Download 4. Love

Love and War
Music: “Imagine”
David Archuleta
“Happy Endings”
MIKA
“It hurts to wait with love… when love is
somewhere else”
Today’s Agenda
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1. Prejudice
– a) Roots of prejudice
– b) Roots of Terrorism
– c) How it can be overcome
2. Altruism
– Who will help when?
3. Attraction
– Who do we like?/ Mate selection
4. Love
– a) Sternberg: Intimacy, passion and commitment
• The seven flavors of love
– b) Love as attachment
5. Physical Attractiveness and Person Perception
6. Info. on Final Exam: Stick around!
1. a) Roots of Prejudice
• “US” vs “THEM”
– Ingroup/outgroup distinction based on a variety of factors
– If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone
was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other
cause for prejudice by noon. George Aiken
• Ethnocentrism:
– universal tendency to view one’s ingroup as better than outgroups
(see p. 700)
– Human madness at its most destructive
• By the end of the 20th century, 100 million people died a violent
death at the hand of their fellow humans
• Humanity’s genocides, & long history of violence and cruelty against
perceived “enemies”
• 3 components to prejudicial attitudes (p. 698)
– 1) Stereotypes (beliefs)
• inaccurate perception of outgroup as sharing the same characteristics
– 2) Emotions: e.g. hostility
– 3) Predisposition to action: e.g. discrimination
Fig. 16.21, p. 698
1. Prejudice (cont’d)
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Prejudice: Def’n
• Unjustifiable and negative attitude towards a group
Emotional roots of prejudice
– Scapegoating:
• Outgroups provide outlet for anger
– Serves self-esteem needs
• I.e. Prejudice helps maintain a positive self-image
Cognitive roots of prejudice:
– Categorization allow us to simplify our world
• Distorts the reality that members of other groups are very heterogeneous
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– The “just-world” phenomenon: We assume we get what we deserve!
How prejudiced are people today?
– On the surface, attitudes about other races and gender have become
more egalitarian
– More subtle tests reveal that prejudices persist to this day
• Up to 10% of population more extremist
1. Prejudice (cont’d)
• The prejudiced personality:
– Authoritarian personality:
• Attitudes and values marked by rigidity, and oversimplification
– i.e. Absolute right vs. absolute wrong
– Intolerant of differences
– Thinks in stereotyped ways about minorities
• Concerned with power and authority
– Excessive conformity
• Punitive childhood
• Observational Learning:
– Responsible for the transmission of prejudices across generations
• i.e. exposure to parental prejudicial attitudes can lead to prejudicial attitudes in
children
1. b) Roots of Terrorism
• Definition:
– Politically motivated violence
– Intended to instil feelings of terror and helplessness in a population in order
to influence decision-making
• Complex roots
– Avoid simplistic explanations (e.g. the attribution error)
• Political factors:
– Absence of democracy and the inability of individual members to influence
decision-making
• Religion:
– Need for a death-transcending belief system
• Can become a source of identity
– Will protect that system at all costs
• Threat of different belief systems
• Take your own life:
– For the promise of salvation and a better future for the group
1. B) Roots of Terrorism
(cont’d)
• Economic and Social Deprivation:
– Inherent position of weakness: political, economic, military
– Subjective perception of injustice and deprivation
– Politically motivated violence when there are no military
means
• Personal factors:
– Deep resentment of authority/blaming “outgroup”
– Engagement with a terrorist organization:
• Recruitment/Adoption of terrorist goals/Ends justify the means
• Training:
– Break down of inhibitions
– Pressured to conform leading to violent acts
– Can’t exit alive
What could help overcome
prejudice?
– 1) Increase cooperative contacts between member of
rival groups
• Develop friendships with individuals of different backgrounds
– 2) Heal thyself!
• Address feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem
• Know thyself
– Identify your own prejudices and examine critically
– 3) Societal level:
• Address poverty & inequity
• Allow democracies to flourish
2. Altruism
• Unselfish regard for others’ welfare
• Bystander Apathy:
– Case of Kitty Genovese
– Failure to help is related to the number of people present / Diffusion of
responsibility
• Who will help whom? Factors that influence helping:
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Low cost and “you know what to do”
Setting (city vs rural)
Victim & current state
Good parental models/ or religious and humanitarian convictions
3. Attraction
• What factors lead to friendship and romance?
– Proximity: How close someone lives to you
• Familiarity breeds fondness
– Physical Attractiveness:
• Important influence on first impressions
• “Halo effect”: What is beautiful is good
– Similarity:
• Friends and couples more likely to share common attitudes, beliefs,
interests, and to be similar in age, race, education, intelligence, and
economic status.
• Choice of Mate:
– Social exchange model: exchange of assets
– Evolutionary model: sex differences in preferences
4. Love
• A) Sternberg’s Theory:
• 3 Ingredients
– Intimacy:
• sharing, communication, support
– Passion:
• chemistry, arousal, intensity
– Commitment:
• long-term plans, dedication to the relationship
– The presence or absence of these ingredients will
determine the type of love that exists between 2
people, leading to:
• 7 flavors of love (see next overhead)
4. B) Love as Attachment p. 677
5. Effects of Physical Appearance on
Person Perception
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Halo Effect:
– Good-looking people
• seen as more sociable, friendly, poised, warm and well adjusted than those who are less
attractive (p. 665)
– What is beautiful is good
• Present in young kids (3-6 years)
– No evidence for a relationship between personality traits and appearance
• Instilled by the media?
– What is beautiful is competent
• Good looking individuals also expected to be more successful
• Some evidence for good-looking people to secure better jobs
• Self-fulfilling prophecy?
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Seems grossly unfair
– Looks are not “earned” they are inherited!
– Great example of contradictory evidence
• Snippet of “British Idol” show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related
5. Course Evaluation:
– Your feedback is important!!
– http://courseevaluations.yorku.ca
– PSYC 1010 6.0H Prof. Myriam Mongrain
• Final exam:
– This Sunday, May 24 at 7 p.m.
• Tait Mackenzie Student Field Houses
– (3 hrs) : 74 multiple choice; 5 short answers
– Content:
• Lectures since last midterm: Non-cumulative
• Chapters 14, 15, 16 from text
– *** Bring photo ID ***:
• Current York ID & AND photo-bearing ID