Social Psychology Module 1 2024-2025 PDF

Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna IS...

Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited LSPU Self-Paced Learning Module (SLM) Course Social Psychology Sem/AY First Semester 2024-2025 Module No. 1 Lesson Title Introduction to Social Psychology Week Week 1 – week 4 Duration Date August 26- September 20, 2024 The study of social psychology is expanding quickly and is influencing our understanding of human Description of behavior in significant ways. Social psychologists' findings are regularly published in newspapers, the Lesson websites, and other media, and the outcomes of their research are affecting choices in many other fields. Learning Outcomes Intended Students should be able to meet the following intended learning outcomes: Learning Define social psychology. Outcomes Targets/ At the end of the lesson, students should be able to: Objectives Learn the history of social psychology Know the different perspectives of social psychology Know the science of social psychology Student Learning Strategies Online Activities A. Specific lesson for this topic The Concepts in Ethics will be posted on our Google (Synchronous/ Classroom on August 29, 2024. Class code: __________. Asynchronous) Note: In case you have to be able to e questions or clarifications regarding this lesson you can use the chat box in our LMS (Google Classroom) and choose “private”. Or you can use messenger to look for Ellen dela paz Librada's account Offline Activities (e-Learning/Self- Paced) LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Module 1: Introduction to Social Psychology L1: Introduction to Social Psychology a. History of Social Psychology b. Different Perspective of Social Psychology c. The Science of Social Psychology L2: Social Cognition: Thinking About the Social World a. Schema b. Mental Shortcuts c. Sources of Bias in Social Cognition L3: Attribution a. Theories of Attribution b. Attribution Biases History of Social Psychology Early Foundations Philosophical Roots: Social psychology's roots can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, who pondered the influence of society on individuals. Plato emphasized social influence and the role of society in shaping behavior, while Aristotle focused on the social nature of humans and how people relate to one another. 19th Century: The late 1800s saw the rise of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline. During this time, scholars like William James in the United States and Wilhelm Wundt in Germany laid the groundwork for psychological study. Wundt, often referred to as the "father of psychology," established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, where he conducted experiments on human perception and behavior, contributing to the foundation of social psychology. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Emergence as a Distinct Field Norman Triplett (1898): The first recognized experiment in social psychology was conducted by Norman Triplett, who studied the effects of social facilitation. He found that cyclists performed better when racing against others than when racing against the clock, demonstrating how the presence of others can influence individual performance. William McDougall & Edward Ross (1908): The publication of McDougall's "An Introduction to Social Psychology" and Ross's "Social Psychology" in 1908 are considered seminal works. McDougall's work focused on instinctual behavior and group dynamics, while Ross emphasized the influence of social forces on individual behavior. Development through the 20th Century Gestalt Psychology (1920s-1930s): In Europe, Gestalt psychologists like Kurt Lewin, who later moved to the United States, contributed to the field by emphasizing the importance of studying individuals within their social contexts. Lewin's field theory, which posited that behavior is a function of the person and their environment, became a foundational concept in social psychology. World War II Era: The atrocities of World War II and the Holocaust led to a surge of interest in understanding human behavior in social contexts, particularly issues like conformity, obedience, and prejudice. Theodor Adorno's "The Authoritarian Personality" (1950) and Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments (1960s) are notable contributions from this period. Post-War Expansion: After WWII, social psychology grew rapidly in the United States. Researchers like Solomon Asch conducted seminal studies on conformity, demonstrating how individuals' perceptions and opinions can be shaped by group pressure. Leon Festinger introduced the theory of cognitive dissonance, explaining how people strive for internal consistency between their beliefs and behaviors. 1960s-1970s: This period saw the rise of social cognition as a major focus within social psychology. Researchers began to explore how people perceive, interpret, and remember social information. This era also saw the development of attribution theory by Fritz Heider and Harold Kelley, which examines how people explain the causes of behavior. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Modern Developments 1980s-Present: Social psychology has continued to evolve, with an increasing emphasis on cultural influences, social identity, and the application of social psychological principles to real-world problems, such as health, education, and intergroup relations. The field has also become more interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology. Globalization and Diversity: In recent decades, social psychology has expanded its focus to include more diverse populations and cultural contexts, recognizing the importance of cross- cultural research in understanding human behavior. Key Concepts and Theories Throughout its history, social psychology has developed several key concepts and theories, including: Social Influence: How individuals' behavior is shaped by others. Social Perception: How people form impressions and make judgments about others. Attitude Formation and Change: How attitudes are developed and influenced. Group Dynamics: The study of how people behave in groups and the influence of group membership on individual behavior. Social psychology remains a vibrant and dynamic field, continually evolving to address new questions and challenges in understanding the social aspects of human behavior. Social Psychology The scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people Social psychology seeks to understand social behavior because how you perceive yourself and others influences your actions, decisions, and behavior. The people around you will determine your mood and attitude, shape your thoughts and feelings, and color your perception. