Chapter 11: Social Psychology

routinization

mundane tasks don't seem as important "I'm only a small part of the process"

how can we dissent?

perceived need for help, high payoff/low risk, having an ally, entrapment

research

predictions of human behavior specifically evaluated

social/cultural prejudice

pressure from others to conform

careers

researchers, consultants, marketing directors, managers, and in government and non profit organizations

social norms

rules that define acceptable and expected behavior for members of a group

social roles

shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave

ways to measure prejudice

social distance and "microaggressions", measures of unequal treatment, measures of stressed/angry people, measures of brain activity, implicit attitudes

social identity

the "we" aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to "Who am I?" that comes from our group memberships

culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next that governs their behavior

Define fundamental attribution error.

Fundamental attribution errors is the tendency, in explaining other people's behavior, to overestimate personality factors and underestimate the influence of the situation.

Zimbardo Prison Study

Half of the subjects were assigned to be guards, Half of the subjects were assigned to be prisoners, "pretend became real", Prisoners acted like prisoners - Had to stay in prison 24/7, Had nervous break downs; Gaurds began to crack down - 1/3 became abusive, Could leave after their shifts; Study had to be terminated after 6 days

better than average effect

the finding that most people think they are above average on various personality trait and ability dimensions

Deindividuation

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity

Groupthink

the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives

familiarity effect

the tendency of people to feel more positive toward a person, item, product, or other stimulus the more familiar they are with it

attribution theory

the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition

elaboration likelihood model

theory identifying two ways to persuade: a central route and a peripheral route

social psychology

understanding behavior in a social context, how human behavior is influenced by others in different environments

cognitive dissonance

unpleasant mental experience of tension resulting from two conflicting thoughts or beliefs

politeness

we have no language for dissension, we're not taught how to confidently say no, especially to authority

stereotypes

widely held beliefs that people have certain characteristics because of their membership in a particular group

assumption

all behavior occurs in a social context, even if no one is present

implicit attitudes

attitudes that influence a person's feelings and behavior at an unconscious level

explicit attitudes

attitudes that we consciously endorse and can easily report

situational attribution

attributing behavior to the environment

dispositional attribution

attributing behavior to the person's disposition and traits

Milgram's Obedience Study

An experiment in which Stanley Milgram found that people will usually obey an authority, even if they might think what they are doing is wrong.

Compare and contrast persuasion and coercion.

Both persuasion and coercion are ways to try to influence another person. Persuasion attempts to convince another by appealing to his or her sense of reason or understanding, whereas coercion suppresses an individual's ability to reason, think critically, and make choices in his or her best interest.

How can ethnocentrism and using stereotypes lead to prejudice? Give an example.

Ethnocentrism and using stereotypes are not much different from prejudice. Generally, if we feel our culture is superior from other cultures, that is generally based on fictional ideas rather than facts about those unfamiliar cultures. If we let those feelings develop through our lives, we are in danger of exhibiting prejudice against members of that group if and when we do come in contact with them. An example would be if you become a teacher as an adult, you are likely to be prejudiced against children in your class who are of a different culture because you have let your stereotypes and sense of ethnocentrism affect how you treat them.

In the Milgram obedience study, professionals and nonprofessionals alike predicted that the results of the experiment would be much different than they were. Discuss the differences between their predictions and the actual results.

Professionals and non-professionals all predicted that most people acting as "teachers" would refuse to administer high levels of shock; however, every single subject administered some shock, and about two-thirds obeyed the orders to administer shock to the fullest extent.

Describe self-serving bias and give an example.

Self-serving bias is the tendency, in explaining one's own behavior, to take credit for one's good actions and rationalize one's mistakes. An example would be say or think, "I gave money to a charity because I'm generous", rather than to admit "I gave money to a charity because the person on the phone pressured me."

Define the term "social norms" and give two examples of social norms for a particular culture.

Social norms are rules that regulate social life, including explicit laws and implicit cultural conventions. Examples include not being openly violently except in cases of self-defense, and not shouting out loud in a public place without a good reason.

What does the Asch study suggest about our ability to "go our own way"?

The Asch study suggests that our inclination is to conform to the group when there is perceived group pressure, rather than stand by our true thoughts or beliefs.

Describe the just-world hypothesis.

The just-world hypothesis is the notion that many people need to believe that the world is fair and that justice is served, that bad people are punished and good people are rewarded.

blaming the victim

The tendency to blame individuals (make dispositional attributions) for their victimization, typically motivated by a desire to see the world as a fair place

Why is it more likely you'll receive help if there are only one or two people in the area at the time than if there are many.

Without a large crowd, responsibility can't be diffused and the bystanders' feelings of individual responsibility to help will be much stronger.

Describe three signs that you might be in a cult.

You may be in a cult if your religious group puts you under physical or emotional stress, if you are subjected to entrapment, or if your access to information is severely controlled.

entrapment

a gradual process in which individuals escalate their commitment to a course of action to justify their investment of time, money, or effort

how to reduce prejudice

equal status, economic opportunities, and power. authorities and institutions providing moral and economic support, opportunities to work and social interdependence

psychological prejudice

helps ward off feelings of doubt, fear, and insecurity

antidote

interdependence on reaching mutual goals

economic prejudice

justifying the majority group's dominance, status, or wealth