Social PsychologySocial Psychology

Akmal MostafaAkmal Mostafa

IntroductionIntroduction

Social psychologists are concerned Social psychologists are concerned with how we explains others’ with how we explains others’ behaviour and how others’ behaviour behaviour and how others’ behaviour affects us.affects us.

Attribution TheoryAttribution Theory

Hieder (1958)Hieder (1958) People attribute others’ behaviour to People attribute others’ behaviour to

their dispositions (internal or external).their dispositions (internal or external). Personality explanation.Personality explanation. Sometimes this is over course true, we Sometimes this is over course true, we

do have personalities after alldo have personalities after all We overestimate the importance of We overestimate the importance of

personality in others’ behaviourpersonality in others’ behaviour

Attribution TheoryAttribution Theory

We tend to do the other with us, so We tend to do the other with us, so when we do something we blame the when we do something we blame the situationsituation

The fundamental attribution errorThe fundamental attribution error• We have more data in essenceWe have more data in essence

Attributions have big effectsAttributions have big effects• Do you blame the person or the Do you blame the person or the

situation, and then do you generalize….situation, and then do you generalize….

AttitudesAttitudes

Attitudes are evaluative response Attitudes are evaluative response that predispose us to react in a that predispose us to react in a certain way tocertain way toObjectsObjectsEvents Events PeoplePeople

It has three components: cognitive-It has three components: cognitive-Affective and Behavioral.Affective and Behavioral.

Functions of AttitudeFunctions of Attitude

1- Knowledge.

2- expression.

3- Ego-Defense.

4- Social adjustment.

Balance Theory:People tend to organize their attitude in harmony.

Cognitive dissonance:When two or more of our attitudes are inconsistent with each other

Attitude changeAttitude change

Do we change the way people think?Do we change the way people think? Not necessarilyNot necessarily Attitudes guide actions ifAttitudes guide actions if

• Outside influences are minimalOutside influences are minimal• Attitude is specifically related to the Attitude is specifically related to the

behaviourbehaviour• Awareness of attitudes is importantAwareness of attitudes is important

Social InfluenceSocial Influence

Different ways to have power (social Different ways to have power (social power over others:power over others:

1- Authority.1- Authority.

2- reward.2- reward.

3- Coercive power.3- Coercive power.

4- Charisma.4- Charisma.

5- Expert. 5- Expert.

Conformity and ObedienceConformity and Obedience

Conformity is the agreement of Conformity is the agreement of people with each others.people with each others.• Suicides go up after suicides are Suicides go up after suicides are

publishedpublished

• So do car crashesSo do car crashes

• Airplane crashesAirplane crashes

Factors that affect conformityFactors that affect conformity

Made to feel incompetentMade to feel incompetent At least three peopleAt least three people High status groupHigh status group UnanimityUnanimity No prior commitmentNo prior commitment Our behaviour is in the openOur behaviour is in the open Cultural effectsCultural effects

Social InfluenceSocial Influence

Normative social influenceNormative social influence• When it is clear what the norm is (goal is When it is clear what the norm is (goal is

social acceptance).social acceptance). Informational social influenceInformational social influence

• When we are not sure about what to do, When we are not sure about what to do, but we have to do the right thingbut we have to do the right thing

MilgramMilgram

Teacher and LearnerTeacher and Learner Learner was a confederateLearner was a confederate Paired associatesPaired associates Wrong answer, given a ‘shock’Wrong answer, given a ‘shock’ ‘‘You must continue’You must continue’ 63% completed!63% completed! Started a big debate about ethicsStarted a big debate about ethics Most participants were happy to learn this Most participants were happy to learn this

scary thing about themselvesscary thing about themselves

What does it all mean?What does it all mean?

People go against their beliefs under People go against their beliefs under the right circumstancesthe right circumstances

Under the right conditions people will Under the right conditions people will do awful thingsdo awful things• Don’t let this absolve anyoneDon’t let this absolve anyone

Social FacilitationSocial Facilitation

Improved performance in the Improved performance in the presence of others of the same presence of others of the same species.species.

Probably due to arousalProbably due to arousal

Social LoafingSocial Loafing

Doing things as a group and loafingDoing things as a group and loafing When you believe others are trying, When you believe others are trying,

you may quityou may quit Cultural effectsCultural effects Less accountableLess accountable

Crowded behavior and Crowded behavior and DeindividuationDeindividuation

People feels to loose their identity People feels to loose their identity and belong to group (during football and belong to group (during football matches).matches).

Diminished responsibilityDiminished responsibility

Less likely to help a stranger when Less likely to help a stranger when you are in a groupyou are in a group

Crowd factors lead to deindividuation:

1- Anonymity.

2- Diffuse responsibility.

3- decreased self awareness.

Group PolarizationGroup Polarization

Small differences between groups Small differences between groups tend to growtend to grow

More specifically you get an More specifically you get an enhancement of a group’s prevailing enhancement of a group’s prevailing tendanciestendancies

GroupthinkGroupthink

OverconfidenceOverconfidence ConformityConformity Self justificationSelf justification Can be stopped by a good leader Can be stopped by a good leader

that listens to others and welcomes that listens to others and welcomes criticismcriticism

Minorities can affect the group if they Minorities can affect the group if they stick to their gunsstick to their guns

Cultural effectsCultural effects

Of course, in social psych cultural Of course, in social psych cultural effects are going to be hugeeffects are going to be huge

Different cultures have different Different cultures have different normsnorms

Personal space for examplePersonal space for example There are cultural effects on gender There are cultural effects on gender

roles, though there are quite a few roles, though there are quite a few universals toouniversals too

PrejudicePrejudice

Mixture of beliefs, emotions and Mixture of beliefs, emotions and actions towards a groupactions towards a group

Influences cognitionInfluences cognition While blatant prejudice is on the While blatant prejudice is on the

wane, subtler forms are still out wane, subtler forms are still out therethere

VictimsVictims

They experience a few different They experience a few different thingsthings

Social inequalitySocial inequality ExclusionExclusion scapegoatingscapegoating

Where does it come from?Where does it come from?

We have a need to categorize stuffWe have a need to categorize stuff The availability heuristic does not The availability heuristic does not

help muchhelp much The just world hypothesisThe just world hypothesis

• They deserve itThey deserve it

AggressionAggression

There are genetic factorsThere are genetic factors There are biochemical factorsThere are biochemical factors The frustration aggression The frustration aggression

hypothesishypothesis Learning effectsLearning effects

ConclusionsConclusions

Social psychology is coolSocial psychology is cool Just because you think you know Just because you think you know

something, does not mean you do, something, does not mean you do, lots of counter-intuitive datalots of counter-intuitive data

The situation is importantThe situation is important The group is importantThe group is important WE ARE DONEWE ARE DONE