Social Psych 3.5.1

Exam Format and Structure

  • Similarities to Previous Exam

    • The next exam will resemble previous exams in format.

  • Multiple Choice Option

    • Students can choose to complete all 50 questions as multiple choice.
    • Alternatively, students can select to write answers instead of answering multiple choice questions.

  • Switching Between Formats

    • Students will have the option to switch halfway through: either continue with multiple choice or switch to short answer questions.
    • Important note: once switched, backtracking between formats is not allowed.

  • Preparation for Exam

    • A study guide will be made available.
    • Emphasis on studying during the weekend prior to the exam.
    • Reminder of office hours the day before the exam.

Concepts of Cognitive Dissonance

  • Understanding Post-Decisional Regret

    • Cognitive dissonance often arises after making a decision, especially when faced with multiple options that have both positive and negative attributes.
    • Example given of choosing between two colleges: MSU vs. Grand Valley, including positives and negatives of each.
    • MSU Positives:
      • Nationally recognized university.
      • Successful basketball team.
    • MSU Negatives:
      • Administrative scandals occurring every six months.
      • Large, impersonal classes.
    • Grand Valley Positives:
      • Smaller class sizes promoting interaction with professors.
      • Local proximity to home and familiarity with peers.
    • Grand Valley Negatives:
      • Dry campus (no alcohol) which could be perceived negatively.

  • After a Decision is Made

    • Once a choice (e.g., MSU) is selected, the negatives of that option become the focus of dissonance.
    • The positives of the unchosen option (e.g., Grand Valley) are seen in a less favorable light.
    • Post-decision cognitive dissonance can lead individuals to downplay negative aspects of the chosen option and amplify those of the unchosen one.

  • Reducing Dissonance

    • People often engage in cognitive processes to rationalize their choices and diminish feelings of dissonance. This may include:
    • Downplaying the negatives of the chosen option.
    • Elevating the positives of the unchosen option.
    • This process can foster commitment to decisions made, whether in college choices or personal relationships, preventing the constant comparison to alternatives.

Motivated Cognition

  • Definition

    • Motivated cognition is the process where cognitive efforts are driven by personal desires rather than impartial truth-seeking.

  • Contrasting with Dispassionate Reasoning

    • Dispassionate reasoning seeks objective truths, while motivated cognition works towards finding a desired conclusion regardless of truth.
    • Example: Political reasoning often involves motivated cognition where beliefs bias interpretations of information.

  • Political Application

    • Example concerning shifting political views on tariffs reflecting motivated reasoning rather than rational adjustment based on new information (Democrats and Republicans' stance change due to changing leadership).

Physical Attractiveness Bias

  • Halo Effect

    • Physically attractive individuals often receive positive judgments across various characteristics due to a cognitive bias termed the halo effect.
    • Example: Attractive people rated higher on social competence and interpersonal judgments.

  • Effect Strength Variation

    • Judgment types affect how strongly attractiveness bias is expressed:
    • Strongest on social and interpersonal judgments.
    • Moderate for judgments of intellectual ability and work competence.
    • Weakest in moral integrity judgments.

  • Importance in Grading

    • The need for blind grading in academic settings highlighted to mitigate biases based on attractiveness.

  • Impact Over Racial Bias

    • Attractiveness bias can oftentimes override more traditionally recognized biases, including racial biases, in judgments about individuals.

Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP)

  • Definitions

    • The AMP serves as an indirect measure to evaluate immediate emotional responses to stimuli.
    • It examines how feelings about one stimulus (a 'prime') can affect judgments about a unrelated neutral target.

  • Procedure Overview

    • Participants view a prime image (e.g., a baby) making them feel positive or negative, followed by a neutral target image.
    • Participants then evaluate the target based on feelings elicited by the prime.

Racial Bias in AMP

  • In-group Bias
    • Individuals exhibit preferences for members of their own racial group when making judgments.
    • The attractiveness of prime images affects responses significantly, showing strong effects of attractiveness over race in evaluations.

Motivational Biases in Attribution Processes

  • Study by Regan, Strauss, and Fazio (1974)

    • Objective: Investigate whether motivation biases attributions for others’ performance.
    • Setup: Participants observe a confederate (actor) playing a game with manipulated factors of likability and success.

  • Findings

    • Participants rated ability as a reason for success compared to failure depending on whether they liked the confederate, showing a clear bias based on pre-existing attitudes.
    • This suggests motivation plays a powerful role in how we judge the actions and abilities of others.