Introduction to

Psychology
[PSYNTRO]

First Term, Academic Year 2019-2020

Psychology Department
College of Liberal Arts
 Concept Map

1-FoundaJons of Psychology
2-Biological Basis of
5-Personality
Behavior

3-CogniJve 4- Developmental 6- Social

7-Mental Health
Psychology Psychology Psychology
Today’s
Agenda
 Module 6:
Social
Psychology
What is Social
Psychology?
Social Psychology
It differs from sociology in
that social psychology
focuses more on the
individual as a social being.

Sociology places more
emphasis on society at
large.

Why do we form
groups?
 Why we form groups?
Need to Belong Theory
–  Biologically based need for interpersonal
connecJons
–  Even the threat of social isolaJon can promote unhealthy
behavior and compromise IQ scores.
–  Social exclusion acJvates the same brain areas
as physical pain.
 Why we form groups?
Evolutionary factors - Social influence
processes (conformity, obedience)
generally serve us well, unless accepted
unquesJoningly.

 Why we form groups?

Social facilita<on or disrup<on -

enhancement of easy tasks, or disrupJon
of difficult ones, elicited by the presence of
others.
 Components of Social Psychology
1.  Social Thought and CogniJon
2.  Social Influence
3.  Social RelaJons
Social Thought and Cogni<on
 Social CogniJon
•  How people think about
the social world
(thought)

•  How people select,
interpret, remember and
use social informaJon
(cogniJon).
 Social CogniJon
•  How people perceive
others and form first
impressions of them.

•  Explain behavior of
others and ourselves.
Social Influence
Symptoms of Groupthink
Social Rela<ons
 Why do we hurt others?
•  Aggression
–  SituaJonal influences
•  Interpersonal provocaJon
•  FrustraJon
•  Media influence
•  Aggressive cues
•  Arousal
•  Alcohol and other drugs
•  Temperature
 Prosocial Behavior and Altruism

•  Altruism - helping selflessly

–  Role of empathy
–  SituaJonal influences:
•  Possibility to avoid/escape
•  VicJm characterisJcs
•  Mood
•  Knowledgeable about bystander
nonintervenJon (enlightenment effect)
–  Individual and gender differences
 Social RelaJons
•  Social Loafing-concept that
people are prone to exert
less effort on a task if they
are in a group versus when
they work alone.

–  Diffusion of responsibility - in
groups, individuals feel less
responsible for outcome

 ACTIVITY:
BELBIN TEST
REALIZATIONS
Live
Jesus in our
hearts,
forever.