Introducing Social Psychology

Chapter 1
Introducing Social
Psychology
Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Copyright 2005 by Prentice-Hall, Inc.
PowerPoint Presentation
Prepared By
Fred W. Whitford
Montana State University

Chapter Outline
I. What is Social Psychology?

What is Social Psychology?
Social influence is the effect that

words, actions, or mere presence of
other people have on our thoughts,
feelings, attitudes, or behavior.

Social Psychology is defined as the

scientific study of the way in which
peoples thoughts, feelings, and
actions are influenced by the real or
imagined presence of other people.

Other people can influence us either

through direct attempts at
persuasion, or more indirectly
through their presence and the
transmission of cultural values.

The Power of Social Interpretation

Social psychology is distinct from other
social sciences because of its emphasis
on peoples construals, or personal
interpretations.

How Else Can We Understand Social

Influence?
We can understand social influence

through journalists, instant experts, and
social critics.

How Else Can We Understand Social

Influence?
Social psychology is distinct from

philosophy because it is an empirical field.

Social Psychology Compared with

Personality Psychology
Individual differences are defined as the

aspects of peoples personalities that
make them different from other people.

Social Psychology Compared with

Other Social Sciences

Chapter Outline
II. The Power of Social Influence

The Power of Social Influence
Understanding the Power of Social

Influence
People are prone to the fundamental

attribution error, the tendency to
overestimate the role of traits and
underestimate the role of the situation in
determining peoples behavior.


The Subjectivity of the Social

Situation
Behaviorism is a school of psychology

maintaining that to understand human
behavior, one need only consider the
reinforcing properties of the
environment.

The Subjectivity of the Social

Situation
Gestalt Psychology is a school of

psychology stressing the importance of
studying the subjective way in which
objects appear in peoples minds, rather
than the objective, physical attributes of
the object.

Chapter Outline
III. Where Construals Come From:

Basic Human Motives

Where Construals Come From
The Self-Esteem Approach: The Need

to Feel Good about Ourselves
Self-esteem is a persons evaluation of

their own self-worth.

Where Construals Come From
The Social Cognition Approach: The

Need to Be Accurate
Social Cognition is how people think

about themselves and the social world.

Chapter Outline
IV. Social Psychology and Social

Problems

Social Psychology and Social
Problems
Whereas social psychologists are

often motivated by curiosity to study
social behavior, they are also
motivated by the desire to help
resolve social problems.

Social Psychology and Social
Problems
Example: Social psychologists have

contributed important insights to
AIDS education and prevention.

Study Questions
What do social psychologists

study scientifically?

Study Questions
What are some examples of social

influence?

Study Questions
What is contained in a persons

construal of the world?

Study Questions
Although they may share the same

questions, what advantages
does social psychology have
over folk wisdom and philosophy
in answering these questions?

Study Questions
What do sociologists study?

Study Questions
Which branch of psychology

studies how individual
differences between people
explain their behavior?

Study Questions
What are some examples of

individual differences?

Study Questions
What is the fundamental

attribution error?

Study Questions
What are some consequences of

committing the fundamental
attribution error?

Study Questions
According to behaviorism, what

do we need to consider to
understand human behavior?

Study Questions
What has Gestalt psychology

contributed to social
psychology?

Study Questions
What is the relationship between

peoples motive to be accurate
and their expectations about the
social world? What can result
from peoples expectations?


Introducing Social Psychology

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Chapter 1

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

I. What is Social Psychology?

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Social influence is the effect that

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Social Psychology is defined as the

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Other people can influence us either

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

The Power of Social Interpretation

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

How Else Can We Understand Social

We can understand social influence

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

How Else Can We Understand Social

Social psychology is distinct from

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Social Psychology Compared with

Individual differences are defined as the

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Social Psychology Compared with

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

II. The Power of Social Influence

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Understanding the Power of Social

People are prone to the fundamental

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

The Subjectivity of the Social

Behaviorism is a school of psychology

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

The Subjectivity of the Social

Gestalt Psychology is a school of

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

III. Where Construals Come From:

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

The Self-Esteem Approach: The Need

Self-esteem is a persons evaluation of

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

The Social Cognition Approach: The

Social Cognition is how people think

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

IV. Social Psychology and Social

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Whereas social psychologists are

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Example: Social psychologists have

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

What do social psychologists

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

What are some examples of social

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

What is contained in a persons

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Although they may share the same

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

What do sociologists study?

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

Which branch of psychology

Aronson Social Psychology, 5/e

What are some examples of