Untitled Flashcards Set

4
Allport’s definition of social psychology
• Others  our thoughts, feelings,
behavior
Level of analysis (social vs. other areas)
• Individual <person x situ>
Power of the situation to dictate behavior
• “Bottom-up processes”
• e.g., social influence
• Relevant perspectives: social learning; sociocultural
Construal (interpretation, expectation, cognition) is everything
 “Top-down processes” – cognition
(+ biology—evol persp.)
 Example: Heider & Simmel tape
https://youtu.be/MI4PznE4AxE
Relative importance of cognition vs. situation  behavior?
Fundamental Assumptions & Origins

5
“To treat the world as an indifferent
flow of information to be processed by
individuals each in his/her own way
loses sight of how individuals are
formed and function”
<fundamental importance of
social reality for the
UNDERSTANDING motive>

6
Understanding motive (“epistemic” function)
Reproduction-related: MATE (attract, retain)
What other “social” needs?
• Affiliation—connection (vs. rejection/isolation)
• Superiority (gain & keep social status)  self value
What other basic needs for us as animals, in a
Darwinian sense (or “Maslow” if have heard of hierarchy)?
• Survive… thus, highly sensitive to THREAT (need to
defend, protect)
Do you feel this leaves anything out?
What else drives social behavior?

7
GAMEFICATION interventions work!
 What motives could explain?
• Affiliation—connection (vs. rejection/isolation)
• Superiority (gain & keep social status)  self value
For discussion: application of motives

9
Methods vary in degree of control exerted:
• Observational Research – when particularly
useful?
• can vary in level of intervening – e.g.,
naturalistic vs. participant observation
•
Scientific vs. casual observation differences?
• Correlational Research – usefulness?
• Limitations?
• Experimental Research - why so central to
social psychology?
METHODS