Chapter 1 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the primary focus of social psychology?
Understanding the nature and causes of human behavior and thought in social situations
This includes motivations, cognitions, and emotions related to behaviors.
How can social psychologists help resolve social problems?
By:
* Understanding which behaviors cause the problem(s)
* Examining which factors influence the behaviors
* Understanding which intervention techniques are available to change behaviors
Define applied social psychology.
The systematic application of social psychological constructs, principles, theories, intervention techniques, research methods, and research findings to understand or ameliorate social problems
What is a construct in applied social psychology?
A clearly defined individual (psychological) characteristic that is generally latent and thus not directly observable
What is a principle in social psychology?
A statement of how a psychological process works
How does a theory differ from a principle in social psychology?
A theory is an integrated set of principles that describes, explains, and predicts observed events
What is the main difference between basic and applied social psychology?
Basic social psychologists develop and test theories, while applied social psychologists focus on understanding and resolving problems
Describe the deductive approach used in basic social psychology.
Starting with a particular theory and examining how it helps understand various types of social behavior
What is the inductive approach in applied social psychology?
Starting from a specific social problem and examining how various theories may help understand this problem
What did S. Taylor and colleagues study in their research?
Social comparison among women with breast cancer to examine mental strategies used to cope with their disease
What is loss aversion?
The tendency for people to dislike losses more than they like gains of the same size
List some key values that qualify a study as scientific.
- Accuracy
- Objectivity
- Skepticism
- Open-mindedness
What are the four main goals of science?
- Description
- Prediction
- Causality
- Explanation
What types of factors do both basic and applied social psychology consider?
- Individual factors
- Social factors
- Situational factors
- Cultural factors
- Biological factors
How do personal values influence applied social psychology?
They influence which topics are being studied and how researchers approach their work
Why do applied social psychologists use multiple theories and methods?
Because various factors may cause a particular social problem
What is the significance of interdisciplinary research in applied social psychology?
Many societal problems are rooted in factors that are not solely social-psychological, necessitating collaboration with other disciplines
Where do applied social psychologists typically conduct their research?
In field settings (natural settings where people live, work, recreate)
What is the aim of applied social psychologists regarding social problems?
To solve social problems and increase quality of life
What roles do applied social psychologists often take on?
- Researcher
- Consultant
- Policy advisor
Fill in the blank: Applied social psychologists communicate their findings to both scientists and the _______.
public
