Psychology Unit 2: Social Bases of Behavior

Asch’s conformity experiment

People conform to majority opinion even if they believe it’s wrong.

Milgram’s obedience experiment

People obey authority even against conscience, giving up autonomy.

Situational factors that increase obedience.

Surveillance, distancing consequences, gradual escalation, role model influence.

Peer pressure

Feeling one must act like peers to be accepted or respected.

Peer pressure resistance method

McGuire’s inoculation approach: prepare with logical counter-arguments.

Altruism

Helping others without expecting reward, even at personal cost.

Batson’s empathy-altruism theory

Empathy leads to genuine altruism; without empathy, rewards must outweigh costs.

Prejudice

Negative attitude toward group.

Discrimination

Harmful action against group.

Stereotypes

Cognitive traits (positive or negative) ascribed to groups.

Prejudice reduction methods

Education, interdependence, interpersonal contact, equality norms.

Factors that influence attraction

Physical attractiveness, proximity, similarity, transference.

The two types of love

 Passionate (intense, sexual) and Companionate (trust, caring).

Components of Sternberg’s triangular theory of love

Intimacy, Passion, Commitment.