Psychology 2070A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Cognitive Dissonance, Leon Festinger, Condom

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2070A/B
• Professor: Taylor Kohut

Document Summary

Many social problems (i. e. causes of and reactions to violence) can be studied scientifically. Results of some experiments seem obvious; because social psych is something we are all familiar; social behavior, social influence. Hindsight bias: the tendency for people to exaggerate how much they could have predicted the outcome after knowing that it occurred. - score is 20/20 as the saying goes. Science is a cumulative process, researchers generate hypotheses from previous research. Theory: an organized set of principles that can be used to explain observed phenomena. Hypotheses: a testable statement or idea about the relationship between two or more variables. Many studies stem from a researcher"s dissatisfaction with existing theories and explanations. Leon festinger dissatisfied with the theory - behaviourism & formulated a new approach - cognitive dissonance theory. The genovese"s murder case; 38 people watched, but done nothing. The more people who witness an emergency, the less likely it is that any given individual will intervene.