Key Concepts in Social Psychology and Prejudice

What is social psychology?

The scientific study of how individuals think, feel and behave in a social context.

What are the key learning outcomes in social psychology?

1. Create a learning goal for the semester. 2. Explain traditional vs. modern forms of prejudice. 3. Seek and use feedback to refine understanding of key concepts.

What are prominent concepts in social psychology?

Power of the situation, social identity, and social influence.

What defines a group in social psychology?

A group consists of 2 or more people who interact over time, influence each other, and share a common purpose.

What is social identity?

The part of our self-concept derived from our group membership, shaping how we define ourselves in relation to others.

How does social identity influence behavior?

It shapes who we help, our behavior in a crowd, and our prejudices.

What is social influence?

The effects of the presence or actions of others on the way people think, feel, and behave.

What is conformity in social psychology?

Conformity is when we adjust our thoughts, feelings, or behavior to match those of another person or group.

Who was Solomon Asch?

A prominent social psychologist known for his work on conformity, particularly the Asch conformity experiments.

What is the power of the situation in social psychology?

It refers to how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by our circumstances rather than just personal traits.

What example illustrates the power of the situation?

The Jonestown incident, questioning whether behavior was due to individual traits or the specific social situation.

What is prejudice in social psychology?

A preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience, often involving negative attitudes towards a group.

What are the components of prejudice?

Cognitive (beliefs), affective (feelings), and behavioral (discrimination) components.

What is the difference between direct and indirect discrimination?

Direct discrimination is overt and explicit, while indirect discrimination occurs when policies or practices disproportionately affect a group.

What is implicit bias?

An unconscious attitude or stereotype that affects our understanding, actions, and decisions.

How is implicit bias measured?

It can be measured through various psychological assessments, such as the Implicit Association Test (IAT).

What is self-regulated learning?

A process where learners take control of their own learning by setting goals, monitoring progress, and reflecting on outcomes.

What is the significance of Triplett's 1898 observation?

He observed that cyclists performed better when riding with others than when alone, highlighting social facilitation.

What role does feedback play in learning social psychology?

Feedback from peers or teachers helps refine understanding of key concepts relevant to social psychology.

What are some common forms of prejudice?

Racial, gender, age, and religious prejudices are common forms.

What is the relationship between norms and group behavior?

Norms are shared expectations that influence behavior within groups.

What is the significance of analyzing cross-cultural examples in social psychology?

It helps understand how social behavior varies across different cultural contexts.

What was the main finding of the laboratory study involving kids and fishing reels?

Children performed better when competing against another than when completing the task alone.

What enduring topic in Social Psychology was established from the laboratory study?

How the presence of others influences an individual's performance.

How did WWII influence the field of Social Psychology?

It fueled the search for scientific understanding of destructive and violent phenomena.

What did Milgram's research demonstrate about individuals and authority?

It showed individuals' vulnerability to authority, suggesting that war criminals may not be inherently evil but rather obedient.

What ethical concerns arose from Milgram's research?

There was intense debate around the ethics of the research and the generalizability of findings beyond the laboratory setting.

What recent interests have social psychologists explored regarding health and happiness?

The connections between social situations and health and happiness.

What is social neuroscience?

A field that studies how social behavior influences and is influenced by the brain.

What are some examples of social psychological impacts studied during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The impact of social isolation, prejudice and discrimination on health, and effects of violent video games on aggression.

How have technological advances changed social psychological research?

They allow for investigation of questions that were previously impractical, impossible, or unethical.

What new social context has emerged due to technological advances?

The online world, where social psychologists investigate phenomena that may occur differently than in the real world.

What does cross-cultural research in Social Psychology examine?

The generalizability and specificity of theories and findings across cultures and social groups.

What are the distinctions between collectivist and individualistic cultures?

They influence social psychological phenomena such as conformity.

What is a social role?

An expected pattern of behavior attached to one's position in a group or society.

Give an example of a social role.

Roles such as Captain, Prime Minister, or gender roles.

Why are roles important in group interactions?

They divide labor and assist interactions by allowing anticipation of behaviors.

How can unclear roles affect group members?

Unclear roles or conflicts between roles can lead to negative consequences.

What might a smooth transition to college indicate about social roles?

It suggests that students understand the expected behaviors and norms in the educational context.

What is the impact of group membership on individual experiences?

People experience the world differently based on their group membership, affecting their perceptions.

What is an example of a social psychological phenomenon influenced by group membership in Australia?

The AHRC anti-racism advertisement illustrates how different groups experience social issues.

What role do norms play in social roles?

Norms dictate the expected behaviors associated with each role.

How do roles function within a group?

They help organize group interactions and clarify expectations for behavior.

What are social norms?

Accepted social rules that guide conduct, prescribing what we should and should not do in various situations.

What are explicit norms?

Norms that are directly communicated and clearly stated, such as laws, policies, and classroom rules.

What are implicit norms?

Norms acquired through interaction with others that are not necessarily directly communicated.

What is prejudice?

A positive or negative attitude towards members of a group based on their group membership.

