Download Module 43 * Social Thinking

Social Thinking
Social Psychologists study why the same person acts differently in different
situations
EXERCISE – Attribution Scale
Distribute 2 copies of the handout to each student. Have students
complete the scale twice. Once for a former teacher and once for themselves.
After they have completed both forms, have them count the number of times they
circled “depends on the situation” on each rating sheet. A show of hands will
demonstrate a greater tendency to attribute the other person’s behavior to
personal disposition, while attributing their own behavior to the environment. Ask
students why this may be the case.
Fundamental Attribution Error – underestimating the impact of the situation
and overestimating the impact of personal disposition.
Example Hurricane Katrina – why didn’t residents evacuate?
Does what we think predict what we will do, or does what we do shape
what we will think?
Attitudes: feelings based on beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a
particular way
Attitudes can affect actions AND Actions can affect Attitudes
Foot in the Door phenomenon
Roles – a set of social norms, defining how one should behave in
that role
Cognitive Dissonance – when we become aware of when our
actions and our attitudes don’t match – we experience tension or
cognitive dissonance. We can reduce tension, by changing our
attitudes. Example – current war…… pretense becomes reality….
Act as if you like someone, and you soon will. Changing our
behavior can change how we think about others and feel about
ourselves!
Social Influence
Social Psychology – how we think about, influence and relate to one another.
Two major components:
Conformity & Compliance (obedience)
Group Influence
What do experiments on conformity and compliance reveal about the power of
social influence?
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Behavior is contagious
Chameleon effect – we are natural mimics – (part of empathy)
Suggestibility – a subtle type of conformity……
Group Pressure and Conformity
Conformity – adjusting our behavior or thinking toward some group
standard)
Asch’s conformity experiments
What are the conditions that strengthen conformity?
One is made to feel incompetent
The group has at least 3 people
The group is unanimous
One admires the group’s status
One has made no prior commitment to any choice
Others in the group observe one’s behavior
One’s culture strongly encourages respect for social standards
Why do we conform?
Normative social influence – desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
Informational social influence – one’s willingness to accept others’
opinions about reality
Obedience
Stanley Milgram’s studies….. shock experiements
What lessons have we learned from Conformity & Obedience studies?
Strong social influences can make people conform to falsehoods or do
cruel things – people succumb to evil.
Second major component of Social Psychology is Group Influence
How does the mere presence of others influence our actions? Does our
behavior change when we act as part of a group?
Social Facilitation – improved performance of simple or well-learned tasks in the
presence of others.
Social Loafing – tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when working
together toward a goal, than when held individually accountable
Why? Feel less accountable – therefore worry less. And/or Don’t
feel their input adds anything new
EXERICSE BEFORE DISCUSSING DEINDIVIDUATION…..
Write down your response to this question: (DO NOT put your names on
them!)
“If you could do anything humanly possible with complete assurance that
you would not be detected or held responsible, what would you do?”
(As a teacher it will be difficult for you to not elaborate – but don’t. If they
ask any questions, just restate the previous sentence.) A follow-up
teaching point could be the ability to deal with ambiguity…..
Right before you collect the responses, tell the class you will make a
prediction of the most common answer…. And write your prediction down
on paper. Do not tell them what it is. You will write down, “Rob a bank /
Steal/take money”
Collect the responses – and read responses to the class….. Once all the
responses have been read, share your prediction with the class. I have
NEVER had this fail once! The majority of the answers are just that….
Rob a bank. Now – transition into how you knew that – with a discussion
on Deindividuation……
Deindividuation – loss of self awareness and self-restraint when in group
situations that foster arousal and anonymity.
Effects of Group Interaction…..
What is group polarization? – If a group is like-minded, a discussion
strengthens its prevailing opinion. – racial discussions and prejudice
What is group think? – when the desire for harmony in a decision-making
group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.
NOTE: Many students don’t grasp the concept that Group Think is a bad
thing. Be sure to reiterate this.
Examples? Challenger, Bay of Pigs (some of these they may not
be able to relate to – but maybe you can think of more relevant ones)
Group think is fed by over confidence, conformity, self-justification and
group polarization.
Can a minority sway a majority?
- Twelve angry men…..