2. Social psychology Social psychology: branch of psychology that studies individuals as they interact with others How does being a part of a group influence our behavior? What influence does group membership have on the way that we think? (sociology is similar, but focuses more on patterns of group behavior)

3. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Social facilitation Being in a group improves the performance of individual members in a group Can you think of examples where you try harder because everyone else around is working towards the same activity/goal? But, are there some times when you work less hard because you are in a group? Think about tug-of-war…

4. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Social loafing when people work less hard because they can “blend in” with the group This happens when group performance is measured Social facilitation v social loafing Measuring individual performance v group performance

5. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Deindividuation Think about the word – de – individual Being in a group sometimes make you feel less like an individual When you are in a group, you are less aware of your individual behavior So, you may do things that you wouldn’t normally do Sports fans?

6. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Sometimes group membership can change the way you think Group polarization – when people’s views become more extreme when they are in a group environment Dilemma discussions: when asked about moral dilemmas individually, people tend to be more moderate, in groups, more extreme Groupthink The faulty decision making process that may occur in groups In groups, bad decisions are made because of polarization and the cohesiveness of the group Example: Bay of Pigs Invasion

7. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Conformity Tending to behave like others in the group Ashe conformity experiment Volunteers? After class demonstration What happened? Evidence of conformity?

9. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Bystander theory Read story of Kitty Genovese Effects on group membership on individual responsibility?

10. Element A: How does the social environment influence individuals? Obedience Watch Milgram obedience study Group influences on obedience? Obedience increases when personal responsibility decreases – when its someone else’s fault, we listen

11. Element B: Social Judgments and attitudes Attribution Theory: