Ch1. Introduction Flashcards
Scientific method
Systematic observation, description, and measurement to the study of the human condition.
Humans’ default thought pattern
socialization
Social psychology
The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in a social context.
Difference between sociology and social psych
Similar topics of focus, sociology focuses on individualistic behavior
Psychologists on common sense
Nothing about social psychology makes common sense. Typically
Norman Triplett
Bicycle coach who published the first research article for social psych. Designed a controllable and precise experiment, credited because he studied the effect of social context on individuals.
Max Ringelmann
First social psych researcher, reasoning that simple tasks are harder to complete as a group.
First published social psych textbooks
William McDoughall 1908
Edward Ross 1908
Floyd Allport 1924 - established the science as it is now
Highest influencer on social psych
Events that were highly stressful or harmful to humanity (Adolf Hitler)
Interactionist perspective
Kurt Lewin: Behavior is a function of the interaction between the person and then environment
Stanley Milgram
Demonstrated individuals’ vulnerability to the destructive commands of authority. most well-known social psych study (mirroring the holocaust)
Laboratory experiments
appeared in 60s. arguments that it was unethical, and that it could not be unbiased. in 70s, regulations and specifications were increased and improved.
Social cognition
Study of how we perceive, remember, interpret information about people
Social psych on global studies
Claims made by social psychologists may not be (and often aren’t) true in every culture.
Cold/hot cognition perspectives
70s-80s
cold cognition perspective - emotion is unimportant and only cognition matters.
hot perspective - emotion/motivation decides our actions
perspectives highlight differences between contrasting motivations
Behavioral genetics
Subfield of psychology that examines the effects of genes on behavior
Evolutionary psychology
A subfield of psychology that uses the principles of evolution to understand human social behavior
Culture
A system of enduring meanings, beliefs, values, assumptions, institutions, and practices shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Cross-cultural research
Research designed to compare and contrast people of different cultures.
Multi-cultural research
Research designed to examine racial and ethnic groups within cultures.
Difference between european and asian american work habits
European Americans are more teamwork oriented (interdependent) than Asian Americans
Behavior economics
An interdisciplinary subfield that focuses on how psychology—particularly social and cognitive psychology— relates to economic decision making.
Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist who recently got involved with politics
Social neuroscience
The study of the relationship between neural and social processes.
