Social Psychology

1
Social Psychology

• The thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of
  individuals as shaped by the actual, imagined, or
  implied presence of others
• Norman Triplett (1897) first social
  psychological experiment (social facilitation)
• Centered around cities at first why?

2
What do men and women look for in a partner?

• Women look for
• Record of achievement
• Leadership qualities
• Skill at his job
• Earning potential
• Sense of humor
• Intellectual ability
• Attentiveness
• Common sense
• Athletic ability
• Good abstract reasoning

• Men look for
• Physical Attractiveness
• Ability in bed
• Warmth and affection
• Social skill
• Homemaking ability
• Dress sense
• Sensitivity to others needs
• Good taste
• Moral perception
• Artistic creativity

3
Theories of Attraction

• Reward Theory
• Physical Attractiveness
• Balance Theory attitude similarity leads to
  attraction
• Proximity/Mere Exposure Effect functional
  distance how often do paths cross
• Sociobiology

4
Styles of Love

• Hendrick and Hendrick Love has different meaning
  to different people
• Six styles of loving
• Eros Passionate Love
• Ludus Game Playing Love
• Storge Friendship Love
• Pragma Logical Love
• Mania Dependent Love
• Agape Selfless Love

5
Dealing with Dissatisfaction

• Rusboldt and Zimbrodt identified 4 general
  responses
• Exit ending or actively abusing the relationship
• Voice actively attempting to improve conditions
• Loyalty passively waiting for things to improve
• Neglect passively allowing the relationship to
  deteriorate
• Two dimensions constructive/destructive and
  active/passive

6
Obedience to Authority

• Stanley Milgram investigating behavior of
  individuals during time of Holocaust
• Emphasized the power of the situation
• Fundamental Attribution Error
• When allowed to stop as soon as they wanted to,
  people stopped between 45-60 volts

7
Other Researchers

• Hofling (1969) all but 1 of 22 nurses were ready
  to comply with a physicians order to administer
  an obvious overdose of a drug!
• 1977 Replication lower level of compliance.
  Used a familiar drug and gave nurses a chance to
  consult someone else

8
Reactance

• Sometimes we do say no!
• Reactance is a motive to protect or restore ones
  sense of freedom and self-efficacy
• Romeo and Juliet Effect

9
Aggression

• Physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt
  others
• Homicide rates have consistently dropped in the
  U.S. in the last ten years
• Although they did increase 1 in 2002
• We still have the highest rate in Western society
  (16,204 in 2002)
• 18-24 year olds have the highest victimization
  and offending rates (this wasnt true until the
  1980s)
• Rates are highest in Southern Regions (worst rate
  is West South Central)

10
Aggression in the South

• Why are homicide rates higher?
• In the abstract, southerners do not support
  violence more than northerners
• However, they are more likely to endorse violence
  as a means of self-protection, as an appropriate
  response to insults, and as a socialization tool
  for training children
• Culture of honor, herding societies in SW (must
  protect herds)

11
Television and Violence

• Average child sees 100,000 acts of violence and
  8,000 murders before the end of elementary school
• 58 of TV programs contain violence
• 73 of these shows indicate no remorse or
  penalties for violence
• Rate of violence 5-6 incidents per hour during
  primetime 20-25 Saturday mornings
• Children's interest in shows increases if rated
  parental discretion advised

12
Influences on Aggression

• Frustration/strong emotion
• Alcohol usage is a factor in 2/3 of homicides,
  and 1/3 of all rapes
• Pain
• Crowding
• Temperature (92 degrees and higher)
• Pornography