The Power of the Situation Social Psychology The Power of the Situation

Social Thinking Social Psychology Attribution Theory Scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another Actual, implied or imagined presence of others impacts beh Attribution Theory Tendency to give a causal explanation for someone’s behavior, often by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition Disposition vs. situation attributions

Social Thinking Fundamental Attribution Error Why? Tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition Why? Figure ground Control Same situation Differential info

Social Thinking How we explain someone’s behavior affects how we react to it Negative behavior Situational attribution “Maybe that driver is ill.” Dispositional attribution “Crazy driver!” Tolerant reaction (proceed cautiously, allow driver a wide berth) Unfavorable reaction (speed up and race past the other driver, give a dirty look)

Social Thinking Attitude Belief and feeling that predisposes one to respond in a particular way to objects, people and events Our behavior is affected by our inner attitudes as well as by external social influences Internal attitudes External influences Behavior

Attitude & Behavior Attitudes -> behavior if… External influences weak Attitudes is specifically relevant for behavior Aware of our attitudes

Behavior -> attitudes? Attitude & Behavior Behavior -> attitudes? Role Set of expectations about a social position Defines how those in the position ought to behave Playing a role leads to changed attitudes Military/torture training Stanford Prison Study

Behavior -> attitudes? Attitude & Behavior Behavior -> attitudes? Foot-in-the-Door Agreeing to small request -> greater compliance to a later larger request Why do behaviors change attitudes?

Attitude & Behavior Cognitive Dissonance Theory Inconsistent attitudes & behavior produce tension We act to reduce dissonance Change attitude

Attitude & Behavior Must feel responsible for & not have justification for incongruent behavior $1 or $20 Only $1 condition increased liking of task

Social Influence Conformity Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Social Influence The chameleon effect - unconscious conformity Participant Participant rubs face shakes foot Confederate rubs face Confederate shakes foot 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 Number of times

Social Influence Asch’s conformity experiments

Social Influence Results Group pressure 2/3 conformed > once Subsequent research supported this Group pressure Social reality Deviants threaten group defined reality Pressure to uniformity

Social Influence What increases conformity? Unanimous group ~3 group members High group status Observable behavior Culture respecting social standards

Why do we conform? Desire to be LIKED Normative Social Influence Norm Desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval How? - act like others Norm Rule for accepted and expected behavior Prescribes “proper” behavior

Social Influence Desire to be RIGHT Informational Social Influence Willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality Many issues not amendable to reality testing Look to others to evaluate MY views Others agree I must be right HATE groups Important issues

Social Influence Obedience What makes people obey? Charles Manson David Koresh Nazis What makes people obey? Milgram shock study (1963)

Milgram Shock Studies Percentage of subjects who obeyed experimenter XXX (435-450) Percentage of subjects who obeyed experimenter 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Slight (15-60) Moderate (75-120) Strong (135-180) Very strong (195-240) Intense (255-300) Extreme intensity (315-360) Danger severe (375-420) Shock levels in volts The majority of subjects continued to obey to the end

Milgram Shock Studies We all could be Nazis if the situation is right! WHY? - Situation Social norms to obey authority Experimenter Learner in other room Gradual in nature - no stopping point Foot in the door Dissonance Prestigious University We all could be Nazis if the situation is right!

Group Influence Social Facilitation Improved performance of tasks in presence of others Simple/well-learned tasks but not for difficult or not yet mastered tasks Olympics & record breaking How? Presence of others increases arousal Arousal increases well-learned tasks, inhibits difficult tasks

Social Facilitation Home Advantage in Major Team Sports Games Winning Home Team Games Winning Sport Studied Percentage Baseball 23,034 53.3% Football 2,592 57.3 Ice hockey 4,322 61.1 Basketball 13,596 64.4 Soccer 37,202 69.0

Group Influence Social Loafing People in a group exert less effort than when working alone Group vs individual accountability

Group Influence Deindividuation Loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity Mob Rules

Group Influence Group Polarization High Prejudice Low +4 +3 +2 +1 -1 -2 -3 -4 Before discussion After discussion Low-prejudice groups High-prejudice Group Polarization Enhancement of group’s prevailing attitudes through group discussion

Group Influence Groupthink Antecedent conditions Desire for group harmony/concurrence overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives Antecedent conditions Cohesive group Insulation from experts Directive leadership

Group think Decision deficits Few alternatives No risk examination Rejecting negative information about choice No contingency plan

Social Relations- Attractiveness Proximity Being close Mere exposure effect- repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them Physical Attractiveness Culturally dependent Youthfulness & health Similarity Common attitudes, beliefs, interests

Social Relations Passionate Love Companionate Love An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another Usually present at the beginning of a love relationship Companionate Love Deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

Social Relations Altruism Emergency situations Unselfish regard for the welfare of others When do by-standers help during emergencies? Rarely - due to features of situation Emergency situations No benefit No experience Sudden

Social Relations The decision-making process for bystander intervention Notices incident? Interprets incident as emergency? Assumes responsibility? Attempts to help No help Yes

Model of Helping 1. Notice incident 2. Interpret as emergency Social norms (don’t stare!) Ambiguous situations Groups narrow our attentional focus 2. Interpret as emergency Want to look cool (norm SI) Social comparison (info SI) Pluralistic Ignorance

Model of Helping 3. Responsible to act Diffusion of responsibility More people each person feels less responsible

Summary Atttribution Attitudes Conformity Obedience Social facilitation/loafing Social relations