What is the primary focus of the study of prejudice in this context?

To explore intergroup relations and the manifestations, origins, impacts, and challenges of prejudice.

What is social categorization?

The process of sorting individuals into social groups based on categories like gender, race, ethnicity, and more.

How does group membership influence social identity?

Group membership shapes how we relate to others and informs our social identity.

What is the tendency regarding in-groups and out-groups?

We tend to show prejudice towards out-groups (those we are least familiar with) and preference for our own in-groups.

What are common forms of prejudice?

Sexism, racism, ageism, ableism, and homophobia.

What does the tri-component model of prejudice consist of?

Affect (feelings), behaviors (actions), and cognitions (thoughts and beliefs).

What is direct discrimination?

When an individual is treated unfairly due to a personal characteristic, such as not hiring a pregnant job candidate.

What is indirect discrimination?

When equal treatment disadvantages an individual because of a personal characteristic, such as a workplace policy that rewards continuous service.

What is a stereotype in the context of prejudice?

A generalized and simplistic collection of beliefs applied to all members of a group, ignoring individual differences.

What is the impact of prejudice on society?

Prejudice can lead to discrimination and social division, affecting individuals' opportunities and well-being.

How can prejudice be challenged?

Through education, awareness, and promoting understanding and acceptance among different social groups.

What is sexism?

Prejudice based on the category of sex.

What is racism?

Prejudice based on the category of race.

What is ageism?

Prejudice based on the category of age.

What is ableism?

Prejudice based on the category of ability.

What is homophobia?

Prejudice based on the category of sexual orientation.

What role does affect play in prejudice?

Affect refers to the negative feelings associated with prejudicial attitudes.

What role do behaviors play in prejudice?

Behaviors refer to the discriminatory actions taken as a result of prejudicial attitudes.

What role do cognitions play in prejudice?

Cognitions refer to the stereotypes and beliefs that inform our understanding of different groups.

What is stereotyping in the context of social psychology?

A mental shortcut that allows us to evaluate people quickly by fitting them into pre-existing mental categories (schemas).

How can stereotypes be both helpful and harmful?

Stereotypes may be useful for quick evaluations but can contribute to prejudice by being based on incorrect information and ignoring individual differences.

What are the four components of traditional prejudice identified by Blumer (1961)?

1. Belief that the majority is superior to the minority. 2. Belief that the minority group is somehow 'different'. 3. Belief that the majority is more important and powerful than the minority. 4. Feelings of fear and insecurity regarding threats to social dominance posed by minorities.

What characterizes traditional prejudice?

It is overt and publicly recognizable, often leading to actions like genocide, hate crimes, and verbal/physical attacks.

What distinguishes modern prejudice from traditional prejudice?

Modern prejudice is more subtle and less socially acceptable, often involving denial, opposition to minority group demands, and resentment about perceived special treatment.

What is an example of denial in modern prejudice?

The belief that 'There is no racism in Australia, everyone has a fair go.'

What is an example of opposition to minority group demands in modern prejudice?

The question 'Why should we say sorry? Why should we have to change the date?'

What are the two forms of attitudes humans have?

Explicit attitudes, which are conscious and controllable, and implicit attitudes, which are unconscious and uncontrollable.

What does IAT stand for, and what does it measure?

IAT stands for Implicit Association Test, which measures implicit attitudes and biases.

What does IAT research reveal about Australians' attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

Data shows that ¾ of Australians hold negative implicit biases about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What is an example of a statement reflecting traditional prejudice regarding gender?

The belief that 'Women are generally not as smart as men.'

What is an example of a statement reflecting modern prejudice regarding gender?

The belief that 'The #Metoo movement has gone too far.'

What is a common misconception about workplace harassment training in relation to modern prejudice?

The belief that 'I am a good man and treat all people with respect so I should not have to engage with mandatory workplace harassment training.'

What is a stereotype about gender roles in sports?

The belief that 'Boys are naturally better at sport than girls.'

What is a common stereotype about leadership and gender?

The belief that 'Men make better leaders than women.'

What is a stereotype regarding emotional sensitivity between genders?

The belief that 'Females are more sensitive and emotional than males.'

How do implicit attitudes differ from explicit attitudes in terms of social desirability?

Most people do not show extreme prejudices in explicit attitudes due to social desirability, but implicit attitudes often reveal mild to strong prejudices.

What is the significance of understanding implicit bias in social interactions?

Understanding implicit bias is crucial as it operates outside of conscious awareness and can influence behavior and decision-making involuntarily.

What does the term 'modern prejudice' refer to?

Modern prejudice refers to subtle forms of prejudice that have evolved as overt expressions of prejudice have become less socially acceptable.

What role does fear play in traditional prejudice?

Fear and insecurity are related to the perceived threat that minority groups pose to one's social dominance.

What is the impact of stereotypes on individual differences?

Stereotypes can ignore individual differences, leading to oversimplified and often inaccurate perceptions of people.

How can stereotypes lead to prejudice?

Stereotypes can contribute to prejudice by providing a basis for negative assumptions and judgments about individuals based on group membership.