Download Module 75 Conformity and Obedience

Module 74 “Attributions Attitudes and Actions”
Connections to other areas
Motivation Emotion
Cognition
Perception/perspectives
Personality/traits
Social Psych Focus on the situation
“Study the social influences that explain why a person acts differently in different situations.”
Fundamental Attribution Error
Social behavior is connected to social cognition
We attribute behavior 1. Traits = Dispositional Attribution or 2. Situational Attribution
Fundamental Attribution Error:
“We make mistakes – to overestimate the impact of the situation or the personality traits in explaining
behavior.”
Self-Serving Bias
We have a tendency to attribute our own bad behavior to situational factors
We also have a tendency to attribute bad behavior of others to dispositional factors (example of
poverty)
Attitudes and Actions
What we think affects what we do.
Attitudes are feelings influenced by beliefs (cognition)
“Attitudes affects our actions.”
Persuasion tries to influence behavior
2 Forms of PersuasionPeripheral Route
Implicit, not systematic or formal
Example anecdotal or celebrity endorsements/opinion
Central Route Persuasion
Evidence + arguments
Trigger favorable thoughts
Thoughtful formal and empirical
Social Pressure
Other people
Can weaken or strengthen attitudes
Or change actions.
When external influences are minimal attitudes are dominant
Behavior also influences attitudes
Foot in the Door
People who agree to a small request comply easier with a larger request.
Hence people will increasingly adjust their attitudes to their actions
Get people to agree to something small then to a bigger request
People have been shown to act against their attitudes.
“After speaking or writing or writing on behalf of a position they have qualms about… they begin to
believe their own words.”
Power of Roles:
Role is a set of expectations about a social position defining how people ought to behave
People- strive to follow social prescriptions
Zimbardo Prison Study:
Exhibits the power of the situation and roles
The situation impacts the individual character
Personality traits are a factor of what degree we are affected by the situation.
However, the situation is more powerful in affecting behavior in many situations.
Cognitive Dissonance (Leon Festinger- Cognitive psych)
Occurs when “we become aware that our attitudes and actions don’t coincide.”
This creates tension = cognitive dissonance- to relieve the tension we change our attitudes to fall in line
with our behavior.
Cognitive Connection
Attitudes Follow Behavior
(Example) Moral actions build moral attitudes
We cannot always directly control our attitudes, (example- negative thoughts) but we can influence
them by altering our behavior.
We can talk in more positive/self-accepting ways
We can create a more loving/giving behavior = more loving giving attitudes
“What we do we become”
“Changing behavior can change how we think.”
Module 75 Conformity and Obedience
Power of Social Influence



Conformity
Obedience to Authority
Group Behavior
Conformity:
Complying with social pressure
Adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
(less conformity in individualist cultures)
Automatic Mimicry:
Humans tend to go with their group
Think similar
To behave
Mood Contagion:
We have a tendency to take on the emotional tones of those around us.
Mirror Neurons/”Chameleon Effect”
Asch Study Pg. 763
Qualities of Conformity:






People are more likely to conform when they:
Are made to feel incompetent or insecure
Are in a group of at least 3 people
Are in a group in which everyone agrees
(1 dissenter = less conformity)
Are from a culture that encourages social respect (collectivist)
Why do we conform?
1. To avoid rejection
We fit our behavior to Norms (rules for acceptable/expected behaviors)
“Normative social Influence”
Sensitive to social norms
Informational Social Influence
Willingness to accept others’ opinions of reality
Pg. 765 Obedience: Following Orders
Milgram Study
Milgram’s found obedience was highest when:
Authority figure was closer in proximity
Legitimate authority
Authority figure had high status
The victim was dis-associated= farther away from participant
High obedience when no contrary role models were visible
“These experiences demonstrate that the strong social influences can make people conform to
falsehoods of capitulate to cruelty.”
“Normal reaction to an abnormal situation is abnormal behavior.” James Waller
Milgram exploited the foot in the door effect… started small
Module 76 Group Behavior Pg. 771
How is our behavior affected by the presence of others?
Social Facilitation
Improved performance on simple or well learned tasks in the presence of others.
-only on simple tasks not usually on complex tasks.
“Presence of others sometimes helps, sometimes hinders.”
Why?
Observation –Arousal
Arousal effects performance
Arousal strengthens our most likely response.
Crowding triggers arousal
Friendly people seem more friendly
Social Loafing
Group work
We exert 1/3 less effort when working in groups
Causes of Social Loafing:
1. Less accountability
2. Tendency to think individual contributions are dispensable
3. Free ride on others effort
Deindividuation
Uninhibited behavior
Process of losing self-awareness/Self-restraint
People are 1. Aroused and 2. Anonymous
Depersonalized
Example- Face Paint/masks are more likely to kill or torture
Deindividuation we become more responsive to the group
Group Polarization:
Increasing a group’s cohesion/connectivity + exclusivity of a group
A group’s characteristics become more specific to the group
“The beliefs and attitudes we bring to a group grow stronger as we discuss them with like-minded
others.” Example: Religion + Politics, prejudice
Terrorism- grows slowly interest and isolation=more extreme views
Group Think
“Harmonious but unrealistic group thinking.”
