Chapter_13Part1

Chapter 13: Social Psychology

Overview

• Textbook: Schacter, Gilbert, Nock, Johnsrude, Canadian Sixth Edition

• Focus area: Social psychology

Chapter Outline

• Interpersonal Behaviour

• Interpersonal Attraction

• Interpersonal Perception

• Interpersonal Influence

Definition of Social Psychology

• Social Psychology: Study of the causes and consequences of social interactions.

• Key Aspects:

  • Insight into human survival and reproduction behaviors.

  • Understanding and predicting behaviors.

  • Influencing each other’s actions.

Interpersonal Behaviour: Aggression

• Aggression: Behavior aimed at harming another.

  • Commonly exhibited by all animals to achieve goals.

• Frustration–Aggression Hypothesis: Animals aggress when their goals are obstructed.

  • Types of Aggression:

    • Proactive Aggression: Planned aggression to achieve a goal.

    • Reactive Aggression: Response to provocation or perceived threat.

Heat and Aggression

• The connection between environmental heat and increased aggression levels.

Biology Influencing Aggression

• Gender Influence:

  • Males are more likely to commit violent crimes.

  • Socialization and testosterone influence aggressive behavior.

  • Women's aggression typically includes verbal forms.

  • Aggression can relate to perceived social status and dominance.

Provoking Aggressive Response

• Challenging personal beliefs can trigger aggression.

• High self-esteem individuals are prone to perceiving challenges, leading to aggression.

Culture's Influence on Aggression

• Variability in aggression across cultures and time.

• Higher violent crime rates in Southern US compared to Northern US.

• Cultural standards impact the acceptance or rejection of aggressive acts.

Cooperation

• Cooperation: Behavior leading to mutual benefit among individuals.

  • Viewed as significant achievement in human relations.

• Risks of Cooperation:

  • The Prisoner’s Dilemma and Ultimatum Game illustrate cooperation dynamics and decision-making complications.

Group Influence on Cooperation (Part 1)

• Group Definitions:

  • A collection of individuals united by a common trait.

  • Bias and prejudice can arise from in-group favoritism.

Group Influence on Cooperation (Part 2)

• Group Decision-Making Challenges:

  • Not utilizing all members’ expertise can hinder decision-making.

  • Group Polarization and Groupthink can affect group outcomes.

Group Influence on Cooperation (Part 3)

• Reasons groups may underperform compared to individuals:

  • Deindividuation: Loss of individual accountability.

  • Diffusion of Responsibility: Common in groups, leading to inaction.

  • Social Loafing and Bystander Intervention implications.

Benefits of Group Membership

• Groups enhance health, happiness, and well-being.

• Negative consequences of exclusion include anxiety and loneliness.

Altruism (Part 1)

• Altruism: Behavior that benefits others at a self-cost.

  • Kin Selection: Preference for helping relatives due to evolutionary benefits.

  • Reciprocal Altruism: Expectation of mutual benefits in future interactions.

Altruism (Part 2)

• Canada's organ donation statistics (2016):

  • 15.0 living donors per million.

  • High rates of anonymous altruistic donations.

Real-World Altruism Studies

• Research shows that people act altruistically, influenced by social environments.

  • Higher likelihood of returning lost wallets with cash.

Interpersonal Attraction: Selectivity

• Selectivity in sexual partners; women often choose more carefully.

• Cultural biases affect perceptions of promiscuity.

Attraction: Situational Factors

• Attraction influenced by:

  • Proximity: Close physical appeal.

  • Mere Exposure Effect: Increased familiarity breeds liking.

  • Physiological arousal can be misconstrued as attraction.

Attraction Depends on Physical Factors

• Physical attractiveness crucial in early relationship stages.

• Beauty standards include body shape, symmetry, and age consistency across cultures.

• Attraction correlation common among couples.

Attraction Depends on Psychological Factors

• Preference for psychologically similar partners.

  • Important attributes: Personality, values, ambitions, kindness, and trustworthiness.

What About Homophily?

• Homophily: Attraction towards similar individuals.

  • Facilitates interaction and validation of beliefs.

To Err Is Human

• Study on robot interaction shows participants prefer robots with minor flaws, indicating people value imperfection.

Relationships

• Non-human animal relationships are often short-lived.

• Human relationships are crucial from the early stages of life.

Marriage: Making the Commitment

• Increasing trend of later marriage among Canadians.

• Types of Love:

  • Passionate Love: Initial intense attraction.

  • Companionate Love: Develops over time with trust and affection.

Divorce: Unmaking the Commitment

• Statistics on Canadians experiencing relationship termination.

• Interdependence Theory: Satisfaction in relationships depends on perceived cost-benefit ratios.

  • Concepts of comparison level for alternatives and equity play a role in relationship dynamics.

Interpersonal Perception

• Social Cognition: Understanding others and making inferences about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

  • Categories and target-based inferences are significant.

Stereotyping: Issues with Category-Based Inferences

• Stereotyping: Inferences made based on category membership.

  • Issues include inaccuracy, overuse, self-perpetuation, and unconscious biases.

Stereotyping Can Be Inaccurate

• Canadians and Americans stereotype differently across dimensions of warmth and competence.

  • Sources of stereotypes include social interactions, media, and personal experiences.