Psych 112 Lecture 1 2024 PDF

Social component of Psych 112 Dr. Jackie Hunter This section of the course runs for 3 weeks Beginning 15-9-2024 The course text is ‘Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour by Passer and Smith (2019.) Australia: McGraw-Hill (3rd Ed). Much of the material contained in this series...

Social component of Psych 112 Dr. Jackie Hunter This section of the course runs for 3 weeks Beginning 15-9-2024 The course text is ‘Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour by Passer and Smith (2019.) Australia: McGraw-Hill (3rd Ed). Much of the material contained in this series of lectures is covered in chapter 13 (pages 504-508 and p. 511 only) and chapter 17. Lectures 7 (the Stanford Prison Experiment, SPE) and 8, (the Milgram Obedience Experiment, MOE) are covered via video recording, PowerPoint slides and the course text (see pages 695-696, and p. 713 for the SPE; and pages 706-710 and p. 736 for the MOE) Introduction to Social Psychology Freud and Psychoanalysis Attitudes and Attitude Change Attribution. Interpersonal Attraction. Social influence Zimbardo prison experiment Milgram obedience studies Prejudice  Introduction to Social Psychology 1. Dialogues and Debates in Social Psychology. 2. Approaches to Social Theorizing. 3. Levels of Explanation in Social Psychology.  Definition “Social Psychology is a discipline in which people attempt to understand, explain and predict how the thoughts, feelings and actions of individuals are influenced by the perceived, imagined or implied thoughts, feelings and actions of others” (McKnight & Sutton, 1994, p.5).  Dialogues and Debates in Social Psychology The nature of humankind: Rousseau “man is by nature good and only institutions make him bad.” Hobbes “man is by nature solitary, poore, nasty and brutish.” If not for the civilizing constraints of society, there would be “a war of all against all.”  More recent debates What sort of questions should be asked within social psychology? What sort of theory should be used ? What sort of issue should be studied ? What sort of research methods should be used Debates and dialogues not a weakness but a strength. Social psychologists are willing to challenge assumptions. From debates new ideas and syntheses emerge. Approaches to social psychology 1. Cognitive 2. Learning 3. Motivational 4. Biological 5. Cultural  Cognitive perspective Emphasis on how perception affects behaviour. If you interpret noxious behaviour as accidental then it is unlikely that you will respond aggressively. If you interpret the same behaviour as deliberate then you may respond aggressively.  Learning perspective Emphasis on principles of reinforcement and imitation. Tendency to focus on observable behaviour and ignore cognition. Responses based on prior learning.  Motivational perspective Emphasis on basic human needs. As we have biological needs - we have psychological needs.  Biological perspective Emphasis: evolutionary past and genetic disposition Cultural perspective Emphasis on how culture affects social behaviour Levels of explanation in social psychology 4 levels of analysis 1. Intra-personal level 2. Inter-personal level 3. Inter-group level 4. Societal level  Intra-personal level Based on what goes on inside the person  Inter-personal level Interactions between two people  Inter-group level Based on group level behaviour.  Societal level Cultural effects on behaviour.  Summary 1. Dialogues and Debates in Social Psychology. 2. Approaches to Social Theorizing. 3. Levels of Explanation in Social Psychology. Which of the thinkers below is the most likely to have argued that the nature of society can make people do ‘bad’ things? a) Jean Jacques Rousseau b) Thomas Hobbes c) Stanley Miliband d) Zip Pimbardo