Psych

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Foundation of Natural Build Environment (FNBE)
Social Psychology
[PSYC0103]
ASSIGNMENT 1: INDIVIDUAL JOURNAL (20%)
Name: TAN YINCY
Student ID: 0318355
Group/ Session: MONDAY 8AM – 10 AM
Submission Date: 10TH OF NOVEMBER 2014

2. Lecturer: T. SHANKAR
JOURNAL 01
TOPIC 01 Social Psychology | Social Facilitation
For the theory social facilitation, it is shown in 1898 Norman Triplett’s research that
competitive cyclists performed better during races than during social rides. Social facilitation
occurs when people are performing in the presence of others yet their individual contributions
can be identified. It is proved and confirmed in subsequent research that a well- learned
performance is enhanced in the presence of others.
This theory often occurs in our daily life. I, myself also experienced this theory since I’m young.
Everyone have that competitive trait in their personality even though some would not admit it.
We would want to achieve better results and be more successful than our peers.
In the past, when I was assigned with individual assignments by our lecturers, I would try my
best to do it as individual assignments are graded by our own work and would be compared to
our peers’ while evaluating. I had the urge to prove to myself and show others that what I’m
capable of and what I can accomplish. I also felt the stress as every assignment has a due date
and with moderate stress, my performance was enhanced to the maximum.

3. TOPIC 01 Social Psychology | Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias occurs when we only pay attention to information that supports what we
believe and disregard any useful information that conflicts with it. It filters what we see and only
show a reality that matches with our expectations. It also caused us to think selectively and
affects how we gather and interpret information.
I once read an article about left-handed people are more creative compared to right handed
people. Thus making me believe and those who can write or perform tasks with both hands have
a higher IQ than the rest of us. So whenever I look at strangers or met a new friend now, I would
notice which hand they use unintentionally. My brain just decided to observe that first. I would
then evaluate them using that. When people disagree with me about that fact that I believed in, I
would throw on a debate with them and back up my facts.
Another experience would be when I saw a car company promoting a new car in an
advertisement or billboard that I am also fond of and wish to have; I would then see many cars of
the model on the road when I am driving. The whole world just suddenly decided to own that car.
But in reality, there are also many kinds of cars on the road, it is just that the car that I am fond
of is the first thing that came to my mind whenever I see cars and thus ignoring the existence of
other cars.

4. JOURNAL 02
TOPIC 02 The Self | Motivation [Hierarchy of Needs]
The hierarchy of needs introduced by Abraham Maslow suggested that people are motivated
to achieve self-actualization, but only after other needs on the hierarchy are satisfied. It is often
represented in the form of a pyramid with different levels of needs that one needs to satisfy
before able to achieve the highest goal, which is self-actualization.
The fundamental needs such as physiological needs, safety and security, love and belonging and
self-esteem need to be archived before one would have the desire or motivation to strive for the
higher or secondary needs. One would definitely experience the hierarchy of needs in their life
and if fortunate, archive self-actualization, the highest level of the theory.
I am very fortunate to have my physiological needs, safety and security needs and love and
belonging needs taken care of by my family since young. My friends took up a big part in
boosting my self-esteem and of course myself. As for the internally directed need and desire, I
am currently trying and getting to those levels. Acquiring knowledge to enhance my intellectual
needs and appreciating the beauty in all things for the aesthetic needs. Although I am not at the
highest level yet but I believe in years to come, I’ll achieve it and be an individual that archive
my potential to the fullest.

5. TOPIC 02 The Self | Social Comparison
Social comparison involves people coming to know themselves by evaluating their own
attitudes, abilities, and beliefs in comparison with others. We often try to compare ourselves to
those in our peer group or with whom we are similar.
There are two kinds of social comparison, upward social comparison and downward social
comparison. For upward social comparison, we compare ourselves to those whom we believe are
better than us in all aspect. It is a positive kind of comparison. Upward social comparison could
enhance performance for some and have a better result. For downward social comparison, we
compare ourselves to people whom are worse than us. It is a negative comparison. However, it
could boost one’s self-esteem and make them feel better about themselves.
I had experienced both social comparisons in the past. When I was younger, I have a senior
whom I admired much in every aspect and look forward in being someone like him someday. He
was good in everything. Whether academically, socially, sports, attitudes, behaviors, etc.
Whenever I did not do well in something, I would compare myself with him and learn from my
mistakes, which is upward social comparison. But sometimes, I would compare myself using
downward social comparison to feel better. Such as in a class test, I would compare my results
with someone whom got lower grades than me.

6. JOURNAL 03
TOPIC 03 Social Cognition | Counterfactual Thinking
Counterfactual thinking is thinking about a past that did not happen or imagining different
outcomes for an event that has already occurred. It is usually associated with bad or negative
events and can be used to improve or worsen one’s mood. Counterfactual thinking often happens
in 'if only' situations, where we wish something had or had not happened.
It is a very powerful concept that could change our memories, adjusting the facts and creating
new memories. Sometimes it is used to create excuses to avoid facing uncomfortable truths or
heal traumas that one experienced. There are two kinds of counterfactual thinking, upward
counterfactuals and downward counterfactuals.
Both counterfactual thinking just occurred to me recently. Our course had a charity drive for our
business subject last week and we were asked to prepare a variety of items to be sold to earn
profit for an association or a cause that we chose. We were not able to sell drinks and earn more
due to the fact that we did not order the plastic cups and straws needed in time. We were also
lacking sponsorships because we did not approach them earlier. The ‘if only’ scenario happened.
‘If only we ordered them earlier!’ which is the upward counterfactuals. But luckily we earned
enough to meet the requirements. (Downward counterfactuals)

7. TOPIC 03 Social Cognition | The Framing Heuristic
The framing heuristic is based on the belief or framework in which a situation or an item is
presented that will influence the selection of an option. According to the US National Library of
Medicine, the term framing effect refers to a phenomenon whereby the choices people make are
systematically altered by the language used in the formulation of options. People make decisions
differently according to the language used. Positive and negative statement would make a lot of
difference in the choices of others even though the statement brings the same meaning.
For example, when we are faced with an option involving potential gains, we tend to choose
options that demonstrate risk aversion. This means that we would choose an option that offers a
small but certain gain rather than a large but uncertain gain (Sternberg & Sternberg, 2009).