Social Social PsychologyPsychology

Part 1: The Part 1: The BasicsBasics

Social PsychologySocial Psychology

• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: the study of the : the study of the interaction between people, groups & interaction between people, groups & social structuressocial structures

• Interested in the Interested in the affectaffect (what you feel), (what you feel), behaviorbehavior (what you do), and (what you do), and cognitioncognition (what you think) behind action(what you think) behind action

• Quadrant of Action (body, mind, social, Quadrant of Action (body, mind, social, cultural)cultural)

Part 2: Social Part 2: Social CognitionCognition

Social CognitionSocial Cognition• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: the ways in which : the ways in which

people store, remember & use people store, remember & use information about other individuals information about other individuals in the social worldin the social world

• THREE MAJOR AREASTHREE MAJOR AREAS::• Perception (Attitude, Persuasion, Perception (Attitude, Persuasion,

Stereotype, In-groups v. Out-groups)Stereotype, In-groups v. Out-groups)• PrejudicePrejudice• AttributionAttribution

Social Cognition: Social Cognition: PerceptionPerception

Perception: ATTITUDEPerception: ATTITUDE • DEFINITIONDEFINITION: an overall evaluation : an overall evaluation

of your social world; lasting of your social world; lasting patterns of beliefs & opinions that patterns of beliefs & opinions that predispose one’s reactions to predispose one’s reactions to objects, people & eventsobjects, people & events

• How does attitude affect our How does attitude affect our lives?lives?

Perception: Perception: PERSUASIONPERSUASION

• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: outside efforts to : outside efforts to change one’s attitudechange one’s attitude

• Methods of PersuasionMethods of Persuasion::• Expert recommendationExpert recommendation• Attractive persuaderAttractive persuader• Honest persuaderHonest persuader• Mere Exposure EffectMere Exposure Effect

Perception: Perception: PERSUASIONPERSUASION

Perception: Perception: PERSUASIONPERSUASION

Perception: Perception: PERSUASIONPERSUASION

Perception: STEREOTYPEPerception: STEREOTYPE

• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: fixed & overly-: fixed & overly-simplistic generalizations in simplistic generalizations in regards to the traits, behaviors regards to the traits, behaviors and attitudes of a particular group and attitudes of a particular group of peopleof people

• Difficult to change; often leads to Difficult to change; often leads to prejudiceprejudice

Perception: STEREOTYPEPerception: STEREOTYPE

Perception: INGROUPS Perception: INGROUPS v. OUTGROUPSv. OUTGROUPS• In-groupIn-group::• A group that one A group that one

belongs tobelongs to• Out-groupOut-group::• A group that one A group that one

doesn’t belong todoesn’t belong to

Social Social Cognition: Cognition: PrejudicePrejudice

PrejudicePrejudice

• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: negative attitude in : negative attitude in regards to regards to members of a certain groupmembers of a certain group

• Three componentsThree components::• CognitiveCognitive• EmotionalEmotional• Behavioral Behavioral

PrejudicePrejudice

• Realistic Conflict TheoryRealistic Conflict Theory::• Competition for scarce resources Competition for scarce resources

results in prejudiceresults in prejudice• Social Categorization TheorySocial Categorization Theory::• Social learning occurs from close Social learning occurs from close

contact, imitation of others & role contact, imitation of others & role model behaviormodel behavior

Social Social Cognition: Cognition: AttributionAttribution

AttributionAttribution

• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: : inferences generated inferences generated to to explain the reasons explain the reasons for events, the for events, the behavior behavior of others, and the of others, and the behavior of oneself behavior of oneself

AttributionAttribution• Dispositional (Internal) AttributionDispositional (Internal) Attribution::• We attribute behavior to the We attribute behavior to the

internal state of the person who internal state of the person who performed itperformed it

