Social Psychology Lecture 1, Week 1 Introduction Semester 2, 2008 Lecturer: James Neill

Lecture 1, Week 1

Introduction

Semester 2, 2008

Lecturer: James Neill

Overview Unit outline Introduction What is social psychology? History Research Culture & nature

Unit outline

Introduction

What is social psychology?

History

Research

Culture & nature

Unit outline

Contact info Before/after lectures [email_address] 6201 2536 Drop-in tuts : Wed 13.30-14.30 (after lecture) in 3C18 (computer lab). Or by appointment

Before/after lectures

[email_address]

6201 2536

Drop-in tuts : Wed 13.30-14.30 (after lecture) in 3C18 (computer lab).

Or by appointment

Description Theory Research Applications

Theory

Research

Applications

Learning outcomes Key concepts Apply theories Communicate

Key concepts

Apply theories

Communicate

Lectures (10 x 2 hr) 9 by James Neill (W 1, 2, 3, 4 10, 11, 12, 13, 15) 1 by Melisah Feeney (W 5)

9 by James Neill (W 1, 2, 3, 4 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)

1 by Melisah Feeney (W 5)

Lectures Streamed live Video & audio downloadable Notes ~24 hours prior Readings mostly from textbook

Streamed live

Video & audio downloadable

Notes ~24 hours prior

Readings mostly from textbook

Lecture themes Foundations Problems Strategies/Solutions

Foundations

Problems

Strategies/Solutions

Lecture themes What? What can go wrong? What can go right?

What?

What can go wrong?

What can go right?

Lecture topics 01. Introduction 02. The Social Self 03. Social Thinking 04. Aggression (DVD) 05. Prejudice 06. Relationships 07. Groups 08. Prosocial 09. Environmental 10. Review

01. Introduction

02. The Social Self

03. Social Thinking

04. Aggression (DVD)

05. Prejudice

06. Relationships

07. Groups

08. Prosocial

09. Environmental

10. Review

Tutorials 6 x 2 hr Alternate tuesdays after lecture (check timetable) Tutor: James Neill (all)

6 x 2 hr

Alternate tuesdays after lecture (check timetable)

Tutor:

James Neill (all)

Tutorial topics 01. Introduction 02. Communication 03. Prejudice and aggression 04. Cross-cultural training 01. Australian zeitgeist 06. Assessment workshop

01. Introduction

02. Communication

03. Prejudice and aggression

04. Cross-cultural training

01. Australian zeitgeist

06. Assessment workshop

Tutorial themes Experiential exercises Audio / video Discussion

Experiential exercises

Audio / video

Discussion

Drop-in After lectures 3B32 / 3C18

After lectures

3B32 / 3C18

Assessment 35% Essay 35% Exam 25% E-portfolio 05% Research participation

35% Essay

35% Exam

25% E-portfolio

05% Research participation

Essays 3000 word max: Theory (33.3%) Research (33.3%) Written expression (33.3%)

3000 word max:

Theory (33.3%)

Research (33.3%)

Written expression (33.3%)

Essay topics Choice of topics – discussed in the first tutorial Each student adopts a unique/topic question By the beginning of W3, all topics will be posted

Choice of topics – discussed in the first tutorial

Each student adopts a unique/topic question

By the beginning of W3, all topics will be posted

Extensions are unlikely (see Outline)

are

unlikely

(see Outline)

E-portfolio Set up a Wikiversity account Submit name of account to convener Create some initial reflections for W1 and 2 Look at and comment on other user-pages

Set up a Wikiversity account

Submit name of account to convener

Create some initial reflections for W1 and 2

Look at and comment on other user-pages

Exam During exam-period Open book Multiple-choice Lectures Tutorials Readings ThomsonNOW quizzes

During exam-period

Open book

Multiple-choice

Lectures

Tutorials

Readings

ThomsonNOW quizzes

Textbook Social Psychology and Human Nature Baumeister & Bushman (2008)

