The phenomenon where the greater the number of people present the less likely one is to help a person in distress. If an emergency situation occurred one is more likely to provide assistance if there is no one watching. The amount of time is takes someone to take action depends on how many people are in the room. There are two main factors that contribute to the bystander effect; diffusion of responsibility and the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways. The diffusion of responsibility takes place when there are other people in the room which makes one feel as if there is not as much pressure to take action as the responsibility is then shared with the other bystanders. The need to behave in a correct and socially acceptable way takes place when other bystanders do not react or help. One then assumes that if they are not reacting then a response is not needed or “appropriate”.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Bystander Effect
The phenomenon where the greater the number of people present the less likely one is to help a person in distress. If an emergency situation occurred one is more likely to provide assistance if there is no one watching. The amount of time is takes someone to take action depends on how many people are in the room. There are two main factors that contribute to the bystander effect; diffusion of responsibility and the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways. The diffusion of responsibility takes place when there are other people in the room which makes one feel as if there is not as much pressure to take action as the responsibility is then shared with the other bystanders. The need to behave in a correct and socially acceptable way takes place when other bystanders do not react or help. One then assumes that if they are not reacting then a response is not needed or “appropriate”.
Social Psychology & Persuasion
Whether we realize it or not we are persuaded everyday. It can be from the media in the form of advertisements, from our friends, family or even a complete stranger. There are many ways to go about persuading someone. In fact there are even specific techniques that one can apply in order to help them get their way or to get others to do what they want. The most effective techniques are :
1. Create a need/appeal to an existing need: this need caters to a person's most basic needs such as shelter, love, self-esteem, and self-actualization. Meaning if you give the person any of these they are more likely to listen to you and be willing to take action.
2.Appeal to social needs: appeals to the universal need to be popular, prestigious or similiar to others. The most common example of this can be found in commcercials. Commercials provide many examples of this type of persuasion. Viewers are persuaded by being encouraged to purchase items so they can be like everyone else or be like a well-known or well-respected person.
3.Use Loaded Words & Images: advertisers use words like " New and Improved" to draw people's attention and flash appealing image
What do Social Pyschologists do?
Social Psychologists do more than just analyze people’s behaviour. They look more in-depth into people’s behaviour and come up with theories related to behaviour. They do so by conducting experiments and doing research. The research may be laboratory based, real-life, in the field, in the clinic, or in historical archives. Their goal is to try and better understand why people behave, think and feel the way they do.
The majority of this is done by observing them in social situations. There are many other careers related to social psychology. Nearly all of them focus on people and their interactions with others. Many personality and social psychologists are employed in the private sector as consultants, researchers, marketing directors, managers, political strategists, technology designers, and so on.
The majority of this is done by observing them in social situations. There are many other careers related to social psychology. Nearly all of them focus on people and their interactions with others. Many personality and social psychologists are employed in the private sector as consultants, researchers, marketing directors, managers, political strategists, technology designers, and so on.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Area's of Research
Here are some different/most popular area's of research Social Psychologists can go into:
Social Cognition: The way we process, store, and use our social information. It's the process of our mental shortcuts and the different associations which impact our social behaviour.
Attitude Change: The study of how certain attitudes are developed and attributed to different people, and how they can change. They have found three different components of attitude: an effective component, a behavioural component, and a cognitive component.
Violence and Agression: This area looks into why people become violent. It looks at the social aspect as well as media influence.
Prosocial Behaviour: It looks at the type of person who will help others around them or will not. Why some people become cooperative members of society and why some rebel. This has to do as well with "The Bystander Effect".
Prejudice and Discrimination: Social Psychologists in this area are interested in the origin of prejudice, the causes and the actions of prejudice, and the overall outcome afterwards. Social Psychologists will looks at discriminations that remain, even though evidence can prove otherwise.
Social Identity: How do our own self-perceptions influence our social cognitive skills? Social Psychologists take a look at what kind of person you are, and how that affects your views and actions in social situations.
Group Behaviour: Within Social Psychology, group behaviour is one of the most popular fields to enter into. It is evident that people react differently in groups rather than on their own. Social psychologists look at things such as group dynamics, leadership, groupthink, conflicts, cooperation, and influence.
Social Cognition: The way we process, store, and use our social information. It's the process of our mental shortcuts and the different associations which impact our social behaviour.
Attitude Change: The study of how certain attitudes are developed and attributed to different people, and how they can change. They have found three different components of attitude: an effective component, a behavioural component, and a cognitive component.
Violence and Agression: This area looks into why people become violent. It looks at the social aspect as well as media influence.
Prosocial Behaviour: It looks at the type of person who will help others around them or will not. Why some people become cooperative members of society and why some rebel. This has to do as well with "The Bystander Effect".
Prejudice and Discrimination: Social Psychologists in this area are interested in the origin of prejudice, the causes and the actions of prejudice, and the overall outcome afterwards. Social Psychologists will looks at discriminations that remain, even though evidence can prove otherwise.
