Social Psychology:
An Introduction By Definition
There are numerous definitions of social
psychology. For example:
The scientific study of how people think about,
influence, and relate to one another.
The scientific study of the effects of social and
cognitive processes on how we perceive, influence and
relate to others.
The scientific study of individual action, thought, and
emotion as they are related to or are influenced by
others.
And many more…
Breaking Down the Definition(s)
SCIENTIFIC STUDY – the
methodological approach
EMOTION – affect
ACTION – behavior
THOUGHT – cognition
The ABC triad the textbook references
Breaking Down the Definition(s)
Cont’d
RELATING TO OTHERS  we think
about, feel about, and behave toward other
people
INFLUENCED BY OTHERS  other
people think about, feel about, and behave
toward us!
Introduction By Negation:
What is Social Psychology NOT?
NOT the study of “groups” or “group mind”
(but…)
NOT the study of personality/individual
differences (but…)
NOT a “how to solve social problems” area
(but…)
Oh, and it’s definitely NOT social work!!!
A Bit of History
A long history of speculation/theory
E.g., Aristotle
A young empirical discipline
Triplett (1898)
McDougall (1908)
The Pre-WWII years
Social psychologists were a “radical fringe” in
the dark days of American behaviorism
A Bit of History
Social psych really took off as a result of
Nazism/WWII
Propaganda & attitude change
Conformity & obedience
Prejudice, stereotyping, & conflict
The “Cognitive Revolution” (mid-1950s)
Heider’s attribution theory
Festinger’s social comparison & cognitive
dissonance theories
Social Psychology’s Place in the World
Social Psychology’s place in the Social Sciences
Social Psychology’s place within Psychology
So, What do Social Psychologists Actually Study?
Conformity, compliance, &
obedience
Group influences
Human aggression
Interpersonal attraction
Altruistic/cooperative
behaviors
Attitudes & persuasion
Stereotyping, prejudice, &
discrimination
The self
Social cognition
And many more…
How Do Social Psychologists
Answer Their Own Questions?
Accumulated Common Wisdom
Adages are often contradictory
Poor method of discovering the truth
May be a starting point for questions
Overview of the Scientific
Method
State problem
Formulate testable hypothesis
Design study and collect data
Test the hypothesis with the data
Communicate study results
Scientific Theories
Theories are constructs linked in some
logical way
Linked through observable variables
Variables are operationally defined
Scientific theory must be testable
Variables: Independent and
Dependent
Independent variable
Observable event that causes person to do
something
Manipulated versus individual difference
Dependent variable (operational response)
Observable behavior produced by the person
Research Design
Experiment
Researcher controls procedures
Participants are randomly assigned
Allows for statements of cause and effect
Quasi-experiment
No random assignment
Features of Experimental Studies
Reliability
Consistency of measurement
Internal Validity
Independent variable caused change in
dependent variable
Confounded variables
Construct validity
Independent variable - theoretical stimulus
Dependent variable – theoretical response
A way of looking at reliability
and validity
Not reliable
Not valid
Reliable
Not valid
Reliable and
Valid
Laboratory and Field
Experiments
Laboratory Experiments
Reactance
Field experiments
External validity
Findings can be generalized
Nonexperimental Studies
Correlational Approach
No attempt to control variables or random
assignment
Correlation
Relationship between two variables
Correlation coefficient
Weakness – does not prove causation
Meta-analysis
Research as a Process
Program of Research
Series of studies
Example
Stanley Milgram –
Obedience to Authority
Inspiration
Adolph Eichmann Trial
“Just following orders”
Background
How willing are people to obey an authority
figure who instructs them to do something
that may be in conflict with their personal
consciences?
Variables: Independent and
Dependent
Operational definition
Confederate
Person pretending to be a participant
Procedure
Participant Recruitment
Location
Experimenter
The “Victim”/Actor
Confederate
Procedure
Study on the effect of
punishment on
learning
Teacher and Learner
Learning Task
Blue box
Nice day
Wild duck
Blue: sky ink box lamp
Shock Generator
Experiment Details
Experimenter Prods
Pilot Study
Learner Feedback
Results
Experiment 1: Voice- Feedback
Community Population
26 of the 40 participants obeyed the
experimenter to the maximum, 450-volt level.
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
SHOCKING!
Variations
Experiment 3: Proximity
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
Experiment 4: Touch-Proximity
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
(n = 40, both studies)
Variations
Experiment 7: Closeness of Authority
(n = 40)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
Experiment 8: Women
(n = 40)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
Variations
Experiment 10: Office Building, Bridgeport
(Institutional Context
(n = 40)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
Experiment 11: Subjects Free to Choose Shock
Level
(n = 40)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
Variations
Experiment 13: An Ordinary Man Gives
Orders
(n=20)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
%
Experiment 15: Two Authorities:
Contradictory Commands
(n=20)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
%
Variations
Experiment 17: Two Peers Rebel
(n=40)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %:
%
Experiment 18: A Peer Administers Shocks
(n=40)
Mean shock level:
Max shock level:
Max shock %: %
What happened?
What are your hypotheses?
Structures of Authority
Family
Institutions
Rewards and Punishment
Displacement of Responsibility
Research as a Process
Research is more than one finding listed in a
textbook.
Meta-analysis – A study that combines the result
of several studies that address a set of related
research hypotheses
Conducted by Milgram’s biographer Dr. Thomas
Blass
http://www.stanleymilgram.com/
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1999, Vol. 25, pp. 955-978.
Real World Examples
My Lai Massacre
Jonestown
Waco
Heaven’s Gate
Ethical Issues
Deception
Psychological Harm
How Much of Social Psychology
Is True?
Self-Correcting Nature of Science
Replication
Reliance on Student Samples
Cultural Relativity
Western cultures dominate social psychology
research
Cultural differences may be substantial and
important