PSY 202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Fundamental Attribution Error, Social Comparison Theory, Mariner 4

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 202
• Professor: Vetesse Lisa

Document Summary

Lecture 7 july 18th, 2012 (chapter 13 social psychology) Study of how people influence each others" behaviours, beliefs, and attitudes. Helps us understand why many forms of social influence are so powerful. Need to belong theory biologically based need for interpersonal connections. Even the threat of social isolation can promote unhealthy behaviour and compromise iq scores. Social exclusion activates the same brain areas as physical pain. Evolutionary factors social influence processes (conformity, obedience) generally serve use well, unless accepted unquestioningly. Social facilitation or disruption enhancement of easy tasks, or disruption of difficult ones, elicited by the presence of others. Fundamental attribution error tendency to overestimate the impact of dispositional influences (personality, attitudes, intelligence) on other people"s behaviour. Cultural disparity for the fae: asian cultures are more likely to consider situational factors (fundamental attribution error = fae) Subjects inferred that debaters" positions on cuba reflected their actual attitudes despite the random assignment of debaters positions a striking example of the fae.