Social Psychology: Cognition

Objectives

• Explain various aspects of social psychology
• Describe ways in which people develop self-concepts
• Describe the role of schemas in interactions with others
• Explain attribution theory and the development of bias
• Define attitudes and describe how they develop

attitudes

attribution theory

cognitive dissonance

discrimination

personal identity

prejudice

reference groups

self-fulfilling prophecy

self-schemas

social comparison

social identity

social psychology

stereotype

Background

Like most other people, students are largely unaware of how they develop ways of viewing others and themselves. Social psychology provides insights into the influence others have on us and that we have on ourselves. Becoming aware of how we are affected by sometimes-faulty ways of perceiving others and ourselves can help us develop a healthier viewpoint.

Students begin by learning the definition of social psychology and then consider the self and the idea of social interaction and the role of others in self-concept. As they review the development of self-concept, students learn about self-schemas, reference groups, social comparisons, and social identity.

Students next consider the question of how humans perceive each other and how they use schemas to structure their perceptions of events, make predictions, and decide on goals and plans. They explore the psychological mechanics of the all-important first impression as well as the sometimes damaging effects of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

Finally, students consider attitudes and how they change. They examine ways in which people use social schemas to develop attitudes in terms of using stereotypes, the effects of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, and overcoming prejudice. The chapter closes with consideration of the dynamics of interpersonal attraction and what people find physically attractive.

Further Resources

Hall, Calvin S. A Primer of Freudian Psychology. New York: NAL-Dutton, 1955.

Liebert, R. and M. Spiegler. Personality: Strategies and Issues. New York: Brooks-Cole, 1990.

For Discussion

Review

1. What is social psychology and how does it differ from sociology?

2. Explain the concept of social comparison and its two main functions.

3. What are schemas and how do they change with an individual's experience?

4. What is attribution theory? How does it affect the way we view negative behaviors in others and ourselves?

Critical Thinking

1. Do you agree with the theorists who suggest that there is no self without others? Explain your answer.

2. Describe your social schemas—are they more positive or negative? How do you think they affect your interpretation of social situations?

3. In terms of first impressions, what are some of the positive attributes that you find appealing? What negative factors make a bad impression? Explain.

4. Why do you think that women or men may be biased against their own gender in some cases? Why do you think their intelligence or talent might be attributed to external factors?

5. Explain how others have affected you by using a positive and a negative stereotype.

Activities

1. Positive Attributes

Have students break into groups, each with a piece of paper. Have each student list his or her five best attributes in order of importance on a piece of paper. Then ask the group to contribute their view of the student's five best attributes. Compare the resulting lists.

2. First Impressions

Have students pair off with another student or a person they don't know. Allow the students to talk for four minutes and then write their first impressions of each other. Have them discuss the validity of their judgments with the class.

3. Internet: Fighting Prejudice

Have each student use search engines to find and report on a Web site devoted to fighting some form of prejudice. Ask them to report their findings.

4. Special Sources: Primary Sources

Have students use the library to find a historical case of scapegoating, i.e., when a group has wrongly blamed someone for a negative occurrence.