Chapter 1 Introducing Social Psychology

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09.02.2012[Social] ψ has a long past, but only a shorthistory• Essentially a 20 th century field• ‘Social psychology’ as a term came into common usage aroundthe turn of the 20th century.• 90% of social psychologists who had ever lived were still alive in1979 (Cartright in Brehm, et al, 2005)• In contrast: Personality ψ - Freud, Jung, Adler, Rogers are alllong dead.• Social psychology is interested in old issues• Do individuals perceive reality accurately?• Are people capable of free will, or is behavior is determined?• Are the basic instincts of humans good or evil?Birth and Infancy: 1880s – 1920s• 1875 - W. Wundt (Germany) & W. James (in the US) establishthe first psychology experiments• 1880s-1900s – European scholars were influential• 1898 - First social ψ Experiment by N. Triplett• How social factors effected bicycle riding? (Social Facilitation)• 1908- First textbooks contained the phrase “social psychology”in their titles by McDougall & Ross• 1924 – most influential textbook by Floyd Allport• Accepted as the “rise of experimentation in social ψ”1930s - social ψ began to grow as a solid field• Kurt Lewin “Father of Social Psy” (1890-1947)• B(ehavior) = P(erson)+ S (ituation)• Muzafer Sherif• Norm formation studies• WW2 and Post war era• Sparked much research (e.g. authoritarian personality,conformity, obedience, persuasion, group dynamics)• Practical applications (e.g. communication, propaganda)• Brain drain from Germany (mainly to the U.S)6
09.02.2012More history• 50s - 60s: social influence• Festinger, Asch, Milgram, Darley & Latane• European researchers regained importance• Studied group dynamics, decision making, etc.• 70s: cognitive revolution• Attribution, interpersonal perception, biases &heuristics• 80s: social cognition is on the rise.• Also social identity, persuasion and new topics like love andrelationships, evolutionary psychology• 90’s decade of the brainContemporary Themes in SocialPsychology• Social Cognition• Biology and the Brain• Focus on Self• Focus on ConflictSocial Psychologyand Social ProblemsSocial psychological theories about human behaviorhave been applied to a range of contemporaryproblems, including:• prejudice• energy shortages• AIDS• unhealthy habits• violence in schools7
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