WEEK 1.

AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL
Native American Social Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY  David Myer’s (2010) conceptualizes social
psychology as three (3) major domains:
1. Defining Social Psychology 1. Social Thinking (the self, social beliefs, and
2. Comparing Social Psychology to Related Disciplines judgements; behavior and attitudes);
3. Frames of Social Psychology: American, European, 2. Social Influence (genes, cultures, and gender;
and Asian conformity; persuasion; group influence)
4. Social Psychology in the Philippines 3. Social Relations (prejudice, aggression, attraction,
5. Research Methods in Social Psychology helping, conflict, and peacemaking)
I. WHAT IS SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY?  Social Comparison Theory: We learn about our
1. Social Psychology is the study of feelings, thoughts
own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves
and behavior of individuals in a social situation (Gilovich,
with others (Festinger, 1954)
Keltner & Nisbett 2006)
 Leon Festinger: Upward and Downward Social
2. One important assertion of social psychology is that
Comparison
one person is influenced by the social environment Ross
& Nisbett, 1991)
 Cognitive Dissonance Theory: A person may
3. Individuals actively construe or interpret social
experience psychological discomfort or dissonance
situations.
when there are inconcistencies between one’s
4. Myers (2010) further defines Social Psychology as the
cognition, which may be attitudes, beliefs, or an
scientific study of how people think about, influence
awareness of ones behavior.
and relate with one another
 One of the most influential and extensively
5. Applications:
studied theories in social psychology
 Psychology of Attitudes: Attitude is a psychological
 Resolving Conflicts (Glifford & Hine, 1997)
tendency that is expressed by evaluating a
 Helping the Community (Rushton & Campbell,
particular object with some degree
1997)
 Tricomponential view of attitudes: Affwct,
 Reducing aggression (Ong Ante, 2001)
Behavioral and Cognitive
 Psychology of Attitudes:
II. COMPARING TO RELATED DISCIPLINES
1. Attitudes can predict behavior if the attitude
1. Personality Psychology-stress individual
is specific to the behavior, significant others,
differences in behavior, traits and dispositions.
and intention to act (Fishbien & Ajzen 1975)
2. Cognitive Psychology-studies on how people think,
2. Behaviors can also predict attitudes
perceive and remember
3. Sociology-study of the behavior of people in
EUROPEAN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
aggregate-institutions, groups, mass, and population
 Focusing on intergroup relations
4. Anthropology-study of culture or group’s shared
 Introduction to Social Psychology: A European
practices or way of life
Perspective. (Hewstone, Stroebe, and Jonass’s
5. Economics/Political Science-often study policies
2007)
and laws of government and social situations
 Separation of two kinds of Social Psychology
(Graumann, 2001)
III. FRAMES OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1. Psychological Social Psychology
Western History of Social Psychology
2. Sociological Social Psychology
 Aristotle and Plato are probably the first social
psychologist in the history (Jones, 1998)
 Social Identity Theory: developed by Tajfel and
 1987- First recordedsocial psychologial experiment
Turner (1979), is used to explain why people are
by Norman Triplett from Indiana University. He
biased in favor of their own groups and may
concluded on hs experiment the social facilitation
discriminate against other groups.
theory
 Social Representations: Social representations are
 Social Psychology: An Outline and Source Book.
socially shared ideas about the world around us
The fisrt book in Social Psychology in 1908 that was
(Moscovici, 1961)
written by american sociologist, Edward Ross.
 Shared meanings and interpretations
 The same year, British psychologist William
 Minority Influence
McDougall wrote Introduction to Social
1. Many major social movements have been
Psychology
started by individuals and small groups
 2. The minority group has to remain consistent
and confident to its idea and position stand to
become effective in persuasion
ASIAN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1. Asian social psychology has been branded as
CULTURAL.
2. Relational Orientation -The degree and style
to which individuals are oriented towards their
close relationships (hereafter, relational
orientation) has been shown to be predictive
of both positive and negative outcomes (e.g.,
more fulfilling relationships and greater
sensitivity to interpersonal stress) (Ho, 1993) .
3. Asian psychology is seen as a new voice and
emerging perspective in social psychology
(Chiu, 2007).
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1. Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology)
refers to the psychology born out of the
experience , thought and orientation of the
Filipinos, based on the full use of culture and
language (Pe Pua & Protacio-Marcelino, 2000).
2. Sikolohiyang Pilipino is thus a psychology of,
for, and by Filipinos, a psychology that is applicable
to Filipino everyday life (San Juan, 2006)
INDIGENOUS CONCEPT OF FILIPINO
SOCIAL REALITY
Filipino Patterns of Relating:
1. Hiya (shame)
2. Utang na loob (gratitude/appreciation) 3.
3. Pakikisama (yielding to the majority or authority)
Filipino Underlying Process of Social Perception:
1. Pakikiramdam (Sensing)
2. Quasi-Experimental Method
The IV is not purposely manipulated and if IV is
manipulated would be consider is unethical.
Sample:
(IV-Participant variables): gender, socioeconomic
status
(IV-Social events/environment): poverty, elections
3. Correlational Method
The purpose of the correlational method is to
establish whether 2 or more variables are
associated to each other. Statistical Treatment:
Pearson r
Sample: IV(Discrimination)– DV (stress,
dissatisfaction, motivation)
4. Observation Method
The advantages of this method includes realism
(high external validity) and descriptive information
on the sequence and development of behaviors
Sample: Public Display of Affection (PDA),
conformity, and altruism
5. Survey Method
The Survey method is the technique of gathering
data by asking questions to people who are
thought to have desired information (can be
written, interviews, focus group)
Sample: Political participation, violence, and
aggression.
6. Archival Research Method
Written records (i.e., public and private
documents),statistical archives, and physical traces
of human beings are systematically studied in lieu
of actual behaviors.
Sample: Political participation, violence, and
aggression.

