOCIAL THOUGHTS Limited Cognitive Resources Controlled processing in social thoughts requires significant cognitive resources. Resources may be limited in complex social situations. Effortful Nature Engaging in controlled processing for social cognition is effortful. Mentally taxing when dealing with multiple social cues simultaneously. Subjectivity and Bias Individuals bring their own biases and subjective interpretations. Affects the accuracy of conclusions in social thoughts. Interference from Automatic Processes Automatic processes can interfere with controlled processing. Leads to potential errors or inconsistencies in social judgments. Time Constraints Real-life social interactions often have time constraints. Limits the ability to thoroughly engage in controlled processing. 12  UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL COGNITION AND HEURISTICS ❑ Heuristics are mental shortcuts used in decision-making, especially in complex situations. ❑ Key types include Representativeness Heuristic, Availability Heuristic, Anchoring and Adjustment, and Status Quo Heuristic. ❑ Representativeness Heuristic: Judging likelihood based on resemblance to typical cases. ❑ Availability Heuristic: Relying on immediate examples for evaluation. ❑ Anchoring and Adjustment: Starting from initial value and adjusting to estimate. 13  SOCIAL COGNITION AND SOCIAL THOUGHT SCHEMAS PROCESSING TYPES Schemas are cognitive frameworks aiding Automatic Processing: Efficient, quick in organizing and interpreting information. reactions to social stimuli without conscious They filter notices, focusing on details thought. Can lead to bias errors. aligning with beliefs. Controlled Processing: Requires effort, used for Schemas influence long-term memory complex information or detailed judgments. storage of information. Allows rational decision-making but can be They influence recall, often leading to resource-intensive. biases favoring consistent data. 14  EFFECTS OF PRIMING AND CONCLUSION SCHEMA PERSISTENCE Priming Activation: Social cognition encompasses how we think Schemas can influence judgments and about and interpret our social world using behavior even after initial stimulus is heuristics, schemas, and both automatic removed. and controlled processing. Understanding these concepts is crucial for recognizing how Schema Persistence: we make judgments and decisions in social Schemas can still affect cognition, contexts. leading to self-fulfilling prophecies. 15 THANK YOU 16