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Different Perspectives of Social Psychology Social psychology is a multifaceted discipline, and various perspectives within the field offer different approaches to understanding how individuals are influenced by social contexts. Here are some key perspectives: 1. Cognitive Perspective The cognitive perspective in social psychology focuses on how people perceive, think about, and remember information about others. This perspective is concerned with mental processes such as attention, memory, and decision-making as they relate to social interactions. Key areas include: Social Cognition: How people process and store social information. Attribution Theory: How people explain the causes of their own and others' behavior. Cognitive Dissonance: The mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting thoughts or beliefs. 2. Behavioral Perspective The behavioral perspective emphasizes the role of the environment in shaping behavior, focusing on observable behaviors rather than internal mental states. This perspective is grounded in the principles of learning theory, including: Classical Conditioning: How individuals learn to associate a stimulus with a response (e.g., Pavlov's dogs). Operant Conditioning: How behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments (e.g., Skinner's work on reinforcement). Social Learning Theory: How people learn behaviors by observing others (e.g., Bandura's Bobo doll experiment). 3. Biological Perspective LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited The biological perspective examines the physiological and genetic factors that influence social behavior. This approach looks at how the brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, and evolutionary processes impact social interactions. Key concepts include: Neuroscience: Understanding the brain structures and functions involved in social behavior. Evolutionary Psychology: Exploring how evolutionary principles, such as natural selection, shape social behaviors like cooperation, aggression, and mate selection. Genetics: Investigating the heritability of traits that influence social behavior. 4. Sociocultural Perspective The sociocultural perspective emphasizes the influence of culture, social norms, and societal structures on behavior. This perspective considers how social contexts, including cultural background and socialization, shape individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Important aspects include: Cultural Psychology: Examining how cultural practices and beliefs influence behavior. Social Norms: Understanding how unwritten rules guide behavior in different social settings. Social Identity Theory: Exploring how individuals' self-concept is shaped by their group memberships (e.g., race, gender, nationality). 5. Humanistic Perspective The humanistic perspective, while less prominent in social psychology compared to other approaches, emphasizes individual agency, personal growth, and self-actualization. This perspective is rooted in the belief that people are inherently good and capable of making free choices. Key ideas include: Self-Concept: How individuals perceive themselves and their potential. Empathy and Positive Regard: The importance of understanding and accepting others. Self-Determination: The drive to achieve one's goals and fulfill potential. 6. Psychoanalytic Perspective LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited The psychoanalytic perspective, originating from the work of Sigmund Freud, explores the influence of unconscious drives, childhood experiences, and internal conflicts on behavior. While this perspective is more dominant in clinical psychology, it has influenced social psychology in areas such as: Defense Mechanisms: How individuals unconsciously protect themselves from anxiety. Transference and Projection: How individuals' past relationships influence current social interactions. Socialization of the Ego and Superego: The development of social norms and moral reasoning. 7. Interactionist Perspective The interactionist perspective focuses on the dynamic and reciprocal nature of social interactions, emphasizing that behavior is a function of both the individual and the social situation. This approach is often associated with: Symbolic Interactionism: How people create and interpret symbols in social interactions (e.g., language, gestures). Role Theory: How individuals take on and perform roles in social contexts. Social Exchange Theory: How individuals engage in social interactions based on perceived costs and benefits. 8. Critical and Feminist Perspectives These perspectives challenge traditional approaches to social psychology by emphasizing power dynamics, inequality, and the social construction of knowledge. Critical and feminist perspectives focus on: Power Relations: How social structures and hierarchies influence behavior. Intersectionality: How multiple social identities (e.g., race, gender, class) intersect to shape experiences. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Social Justice: The application of social psychology to address inequality and promote fairness. Each of these perspectives offers a unique lens through which to understand social behavior, and together, they provide a comprehensive view of how individuals interact with their social environment. The Person and the Social Situation Social psychology is the study of the dynamic relationship between individuals and the people around them (see Figure 1.1 “The Person-Situation Interaction”). Each of us is different, and our individual characteristics, including our personality traits, desires, motivations, and emotions, have an important impact on our social behavior. But our behavior is also profoundly influenced by the social situation—the people with whom we interact every day. These people include our friends and family, our fraternity brothers or sorority sisters, our religious groups, the people we see on TV or read about or interact with on the web, as well as people we think about, remember, or even imagine. Figure 1.1 The Person-Situation Interaction Social psychologists believe that human behavior is determined by both a person’s characteristics and the social situation. They also believe that the social situation is frequently a stronger influence on behavior than are a person’s characteristics. ✓ Social Psychology The scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people ✓ Social psychology seeks to understand social behavior because how you perceive yourself and others influences your actions, decisions, and behavior. The people around