Over confidence
Conformity
Self-justification
Group Polarization
To Prevent Group Think:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Leader welcomes various opinions
Invites expert criticism of developing plans
Assigns people to identify possible problems
“open debate often shapes good decisions”
Diverse groups help
The Power of Individuals
People can influence the majority
Social control = the power of the situation
Personal control these two items can interact
Groups where 1-2 individuals consistently express controversial attitudes or an unusual judgement can
sway the majority opinion.
One thing comes out: Self-confidence can stimulate others
1. They consider other views: people privately develop sympathy for minority position + rethink
their views
Cultural Influences of Behavior
Culture defined:
Behaviors
Ideas
Attitudes
Values
Traditions shared by a group
Transmitted from generation to generation
Author argues we have a capacity for culture
Variation Across Culture
Variations in belief, values, raising children etc.
Each culture has its Norms=rules of acceptable behavior
Teaching Idea:
Identify examples of group behavior in your own life.
Compare with a classmate.
Module 77 Prejudice and Discrimination Pg. 780
How we relate to one another:
Prejudice
Aggression
Attraction
Altruism
Peace making
Prejudice- “Prejudging”
Unjustifiable
Usually negative attitude toward:
A group, a culture, gender or ethnic group
Consists of: Beliefs, emotions, predisposed to action to discriminate
Example- ethnocentrism-superiority of ones ethnic group
Prejudice is cognitive in nature
To believe that a person of other ethnicity is somehow inferior or threatening.
To feel dislike
To be hesitant
 Prejudice is negative attitude
 Discrimination= negative behavior
How does prejudice manifest?
1. In thought
2. In action
Prejudice can be automatic, unconscious and subtle
Gender Prejudice and sexual orientation prejudice are also very common
Most people feel more positive toward women
Traits are seen as positive
Social Roots of Prejudice
Prejudice arises because of social divisions/Social Inequalities
Just World Phenomenon:
A cognitive aspect
The “haves” usually develop attitudes that justify things as they are.
Justice
Reflects the attitude good is rewarded and evil is punished
People who see their own wealth justly deserved
They also see poor people as justly deserving poverty
Attitudes are perceived as accurate and correct
Justified/rationalizing stereotypes
Victims of Discrimination
React
Self-blame
Anger
Blame the victim
Us and Them pg. 784
In-group and Outgroup
Dividing into groups
Evolutionary, aids survival= communal solidarity
We define ourselves
Social Identity
Associations + contrasts are natural
In-group= Us
One tends to like people like ourselves
Outgroup
Sees the other as not us
In-group Bias
People favor their own group
Are reflected easy with simple groupings
Relates to
“Cognitive Power of Partisanship”
Fear heightens in-group unity
Emotional Roots of Prejudice
Negative Emotions nourish prejudice
Scapegoat Theory
Emotional appeal
Blame someone
Target for anger
Results from frustration
Temporary situations-frustrations intensifies prejudice
Students low self-esteem – directing (frustration) at other groups
To boost their sense of self
Conversely those who feel loved + supported experience openness + acceptance.
Cognitive Roots of Prejudice
Prejudice =cognition- simplistic view of the world
Forming categories
We notice differences to more
Example race
Using selective attention “Is drawn to distinctive features of less familiar people.”
Learned associations (perceptions)
We also perceive Outgroup Homogeneity- “they all look alike”
Cognitive FactorsOther Race Effect
Cross Race Effect
Own Race Bias
We have greater recognition for faces of our own race (develops at 3-9 months of age)
Stereotypes are perpetrated by “Vivid Cases”
People remember vivid examples
Hindsight Bias + Blame the Victim
After the fact
Making judgements
The outcome biases the evaluation of the outcome (judgement)
Social Systems
People like things the way they are
Natural conservatism
Tendency to justify things the way they are because ought to be that way (System Justification)
Module 78 Aggression pg. 789
Aggression is any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy
Could be result of hostility
Biology and Aggression
Not an instinct
Has a biofactor
Genetic
Neural
Bio-chemical
Neural
No one location in the brain
Complex behavior
Inhibit or facilitate aggressive behavior
Frontal Lobe-Brain area for inhibition
Amygdala when stimulated causes aggression
Damage = more aggression
Bio-chemical Influences
Electrochemical
Hormones in blood stream-Testosterone
Low T = less aggression
High T = more aggression
Less Intelligence (correlation)
Less serotonin
High T= Irritability
Irritability
Assertiveness
Impulsiveness
Low tolerance for frustration
Predisposes aggressive response to provocation or competition
Among both teenage boys and adult men, high testosterone levels correlate with delinquency,
hard drug use, and aggressive-bullying responses to frustration
Drug in Bloodstream increases aggression- Alcohol
Aggression prone people more aggressive when drinking
Aggressive response to frustration
Tends to focus their attention on a “provocation cues.”
