Social Psychology: Theories, Self-Concept, and Cognitive Principles

Social Psychology

The psychology of the individual as a social being; how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others

Importance of Social Psychology

Helps explain how individuals influence and are influenced by social situations, groups, and culture

Organizing Principle: Individual and Environment

The individual shapes the environment and is shaped by the environment

Organizing Principle: Types of Thinking

Thinking can be deliberate (controlled) or automatic

Organizing Principle: Decision Making

We rely on both logic and intuition to make decisions

Organizing Principle: Motivation

Thought is shaped by motivation and goals

Organizing Principle: Culture

Culture shapes behavior, values, and social norms

Organizing Principle: Evolution

Evolution shapes patterns of behavior that promote survival and reproduction

Organizing Principle: Brain and Behavior

Brain activity affects behavior and behavior affects brain activity

The Self

A symbol-using, self-reflective, social being

Sense of Self (Why We Have One)

Allows us to understand who we are, guide behavior, and interact with others

Early Theories of the Self

Mead and James proposed that the self has two parts: "I" and "Me"

"I" (Executive Self)

The part of the self responsible for perception and action

"Me" (Descriptive Self)

The part of the self that reflects self-concept

Mead's "I"

Responsible for perception and action

Mead's "Me"

How others see and treat us; the social self

James's "I"

Responsible for perception and action

James's "Me"

Anything that symbolizes and affirms who we are

Self-Concept

The collection of information that defines the self as an object of attention

Self-Schema

The organization of self-concept information in memory

Kruger & Dunning Study (Main Finding)

People who perform poorly are less aware of how poorly they perform

Kruger & Dunning Effect

The worse you are at something, the less aware you are of how bad you really are

Kruger & Dunning Study (Implication)

Lack of skill is often accompanied by lack of insight into one's own incompetence