Social Psychology

Basic ConceptsAttractionSocial InfluenceGroup InfluenceProsocial BehaviorPower and LeadershipAggressionPrejudice and Discrimination

Basic Concepts

CultureSocial Role

AscribedAchievedRole conflictsGender role

StatusNormGroup structure

Individual Attraction

Proximity or geographic closenessReciprocity or reciprocal likingSimilarityPhysical AttractivenessRomantic Attraction and Mating

Individual Attraction

Typical spatial zones (in feet) for face-to-face interactions in North America. Often, we must stand within intimate distance of others in crowds, buses, subways, elevators, and other public places. At such times, privacy is maintained by avoiding eye contact, by standing shoulder to shoulder or back to back, and by positioning a purse, bag, package, or coat as a barrier to spatial intrusions.

Group Attraction

CohesivenessSocial comparisons

Downward comparisonUpward comparison

Common goalsScapegoats

Asch’s Conformity Experiment

Standard Line

1 2 3

Milgram’s Obediance Study

Results of Milgram’s obedience experiment. Only a minority of subjects refused to provide shocks, even at the most extreme intensities. The first substantial drop in obedience occurred at the 300-volt level (Milgram, 1963). VIDEO

The Stanford Prison Experiment

http://www.prisonexp.org/slide-1.htm

Compliance

Foot-in-the door technique Door-in-the-face techniqueLow-ball technique

Group Influence

Social facilitation Social loafing Group polarization Groupthink

Methods of Reducing Cognitive Dissonance

Explain Away Inconsistency“Ill quit before it can hurt me.”

“I really don’t smoke that much.”

Change Behavior

Quit Smoking

Source of Cognitive DissonanceBehavior: “I smoke”

Attitude: “Smoking Causes Cancer.”

Change Attitude

Smoking isn’t that dangerous

Reduce Importance of Inconsistency“I have good gene, my family lives to ripe old age.”

“I exercise and have a better diet than most people.”

Elements of Persuasion

Source of the Communication Audience Message Medium

Power and Leadership

Bases of power Cults Great person theory Situational Theory

Prosocial Behavior

Altruism Egoism Empathy Social responsibility Bystander Effect Diffusion of responsibility

Aggression

Biological Factors in Aggression Frustration-aggression hypothesis Aggression in response to pain Aggression in response to adverse

conditions Social Learning Theory of Aggression The Media and Aggression

Prejudice and Discrimination

In-group/out-group conflict Social cognition Stereotypes Prejudice Discrimination in the workplace