Filipino Core Conception of the Social Self:

1. Kapwa (Shared Identity)

RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL

PSYCHOLOGY
1. Experimental Method
The main objective is to discover a cause-effect
relation between an Independent Variable (IV) and
a Dependent Variable (DV).
Sample: Conformity, aggression, altruism, gender
issues, and obedience.
 WEEK 2: THE SELF FROM PSYCHO- Social Groups and Social Network
A social group is either organic or rationsl
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
 Organic- naturally occuring and highly influence by
“Not only the self is entwined with society; it owes one’s family; gives feeling of rootedness; implies
society its existence in the most literal sense” less freedom and greater conformity
-Theodore Adorno  Rational-made up of different people coming from
different places; formed as a matter of social
KAPWA interest.
The core value of the Filipino according to Filipino
Psychology Mead and The Social Self
We learn a lot by watching other people. Can you also
Two types of Kapwa: “watch” yourself?
Ibang-tao at Hindi Ibang-tao
Looking glass self
The Self as a product of Modern Society The self is a product of internalizing the views of other
among other constructions: people.
Sociologist are concern about the following questions:
 How does society influence you? Developing the Self
 How do you affect society? Three Stages of Self-development according to Mead:
 Who are you as a person in the community? 1. Language- allows us to express ourselves and to
comprehend what others express.
Sociology posits that socially formed norms, beliefs and 2. Play-Role playing and assuming the role of others
values come to exist within the person, thus, 3. Game-taking account into societal roles
developing the persons identity.
Two sides of the Self
Some Filipino values according to Mead sees the person as an active process, not just a
Sikolohiyang Filipino: reflection of the society
 Hiya
 Utang na loob “I” “Me”
 Pakikiramdam How the person sees How others see us
 Pakikisama himself
 Kagandahang-loob
 Kapwa o Pakikipagkapwa

Key Characteristics of Modernity:

