Key Concepts in Social Psychology: Definitions, Researchers, and Methodologies

Social Psychology definition

The scientific study of individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a social context.

Social psychology vs. sociology (questions they ask, methodology)

Social psychology focuses on individuals, uses controlled experiments, and manipulates variables. Sociology focuses on groups, often uses correlational studies, and rarely manipulates variables.

Norman Triplett

First to publish social psychology research; studied cyclists and found the presence of others improved performance.

Max Ringlemann

Studied rope pulling; found people exert less effort in groups (social loafing).

WWII's effect on social psychology

Highlighted the dark side of human behavior (violence, obedience, conformity), caused European psychologists to immigrate to the U.S., and accelerated growth of the field.

Muzafer Sherif

Studied social influence and conformity in 1936.

Kurt Lewin

Developed the Interactionist Perspective (behavior = person × environment); applied social psych to real-world problems like conserving resources during WWII.

Stanley Milgram

Conducted obedience studies inspired by WWII; showed people obey authority even when it conflicts with conscience.

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

Founded in 1936; first organized group of social psychologists.

Cross-cultural research

Compares/contrasts psychological phenomena across cultures; challenges U.S./Canada-only generalizations.

Social neuroscience

Studies links between neural and social processes (e.g., social rejection activates same brain areas as physical pain).

Hypothesis vs. theory

Hypothesis = specific, testable prediction; Theory = broad framework explaining phenomena with evidence.

Basic vs. applied research

Basic = knowledge for theory; Applied = solving real-world problems.

Operational definition

Clear statement of how a variable is measured or manipulated.

Construct validity

Degree to which a measure accurately represents the concept it's supposed to.

Self-report measures and their flaws

Participants disclose thoughts/behaviors; flaws = memory errors, dishonesty, social desirability bias.

Bogus Pipeline technique

Fake machine convinces participants their true attitudes are being measured → reduces lying.

Observational measures and their flaws

Watching/recording behavior; flaws = observer bias, participants may act differently if observed.

Interrater reliability

Agreement level among multiple observers; high reliability = consistent results.

Descriptive, correlational, and experimental research

Descriptive = describes behavior; Correlational = examines relationships; Experimental = manipulates IV to test causality.

Independent vs. dependent variables

IV = manipulated variable; DV = measured outcome.

Subject variables

Pre-existing traits (age, gender, SES) that can't be manipulated.

External vs. internal validity

Internal validity = confidence IV caused DV; External validity = generalizability.

Confound

Uncontrolled variable that distorts results.

Random sampling

Every population member has equal chance of being selected for a study.

WEIRD

Most psychology samples are Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic.

Experimental vs. mundane realism

Mundane = resembles real life; Experimental = feels real even if artificial.

Deception

Misleading participants about study purpose to increase realism.

Meta-analysis

Combines data from multiple studies to find overall patterns.

Bem's 2011 controversy

Published ESP study; failed replications sparked replication crisis and calls for transparency.

IRB

Institutional Review Board; ensures ethics, informed consent, and debriefing in research.

Data scraping

Using pre-existing data (e.g., social media) without consent; raises ethical issues.

Self-concept & self-schema

Self-concept = collection of beliefs about the self; Self-schemas = frameworks that guide self-relevant information.

William Thompson's self-concept issues

Amnesiac patient who lacked memory continuity and constantly created new identities.

Autobiographical memories

Personal memories shaping identity; easier to recall "firsts" and formative years.