Felicia McCaw
Social Psychology
Course Outcome in Focus:
Describe the major theories within the field of Social Psychology.
The major theories within the field of Social Psychology are:
#1 – Cognitive Dissonance Theory Assert that Rationalization shapes attitudes –
This theory affect a person’s attitude and play a part in acting out dissonance sometimes between the aspects which causes levels of uncomfortableness and a wavering of determination and reflects a change in attitude because of this. If an attitude or cognition causes discomfit then the conscious mind would enact a more comfortable state to relieve the stress and find a solution for comfort (consonance). Usually consonance will win out every time otherwise an increase of unhappiness, sadness would occur and eventually cause internal harm. Because of this several cognitions (thoughts, ideas) can be interchangeably considered at once and the process of changing attitudes or cognitions increases in momentum to achieve or restore consonance based on priorities by importance. Another part of the Cognitive Dissonance Theory is dissonance and it is the level of discomfort whether high or low and affects the importance of cognitions and the rate at which consonance is sought to correct dissonance. There are four ways to reduce dissonance and restore consonance: (1) Cancel the choice or cognition, (2) Make choice or cognition more attractive, (3) Decrease the attractiveness and (4) Reduce choice or cognition importance.
#2 – Cognitive Consistency Is Not A Universal Motive –
Based on Festinger’s Theory is the assumption that everyone has an equal desire to engage in cognitive consistent actions. Further after research this approach is more fully apt to describe individualist cultures than those with a collectivist orientation. Argued is that independence is geared toward individualist cultures and interdependency is socialized into the collectivist cultures.
#3 – Self-Perception Theory Contends That Behavior Causes Attitudes -
The Self-Perception Theory uses the process of knowing self and internally analyzing self-behavior and allows the attainment of knowledge of attitudes, beliefs and the ability to do a self-analysis. Because a self-analysis is able to be done the discovery of internal states allow picking up cues from behavior in certain situations, reactions to circumstances, behavioral patterns in different environments and if unable to do a self-analysis then it is like looking from the outside inwardly. Because of this ability to know and comprehend self it is very influential because of its simplicity of use and in understanding the true hidden part we keep from the world.
Page 2
#4 - Theory of Planned Behavior Explains “Thought-Through” Actions –
Based on this theory people use logic and rationality in considering their behavior prior to acting and dual consequences that may follow. The reason attitudes cannot be better predictors of behavior is because other issues have to be considered. Further behavioral intentions are influenced less by general attitudes than by attitudes performing the specific behavior in question.
Describe research methods that are used for studying social psychology.
As cited from Psychology About.com:
http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/socialresearch.htm
Descriptive Research
The goal of descriptive research is to portray what already exists in a group or population. One example of this type of research would be an opinion poll to find which political candidate people plan to vote for in an upcoming election. Unlike causal and relational studies, descriptive studies cannot determine if there is a relationship between two variables.
Correlational Research
Social psychologists use correlational research to look for relationships between variables. Conducting surveys, directly observing behaviors, or compiling research from earlier studies are some of the methods used to gather data for correlational research.
While this type of study can help determine if two variables have a relationship, it does not allow researchers to determine if one variable causes changes in another variable.
Experimental Research
Experimental research is the key to uncovering causal relationships between variables. In experimental research, the experimenter randomly assigns participants to one of two groups: the control group and the experimental group. The control group receives no treatment and serves as a baseline. Researchers manipulate the levels of some independent variable in the experimental group and then measure the effects. Because researchers are able to control the independent variables, experimental research can be used to find causal relationships between variables.
Page 3
Describe research methods that are used for studying social psychology. (continued)
Naturalistic Research
Naturalistic observation is a research method commonly used by psychologists and other social scientists. This technique involves observing subjects in their natural environment. This type of research is often utilized in situations where conducting lab research is unrealistic, cost prohibitive or would unduly affect the subject's behavior.
Naturalistic observation differs from structured observation in that it involves looking at a behavior as it occurs in its natural setting with no attempts at intervention on the part of the researcher.
Participant Observation
As cited from SociologyAbout.com:
http://sociology.about.com/od/Research/a/Participant-Observation.htm
Participant Observation is a common way for sociologists to collect data and study society is to actually become a part of the group they are studying. This is called participant observation. During participant observation, two separate roles are played at the same time: subjective participant and objective observer. Sometimes, though not always, the group is aware that the sociologist is studying them.
The goal of participant observation is to gain a deep understanding and familiarity with a certain group of individuals. This is usually some sort of subculture group, such as a religious, occupational, or particular community group. To do this, the researcher usually lives within the group, becomes a part of the group, and lives as a group member for an extended period of time, allowing them access to the intimate details and goings on of the group.
