• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Psychiatrists—medical doctors (M.D.); can prescribe medication and perform surgery.

Clinical psychologists—have doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.); use different therapeutic approaches depending on training and diagnosis.

Counseling psychologists—have Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D., or M.A. in counseling; tend to deal with less severe mental health problems.

Psychoanalysts—may or may not be psychiatrists, but follow the teaching of Freud and practice psychoanalysis or other psychodynamic therapies.

Clinical or psychiatric social workers—have masters degree in social work (M.S.W.).

Table 17.1 Therapy/Cause/Goal

CHAPTER 18

Social Psychology

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: If you could spare a few minutes for a close friend who asked for some help, would you? Of course you would. How other people, groups, and cultures shape our perceptions, attitudes, and behavior is the study of social psychology. It looks at how social and situational factors can influence us in both positive and negative ways. Research by social psychologists has raised important ethical questions because of the use of deception and manipulation to get as accurate results as possible. The American Psychological Association’s ethical guidelines have tightened the reins on researchers as a result of some of the more controversial, yet important findings in this field.

This chapter deals with how groups affect the individual, how we perceive others and others perceive us, and attitudes and attitude change.

Key Ideas

Group dynamics

Bystander intervention

Attribution processes

Interpersonal perception

Organizational behavior

Conformity, compliance, and obedience

Attitudes and attitude change

Aggression and antisocial behavior

Group Dynamics

Humans have a basic drive to form social bonds with others. A social group is two or more individuals sharing common goals and interests, interacting, and influencing each other’s behavior. People occupying an elevator together are not a social group, but members of a girl scout troop would be because they have a pattern of socializing and working together on projects and common goals. Norms are implicit or explicit rules that apply to all members of the group and govern acceptable behavior and attitudes. Norms allow for smooth social interactions because they let people know how they are supposed to behave. Violating these norms can be grounds for exclusion from the group, so the desire to belong will cause some members to act very differently from when they are alone.

Social Roles

Certain social roles or social positions are also characteristic of group membership. In the Zimbardo prison study, Stanford students were arbitrarily assigned the roles of either prisoner or guard. As a consequence of their role assignment, individual behavior changed dramatically in a matter of hours. Although they were well aware that the “prison” was a simulated situation, by the sixth day the experiment had to be halted because of the severe stress inflicted by certain “sadistic” guards who took their roles too seriously. The entire experiment was videotaped and experts in the prison system were amazed at how realistic the simulated situation had become in such a short period of time. Those assigned the role of prisoner were cowering in their cells and one-third of those assigned the role of guard inflicted harsh punishment for the slightest infraction of the rules.

Working together in group situations either in the classroom or in the workplace is a common practice. Certain group members, either by assignment or natural inclination, assume leadership roles while others contribute to the group effort in other ways. All too often, a group member assumes the role of “slacker.” This tendency toward social loafing is a result of feeling less pressure to put forth effort when engaged in projects where group evaluations are being made. The “slackers” will leave the work to others who are more personally invested in doing a good job always. These same students or “slackers” tend to exert more effort