• Situational (External) AttributionSituational (External) Attribution: : • We attribute behavior to factors in We attribute behavior to factors in

the person’s environmentthe person’s environment

Attributional BiasAttributional Bias• Fundamental Attribution BiasFundamental Attribution Bias::• The tendency to over-value The tendency to over-value

dispositional explanations for the dispositional explanations for the observed behaviors of others, observed behaviors of others, while under-valuing situational while under-valuing situational explanationsexplanations

Attributional BiasAttributional Bias• Self-Serving BiasSelf-Serving Bias::• The tendency to attribute personal The tendency to attribute personal

successes to dispositional factors, successes to dispositional factors, while attributing personal failures while attributing personal failures to situational factors beyond one’s to situational factors beyond one’s controlcontrol

• Just-World BiasJust-World Bias::• The tendency to The tendency to

rationalize injustice rationalize injustice by by searching for things that searching for things that the victim may the victim may have done to deserve ithave done to deserve it

Attributional Attributional BiasBias

Part 3: Part 3: Social BehaviorSocial Behavior

Ideal Mate: Physical (M)Ideal Mate: Physical (M)

• Hourglass Hourglass • Smokin’ hot…Smokin’ hot…• She should have woman parts…She should have woman parts…• Brown hair, nice eyes, not too short, athleticBrown hair, nice eyes, not too short, athletic• Blond or brunette, in shape, shorter than me; Blond or brunette, in shape, shorter than me;

must play one sport, doesn’t matter which…must play one sport, doesn’t matter which…• She should just be healthy, and not look like an She should just be healthy, and not look like an

orc…orc…• It doesn’t matter too much, but not shrek-like or It doesn’t matter too much, but not shrek-like or

fart-smelly…fart-smelly…

Ideal Mate: Physical (F)Ideal Mate: Physical (F)

• Tall, blue eyes, anyone that looks like Enrique Tall, blue eyes, anyone that looks like Enrique Iglesias…Iglesias…

• Buff, but not steroid looking; no chest and/or back Buff, but not steroid looking; no chest and/or back hairhair

• Brown hair, green eyes, at least 6’0”, muscular Brown hair, green eyes, at least 6’0”, muscular but not “hey I can lift your car” muscular, no body but not “hey I can lift your car” muscular, no body hair (eyebrows, eyelashes and head hair is hair (eyebrows, eyelashes and head hair is acceptable)acceptable)

• Tall (6’2” to 6’5”), not scrawny, but not a muscle-Tall (6’2” to 6’5”), not scrawny, but not a muscle-man, big arms, brown or blond hair, blue or brown man, big arms, brown or blond hair, blue or brown eyes, normal size nose…eyes, normal size nose…

Ideal Mate: Emotional Ideal Mate: Emotional (M)(M)

• Happy, good sense of humor, trustworthyHappy, good sense of humor, trustworthy• Independent & outgoing; just not to the Independent & outgoing; just not to the

level of Hildog Clintonlevel of Hildog Clinton• Easy-going, not a drama-queen, not a flirtEasy-going, not a drama-queen, not a flirt• Very stable; she doesn’t freak out, scream Very stable; she doesn’t freak out, scream

or complainor complain

Ideal Mate: Emotional (F)Ideal Mate: Emotional (F)

• Caring, sensitive, not too serious, Caring, sensitive, not too serious, empatheticempathetic

• Outgoing, understanding, caring, honest, Outgoing, understanding, caring, honest, intelligent and serious, but not too seriousintelligent and serious, but not too serious

• Caring, faithful, happy, not lazy!Caring, faithful, happy, not lazy!• Funny, nice, not too sensitive, does not cry Funny, nice, not too sensitive, does not cry

in front of me, caring and Christianin front of me, caring and Christian• Funny, able to compromise, able to Funny, able to compromise, able to

communicatecommunicate

Cardinal Rules (Guy A)Cardinal Rules (Guy A)

• The most expensive place you should take The most expensive place you should take a girl is Chipotlea girl is Chipotle

• Never date from December to FebruaryNever date from December to February• No chick flicksNo chick flicks• Don’t try too hard, too earlyDon’t try too hard, too early• Don’t introduce her to your parentsDon’t introduce her to your parents

