Social Psychology

The study of how we think about, influence, and relate to another

How do we think about one another?

         

We are social beings 

who thrive on social interaction, and our will to love, or hate drastically; which is why, despite others objections, we really truly care what others think of us.

Attribution theory

The idea that we give a casual explanation for someone's behavior

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to underestimate the impact of a situation and overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Attitudes

A  belief or feeling that predisposes one to respond in a particular way to something

Foot in Door Phenomenon

The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request, to comply later to a larger request

Door in Face Phenomenon

The tendency for people who say no to a huge request to comply with a smaller one first.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that we do not like when we have either conflicting attitudes, or when our attitudes do not match our actions

Intro into Psychology

Psychology

      The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

• Behavior-  Anything that can be observed
• Mental Processes- internal experiences such as thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions
• Systematic study- Systematic collection and examination of data to support or disprove hypothesis rather than depending on common sense

Key Players in the History of Psychology

     Roots of Psychology can be traced back 2000 years ago to early philosophers, biologists, and psychologists of ancient Greece

Hippocrates

• Greek Psychologist that thought the mind or soul resided in the brain
• He believed that it was not composed of physical substance
• Dualism- Seeing the mind and body as two different things that interact

Plato  (350 B.C)

• A Greek philosopher that believed that who we are and what we know are innate

Aristotle

• Plato's student
• believed that who we are is acquired from experience
• Saw the mind and body as different aspects of the same thing

John Locke

• Believed that knowledge comes from observation and what we know comes from experience
• Coined the term " Tabula Rasa", meaning blank slate.
• Believes that the mind is a blank slate in which the environment writes upon

Rene Descartes

• Believed that what we know is innate
• " I think; therefore I am"

Nature Vs. Nurture

     The common debate whether our behavior is inborn or learned through experience

Nature -Ideas are innate to the human mind

Nurture - Anything we know is leaned through experiences

 "Men are made; not born"