Social Psychology and Human Nature

Baumeister & Bushman (2008)

Textbook access Bundle (~AU$130) iChapters (~US$60) ThomsonNOW (~AU$40) Library Companion site

Bundle (~AU$130)

iChapters (~US$60)

ThomsonNOW (~AU$40)

Library

Companion site

Textbook foci Self Evolutionary Cultural

Self

Evolutionary

Cultural

Textbook themes Food Sex Tradeoffs Bad vs. Good

Food

Sex

Tradeoffs

Bad vs. Good

Unit themes Cross-cultural Australia Social technology Experiential

Cross-cultural

Australia

Social technology

Experiential

e-Reserve Alt. chapters Classic articles Cross-cultural readings

Alt. chapters

Classic articles

Cross-cultural readings

Websites ucspace http://ucspace.canberra.edu.au/display/7125 Wikiversity http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/SPP

ucspace

http://ucspace.canberra.edu.au/display/7125

Wikiversity

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/SPP

What is Social Psychology?

Human behaviour in social context.

Human behaviour

in social context.

How the thoughts feelings behaviours of individuals are influenced by the...

How the

thoughts

feelings

behaviours

of individuals

are influenced by the...

actual imagined or implied presence of others (based on Allport, 1935)

actual

imagined or

implied

presence of others (based on Allport, 1935)

a joint function of personal and situational influences (based on Baumeister & Bushman, 2008, p. 11)

a joint function of

personal and

situational

influences (based on Baumeister & Bushman, 2008, p. 11)

feelings ( A ffect) behaviours ( B ehaviour) thoughts ( C ognition) ABC

feelings ( A ffect)

behaviours ( B ehaviour)

thoughts ( C ognition)

ABC

Person to Person

Group to Person Person to Group

Group to Group

Sociometrics A family of 4 involves: 6 dyads 3 triads 1 quadad

A family of 4 involves:

6 dyads

3 triads

1 quadad

Sociology vs. Social Psychology Sociology (group) Social Psychology Psychology (individual)

3 broad domains Social perception Social influence Social interaction

Social perception

Social influence

Social interaction

Social perception How we interpret social objects.

How we interpret social objects.

Social influence Attitudes & behaviour brought about by others.

Attitudes & behaviour brought about by others.

Social interaction How we interact with others in the social world.

How we interact with others in the social world.

Person vs. situation Person Situation

Applications Business Health Education Law Environment

Business

Health

Education

Law

Environment

Social Psychology & Some Close Scientific Neighbors Developmental Psycho- pathology Health Organizational

History & Research in Social Psychology

Origins Origins in Europe & North America in the late 19 th - early 20 th century.

Origins in Europe & North America in the late 19 th - early 20 th century.

Volkerpsychologie (folk psych) mid-late 1800s

Crowd Psychology (Group Mind) (Le Bon, 1895)

History First social psychological experiment - Triplett (1898) - Social facilitation

First social psychological experiment

- Triplett (1898)

- Social facilitation

History Influences in Early 20th Century – Gordon Allport (Attitudes) Post WW1 - rise of behaviourism & experimentation

Influences in Early 20th Century

– Gordon Allport (Attitudes)

Post WW1 - rise of behaviourism & experimentation

History Attitude scaling (Thurstone, 1930s) Social psychology splits from behaviorism and psychoanalysis

Attitude scaling (Thurstone, 1930s)

Social psychology splits from behaviorism and psychoanalysis

Gestalt theorists - Asch, Sherif, Lewin (1930s-50s) Studied group processes & dynamics History

Gestalt theorists - Asch, Sherif, Lewin (1930s-50s)

Studied group processes & dynamics

Post WW2 - motivated to explain atrocities committed e.g., Authoritarian personality (Allport), Obedience (Milgram), Roles (Zimbardo). History

Post WW2 - motivated to explain atrocities committed e.g.,

Authoritarian personality (Allport),

Obedience (Milgram),

Roles (Zimbardo).