Cardinal Rules (Guy B)Cardinal Rules (Guy B)

• Appreciate spending down time togetherAppreciate spending down time together• Do not argueDo not argue• Do NOT meet the parents until you truly Do NOT meet the parents until you truly

know each otherknow each other• No kids until I’m 30 or soNo kids until I’m 30 or so• She must help me out with things She must help me out with things

sometimessometimes

Cardinal Rules (Guy C)Cardinal Rules (Guy C)

• Phone calls are better than textsPhone calls are better than texts• When you are dating someone, you are When you are dating someone, you are

dating their familydating their family• Always pay for stuffAlways pay for stuff• Surprises are goodSurprises are good• HonestyHonesty

Cardinal Rules (Guy D)Cardinal Rules (Guy D)

• Do NOT smell like butt (if you get Do NOT smell like butt (if you get shampoo/cologne for Christmas, maybe it’s shampoo/cologne for Christmas, maybe it’s a sign!a sign!

• Do NOT be a narcissist Do NOT be a narcissist • Be realistic & if there’s no chemistry, find a Be realistic & if there’s no chemistry, find a

new partnernew partner• Don’t set expectations too high; not Don’t set expectations too high; not

everyone ends up with Megan Fox or everyone ends up with Megan Fox or Scarlett Johannson Scarlett Johannson

Cardinal Rules (Girl A)Cardinal Rules (Girl A)

• No cheatingNo cheating• Be open to new thingsBe open to new things• Don’t act too bored/uninterestedDon’t act too bored/uninterested• Balance significant other with friendsBalance significant other with friends• Offer to pay for the first date or split the Offer to pay for the first date or split the

costscosts

Cardinal Rules (Girl B)Cardinal Rules (Girl B)

• Don’t keep checking your phone when Don’t keep checking your phone when you’re with your significant otheryou’re with your significant other

• Always open doorsAlways open doors• Always be open and honestAlways be open and honest• Define the relationship early onDefine the relationship early on• Get creativeGet creative

Cardinal Rules (Girl C)Cardinal Rules (Girl C)

• Keep it nonchalantKeep it nonchalant• Be friendlyBe friendly• Stay engagedStay engaged• If all else fails, move on before things get If all else fails, move on before things get

uglyugly

Cardinal Rules (Girl D)Cardinal Rules (Girl D)

• NEVER CHEAT (just end it before you stray NEVER CHEAT (just end it before you stray away; save both people the trouble)away; save both people the trouble)

• Be kind to each other’s familiesBe kind to each other’s families• Accept each other’s flawsAccept each other’s flaws• Never reveal too much on the first date!Never reveal too much on the first date!• Don’t be stupid, duhDon’t be stupid, duh

• Factors that Factors that impact attraction impact attraction::

• First impressionsFirst impressions• Repeated contactRepeated contact• Shared similaritiesShared similarities• Physical attraction, Physical attraction,

especially facial features especially facial features

RelationshiRelationshipsps

RelationshipsRelationships• Familiar Faces, the Science of Familiar Faces, the Science of

AttractionAttraction• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=yosfPU3dWgc

RelationshipsRelationships• Attachment StylesAttachment Styles::• Secure Secure • Anxious-PreoccupiedAnxious-Preoccupied• Dismissive-AvoidantDismissive-Avoidant• Fearful-AvoidantFearful-Avoidant• *Please see handout for further *Please see handout for further

explanationexplanation

LoveLove• Sternberg’s Triangular Model Sternberg’s Triangular Model

of Love of Love::• Love has three dimensions Love has three dimensions

(passion, (passion, intimacy, intimacy, commitment)commitment)

• 7 types of love7 types of love

LoveLove• Liking (Intimacy)Liking (Intimacy)::• True friendships; True friendships;

same sex or same sex or opposite sexopposite sex

• Companionate (Intimacy + Companionate (Intimacy + Commitment)Commitment)::

