Social Psychology Study social influences that help explain why people behave the way they do in various situations How do we explain other people’s behavior? How come we conform? How do people get us to do things?

How do we explain behavior? Internal (dispositional) vs external (situational) explanation Stable vs unstable explanations Fundamental Attribution Error = focusing on dispositional characteristics and disregarding situational characteristics when we explain others behavior

Do attributions matter? External Internal Stable Lucky Smart Unstable Easy test Hard Worker Does this effect how we explain mental illness? Poverty? Success? How do we explain high performance? Gender bias

What comes first our attitude or our behavior? Attitudes = beliefs and feelings that predispose our reactions to people, objects and events Sometimes behavior predicts our attitudes Example: parents and allowing kids to watch tv Foot in the door-once someone agrees to something small will more likely comply with a bigger request! First ask someone to donate a small amount and then follow it up with a larger request

Why do we sometimes change our attitude to match our behavior? We may feel motivated to justify our actions! Cognitive dissonance theory says we want to relieve the tension that we feel bring attitudes in line with actions Research indicates that if you get someone to do something (with little external justification) they will tell you they like it more)

Asch’s Conformity Experiments

Social Influence Behavior is contagious- we have a tendency to follow norms, copy others, and change our behavior Asch’s classic study on conformity Had to identify correct line (from 3 other lines) Less than 1% were wrong when alone About 1/3 conformed when in group situation

Why do we conform? Normative reasons: sensitivity to social norms; we want to be accepted Informational social influences: we look to others for the correct answer when we are not sure

Obedience Classic Milgram studies on obedience Confederate and participant told they were participating in a learning experiment Participant had to “shock” the learner every time a wrong answer was given If they resisted, were told they had to go on Complaints from “learner” At 120, shouts were heard at 150 learner shouted, “get me out of here” At 330, learner refused to answer How long would you keep going?

Milgram’s Obedience Experiment

What did we learn from obedience studies? People are more likely to conform when Authority figure is close by Victim was depersonalized No other dissenters were present Authority figure was “prestigious” People who do undesirable (even “evil”) things are not necessarily evil! Situations are extremely influential

Altruistic Behavior Altruism = unselfish regard for the welfare of others Bystander intervention effects Research demonstrates, we are more likely to help: Notice the incident Interpret it as emergency Assume responsibility

Responses to a Simulated Physical Emergency

Social Psychology has taught us… Sometimes our behavior influences our attitudes! People do conform! Social situations are powerful- we are influenced by norms and expectations We can transform situations-enemies can become friends, etc.