MR

Psychology_ Unit 4

Social Psychology and Personality

Social Psychology

  • Definition: Scientifically studies how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

  • Focuses On: How other people, groups, and cultures shape our perceptions.

Social Thinking

  • Crash Course Video Key Points:

    • Examines power of situations and interpersonal relations.

    • Attribution Theory: Explains behavior via disposition (stable traits) or situation.

    • Fundamental Attribution Error: Underestimates situational impact; overestimates personal disposition impact.

Persuasion Techniques

  • Central Route Persuasion: Uses reasoning and logic to persuade.

  • Peripheral Route Persuasion: Influenced by incidental cues (e.g. physical attractiveness).

Psychological Phenomena

  • Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon: Compliance increases after agreeing to smaller requests.

  • Stanford Prison Experiment: Demonstrates effects of situational factors on behavior.

  • Cognitive Dissonance Theory by Leon Festinger: Discomfort arising from inconsistent beliefs and behaviors.

Attribution Theory and Person Perception

Person Perception

  • Definition: Study of how impressions of self and others are formed.

  • Processes Involved: Comparing ourselves to others, categorization, stereotyping.

Attributions

  • Attribution Theory: Explains behavior via situational or dispositional attributions.

    • Dispositional Attributions: Hold individuals accountable for their behavior.

    • Situational Attributions: Consider external factors affecting behavior.

Fundamental Attribution Error

  • Definition: Overestimation of personal disposition effects; underestimation of situational influences.

Biases Affecting Attribution

  • Actor-Observer Bias: Actors attribute behavior to external factors; observers attribute to internal factors.

  • Self-Serving Bias: Success attributed to personal factors; failures to situational factors.

Personal Control

Optimism vs. Pessimism

  • Optimism: Advocates viewing events favorably.

  • Pessimism: Tendency to perceive life negatively.

Self-Control

  • Definition: Ability to manage impulses and delay gratification; correlates with positive life outcomes.

  • Locus of Control:

    • External: Belief environment controls fate.

    • Internal: Belief in personal control over fate.

Psychological Concepts

  • False Consensus Effect: Overestimation of others sharing our views.

  • Learned Helplessness: A state of passive resignation following repeated adverse events.

Prejudice

Definition and Components

  • Prejudice: Unjustifiable, usually negative attitudes towards a group.

    • Components:

      • Beliefs (stereotypes)

      • Emotions (hostility, fear)

      • Predisposition to act (discrimination)

Stereotypes and Discrimination

Definitions

  • Stereotype: Generalized belief about a group, not always accurate.

  • Discrimination: Unjustifiable negative actions toward a group or members.

Types of Prejudice

  • Explicit: Conscious and aware.

  • Implicit: Unthinking and unaware.

Targets of Prejudice

  • Racial and Ethnic: Colorism, criminal stereotypes, healthcare disparities.

  • Gender: Work disparities, leadership roles, intelligence perceptions.

  • LGBTQ: Rejection and harassment.

Social Inequality

  • Origin: Prejudice tends to develop from disparities in power, wealth, and prestige.

  • Just World Phenomenon: Belief that people get what they deserve.

Social Identity

  • Definition: Reflects group memberships; the “we” aspect of self-concept.

  • Ingroup vs Outgroup: Favoring one’s own group (ingroup bias).

Scapegoat Theory

  • Definition: Uses prejudice as an outlet for anger by blaming others.

Ethnocentrism

  • Definition: Belief in the superiority of one’s own culture.

Other-Race Effect

  • Definition: Outgroup homogeneity; belief in similarity among others of different races.

Attitudes and Actions

Attitudes

  • Definition: Beliefs and feelings predisposing responses.

  • Influence on Actions: Attitudes can predict behaviors, but external factors can also influence.

Persuasion Route Differences

  • Central Route: Direct engagement with arguments.

  • Peripheral Route: Influence by incidental cues like attractiveness.

Compliance Techniques

  • Foot-in-the-Door: Agreeing to smaller requests increases likelihood of larger request compliance.

  • Door-in-the-Face: Following an overly large request with a more reasonable one increases compliance likelihood.

Roles and Role Playing

Role Definition

  • Definition: Expectations about behavior associated with various social positions.

Stanford Prison Experiment

  • Experiment Purpose: Study of norms, roles, and social expectations.

  • Findings: Significant impacts on behavior due to assigned roles.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

  • Definition: Action taken to reduce discomfort from inconsistent thoughts.

