Introduction to social psychology

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What is social psychology?	•It is a science and uses the scientific method. •It covers whole range of human experiences – thoughts, feelings, behaviours. •It focuses on “individuals” in groups and societies while sociology studies groups or societies as a whole. •It is the study of how people think, feel and behave in a social context. •Social psychology focuses especially on the power of situations.
What is the primary approach that social psychologists use to uncover the truth about human social behaviour?	Scientific method
ABC triad	•A stands for Affect—how people feel inside •B stands for Behavior—what people do; their actions •C stands for Cognition—what people think about
Themes of social psychology	1. Social thinking 2. Social influence 3. Social relations
Father of Social psychology	NORMANN TRIPLETT
Perspectives on Research in Social Psychology	1. Psychological Social Psychology (focus on individual) 2. Sociological Social Psychology (focus on groups)
Psychological Social Psychology	1. Focus on individual 2. Goal is prediction of behaviour 3. Experimentation is the primary method followed by surveys 4. Main scientific journal is the "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology"
Sociological Social Psychology	1. Focus on group 2. Goal is description of behaviour 3. Surveys and participant observation are the primary methods 4. Main scientific journal is "Social Psychology Quarterly"
Social Psychology as a Science	1. Scientific method 2. Empirical (based on observations) 3. Evidence based 4. Accuracy 5. Objectivity 6. Skepticism 7. Open mindedness
We construct our social reality	– We react to things differently because we think differently – Example: We may or may not interpret someone’s reaction as hostile based on how we think – There is an objective reality out there, but we always view it through the lens of our beliefs and values – We explain people’s behaviours to suit our needs – Our social intuitions are often powerful but sometimes perilous
Social influences shape our behaviour	– We are social animals, we long to connect, make bonds, and belong – Culture can be very influential and can define who we are • Whether you prefer a slim or voluptuous female can depend on when and where you live • Whether you focus primarily on yourself or your family
Personal attitudes and dispositions also shape behavior	– Internal attitudes also matter, our inner attitudes affect our behavior – Personality also affects behavior. Different people may react differently to the same situation
Social behavior is biologically rooted	– The interaction between nature and nurture makes us who we are
Social psychology’s principles are applicable to everyday life and other disciplines	– Makes visible the subtle influences that guide your thinking and acting – How to get to know yourself and others better
The evolutionary perspective	The view that biological factors play an important role in social behavior comes from the field of evolutionary psychology This new branch of psychology suggests that our species, like all others on the planet, has been subject to the process of biological evolution throughout its history, As a result of this process, we now possess a large number of evolved psychological mechanisms that help (or once helped) us to deal with important problems relating to survival.
Role of Theory In Social Psychology	Social psychologists seek to do more than simply describe the world: they want to be able to explain it too. This will involve construction of theories.
Procedure involved in building a theory	1. On the basis of existing evidence, a theory that reflects this evidence is proposed. 2. This theory, which consists of basic concepts and statements about how these concepts are related, helps to organize existing information and makes predictions about observable events. For instance, the theory might predict the conditions under which individuals acquire racial prejudice. 3. These predictions, known as hypotheses, are then tested by actual research. 4. If results are consistent with the theory, confidence in its accuracy is increased. If they are not, the theory is modified and further tests are conducted. 5. Ultimately, the theory is either accepted as accurate or rejected as inaccurate. Even if it is accepted as accurate, however, the theory remains open to further refinement
Theory	An integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events
Hypothesis	A testable proposition that describes the relationship that may exist between events
Operational definition	Specific, observable response used to measure concepts

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