you will determine your mood and attitude, shape your thoughts and feelings, and color your perception. ✓ Social Cognition Social cognition refers to the different psychological processes that influence how people process, interpret, and respond to social signals. These processes allow people to understand social behavior and respond in ways that are appropriate and beneficial ✓ First Impressions and Stereotyping Example: Imagine you meet someone for the first time, and they are wearing a formal suit and speak confidently. You might quickly form a positive first impression, assuming they are professional and competent. This process involves social cognition because your brain is rapidly interpreting social signals (their appearance and behavior) and forming a judgment. ✓ Empathy Example:When you see a friend looking sad, you might feel concerned and ask them what's wrong. This involves social cognition because you’re interpreting their facial expressions and body language to understand their emotional state. Your ability to empathize and consider what they might be thinking or feeling is a key part of social cognition. ✓ Schema In psychology, a schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Simply put, a schema describes patterns of thinking and behavior that people use to interpret the world. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited ✓ The four main types of schemas are: Person schemas are focused on specific individuals. For example, your schema for your friend might include information about their appearance, behaviors, personality, and preferences. Social schemas include general knowledge about how people behave in certain social situations. Self-schemas are focused on your knowledge about yourself. This can include both what you know about your current self as well as ideas about your idealized or future self. Event schemas are focused on patterns of behavior that should be followed for certain events. This acts much like a script informing you of what you should do, how you should act, and what you should say in a particular situation. ✓ Mental Shortcuts Mental shortcuts, also known as heuristics, are simple, efficient rules or strategies that people use to make decisions and solve problems quickly without having to carefully evaluate all the information available. These shortcuts help people navigate everyday situations where quick judgments are necessary, but they can also lead to errors or biases. Scenario: Imagine a psychology student is preparing for an upcoming exam. They remember that last year, one of their classmates mentioned that the exam was heavily focused on multiple-choice questions about theories of personality. Because this information is easily recalled, the student decides to spend most of their study time reviewing personality theories and practicing multiple-choice questions. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Sources of Bias in Social Cognition Confirmation Bias Description: The tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs and to ignore or discount information that contradicts them. Stereotyping Description: Overgeneralized beliefs about a group of people that influence how we think about individuals within that group. Ingroup Bias Description: The tendency to favor one’s own group (the ingroup) over others (the outgroup), leading to preferential treatment of ingroup members and unfair bias against outgroup members. ✓ Attributional Biases Description: Biases in how we explain the causes of behavior, often leading to incorrect or overly simplistic conclusions. ✓ Attribution theory is a psychological framework that explores how individuals interpret and explain the causes of behavior—both their own and that of others. Developed primarily by Fritz Heider in the 1950s and later expanded by other scholars like Harold Kelley and Bernard Weiner, attribution theory is fundamental to understanding social perception and cognition. Key Concepts in Attribution Theory Internal vs. External Attributions: Internal (Dispositional) Attribution: Refers to attributing behavior to personal factors such as personality traits, abilities, or feelings. External (Situational) Attribution: Refers to attributing behavior to external factors such as the environment, other people, or luck. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Performance Task Directions: Answer the following questions. Write your answer in a Word Document, Then save in a PDF format, Then TURN IN. Read your Module to answer the questions below. 1. How did early philosophical roots, particularly the ideas of Plato and Aristotle, contribute to the development of social psychology as a distinct scientific discipline? 2. What are the key differences between internal (dispositional) and external (situational) attributions in Attribution Theory, and how might these attributions impact our judgments of others' behavior? 3. How do mental shortcuts (heuristics) and cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias and stereotyping, affect the way we process social information and form judgments about others? LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited Learning Resources LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  Republic of the Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University Province of Laguna ISO 9001:2015 Certified Level I Institutionally Accredited a. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-1-4419-0463-8_299 b. Feldman, R. S., Sapio, M., Kozmová, M., Devonis, D. C., Taylor, E. I., Devonis, D. C., Fredman, L., Elhammoumi, M., Cautin, R. L., Rodkey, E. N., Winitz, H., Rich, G. J., Clark, D. O., Morris, E. K., Seim, D. L., Gergen, K. J., Jeshmaridian, S., Lovie, S., Lovie, P.,... Thomas, R. K. (2012). Social Psychology. In Springer eBooks (pp. 1005–1010). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419- 0463-8_299 c. Stangor, C., & Walinga, J. (2014, October 17). 1.2 The Evolution of Psychology: history, approaches, and questions. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/1- 2-the-evolution-of-psychology-history-approaches-and-questions/ d. Publisher, A. R. a. R. O. O. (2015, October 27). 1.1 Defining Social Psychology: history and principles. Pressbooks. https://open.lib.umn.edu/socialpsychology/chapter/1-1-defining-social- psychology-history-and-principles/ e. MSEd, K. C. (2023, January 24). Social cognition in Psychology. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/social-cognition- 2795912#:~:text=Social%20cognition%20is%20an%20important%20topic%20within%20social, store%2C%20process%2C%20and%20use%20information%20about%20other%20people. f. LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY