Social (Test 1)
Historical Context of Ethics in Psychology
General Issue in Psychology
Psychology has a history of being criticized for unethical experiments.
Special emphasis on social psychology's unethical experiments.
Notable Experiments
Stanford Prison Experiment: Examines power dynamics in a simulated prison setting.
Milgram Experiment: Focuses on obedience to authority figures, involving deception regarding the extent of harm inflicted on participants.
Lies at Fargo: Another case example highlighting ethical considerations in social psychology.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Definition of IRB:
Internal Review Board is established to review any research that involves human subjects and ensure ethical standards are maintained.
Function:
Reviews experiments using humans and animals, ensuring both types of research meet ethical guidelines.
Provides scrutiny to protect subjects unable to provide consent (e.g., animals).
Research Requirements:
Researchers must submit a detailed experiment plan to the IRB, including participant activities and types of stimuli involved.
Argumentation for the necessity of the study is crucial.
Justification is straightforward for non-risky experiments, but rigorous for studies posing greater risks.
Approval Process:
No experimentation is permitted before obtaining IRB approval.
The IRB assesses risks and benefits, potentially altering study proposals.
Deception in Experimental Psychology
Role of Deception:
Many social psychology studies utilize confederates (participants who are in on the experiment).
Deception must be justified and necessary to answer the research question effectively.
Ethical Guidelines for Deception:
Participants must be unaware of the confederate's role to maintain the integrity of outcomes.
Risks must not be concealed from participants; they should be informed about potential vulnerabilities.
Participants must be debriefed post-experiment, revealing any used deceptions and their necessity for the research.
Informed Consent
Importance of Informed Consent:
Participants must be made aware of the risks and general nature of the study.
Must include contact information for researchers and the IRB.
Participants retain the right to withdraw from the study at any point.
Post-Study Debriefing:
Required in studies involving deception, emphasizing information about the study process and rationale.
Opportunity for participants to ask questions and clarify any concerns.
Replication Crisis in Psychology
Definition:
The replication crisis points to difficulties replicating results from studies across different laboratories.
Can occur within the same lab or between various institutions.
Significance:
Importance of replication to establish confidence in research results.
In psychology, statistical significance is often set at p < 0.05, indicating a low probability that results happen by chance.
Impact on Social Psychology:
More prevalent replication issues in social psychology due to the variability in human behavior and environmental factors.
Social phenomena can change over time, affecting study outcomes (example: changes in social interaction due to COVID-19).
Sampling Issues in Psychology Research
Issues with College Student Samples:
Most research heavily relies on college student populations, leading to sample bias.
College students are often younger, wealthier, and more educated, resulting in limited generalizability to broader populations.
WEIRD Samples:
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic populations are overrepresented in studies.
Implications for the understanding of human behavior across different cultural contexts.
Cross-Cultural Studies:
Emphasizes the need for research beyond WEIRD samples to better understand universal and cultural-specific behaviors.
Basic Dilemmas of Social Psychology
Internal vs. External Validity:
Internal Validity: Certainty that the independent variable causes changes in the dependent variable. High internal validity often requires strict control over variables, which may lead to artificial scenarios.
External Validity: Likelihood that study results generalize to real-world contexts. As experiments become more controlled and artificial, their external validity decreases.
This creates a tension between achieving high internal validity while maintaining external applicability.
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
Nature and Nurture:
Fundamental question concerning the contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) versus environmental influences (nurture) in shaping individuals.
Modern understanding emphasizes an interaction between nature and nurture rather than viewing them as opposing forces.
Nature:
Encompasses inherent biological aspects, such as genetics and physiological processes.
Tied to concepts of evolution and natural selection, where traits conducive to survival and reproduction are favored.
Nurture:
Encompasses social, cultural, and experiential factors influencing individuals.
Importance of understanding how learned behaviors, cultural practices, and environmental conditions shape human actions and thoughts.
Cultural Influences:
Cultural aspects deeply influence behaviors, preferences, and social interactions.
The bidirectional relationship indicates that while nature influences nurture, nurture can also alter the impact of inherent biological factors.
Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Theory of Evolution:
Misconceptions surrounding the phrase “survival of the fittest” as it pertains to evolution.
Fittest refers to those most likely to reproduce and pass on genetics—not simply the strongest.
Natural Selection:
Selection of traits that promote survivability and reproductive success over generations.
Distinction between physical traits (e.g., size, strength) and psychological traits (e.g., social skills).
Cultural Evolution vs. Cultural Change
Cultural Evolution:
Rapid changes in cultural practices or norms within a single generation.
Fast adaptation in technology and communication (e.g., texting, social media).
Cultural Diffusion:
Exchange of cultural elements between different groups causing blending or assimilation (e.g., fusion cuisine).
Cultural Transmission:
Transfer of cultural knowledge or practices from one generation to another, often evident in parent-child interactions.
Universal Social Motivations
Approval Motivation:
Refers to the human desire for acceptance and avoidance of rejection, driving social engagement and conformity.
Accuracy Motivation:
Ensures individuals seek correct information, influenced by their need for perceived accuracy over objective truth.
Pleasure Motivation:
Involves behaviors aimed at maximizing pleasure and avoiding pain, also influencing social interactions and decision-making.
Implications of Culture on Social Behavior
Complexity of Culture:
Culture embodies shared meanings, norms, and behaviors that guide social interactions and expectations.
Helps in meaning-making, information sharing, and provides a framework for social engagement.
Cultural Norms and Rules:
Guides behavior and expectations within a social group, with violations potentially leading to social repercussions.
Cross-Cultural Comparisons:
Differences in individualism and collectivism across cultures illustrate varying emphases on personal versus group-oriented behavior.
Such differences can manifest in communication styles, conflict resolution, and expectations in social roles.
The Function of Culture
Provision of Meaning:
Culture supplies individuals with identity, context, and shared understanding within their environment.
Shared Practices:
Expectations of behavior create social scripts aiding interaction within the same cultural context.
Recognition of cultural norms facilitates smoother communication and coordination during social exchanges.
Ethical Considerations in Research Design
Ethical treatment of human and animal subjects is paramount in psychological research, emphasizing the need for oversight, informed consent, and consideration of participants' risks and well-being throughout the research process.