Conformity and Obedience

Conformity

  • Definition: Adjusting behavior or thinking to match a group standard.

Obedience

  • Definition: Compliance to social pressures or commands.

Group Behavior Effects

Social Facilitation

  • Definition: Improved performance in the presence of others for simple tasks.

Social Loafing

  • Definition: Individuals exert less effort in group settings; can be mitigated by accountability.

Deindividuation

  • Definition: Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations.

Group Polarization

  • Definition: Group discussions enhance prevailing attitudes.

Groupthink

  • Definition: Desire for harmony suppresses realistic appraisal of alternatives.

Culture Influence

Cultural Definitions

  • Tight Culture: Defined, imposing norms.

  • Loose Culture: Flexible, informal norms.

Aggression

Definition

  • Aggression: Behavior intended to harm.

Influencing Factors

  • Biological: Genetic, neural, and biochemical influences.

  • Environmental: External factors like pain and heat.

Learning Aggression

  • Reward: Learning aggressive behavior leads to reinforcement.

  • Social Scripts: Culturally modeled behaviors in various situations.

Summary of Influences on Aggression

  • Biological, Psychological, and Social-Cultural: Multiple layers contributing to aggressive behaviors.

Psychology of Attraction

Attraction Factors

  • Proximity: Geographic closeness enhances attraction.

  • Physical Attraction: Plays a significant role after initial contact.

  • Similarity: Shared views strengthen attraction.

Types of Love

Love Definitions

  • Passionate Love: Intense emotional connection, usually at relationship start.

  • Companionate Love: Deep attachment formed over time.

Relationship Dynamics

  • Self-disclosure: Revealing personal details fosters intimacy.

  • Equity: Mutual contribution in relationships is essential for balance.

Altruism and Conflict

Altruism

  • Definition: Selfless regard for others' welfare.

Bystander Effect

  • Definition: Tendency to be less likely to help in the presence of multiple bystanders.

Conflict and Cooperation

Social Exchange Theory

  • Definition: Social behavior is an exchange aimed at maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.

Good Samaritan Laws

  • Overview: Laws protecting those who help others in peril.

Peacemaking Strategies

  • Superordinate Goals: Shared goals that foster cooperation among groups.

Personality Theories

Overview of Personality

  • Definition: Character patterns in feeling, thinking, and acting.

Psychodynamic Theory

  • Focus: Unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

  • Key Components: Id, Ego, Superego interactions.

Psychosexual Stages of Development

  • Stages: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital.

  • Notable Concepts: Oedipus/Electra Complex; fixation at stages leads to adult behaviors.

Defense Mechanisms

Mechanisms Overview

  • Purpose: Strategies employed by ego to manage anxiety.

  • Common Types: Repression, regression, reaction formation, projection, rationalization, and displacement.

Neo-Freudians

  • Influences Beyond Freud: Emphasis on social and cultural factors.

  • Key Figures: Horney, Adler, Jung.

Humanistic Perspectives

Overview

  • Focus: Potential for personal growth and self-actualization.

  • Key Proponents: Maslow, Rogers.

Trait Theories

Overview of Traits

  • Definition: Consistent patterns of behavior.

  • Instruments: MMPI, Big Five Factors.

Social-Cognitive Theories

Overview

  • Focus: Interaction between individual and social environments.

  • Key Concepts: Reciprocal determinism; emphasis on observational learning.

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Definitions

  • Self: Core of personality in modern psychology.

  • Self-Esteem Types: Defensive vs. secure.

Culture and Self-Esteem

  • Individualism vs. Collectivism: Group identification versus personal attributes.

Motivation

Overview

  • Definition: Desire guiding towards goals.

  • Drive-Reduction Theory: Motivation arises from physiological needs.

Hierarchy of Needs

Breakdown

  • Maslow’s Framework: Stacked needs from physiological to self-actualization.

Social Behavior and Belonging

  • Influences of Relationships: Collaboration enhances survival and emotional satisfaction.

Motivation Types

  • Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic: External rewards versus self-driven behaviors.

Hunger and Appetite

Biological Influences

  • Hypothalamus Role: Regulates hunger and food intake.

    • Set Point Theory: Biological mechanisms to maintain body weight.

Obesity Overview

  • Definition and Health Risks: Health concerns tied to body weight.

Emotion

Overview

  • Definition: Complex reactions to personal experiences.