1. Social Psychology Chapter 12

2. Social Psychology and Conformity Social psychology – the scientific study of how a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior are influenced by the real, imagined, or implied presence of others. Social influence - the process through which the real or implied presence of others can directly or indirectly influence the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of an individual. Conformity - changing one’s own behavior to match that of other people.

3. LO 13.1 Conformity

4. Obedience Obedience - changing one’s behavior at the command of an authority figure. Milgram study – “teacher” administered what they thought were real shocks to a “learner.”

5. LO 13.4 Obedience

6. Altruism Prosocial behavior - socially desirable behavior that benefits others. Altruism - prosocial behavior that is done with no expectation of reward and may involve the risk of harm to oneself.

7. Bystander Effect Bystander effect - referring to the effect that the presence of other people has on the decision to help or not help, with help becoming less likely as the number of bystanders increases.

8. LO 13.17 Bystander effect

9. Diffusion of Responsibility Researchers Latané and Darley found that people who were alone were more likely to help in an emergency than people who were with others. –One bystander cannot diffuse responsibility.

10. Five Steps in Making a Decision to Help 1.Noticing 2.Defining an emergency 3.Taking responsibility 4.Planning a course of action 5.Taking action