Social Sciences

Week 4

What is Social Psychology?

The scientific study of how people influence others' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Focuses on social interactions, relationships, and group dynamics.
Examines situational factors vs. personal dispositions in shaping behavior.

Importance of Social Psychology

HELPS US UNDERSTAND SOCIAL INFLUENCES ON HUMAN ACTIONS.
AFFECTS ATTITUDES,
PERSUASION, PREJUDICE, AGGRESSION, AND CONFORMITY.
USED IN FIELDS LIKE MARKETING, POLITICS, THERAPY, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Situational vs. Dispositional Influences on Behavior

Situational influences: Environment, cultural context, presence of others.

Dispositional influences: Personality traits, temperament, personal beliefs.

Social psychology focuses on situational explanations rather than dispositional.

The Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating personal traits and underestimating situational factors in explaining others' behavior.

Example: Assuming someone is rude rather than considering their external circumstances.
More common in individualistic cultures (U.S., Canada) than collectivistic cultures (Japan, China).

Actor-Observer Bias

We attribute our own behavior to situational factors but others’ behavior to dispositional factors.

Example: If we fail an exam, we blame the test difficulty, but if someone else fails, we assume they didn’t study.

Self-Serving Bias

Tendency to credit successes to personal abilities and blame failures on external factors.
Helps maintain self-esteem but can distort reality.

Example: A student does well on a test and says, "I'm smart," but fails the next one and blames the teacher.

Social Roles and Their Influence

Social roles define expected behaviors in specific
settings.

Example: A student listens in class but may act differently with friends.

Roles can influence identity and behavior significantly.

Social Norms – Unwritten Rules of Behavior

Social norms guide appropriate behavior in different settings.

Example: Dressing formally at a wedding but casually at a barbecue.

Norms vary by culture, situation, and group expectations

The Power of Scripts

Scripts are mental guides for social situations (e.g., ordering food at a restaurant).

Help us adapt to social expectations and reduce uncertainty.

Can differ across cultures and contexts.

What is Conformity?

Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with a group standard.

Normative social influence: Conforming to fit in.

Informational social influence: Conforming because we think the group is correct.

Classic Study on Conformity – Asch’s Experiment

Showed how individuals conformed to incorrect group opinions.

75% conformed at least once, even when they knew the answer was wrong.
Demonstrated the power of peer pressure and social influence.

Obedience to Authority – Milgram’s Experiment

SHOWED HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE OBEY AUTHORITY FIGURES, EVEN WHEN HARMING OTHERS.

65% OF PARTICIPANTS DELIVERED THE MAXIMUM SHOCK TO AN UNSEEN PERSON

ETHICAL CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS ON PARTICIPANTS

What is Prejudice?

A negative attitude toward an individual based on group membership.

Based on race, gender, age, religion, or other social categories.

Often leads to discrimination (unjustified negative actions).

Causes of Prejudice

Social learning: Prejudice is learned from family, peers, and media.

In-group bias: Favoring one’s own group over outsiders.

Scapegoating: Blaming others for one’s problems (e.g., economic struggles).

Combating Prejudice

Education and awareness reduce biases.

Contact theory: Increased positive interactions between groups can reduce prejudice.

Equal-status cooperation (e.g., working toward shared goals) improves relations.

Understanding Aggression

Aggression is behavior intended to harm another person.

Two types: Hostile (emotional- based) vs. Instrumental (goal- oriented).

Influenced by biological, social, and environmental factors.

The Role of Media in Aggression

Exposure to violent video games, TV, and social media may increase aggression.

Desensitization: Frequent exposure reduces emotional sensitivity.

Studies show mixed results – not everyone is affected the same way.

Prosocial Behavior – Helping Others

Prosocial behavior is voluntary action intended to help others.

Includes empathy, altruism, and social responsibility.
Influenced by cultural norms and personal values.

The Bystander Effect

When more people are present, individuals are less likely to help.
Famous case: Kitty Genovese murder (1964) – 38 witnesses, no one helped.

Diffusion of responsibility: Assuming someone else will take action.

What are Mood Disorders?

Disorders characterized by severe disturbances in mood and emotion.

Includes Depressive Disorders and Bipolar Disorders.

Can significantly affect daily life, work, and relationships.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Persistent sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities.
Symptoms: fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating.
Leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization).

Bipolar Disorder

CHARACTERIZED BY MOOD SWINGS BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND MANIA.

MANIC EPISODES: INCREASED ENERGY, RACING THOUGHTS, IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR.

DEPRESSIVE EPISODES: EXTREME SADNESS, LOW ENERGY, WITHDRAWAL

Causes of Mood Disorders

BIOLOGICAL FACTORS: NEUROTRANSMITTER IMBALANCES (SEROTONIN, DOPAMINE).

GENETIC INFLUENCES: FAMILY HISTORY INCREASES RISK.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: STRESS, TRAUMA, LIFESTYLE HABITS.

Understanding Suicide

Suicide is a leading cause of death globally.

More common in males (firearms used most frequently). Between Spring and Early summer.

Higher rates among older adults and American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

Risk Factors for Suicide

Substance abuse increases risk significantly.

Past suicide attempts raise the likelihood of another attempt.
Social withdrawal, feelings of hopelessness, and reckless behaviors are warning signs.

The Impact of Media on Suicide Rates

Celebrity suicides may trigger copycat suicides (Werther Effect).
Newspaper coverage has a stronger impact than television reporting
Social media may influence vulnerable individuals

What is Schizophrenia?

Severe mental disorder affecting thoughts, perception, and emotions.
Affects about 1% of the population

Leads to significant impairments in social and occupational functioning.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

POSITIVE SYMPTOMS: HALLUCINATIONS, DELUSIONS, DISORGANIZED SPEECH.

NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS: LACK OF MOTIVATION, EMOTIONAL FLATNESS, REDUCED SPEECH.

COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS: DIFFICULTY WITH ATTENTION, MEMORY, DECISION-MAKING.

Causes of Schizophrenia

Genetics: High risk if a parent has schizophrenia.

Neurotransmitters: Dopamine overactivity linked to symptoms.

Environmental triggers: Prenatal exposure to viruses, stress.

The Diathesis-Stress Model

Suggests schizophrenia develops from genetic predisposition + environmental stress.

Adoption studies support this theory.

High-risk individuals in a stressful family environment more likely to develop the disorder.

What Are Dissociative Disorders?

Disruptions in memory, identity, or consciousness.

Often linked to trauma or stress.

Includes Dissociative Amnesia, Depersonalization Disorder, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

Dissociative Amnesia

Sudden memory loss without a physical cause.

Often follows severe trauma, abuse, or war experiences.

May involve dissociative fugue – wandering away from home with identity confusion.

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Feelings of detachment from self (depersonalization).
Unreal or dreamlike perception of surroundings (derealization).
Commonly triggered by stress or trauma.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Presence of two or more distinct personalities.
Often linked to childhood trauma or abuse.

Highly controversial – some believe cases may be over diagnosed.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

More common in boys than girls.
Hereditary and linked to brain function abnormalities.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Deficits in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.
Wide spectrum: Some individuals function independently, others require lifelong
support.
Early intervention can improve outcomes.

Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Genetic and environmental factors.

Brain abnormalities in communication pathways.
Vaccines do NOT cause autism (scientific consensus)

What Are Personality Disorders?

Long-term patterns of maladaptive behavior and thought processes.

• Grouped into three clusters:
o Cluster A (Odd/Eccentric): Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal.
o Cluster B (Dramatic/Emotional): Borderline, Antisocial, Narcissistic.
o Cluster C (Anxious/Fearful): Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive- Compulsive.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

INSTABILITY IN SELF-IMAGE, EMOTIONS, AND RELATIONSHIPS.
FEAR OF ABANDONMENT, IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR, AND SELF-HARM.

OFTEN LINKED TO CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND GENETIC FACTORS

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)

Disregard for others’ rights, lack of empathy manipulative behavior.
More common in men than women.

Genetic and environmental influences (abuse, neglect, family criminal history).