chapter 13 - social psychology

Social psychology

studies the way individuals thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others

Individualism

an emphasis on the individual and their choices (ex US citizens)

Collectivism

an emphasis on the group and society (ex. US citizens)

Attitude

positive or negative evaluations of object of thought (issues, groups, institutions, people)

Attitude and behavior

attitudes are predictors of behavior but often do NOT lead to action

Explicit attitudes

attitude that we consistently hold and can readily describe

Implicit attitudes

attitudes that are automatic unconscious opinions people have little control over

• ex. (instantly preferring white people over black people)

Implicit bias

refers to the attitudes, preferences, or stereotypes that unconsciously affect our understanding, actions, and decisions

Cognitive dissonance

state of conflict, when there is a contradiction between thoughts or between thoughts and actions. People seek to reduce dissonance (ex. Smoking while knowing its unhealthy)

Conformity

yielding to real or imagined social pressure (ex. Wearing a trend bc ur friends do)

Asch study

people knowingly gave wrong answers to fit in

• majority of the poeple were told to say that the shortest line was the longest

• the minority gave in to the clearly wrong answer so they would not be judged by the people

Obedience

a form of compliance that occurs when people follow commands, typically from authority

Stanford prison experiment

studies the power of the situations and social roles can strongly affect behavior

• students were randomly assigned prison roles (guard or prisoner) in a prison simulation

• certain circumstances can lead to specific behaviors

Bystander effect

People are less likely to help when others are present.
Example: Ignoring someone who falls because others are around.

diffusion of responsibility

responsibility is diffused among others, less likely to individually help  

Example: Assuming someone else will call 911.