– Share your reflection on at least different concepts your learned this week related to social psychology. Be sure to cover information from the class lecture and from this week’s readings (Module 12). – https://app.vidgrid.com/view/NwJyA82zjX8O/?sr=WMvdcL – https://open.spotify.com/episode/0J8e6sxIgYqayUEH7S1QBU?si=hEbvo4_CQoKXtiUD7fJ2WA https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cochise-psychology/
Reflection on Concepts Learned in Social Psychology
Throughout this week, I have gained valuable insights into several key concepts in social psychology. Drawing from the class lecture and readings from Module 12, I will share my reflection on two important concepts: social influence and social perception.
Social influence is a fundamental aspect of social psychology that explores how others’ actions, opinions, or presence can impact an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. In the class lecture, we discussed the various forms of social influence, including conformity, compliance, and obedience. Conformity refers to the tendency of individuals to adjust their attitudes or behaviors to match those of a majority or influential group. Compliance, on the other hand, involves changing one’s behavior in response to a direct request or command from another person. Lastly, obedience pertains to the submission to authority figures and following their orders or instructions.
One particularly interesting example of social influence discussed in the class lecture was the famous Asch conformity experiments. These experiments demonstrated the power of conformity, as participants were more likely to give an incorrect answer to a simple line judgment task in order to conform to the incorrect responses of the majority. This finding highlights the influence of social norms and the discomfort individuals may experience when deviating from the group consensus.
Additionally, I further delved into the concept of social influence through the week’s readings, particularly in the textbook on Lumen Learning. The reading highlighted the role of social influence in shaping our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. For instance, the discussion on informational social influence emphasized how people often look to others as a source of information when they are uncertain about the correct response or course of action. This phenomenon is especially evident in situations where there is a lack of expertise or ambiguous circumstances. Conversely, normative social influence occurs when individuals conform to gain acceptance, approval, or avoid social rejection. Understanding these different motivations behind social influence can help explain why people may conform or comply with certain behaviors or opinions.
Another concept I found particularly intriguing in this week’s study of social psychology is social perception. Social perception refers to the process by which we form impressions and make judgments about others. It involves interpreting behaviors, attributing causes to actions, and categorizing individuals into social groups or stereotypes. The lecture on social perception provided valuable insights into the various cognitive processes and biases that can influence our perceptions of others.
One key topic discussed in the lecture was the halo effect. The halo effect refers to the tendency to generalize positive impressions of a person based on one’s positive evaluation of one aspect or characteristic. For example, if we perceive someone as physically attractive, we may assume they possess other positive qualities such as intelligence or kindness. This cognitive bias demonstrates how our initial perceptions can impact subsequent judgments, potentially leading to inaccuracies or stereotypes.
The reading on social perception further expanded my understanding of this concept by highlighting the role of schemas in shaping our perceptions. Schemas are mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information about the world. They also influence our expectations about specific groups or individuals. For instance, stereotypes are a type of schema that can lead to biased judgments or assumptions about people based on their membership in a particular social group. Challenging and examining these schemas are important in promoting more accurate and fair perceptions of others.
In conclusion, this week’s exploration of social psychology has provided me with a deeper understanding of key concepts such as social influence and social perception. The class lecture and readings on these topics have shed light on the complex dynamics that shape our behavior and judgments within social contexts. The knowledge gained will undoubtedly contribute to my broader understanding of human behavior and its social underpinnings.
