Social Psychology

Key Studies

• Milgram (Obedience): People are likely to follow orders from authority figures, even if it means harming others.

• Zimbardo (Stanford Prison Experiment): Situational roles and environment can lead to extreme behavior; guards became abusive, prisoners passive.

• Asch (Conformity): People often conform to group norms, even when the group is clearly wrong (line judgment test).

Key Concepts

• Groupthink: When a group values harmony over realistic decision-making, leading to poor choices.

• Deindividuation: Loss of self-awareness in groups, often resulting in impulsive or deviant acts.

• Social Loafing: Tendency to exert less effort when working in a group compared to alone.

• Bystander Effect: People are less likely to help when others are present.

• Diffusion of Responsibility: The more people present, the less responsibility each individual feels to act.

Attribution Theory

• Internal Attribution: Behavior is due to personality or disposition.

• External Attribution: Behavior is due to the situation or environment.

Cognitive Dissonance (Festinger)

• Discomfort caused by conflicting thoughts or behaviors; individuals try to reduce this tension by changing attitudes or beliefs