Observational Research
As cited from Intropsych.com:
http://www.intropsych.com/ch01_psychology_and_science/observational_research.html
Observational research consists of systematic observation. The word systematic implies a sensible and replicable procedure for collecting data. Data might be collected with a video recording device or by administering a questionnaire or in any other way that can be adequately described for other scientists who wish to repeat the observations. No experiment is conducted. The researcher does not attempt to alter the world during the data collection phase. The data are analyzed, and researchers look for interesting or important patterns.
Page 4
Describe research methods that are used for studying social psychology. (continued)
What is observational research?
In studies of children, observational techniques are highly developed. Experiments that might alter children's lives would raise ethical problems, but observational techniques can be done without disturbance. Following are examples of different observational techniques, illustrated in each case with an example from developmental psychology.
Archival Research
As cited from SociologyAbout.com:
http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/What_is_archival_research%3F
Archival Research can be defined as the study of existing data. The existing data is collected to answer research questions. Existing data sources may include statistical records, survey archives, and written records.
Survey Methodology
As cited from Wikipedia.org:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survey_methodology
In statistics, survey methodology is the field that studies the sampling of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies. Other types of survey are used for scientific purposes. Surveys provide important information for all kinds of research fields, e.g., marketing research, psychology, health professionals and sociology.[1] A survey may focus on different topics such as preferences (e.g., for a presidential candidate), behavior (smoking and drinking behavior), or factual information (e.g., income), depending on its purpose. Since survey research is always based on a sample of the population, the success of the research is dependent on the representativeness of the population of concern (see also sampling (statistics) and survey sampling).
Survey methodology seeks to identify principles about the design, collection, processing, and analysis of surveys in connection to the cost and quality of survey estimates. It focuses on improving quality within cost constraints, or alternatively, reducing costs for a fixed level of quality. Survey methodology is both a scientific field and a profession. Part of the task of a survey methodologist is making a large set of decisions about thousands of individual features of a survey in order to improve it.
Page 5
Apply concepts of social psychology to personal and professional situations. Listed below are the concepts that apply to either or both.
Personal Professional Situations
Builds Self-Esteem Builds Self-Esteem
Self-monitoring Self-monitoring
Allows Reflexive Thought Allows Reflexive Thought
Schema Schema
Gender Schema Gender Schema
Forms Attitudes Forms Attitudes
Social Role Social Role
Explore and Expand Cultural Perspectives Explore and Expand Cultural Perspectives
Self-Evaluation Self-Evaluation
Behavioral Analysis Behavioral Analysis
Self-Enhancement Self-Enhancement
Social Cognition Social Cognition
Expand Social Cognition Expand Social Cognition
Individualism Individualism
Self-Concept Self-Concept
Self-Awareness Self-Awareness
Social Indentity Social Indentity
Self-Consciousness Self-Consciousness
Self-Regulation Self-Regulation
Gender Identity Gender Identity
Social Identity Social Identity
Ethnic Identity Ethnic Identity
Persuasion Persuasion
Sleeper Effect Sleeper Effect
Attitude Attitude
Cognitive Consistency Cognitive Consistency
Cognitive Dissonance Cognitive Dissonance
Self-Perception Theory Self-Perception Theory
Theory of Planned Behavior Theory of Planned Behavior
Page 6
1. What are attitudes?
An attitude is a positive or negative evaluation of an object.
2. How are they formed and maintained?
Attitudes are formed by unconsciously allowing the processing of incoming stimuli when reacting with a person, object, things and events. This stimuli allows and stimulates the amygdala to project images of acceptance or rejection emotionally and allows an emotional assessment. Emotional assessments lead to our developing attitudes which affect our everyday life, e.g., bad emotions triggers attitudes of dislike, hate and associate negative connotations with it; good emotions triggers attitudes of like, love, good and everything positive is associated with it. They are maintained by either positive or negative reinforcement or changes in situational changes either in environment, people, good or bad emotions and other factors.
3. What are the major theories of Attitude Formation?
As cited from Intropsych.com:
http://www.nd.edu/~rwilliam/xsoc530/attitudes.html
1. Functionalist theory. Daniel Katz proposed a functionalist theory of attitudes. He takes the view that attitudes are determined by the functions they serve for us. People hold given attitudes because these attitudes help them achieve their basic goals. Katz distinguishes four types of psychological functions that attitudes meet.
2. Learning theory (which stresses attitude formation). There are several means by which we learn attitudes.
3. Cognitive dissonance theory - stresses attitude change - and that behaviors can determine attitudes.
4. How do attitudes impact self-perception? and vice versa?
Attitudes impact Self-Perception by allowing the ability to be an observer because it allows the opportunity to study how behavior affected the change.
Self-Perception affects attitudes by bypassing internal cognition and mood states and helps initiate changes.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment