Social Psychology: Key Concepts, Research Methods, and Cognitive Processes

What is social psychology and what do social psychologists study?

the scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Social psychologists study the influence of social interactions, group dynamics, and societal factors on individual behavior.

How do social psychologists differ from personality psychologists?

one focuses on situational influences on behavior, while the other emphasizes individual traits and characteristics.

What does the equation B = f(P, E) represent in social psychology?

It represents the interactionist perspective, suggesting that behavior is a function of both personal factors and environmental factors.

What are the 5 key ideas in social psychology?

1. The power of the situation, 2. The importance of social influence, 3. The role of cognition in social behavior, 4. The impact of group dynamics, 5. The significance of cultural context.

What is the evolutionary perspective in social psychology?

It posits that social behaviors and cognitive processes have evolved to solve adaptive problems, influencing social behavior and interactions.

What major social motives drive our behaviors?

the need for belonging, self-esteem, understanding, and control.

What are the main research methods used by social psychologists?

Methods include experiments, surveys, observational studies, and case studies.

How can variables be operationally defined in a study?

Variables can be operationally defined by specifying how they will be measured or manipulated in a research context.

What are the different types of measurement tools available in social psychology?

self-report surveys, behavioral observations, and physiological measures.

What distinguishes experimental research from nonexperimental research?

manipulation of variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships, while nonexperimental research observes variables without manipulation.

What is the difference between random sampling and random selection?

Refers to the method of selecting participants from a population, whereas the other refers to the process of assigning participants to different groups in a study.

What are the necessary components for a study to be considered an experiment?

must include manipulation of an independent variable, random assignment of participants, and control of extraneous variables.

What is correlation, and how is the correlation coefficient interpreted?

measures the relationship between two variables, with it indicating the strength and direction of the relationship.

Why can't causal inferences be made from correlational studies?

they are problematic due to directionality (reverse causality) and third-variable issues that may confound the relationship.

What is the difference between internal and external validity?

Internal validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately establishes cause-and-effect, while external validity pertains to the generalizability of the findings to other contexts.

Why is replication important in social psychological research?

verifies the reliability and validity of research findings, ensuring that results are consistent across different studies.

What are key ethical considerations in social psychological research?

Key features include intent to do no harm, informed consent, the use of deception when necessary, and debriefing participants.

What are the 4 core processes of social cognition?

1. Attention, 2. Interpretation, 3. Judgment, 4. Memory.

What are the basic memory processes involved in social cognition?

The basic memory processes include encoding, storage, and retrieval.

What are dual process theories in social cognition?

Dual process theories propose that there are two systems for processing information: an automatic, intuitive system and a controlled, deliberate system.

What is the confirmation bias and how does it impact us?

The confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs, leading to distorted perceptions.

What are schemas and why are they important?

Schemas are cognitive structures that organize knowledge and expectations about the world, helping individuals to process information efficiently.

How do schemas develop and what can lead to biases?

Schemas develop through experiences and social interactions, and biases can arise from overgeneralization or selective exposure to information.

What is the misinformation effect?

occurs when a person's recall of episodic memories becomes less accurate due to post-event information.

What is counterfactual thinking and how does it differ between upward and downward counterfactuals?

involves imagining alternative scenarios; upward counterfactuals consider better outcomes, while downward counterfactuals consider worse outcomes.

What is the false-consensus effect?

The false-consensus effect is the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.

What is the primacy effect in impression formation?

The primacy effect refers to the tendency to give greater weight to the first information received about a person when forming an impression.

What is the negativity bias in impression formation?

The negativity bias is the tendency to focus more on negative information than positive information when forming impressions.