HSB4M
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Social Science: broad field of study that looks at
human behaviour
Three disciplines: anthropology, psychology and
sociology
Typically social experiments investigate how
someone's behaviour influences a groups
behaviour or internal states, such as attitude or
self-concept.
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If someone was attractive
would you think they are more
intelligent?
The halo effect is the bias
where the perception of one
trait (i.e. a characteristic of a
person or object) is influenced
by the perception of another
trait (or several traits) of that
person or object
An example: good-looking
person = intelligent
Cognitive dissonance is an
uncomfortable feeling caused
by holding conflicting ideas
simultaneously
 People reduce dissonance
(discomfort) by changing their
attitudes, beliefs, and actions
 Studies show that we can
change our beliefs very easily
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Robber’s Cave:
A group of twenty-two 11 year old
boys were taken to camp at
Robber’s Cave State Park,
Oklahoma and formed two rival
groups
Both saw the other as members of
an “outgroup” or rivals
Eventually made peace
However....the happy ending was
only achieved after the experiment
was performed three times!
Stanford Prison Experiment
What makes a person evil? Can
a good person commit evil
acts? If so, what can make
people cross the line?
 Students were asked to play
role of guards/prisoners
 Experiment stopped after only
6 days!
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measured the willingness of people to obey
an authority figure even if it hurt someone
else
In the original 1963 experiment 65%
continued with the experiment to the final
massive 450 volt shock
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People tend to think other’s think exactly like
they do and that their opinions views are
superior
People project their thinking on to others
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Would you help him?
Studies show that if
your in a crowd you
most like WILL NOT
HELP!
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Try one today! Make up a fake news
story...see what happens!