1960s - rise of attribution theory, cognitive dissonance (Festinger) Developments in European social psychology Tajfel (social identity theory) Moscovici (minority influence) History

1960s - rise of attribution theory, cognitive dissonance (Festinger)

Developments in European social psychology

Tajfel (social identity theory)

Moscovici (minority influence)

Late 1960s - early 1970s - ‘crisis in social psychology’ 1970s to now - rise of social cognition & information processing Alternatives - social constructionism, discourse analysis Australian social psychology? Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP) History

Late 1960s - early 1970s - ‘crisis in social psychology’

1970s to now - rise of social cognition & information processing

Alternatives - social constructionism, discourse analysis

Australian social psychology? Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP)

Theory <-> Research Theory Research

Scientific research method State problem Formulate testable hypothesis Design study and collect data Test the hypothesis with data Communicate study results

State problem

Formulate testable hypothesis

Design study and collect data

Test the hypothesis with data

Communicate study results

Research method Scientific methods distinguished psychology during the 20 th century. Experimental method flourished within social psychology 1930’s-1970’s. Caused a debate/crisis that over-reliance on experimental research was limiting understanding.

Scientific methods distinguished psychology during the 20 th century.

Experimental method flourished within social psychology 1930’s-1970’s.

Caused a debate/crisis that over-reliance on experimental research was limiting understanding.

Research methods Experimental vs. non-experimental methods Quantitative vs. qualitative methods

Experimental vs. non-experimental methods

Quantitative vs. qualitative methods

Experimental method Manipulate one or more variables (IV) & look at effect on other variable(s) (DVs) Laboratory vs. Field Experiments.

Manipulate one or more variables (IV) & look at effect on other variable(s) (DVs)

Laboratory vs. Field Experiments.

Laboratory experiments Advantages Controlled environment so that causality can be inferred. Internal validity

Advantages

Controlled environment so that causality can be inferred.

Internal validity

Potential problems Construct validity External validity / mundane realism Experimental realism Reactivity Laboratory experiments

Potential problems

Construct validity

External validity / mundane realism

Experimental realism

Reactivity

Potential problems Subject effects Demand characteristics Experimenter effects Ethics? Laboratory experiments

Potential problems

Subject effects

Demand characteristics

Experimenter effects

Ethics?

Field experiments Naturalistic settings + mundane realism (- reactive) control over potentially confounding variables Measurement difficulties Informed consent?

Naturalistic settings

+ mundane realism (- reactive)

control over potentially confounding variables

Measurement difficulties

Informed consent?

Non-experimental methods Archival research Case study Survey research - usually correlational Observational field studies - observe behaviour in natural setting

Archival research

Case study

Survey research - usually correlational

Observational field studies - observe behaviour in natural setting

Advantages more naturalistic may be more ethical potentially large amounts of data better construct validity Non-experimental methods

Advantages

more naturalistic

may be more ethical

potentially large amounts of data

better construct validity

Disadvantages lack of control - less internal validity may not show causality researcher bias demand characteristics subject effects. Non-experimental methods

Disadvantages

lack of control - less internal validity

may not show causality

researcher bias

demand characteristics

subject effects.

Developed by Kurt Lewin (1940’s) Systematic, dynamic experiments with real groups Pioneered “action research” Action research

Developed by Kurt Lewin (1940’s)

Systematic, dynamic experiments with real groups

Pioneered “action research”

Advantages Relatively natural Ethical Empowering Research is combined with education Action research

Advantages

Relatively natural

Ethical

Empowering

Research is combined with education

Disadvantages Lack of scientific control Researcher-dependent? Action research

Disadvantages

Lack of scientific control

Researcher-dependent?