Pg. 791 Psychological and Social Factors
Aversive Events
Frustration Aggression Hypothesis
FrustrationAnger=Aggression
 Example baseball pitchers heat/hit batters
Other stimuli hot temperatures/crowding/pain/personal insults
Reinforcement and Modeling
Aversive events creates aggression
Learned behavior and Social Learning connection (Bobo/Bandura study)
Rewards for aggressive behavior = more aggressive behavior
Avoid modeling aggression
Media Models for Violence (social scripts/social referencing)
Desensitize people to accept and embrace aggression
Video Games
“Psychological processes underlying such effects are well understood and include: imitation;
observational learning; priming of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral scripts; physiological arousal;
and emotional desensitization.”
Module 79 Attraction Pg. 798-806
3 factors to Attraction- Proximity, Attractiveness, Similarity
Proximity:
Geographic nearness “is friendship’s most powerful predictor”
Mere Exposure Effect:
Proximity breeds liking
Repeated exposure to people = more liking
Online Match Making:
Mostly expands the pool of potential mates
Physical Attractiveness
First impressions are always appearance
Evolutionary- healthy reproductive mate
Physical ratios
Role of ovulation
Face is the best predictor
Similarity:
Opposites do not attract.
“Friends and couples are far more likely to share common attitudes, beliefs, and
interests (and, for that matter, age, religion, race, education, intelligence, smoking
behavior, and economic status).”
Similarity of attitudes, ideas, likes… = contentment
Reward Theory:
“We will like those whose behavior is rewarding to us.”
We are attracted by positive interaction and repelled by stress etc…
Relationships develop out of the evaluation of costs and benefits
Romantic Love Over Time:
Passionate Love
Key ingredient is arousal
Hormones (testosterone, dopamine, adrenaline, oxytocin) are associated
Two Factor Theory1. Physical Arousal 2. Cognitive Appraisal
Arousal from any source can enhance the emotion depending on the cognitive
interpretation.
Lust = immediate desire
Romantic love = desire and attachment
Companionate Love
Def. a deep, affectionate attachment
Bonding with a mate
ADVICE:
1. Equity is an important element:
Both partners receive a proportion of what they give
Sharing household chores
Sharing- decisions, possessions, burdens, caring
2. Self-Disclosure:
Revealing of intimate detail about ourselves
Likes/dislikes/dreams/worries/proud/shameful moments/
Breeds liking
Must be reciprocated = intimacy
3. Positive Support:
Not sarcasm, scorn, resentment, hostility, anger, criticism, put downs, all are relationship killers
Positive support, communication, sympathy, empathy, respect, smiles, compliments, touching, laughing
The number of positive interactions must outnumber the negative interactions
(Social Exchange Theory)
Module 80 Altruism, Conflict, and Peace Making Pg. 807-819
Altruism:
Def. an unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Kitty Genovese incident/study, Darly and Latane
Bystander Apathy
- explains why people did not help. Attribution to situational factors.
They concluded that a decision scheme—was processed by each person:
1. First to notice the incident
2. To interpret it as an emergency
3. Assume responsibility for helping (Figure 80.1).
At each step, the presence of others can turn us away from the path that leads to helping.
Diffusion of Responsibility:
The presence of others shows people they are not responsible for helping. Everyone thinks someone
else will step in.
Be Happy and you Help People
“Oh, make us happy and you make us good!” It doesn’t matter how we are
cheered. Whether by being made to feel successful and intelligent, by thinking happy
thoughts, by finding money, or even by receiving a posthypnotic suggestion, we
become more generous and more eager to help (Carlson et al., 1988). And given a
feeling of elevation after witnessing or learning of someone else’s self-giving deed, our
helping will become even more pronounced.”
Reciprocity Norm- return help for help.
Social Responsibility NormWe should help those in need
Close Up (section of the book): “Automatic Prejudice”
Prejudice is
1. Explicit
2. Implicit:
a. Reflected in behavior + attitudes + unthinking
b. Implicit Racial Associations:
Negative associations expressed
People associate positive or negative bias with race issues
Automatic perception of anger or threat in racial/type faces
Unconscious Patronization:
 Less exacting standards and patronizing attitude for minorities
 Hinders minority student achievement
 “Subtle bigotry of low expectations”
Race Influences Perceptions
More expectations based on race
Reflexive Bodily Response
Physical response to race, amygdala
Feelings, “It is what we do with feelings that matters.”
Monitor feelings and adjust