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Social Environment and Behaviour - Applied Psychology summary
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Summary for Social Environment and Behaviour - Applied Psychology. 2nd year bachelor psychology course - uni of Groningen
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Megi Tsintsadze, 2019/2020University of Groningen
Social and environmental notes (lectures+book)
Week 1 Lecture 1 and 2 (ch 1-4)
Societal problems
● education
● Immigration and integration
● Work
● environment(al)
● Consumers
● Sport
● Transport - co2
Influenced by many aspects
● Economic
● Historical
● Geographical spatial
● Political
● Social psychological
Social psy aspects
● Behaviour
● Problem awareness
● Attitudes
● Norms
● Values
Social psychology: science that aims at understanding the nature and causes of
human beh and cognitions in social situation
Applied social psychology: application of social psychological constructs, principles,
theories, intervention techniques, method, research results to understand and solve
societal problems
Construct
Latent individual (psychological) characteristics (not directly observable)
Attitude, value, social norm, performance motivation
Principle: statement of how psychological process works, describe basic processes in
which human think, feel and act
1. Foot in the door
,Megi Tsintsadze, 2019/2020
University of Groningen
Making small initial request, followed by larger related request within a short
period
a. Small sign on windows: drive safely - 17%
b. Big sign in garden drive safely - 76%
2. Cognitive dissonance: uncomfortable tension resulting from having 2 conflicting
thoughts at the same time or engaging in behaviors that conflicts with one’s
values, beliefs, attitudes.
3. Availability heuristic: refers to tendency to judge the likelihood or frequency of
an event by the ease with which relevant instances come to mind
Groupthink: unanimity important in cohesive grops
Bystander effect: individuals less likely to act/help someone if more people are present
due to diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance
Theory
Integrated set of principles to describe, explain and predicts cognitions, emotions and
behaviour
Theory of planned behaviour: The theory states that intention toward behaviour,
subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control, together shape an individual's
behavioural intentions and behaviours.
Whys theory important
Structural problem
Select relevant antecedent
Direction for solution
Evaluation
Social comparison theory: compare yourself to a group whos doing worse (can
cognitively create this in your mind) to feel better e.g. study with women with breast
cancer
Focus theory of normative conduct
social norms that describe what is the typical or usual thing to do as descriptive norms .
Conversely, people may also be influenced by others because they consider these
others a source of normative social influence
Social dilemma perspective:
is a situation in which an individual profits from selfishness unless everyone chooses
the selfish alternative, in which case the whole group loses.
,Megi Tsintsadze, 2019/2020
University of Groningen
Loss aversion: people dislike losses more than they like gains of the same size,
whether outcome is considered a loss or gain depends on the reference point used.
Reciprocity theory: reward kind action and punish unkind ones, the theory takes into
account that people evaluate the kindness of an action not only by its consequences but
also by the intention underlying this action.
Stimulus overload theory: residents of densely populated cities cope with many
people around them by keeping them at a distance therefore crowding can make people
unfriendly
Theory social influence
Effect of social env on cognitions, emotions and behaviour
Example: focus theory of normative conduct
Injunctive norms: we think how we are expected to behave
Social cognition
-how we think about others and the world
Example: attribution theory, cognitive dissonance, theory of planned behaviour, social
comparison theory: you compare yourself to people that are worse to feel better
Social relationships: why we have good vs bad relationships with others
ingroup/outgroup bias, stereotypes, prosocial behaviour
Basic and applied social psych.
Basic research Applied research
● Focused on developing and testing ● Understanding and resolving
theories practical problems
● Studies conducted out of scientific ● Specifically trying to contribute to
curiosity solving social problems
● Deductive approach: start with ● Inductive approach: start from
theory and examine if it's helpful in specific social problem and exam
understanding social behaviour to what extent theories may help
understand this specific problem
Similarities:
Develop and test theories
Basic approach in applied research and applied research leads to basic knowledge
, Megi Tsintsadze, 2019/2020
University of Groningen
Scientific methods: depend on empirical tests, use of systematic observations to
evaluate propositions and ideas: accuracy, objectivity scepticism, open mindedness
Describe predict, causality, explain
Focus on same antecedent of cognition and behaviours
Goals of science
-description - prediction
Factors influencing cognitions and behaviours
Individual: attitude, values, intrapersonal characteristics
Social: how opinions and behaviour of others affects our behaviour and thoughts
Situational: physical environment, amount of people
Cultural: shared opinions, perceptions, norms
Biological: genetic factors
Characteristic of applied psych
1. Problem focused
a. Multiple theories, methods, interventions
2. Not value free
3. Impact
a. Strong effects
b. Long term effects
4. Generalizable
a. Representative samples
5. Field
6. Interdisciplinary:
7. Client
a. Examples: municipality, ministry
b. Quick results
c. Understandable
8. Cost-benefit consideration
a. Mass media or tailored information
9. Political feasibility
10. Output: science vs society
Examples applying research findings
● Solve problems
● Input for policy, next to other factors
● Agenda setting
● Research to delay decision making
● Research to support own opinion
● Manipulation
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