Social Psychology
8/20/2012
Myers (2012)
PowerPoint prepared by D. Owens
A science that studies the influences of our situations, with special attention to how we view and affect one another
The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.
A fairly young science
1
8/20/2012
Sociology the study of human societies and the behavior of individual people and groups in society
Personality Psychology
The study of personality and individual differences
Social influence
Social Class
Attachment
Persuasion
Family
Prejudice &
Discrimination
Gender &
Gender Differences
Attraction &
Relationships
We construct our social reality
Our social intuitions are often powerful but sometime perilous
Social Influences Shape our behavior
Personal attitudes and dispositions also shape behavior Social behavior is biologically rooted
Social psychology principles are applicable to everyday life
2
8/20/2012
Values: personal convictions about what is desirable and how people ought to behave
Obvious ways values enter psychology
Choice of research topics
Type of people who are attracted to various field of study
Not so obvious ways
Hidden assumptions when forming concepts
Choosing labels
Giving advice
Common criticisms of social psychology
“If social psych research is driven by researchers values, how can it be scientific?”
“Isn’t social psychology just common sense?
Hindsight bias: the tendency to exaggerate one’s ability to have foreseen how something turned out after learning the outcome.
Invoked after we know the facts
3
8/20/2012
Forming and Testing Hypotheses
Theory
Integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events
Hypotheses
Testable proposition that describes a relationship that may exist between events
Forming and Testing Hypotheses
Location
Laboratory
Controlled situation
Field
Everyday situations
Method
Correlational
Naturally
Myers (2012)
PowerPoint prepared by D. Owens
A science that studies the influences of our situations, with special attention to how we view and affect one another
The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.
A fairly young science
1
8/20/2012
Sociology the study of human societies and the behavior of individual people and groups in society
Personality Psychology
The study of personality and individual differences
Social influence
Social Class
Attachment
Persuasion
Family
Prejudice &
Discrimination
Gender &
Gender Differences
Attraction &
Relationships
We construct our social reality
Our social intuitions are often powerful but sometime perilous
Social Influences Shape our behavior
Personal attitudes and dispositions also shape behavior Social behavior is biologically rooted
Social psychology principles are applicable to everyday life
2
8/20/2012
Values: personal convictions about what is desirable and how people ought to behave
Obvious ways values enter psychology
Choice of research topics
Type of people who are attracted to various field of study
Not so obvious ways
Hidden assumptions when forming concepts
Choosing labels
Giving advice
Common criticisms of social psychology
“If social psych research is driven by researchers values, how can it be scientific?”
“Isn’t social psychology just common sense?
Hindsight bias: the tendency to exaggerate one’s ability to have foreseen how something turned out after learning the outcome.
Invoked after we know the facts
3
8/20/2012
Forming and Testing Hypotheses
Theory
Integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events
Hypotheses
Testable proposition that describes a relationship that may exist between events
Forming and Testing Hypotheses
Location
Laboratory
Controlled situation
Field
Everyday situations
Method
Correlational
Naturally