Overview
This lecture introduces the field of social psychology, exploring how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts.
What is Social Psychology?
- Social psychology studies how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.
- It examines both individual and group behaviors in social situations.
- Social psychology bridges psychology (individual mind) and sociology (society/group).
- Researchers use experiments and observation to understand social influences.
Major Topics in Social Psychology
- Attitudes: learned evaluations of people, objects, or ideas that can influence behavior.
- Social perception: how we form impressions and make judgments about others.
- Conformity and obedience: how group pressure influences individuals' actions.
- Group dynamics: behavior and decision-making within groups.
- Prejudice and discrimination: negative attitudes or behavior toward people based on group membership.
- Interpersonal attraction: factors that lead to friendship or romantic relationships.
- Aggression and prosocial behavior: causes of harm or helping behavior in social contexts.
Research Methods in Social Psychology
- Laboratory experiments allow control over variables to study cause and effect.
- Field studies observe behavior in natural settings for higher ecological validity.
- Surveys and questionnaires collect self-reported attitudes and behaviors.
- Ethical considerations are important in studying human subjects.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Social Psychology — the scientific study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are affected by others.
- Conformity — adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to align with group norms.
- Obedience — following direct orders from an authority figure.
- Attitude — an evaluation that can influence a person’s responses to people or situations.
- Prejudice — a preconceived negative judgment of a group and its members.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read assigned textbook chapter on introduction to social psychology.
- Prepare examples of social influence from daily life for class discussion.
- Review definitions and core concepts for upcoming quizzes.