List of definitely acceptable topics for Application Paper*

Social Perception & Causal Attribution:

Fundamental Attribution Error

Kelleys co-variation model
Cultural differences in attribution
Counter-factual thinking
First impressions/snap judgments
Non-verbal behavior and regulation of non-verbal
actions (also can be discussed in the context of
emotion)

Social Cognition:

Order & Framing effects

Confirmation bias
Schemas
Heuristics

Emotion:

Appraisal theories of emotion

Facial expressions
o universality vs cultural accents
o the social value of expressions
Emotions and social relationships
Emotions and social cognition

The Social Self:

Self-esteem (pros and cons)

Culture and the self
Self-regulation & ego-depletion
Self-presentation strategies (including selfhandicapping)

Attraction and Relationships:

Factors that contribute to liking in interpersonal

contexts
The need to belong and social rejection
Adult attachment styles
Investment model of relationships
Physical attraction (e.g., factors associated with
attraction)
Sex differences in mate preferences and mating
practices

Chapter 5 + lecture
materials

Chapter 4 + lecture
materials

Chapter 6 + lecture
materials

Chapter 3 + lecture
materials

Chapter 10 + lecture
materials

Groups:

Social Facilitation
Factors related to group decision making (e.g.,
group think, polarization, etc.)
Leadership and power
Deindividuation and crowd behavior

Social Influence:

Conformity
Normative influence and/or informational
influence
Obedience to authority
Compliance (e.g, norm-based, reason-based,
etc.)

Attitudes:

Attitude-behavior links
Balance theory
Cognitive dissonance
Self-perception theory
Implicit attitudes

Persuasion:

Different functions of attitudes (e.g., valueexpressive, etc.)

Dual-processes models of attitude change (e.g.,
ELM)
Source, message, and receiver characteristics
(focusing on each individually or a combination)
Media effects on attitude change
Reactance and avoiding persuasion (can also
write about reactance in relation to social
influence as well e.g., resisting normative
pressures).

Stereotyping, Prejudice, & Discrimination:

Different factors that contribution to intergroup

turmoil (e.g., Realistic Group Conflict Theory,
motivational perspectives on prejudice, cognitive
perspectives).
Implicit vs explicit processes involved in
stereotyping
Effects of stigmatization

Chapter 12 + lecture
materials

Chapter 9 + lecture
materials

Chapter 7 + lecture
materials

Chapter 8 + lecture
materials

Chapter 11 + lecture
materials

o
o
o
Ways

Stereotype threat
Attributional ambiguity
Self-fulfilling prophecies
of reducing prejudice + discrimination

Aggression:

Frustration-aggression Hypothesis
Culture of honor + other cultural factors
associated with aggression
Situations factors e.g., heat, time of day
Evolutionary reasons for aggression

Altruism & Prosocial Behavior:

Empathy-altruism
Egoistic motives for helping
Bystander effect & diffusion of responsibility
Evolutionary factors that encourage helping
(e.g., kin-selection, reciprocal helping)
Cooperation in interpersonal and intergroup
contexts

Applied Social Psych: Psych & Law

Eye-witness testimony
Cross-race effect in face memory
False confessions

Chapter 13 + lecture
materials

Chapter 14 + lecture
materials

App Mod 4 + lecture

materials

*This not an exhaustive list and youre welcome to pick a topic not listed above.
However, if you do so I strongly encourage you to check in with me first to be sure
your chosen topic is acceptable (e.g., last semester a student wrote their paper
about moral development in children; it was an interesting read but also unrelated
to any of our class topics. This resulted in a rather poor grade. Dont be that
student).
Also, just because you select a topic from this list doesnt guarantee a good grade
on the paper. The instructions (posted on Blackboard) still need to be carefully
followed and the final product needs to be well-written. A bad paper about a preapproved theory/hypothesis/concept is still a bad paper.
If you have any questions while working on the assignment, please me know. Im
happy to help as you find a topic and develop your paper.