Social Psychology PDF

PSYCHOLOGY VS SOCIAL PSYHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY - A scientific study of the SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY - A branch of psychology human mind and behavior which pays specific attention...

PSYCHOLOGY VS SOCIAL PSYHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY - A scientific study of the SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY - A branch of psychology human mind and behavior which pays specific attention to the influence of the society on the individual - The focus is on the individual in -explores how the behavior, all aspects of life mental processes and individual emotions are influenced by the social surrounding - Includes a variety of sub- -consists of a range of topics discipline such as personality that include; group dynamic, psychology, positive prejudice and stereotype, psychology, development obedience and conformity, and psychology, etc. aggression CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY PREPARED BY: DR. NUR AZLINA MOHAMAD ZAHARI  DEFINITION “….scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behaviour and thought in social situations.” AND “...investigates the ways in which our thoughts, feelings and actions are influenced by the social environments”.... Robert A Baron “ the study of human behaviour in its social context; involving scientific investigation of how thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others” Gordon Allport, 1935 A scientific study of how people think about, influence and relate to one another in order to view and understand of ourselves It is about the experimental on individualistic and environmental science whereby the individual can be influenced by social. David G Myers  Social Psychology as a Scientific Field Social psychology is regarded as scientific in nature because it focuses on FOUR core values namely: 1. Accuracy - information gathering must be conducted in careful, precise and error-free manner 2. Objectivity - evaluating the information – should be free from bias as humanly possible 3. Skepticism – must verify the result to determine accuracy of the findings  HISTORICAL 1) BACKGROUND Informal discovery of social psychology When human starts to measure the thought, feelings and behaviour of human being 2) The early years: 1895 – 1934 ▶ Norman Triplett ( American Psychologist) was the person generally credited with having conducted the first experimental study that could be classified as social psychological in nature. ▶ In 1895, he asked a question; “how does a person’s performance of a task change when other people are present?” ▶ Then, he conducted a research of the official records of bicycle races in America. ▶ The result was: a rider’s maximum speed was about 20% faster when he was paced by other cyclists then he was raced alone. ▶ In1897, his study was published and credited with introducing all the important experimental method into social sciences. ▶ The first book on social psychology was published in 1908 by Mc Dougall entitled Introduction to Social Psychology. ▶ He considered the individual to be the principal unit of analysis in this new field of science. ▶ It based largely on the view that social behavior stems/arises from innate tendencies or instinct. ▶ In 1924; Floyd Allport published a textbook which is much closer to the modern orientation of our field. ▶ He argued that social behavior stems from many branch of discipline, including the 3. The Coming Age : 1935-1945 Most of the research in social psychology developed following the WW II, when people become interested in the behaviour of individuals when group together in a social situations Example: How the German dictator Adolf Hitler could have produced such extreme obedience and horrendous behaviour in his follower. 4. Social Psychology’s Youth : The 1940s, 1950s and 1960s ▶ The field expended its scope in several directions, such as: ▶ 1959: John Thibaut & Harold Kelly published the Social Psychology of Groups ▶ 1963: Stanley published his research on obedience. ▶ 1965: Edward & Kenneth Davis published ideas on social perception. ▶ 1966: Elaine and her colleagues published their studies of romantic attraction 5. The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s : A Maturing Field Several new topics rose to prominence. ▶ 1972:Attribution ( the process through which we seek to understand the causes of other’s behaviour) was published. ▶ 1974: Sandra Bem developed the Bem Sex Role Inventory relating to the study of gender issues. Janet Spence developed the Personal Attributes Questionnaire. ▶ 1981: Gender differences had been conducted. ▶ 1986: Communication and Persuasion was ▶ 1991: Hazel Markus and Shinobu Kitayama publish their Psychological Review article on how culture shapes the self ▶ 1996: David Buss and Neil Malamuth publish Sex, Power, Conflict, an edited text offering evolutionary and feminist perspectives on sex and gender interactions. A growing number of social psychologists attempt to integrate these previously divergent perspectives. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY  Calculated form of observation used SYSTEMATI to either support or disprove a hypothesis C Techniques: Naturalistic observation OBSERVATIO Survey method N Tendency for one event to be associated with changes in others CORRELATIO Types of correlations: Positive correlation N Negative correlation No correlation Involves two key steps: the presence EXPERIMENT of variable and the effects Types of variables: AL Independent variable Dependent variable METHOD  APPROPRIATE BALANCE IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ▶ In conducting experimen either through t correlation or systemati experiment observations, ,c there are certain techniques that can be employed in reaching out for appropriate balance.  DECEPTION To withhold or conceal information about the purposes of study from participants, so that their behaviour will be changed by knowledge. However, it may lead to ethical issues. In order to overcome this, social psychologists agreed for temporary deception; INFORMED CONSENT and DEBRIEFING 1) INFORMED CONSENT ▶ Refers to procedure in which research participants are provided with as as information as much possible about a research project before deciding whether to participate in it or not. 2) DEBRIEFING ▶ Providing participants with a full description of the purpose of a study after they have participated in it which includes explanation of deception and why it is necessary to employ it.  HOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 1. Select research topic ▶ One that interests you in finding the answers to. ▶ Purpose of the research STUDY ON PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PRISON LIFE 2. Searching the research literature ▶ Read on previous findings/studies. 3. Formulating Hypotheses ▶ Prediction of what you expect to happen next in the study ▶ Effect of the research Possible hypotheses ▶Ordinary people could be readily transformed from good to bad in prison life. ▶Rolesdefine your behaviour. 4. Select subjects ▶ Random Sample - each person in the larger population has an equal chance of being included in the study. ▶ Informed Consent – Subjects should be informed of the procedures, risks and benefits, right of refusal. Laboratory (Experimental) ▶ Conducted in a controlled env. and real life setting. ▶ Cause (factors controlled by the researcher) and effect (outcome) r.ship. i.e. Cause - prisoners and guards Effect – loneliness, aggression, identity loss. Ordinary people (cause) could be readily transformed from good to bad (effect) in prison life. 6. Data Collection ▶ Self-Report : Prisoners and guards ▶ Observation: by the experimenters ▶ Archival Information 7. Analyze Data – descriptive 8. Report the Data – shared. Thoughts  IS SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY JUST COMMON SENSE? If people acted in perfectly logical ways, no one would study psychology!