Research ethics Informed consent Protect participants from harm & discomfort Avoid excessive use of deception Confidentiality Fully debrief participants

Informed consent

Protect participants from harm & discomfort

Avoid excessive use of deception

Confidentiality

Fully debrief participants

The crisis 2 major criticism of social psychology (late 1960s): Overly reductionist Overly positivistic Experimental method criticisms: demand characteristics, experimenter effects, lack of social context.

2 major criticism of social psychology (late 1960s):

Overly reductionist

Overly positivistic

Experimental method criticisms:

demand characteristics,

experimenter effects,

lack of social context.

Reductionism Reducing behaviour to the individual, ignoring social context Levels of explanation intrapersonal interpersonal or situational positional ideological

Reducing behaviour to the individual, ignoring social context

Levels of explanation

intrapersonal

interpersonal or situational

positional

ideological

Positivism Non-critical acceptance of science and its methods Is the scientific method & especially the experiment suitable for social psychology?

Non-critical acceptance of science and its methods

Is the scientific method & especially the experiment suitable for social psychology?

Kenneth Gergen (1978, 1997) Are experiments an appropriate research method for social psychology? Social constructionism

Kenneth Gergen (1978, 1997)

Are experiments an appropriate research method for social psychology?

Social events are: Culturally embedded Sequentially embedded Openly competitive Final common pathways Complexly determined Social psychology as history. Social constructionism

Social events are:

Culturally embedded

Sequentially embedded

Openly competitive

Final common pathways

Complexly determined

Social psychology as history.

Interpretation of the meaning of events & behaviour change across cultural history. -> no general laws of behaviour. -> all reasonable hypotheses are likely to be valid. Social constructionism

Interpretation of the meaning of events & behaviour change across cultural history.

-> no general laws of behaviour.

-> all reasonable hypotheses are likely to be valid.

Social world is product of socially & historically situated practices. Research findings do not have meaning until ‘interpreted’. No knowledge is transhistorical & transcultural. Social constructionism

Social world is product of socially & historically situated practices.

Research findings do not have meaning until ‘interpreted’.

No knowledge is transhistorical & transcultural.

Importance of reflexivity - researcher’s awareness of own biases, assumptions etc. Critical social psychology - value-laden & political. Social constructionism

Importance of reflexivity - researcher’s awareness of own biases, assumptions etc.

Critical social psychology - value-laden & political.

Research methods - focus on language & use of rhetoric. Observations, interviews, records of naturally occurring events Analysis of discourse Social constructionism

Research methods - focus on language & use of rhetoric.

Observations, interviews, records of naturally occurring events

Analysis of discourse

Conclusions Which research method is best? Is the experiment still useful? Methodological pluralism?

Which research method is best?

Is the experiment still useful?

Methodological pluralism?

Summary A central subject in psychology which evolved as a unique field during the 20 th century.

A central subject in psychology which evolved as a unique field during the 20 th century.

Summary Large, dynamic, diverse field of inquiry, with many: Theoretical & research approaches Topics & applications Debates & dilemmas

Large, dynamic, diverse field of inquiry, with many:

Theoretical & research approaches

Topics & applications

Debates & dilemmas

Summary Social psychology studies the individual within the group (or society)

Social psychology studies the individual within the group (or society)

Culture & nature

Overview Psyche Evolution Culture Social brain theory Individual vs. culture

Psyche

Evolution

Culture

Social brain theory

Individual vs. culture

Psyche Broad term for mind, influenced by: Nature – Genes, hormones, brain structure and other innate processes dictate how you will choose and act Culture – Learned experiences; from parents, society and any experiences

Broad term for mind, influenced by:

Nature – Genes, hormones, brain structure and other innate processes dictate how you will choose and act

Culture – Learned experiences; from parents, society and any experiences

Evolution Theory of evolution Natural selectio n Survival Mutation Reproduction

Theory of evolution

Natural selectio n

Survival

Mutation

Reproduction

Z o o m Once upon a time ....

