1. Social Cognition

2. Social Cognition is the mental process associated with the ways in which people perceive and react to other individuals and groups.

3. People in the culture in which we live affect two important components of the self: Self-concept: The beliefs we hold about who we are and what characteristics we have. Self-esteem: The evaluations we make about how worthy we are as human beings.

4. Social Comparisons: Social comparisons Reference groups –Downward social comparison Relative deprivation

5. Social Identity It’s our beliefs about the groups to which we belong. Our social identity is part of our self- concept.

6. Social Cognition and Psychological Disorders Self-schema –Unified self-schema –Differentiated self-schema

7. Social Perception

8. The role of schemas First impressions –Forming first impressions –Lasting impressions –Self-fulfilling prophecies

9. Explaining Behavior: Attribution Attribution –Sources of attributions: concensus, consistency, distinctiveness –The fundamental attribution error Ultimate attribution error Actor-observer bias Self-serving bias

10. The Self-Protective Functions of Social Cognition Unrealistic optimism Unique vulnerability Self-handicapping strategy

11. Attitudes Structure of attitudes –Cognitive component –Affective component –Behavioral component Forming attitudes Changing attitudes –3 factors –Elaboration likelihood model Peripheral route Central route Cognitive Disonance Self-perception