Social Identity: How do our own self-perceptions influence our social cognitive skills? Social Psychologists take a look at what kind of person you are, and how that affects your views and actions in social situations.
Group Behaviour: Within Social Psychology, group behaviour is one of the most popular fields to enter into. It is evident that people react differently in groups rather than on their own. Social psychologists look at things such as group dynamics, leadership, groupthink, conflicts, cooperation, and influence.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The Bystander effect in action
The Bystander Effect in real life : The case of Catherine Genovese
The murder of Catherine Genovese is the most commonly cited example of the bystander effect. When Catherine was returning home from work on March 13th, 1964 she was attacked and stabbed by Winston Moseley. There were over a dozen people in the nearby apartment that heard her cries for help but did not call the police. The attack took place at 3:20 AM but nobody contacted the police until 3:50 AM. The murder became a national issue; so many people were outraged that nobody had interfered. Everyone assumed that someone else had already contacted the police or tried to help. There was later a lot of controversy whether the story was misrepresented in the media.
The halo effect
The halo effect:
this social psychology concept states how positive feelings or opinions pretaining to individual characteristics of person or object can transfer over to other characteristics often unrelated .The reverse is also possible it's called the revers halo effect or the devil effect. This is where individuals, brands, or other things are judged based on a single bad trait. One negative trait or assumption about something taints how we see someone or something overall.
***A study done by Soloman Asch demonstrates how the halo effect exists in relation to appearance and one's attractiveness. His study suggests that that attractiveness is a central trait, so we presume that if someone is attractive that all their other traits are just as attractive.
We see this when people idolize celebrities. We assume that just because they are gorgeous, funny or have perfect hair that they must be good people. We ignore the fact that they could have faults and focus on all of the positives.
***A study done by Soloman Asch demonstrates how the halo effect exists in relation to appearance and one's attractiveness. His study suggests that that attractiveness is a central trait, so we presume that if someone is attractive that all their other traits are just as attractive.
We see this when people idolize celebrities. We assume that just because they are gorgeous, funny or have perfect hair that they must be good people. We ignore the fact that they could have faults and focus on all of the positives.
Concepts
Basic Concept:
Our perception of ourselves in relation to the rest of the world plays an important role in our choices, behaviors, and beliefs. The opinions of others also impact our behavior and the way we view ourselves. There are some basic aspects of social behavior that play a large role in our actions and how we see ourselves;
- Social Behavior is goal oriented
- The interaction between the individual and the situation determines the outcome
- People spend a great deal of time considering social situations
- We analyze and explain the behaviors of others
Major Perspectives:
-Sociocultural Perspective: Stresses the importance of social norms and culture.
-Evolutionary Perspective: Believes social behaviors are developed through genetics and inheritance.
-Social Learning Perspective: Stresses the importance of unique experiences in family, school, and community. We learn behaviors through observing and mimicking others.
-Social-Cognitive Perspective: New behaviors are either assimilated or accommodated and supports an information processing model where we notice, interpret and judge the behaviors of others.
Our perception of ourselves in relation to the rest of the world plays an important role in our choices, behaviors, and beliefs. The opinions of others also impact our behavior and the way we view ourselves. There are some basic aspects of social behavior that play a large role in our actions and how we see ourselves;
- Social Behavior is goal oriented
- The interaction between the individual and the situation determines the outcome
- People spend a great deal of time considering social situations
- We analyze and explain the behaviors of others
Major Perspectives:
-Sociocultural Perspective: Stresses the importance of social norms and culture.
-Evolutionary Perspective: Believes social behaviors are developed through genetics and inheritance.
-Social Learning Perspective: Stresses the importance of unique experiences in family, school, and community. We learn behaviors through observing and mimicking others.
-Social-Cognitive Perspective: New behaviors are either assimilated or accommodated and supports an information processing model where we notice, interpret and judge the behaviors of others.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Social Psychology ;; What is it?
Social Psychology uses scientific methods to understand and explain how the thought, feeling, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the presence of other human beings. This presence can be actual, implied, or imagined. The most common social topics that are studied include; group behavior, social perception, leadership, nonverbal communication, conformity, and prejudices. In order to understand social behavior you must acknowledge social influences, social perceptions, and social interactions equally.
The study of social psychology was not recognized until after World War II. The devastating effects of the Holocaust forced researchers to study the effects of social influence, conformity, and obedience. The U.S. government also used these concepts to try and influence their citizens. Throughout the twentieth century social psychology has grown around the world. The research that has been conducted has contributed to our understanding of social experience and behavior.
Social Psychology is often confused with personality psychology, folk wisdom, and sociology. They are all completely different studies; social psychology uses scientific methods and empirical study of social phenomena and situational variables that affect social behavior. All of these studies look at similar topics but from different perspectives.
Social Psychology: Working in the field
-have good interpersonal skills
-have the ability to get along with a variety of people
-be very observant and analytical
-collect and calculate data & statistics
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