Big Bang 14 billion years ago

30 billion trillion stars 14 billion light years

250 000 trillion stars 250 000 trillion stars 1 billion light years

200 trillion stars 100 million light years

1 billion light years 700 billion stars

500 000 light years 225 billion stars

200 billion stars 500 000 light years

600 million stars 5 000 light years

260 000 stars 250 light years

33 stars 12.5 light years

4.57 billion years ago...

Uni of Canberra

~4 million years ago homo sapiens (a bipedal hominid) evolved Human evolution

Social nature Communicate Form groups Social norms (culture) Humans

100 billion ever 6.6 billion now ~10 billion by 2050 Humans on earth

5 born /sec 2 die /sec Humans on earth

Population bottleneck

Population density

21 million (.3%)

Human evolution survey

Culture Info-based system Shared ideas Common ways of doing things Ideas Mental (abstract) representations Can be expressed in language Consider cultural differences and underlying similarities

Info-based system

Shared ideas

Common ways of doing things

Ideas

Mental (abstract) representations

Can be expressed in language

Consider cultural differences and underlying similarities

Social animal Seek connections to others Work together Learn from one another Help kin Resolve conflict with aggression

Seek connections to others

Work together

Learn from one another

Help kin

Resolve conflict with aggression

Cultural animal Evolution shaped psyche to enable creating and taking part in culture Division of labor Deliberately share knowledge Help strangers Resolve conflict with many alternatives

Evolution shaped psyche to enable creating and taking part in culture

Division of labor

Deliberately share knowledge

Help strangers

Resolve conflict with many alternatives

Social brain theory Why is the human brain so evolved? Larger brain is linked to complex social systems (Dunbar, 1993, 1996)

Why is the human brain so evolved?

Larger brain is linked to complex social systems (Dunbar, 1993, 1996)

Advantages of culture Human brain evolved to capitalise on culture Language Progress - to build on experience of others Division of Labor Exchange of Goods and Services Humans have evolved to participate in culture

Human brain evolved to capitalise on culture

Language

Progress - to build on experience of others

Division of Labor

Exchange of Goods and Services

Humans have evolved to participate in culture

The duplex mind Automatic system Outside of consciousness Simple operations Conscious system Complex operations

Automatic system

Outside of consciousness

Simple operations

Conscious system

Complex operations

Changing role of consciousness Increased focus on role of automatic system Can learn, think, choose and respond Has idea and emotions Knows “self” and other people Consciousness focus on complex thinking and logic

Increased focus on role of automatic system

Can learn, think, choose and respond

Has idea and emotions

Knows “self” and other people

Consciousness focus on complex thinking and logic

Living in a culture Working to gain social acceptance Inner states help humans connect to others Intelligent brain evolved to improve interpersonal relations

Working to gain social acceptance

Inner states help humans connect to others

Intelligent brain evolved to improve interpersonal relations

Nature says go, Culture says no Nature – impulses, wishes, automatic responses Culture – teaches self-control and restraint Exceptions Nature’s disgust reactions (No) Cultural timetable for meals (Go)

Nature – impulses, wishes, automatic responses

Culture – teaches self-control and restraint

Exceptions

Nature’s disgust reactions (No)

Cultural timetable for meals (Go)

Selfish impulse vs. social conscience Nature makes us selfish Preservation of self Culture helps us resist selfish impulses Consideration of what is best for society Moral Code Laws

Nature makes us selfish

Preservation of self

Culture helps us resist selfish impulses

Consideration of what is best for society

Moral Code

Laws

Putting people first People get most of what they need from other people Culture as a “general store” of information People look to each other first

People get most of what they need from other people

Culture as a “general store” of information

People look to each other first

What makes us human? Behavior results from mix of nature and culture Human life is enmeshed in culture Humans think with language and meaning

Behavior results from mix of nature and culture

Human life is enmeshed in culture

Humans think with language and meaning

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