Week 1 Flashcards
(101 cards)
What is social psychology?
Social psychology is the scientific investigation of how’s people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others.
What kind of behaviour are social psychologists interested in?
Human behaviour.
Do social psychologists study animals?
Not usually.
Why do social psychologists study behaviour?
It can be:
1) Observed
2) Measured
What do social psychologists study?
- Thoughts
- Feelings
- Attitudes
- Intentions
- Goals
Why is social psychology social?
Social psychology is social because it deals with how people are affected by other people are physically present and who are imagined to be present.
Is social psychology a science?
Yes.
What is a science?
Science is a method for studying nature that involves the collecting of data to test hypotheses.
What does the scientific method dictate?
The scientific method dictates that no theory is true simply because it is logical and seems to make sense.
How do social psychologists construct theories?
From data and/or previous theories and the conduct empirical research to test the theory.
How social psychologists test theories?
Through empirical research.
What is social psychology a sub discipline of?
Psychology.
Why is social psychology a subdisclipine of psychology?
It explains human behaviour in terms of processes in the human mind.
How does social psychology differ from regular psychology?
Differs because it explains social behaviour.
What is social psychology influenced by?
- Cognitive psychology (methods and concepts)
- Economics
- Individual Psychology
How is social psychology similar to social anthropology?
It deals with the same phenomena.
How is social psychology different from social anthropology?
Seeks to explain how individual human interaction/cognition are constructed by culture/influence culture.
How can we define social psychology?
In terms of what is studied.
What is one issue with defining social psychology in terms of what it studies?
One issue with this is that it does not properly differentiate it from other disciplines.
What method is used in social psychology?
The scientific method.
What is science?
Science is a method for studying nature and it’s the method that separates it from other ways of collecting information.
What does science involve?
Science involves the formulation of hypotheses.
What are hypotheses?
Hypotheses are empirically tested prediction about what co-occurs with what or what causes what.
What are alternatives to science based on?
Authority.