• Long term marriagesLong term marriages

LoveLove• Empty Love (Commitment)Empty Love (Commitment)::• Arranged marriagesArranged marriages• Fatuous Love (Passion + Fatuous Love (Passion +

Commitment)Commitment)::• Whirlwind relationships that lastWhirlwind relationships that last• Infatuation (Passion)Infatuation (Passion)::• Whirlwind relationships that fizzle outWhirlwind relationships that fizzle out

LoveLove• Romantic Love Romantic Love

(Passion + (Passion + Intimacy)Intimacy)::

• Good friends with a Good friends with a physical relationship physical relationship

• Consummate Love (Intimacy + Consummate Love (Intimacy + Passion + Commitment)Passion + Commitment)::

LoveLove• Reasons for wanting Reasons for wanting

to feel loved to feel loved::• The desire to feel The desire to feel

understood understood• Feelings of validationFeelings of validation• Feelings that someone cares for Feelings that someone cares for

youyou

• Evolutionary Evolutionary Theory Theory::

• We are ALL We are ALL predisposed to raise children predisposed to raise children

• As a result, men & women look for As a result, men & women look for certain physical attributes in certain physical attributes in potential matespotential mates

Mating Mating PreferencesPreferences

Mating PreferencesMating Preferences• Men look forMen look for::• Attributes that signal fertility & Attributes that signal fertility &

healthhealth• Physical attractivenessPhysical attractiveness• Women look forWomen look for::• Attributes that signal protection & Attributes that signal protection &

nourishment nourishment • Earning potential/wealth & powerEarning potential/wealth & power

Mating PreferencesMating Preferences• Societal ImplicationsSocietal Implications::• Increasing number of women in Increasing number of women in

the workforce; increased the workforce; increased economic independenceeconomic independence

• Cultural ImplicationsCultural Implications::• The definition of attractiveness The definition of attractiveness

varies from culture-to-culturevaries from culture-to-culture

Part 4: Part 4: Social Social OrganizationOrganization

GroupsGroups• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: a social entity : a social entity

characterized by regular characterized by regular interaction, a common frame of interaction, a common frame of reference and interdependencereference and interdependence

• Loyalty & action is driven by Loyalty & action is driven by group goals, rather than group goals, rather than individual goalsindividual goals

GroupsGroups• DeindividualizationDeindividualization::• Occurs in large groupsOccurs in large groups• Leads to impulsive actsLeads to impulsive acts• Implications of Modern Implications of Modern

Society Society::• Internet & social circlesInternet & social circles• Impact?Impact?

NormsNorms• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: rules that govern : rules that govern

members of a groupmembers of a group• Prescriptive NormsPrescriptive Norms::• Dictate acceptable behaviorDictate acceptable behavior• Proscriptive NormsProscriptive Norms::• Dictate unacceptable behaviorDictate unacceptable behavior

Part 5: Part 5: Yielding Yielding to Othersto Others

ConformityConformity• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: a change : a change

in beliefs or in beliefs or actions actions that results in that results in adherence to group adherence to group normsnorms

• How susceptible are individuals to How susceptible are individuals to group pressure?group pressure?

Group Group CohesionCohesion

• Not everyone is affected by Not everyone is affected by group pressure group pressure to conformto conform

• FactorsFactors::• CultureCulture• Desire for interdependenceDesire for interdependence• Relationship to the groupRelationship to the group

ComplianceCompliance• DEFINITIONDEFINITION: a change in behavior : a change in behavior

prompted by a direct request prompted by a direct request rather than social norms; rather than social norms; obedienceobedience

• 6 Primary Factors6 Primary Factors: : • Friendship, commitment, scarcity, Friendship, commitment, scarcity,

reciprocity, social validation, reciprocity, social validation, authorityauthority

ComplianceCompliance• Techniques to encourage Techniques to encourage

compliancecompliance::• Foot-in-door techniqueFoot-in-door technique• Lowball techniqueLowball technique• Door-in-face techniqueDoor-in-face technique