5. Social behaviour

Social Construction of the Self

Affected by: Culture, Environment, People you associate with

2 types of Social Construction of the Self

1. self concept

2. self esteem

Self-concept in social construction

Beliefs about who we are, what characterizes us

Self-esteem in social construction

Judgments of our value as human beings

Social Perception

interpret information, draw conclusions, and develop beliefs about others

First Impressions

• Form quickly

• Slow to change

• Negative info carries more weight

Cognitive Misers

Prefer existing beliefs over new ones

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Expectations → interactions → behavior confirms beliefs

Selective perception

Accept info that supports beliefs, ignore conflicting data

Social Comparison (Leon Festinger)

Evaluate ourselves by comparing with others

Social Identity

characteristics that makes you unique

Attribution Theory

Process of people explain causes of behavior

Types of attribution

1. Internal

2. External

Internal Attributions

based on personality

External attributions

based on environmental

Fundamental Attribution Error

• Overestimate internal

• Underestimate external

Self-serving bias

• Give yourself credit for smth good → internal attribution

• Blame problems / situation → External attribution

Attitudes

Tendency to respond positively or negatively to specific objects/people

Types of attitudes

1. Cognitive : beliefs

2. Affective :Judgement

3. Behavioral : action based on belief /emotion

4. Seek consistency between belief - feeling - action

Forming Attitudes

• Social Learning (modeling)

• Mere exposure effect - shaped by experience

Changing Attitudes

1. Persuasive Communication

2. Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Festinger)

Persuasive Communication

• Peripheral route : Communicator traits (appearance)

• Central route : Message quality

• Audience motivation determines route

Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Festinger)

• Discomfort from holding inconsistent beliefs

• Motivation to change beliefs

Prejudice & Stereotypes

1. Stereotype

2. Prejudice

3. Discrimination

Stereotype

False assumption that all group member have same features

Prejudice

Positive /negative attitude based on group

Discrimination

Different treatment based on group

Theories of Prejudice

• Authoritarian personality

• Frustration theory ( takeout frustration on a scapegoat)

• inaccurate stereotyping ( From parents/media)

How to reduce Prejudice?

• Increase contact

• Jigsaw technique (mixed-group tasks)

Keys to Attraction

• Proximity

• Similarity

• Pleasant environment

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

1. intimacy : Sharing of self

2. Passion: Physical/emotional unstable

3. Commitment: Loyalty & responsibility

Social Influence

1. Social norms → learn rules of a culture

2. Conformity → Change behavior to match a group (due to unspoken pressure )

3. Obedience → agreeing to an explicit demand

What happened to conformity when group size increase?

Conformity increase

Stanley Milgram (Obedience study)

• Subjects ordered to give (fake) shocks to a person if they made mistake on a learning task

• 65% delivered max 450 volts

• Stressful but followed orders

factors affecting obedience

• Experimenter prestige

• Presence of disobeyer ↓ obedience

• ↑ obedience in authoritarian personalities

Group Processes

1. Groupthink

2. Diffusion of responsibility

3. Group polarization

4. Deindividuation

5. Bystander effect

6. Social loafing

Groupthink

Pressure for harmony > realistic decisions

Diffusion of responsibility

irresponsible → thinking Someone else will act

Group polarization

decisions of the group are more extreme than any individuals

Deindividuation

Loss of self in group

Bystander effect

less likely to help person when others are around, assume others will do something

Social loafing

Put minimal effort in group tasks