Modernization has significantly changed society, and
this influences how the individual develops his or her
identity

 Industrialism- extensive use of material, power

and machinery
 Capitalism- competitive product markets and labor
power
 Institutions of Surveillance-massive increase in
power reach by the institutions
 Dynamism-having vigorous activity and progress

Social Groups and Social Network

 Social Group-characterized by having two or more
people interacting with one another, sharing
similar characteristics, and whose members
identify themselves as part of the group
 Social Network-ties that connect you to the social
group
 WEEK 3: CONFORMITY: FILIPINO
FRIENDSHIP AND SCHOOL LIFE
1. The Factors that attract us to our Friends
2. The Pinoy Barkada Experience and Conformity
3. Filipino Social Expectations
 Ang tunay na kaibigan, tunay na maasahan (A true
Friend can really be counted on)
 Ang tao kapag mayaman, marami ang kaibigan (a
person who is rich has many friends)
 Ang tunay na kaibigan, nakikilala sa kagipitan (A
true friend in need, is a friend indeed)
FACTORS THAT ATTRACT US TO OUR
FRIENDS
1. Proximity. Closeness/Nearness
 Randomly assigned college roommates who
interacted frequently were far more likely to
become friends ( Newcomb, 1961).
 According to Zajonc (1968) asserts that the more
you exposed to something or to someone , the
more you tend to like it (him/her)
2. Similarity
 Research has consistently shown that we tend to
like other people who are similar to us (Berscheid&
Reis, 1998).
 A study by Ortega (2009) found that perceived
similarity and shared personal history or events
were indeed important factors for Filipino
friendships.
3. Theory of Complimentary
 The tendency to like others who are different from
us.
 This complimentary may evolve as a relationship
develops yet there is more empirical evidence
supporting the similarity theory (Buss, 1984,1985).
THEORIES OF FRIENDSHIP
1. Exchange Theory
 Social Exchange Theory , originally developed by
Homan(1961), posits that human relationship,
including friendships, are formed by a cost-benefit
analysis where we want to maximize benefits and
minimize costs.
2. Equity Theory
 An assumption of the equity theory is that people
want to achieve fairness in their relationship so
they feel upset if they perceive unfairness (Adams,
1965)
3. Balance Theory
 Concerned with how our relationship with several
others match, or balance, one another.
 People in general prefer harmony and balance
(Heider, 1958)
4. Social Penetration Theory
 Friendship occur in stages.
 As a relationship develops, the friendship
penetrates deeper and deeper into private and
personal matters.
Peer group and Conformity
1. Peer groups are source of affirmation and inspiration.
2. Among Filipino adolescent-according to 2003 study
of Conaco, Jimenez, and Billedo- Filipino youth reported
that they keep their barkadas generally small and
manageable (from 3-12 members only).
3. While the respondents reported barkadas with both
sexes, most tend to be of the same sex. Except for
homosexual males who had more female group mates.
WHAT IS CONFORMITY?
1. CONFORMITY is a change of behavior or belief
as the result of real or imagined group pressure.
2. Conformity to other’s behavior is a part of our
social interaction.
3. It is observed more so in school and especially
by adolescents.
Peer group and Conformity
1. Conforming to others` behavior is a part of our
social interaction.
2. Compliance. Is conforming publicly because of
social pressure but privately disagreeing.
3. Obedience. When we respond favorably to an
explicit request by another person of authority.
Is it good or bad to conform?
1. In the US, conformity is often seen as BAD and
children are socialized to be independent and self-
reliant.
2. In the Philippines, one who conforms is often
labeled as marunong makisama (knows how to get
along well), obedient, and good
Peer group and Conformity
Why Conform?
 Informational Influence. People conform
because they believe others know better than
them; if others are right and you follow them,
you will be right also
 Normative Influence. People conform because
we want to be accepted by others. We want to
belong. This is more important for Filipinos-
belongingness.
Factors that Predict Conformity
1. Group size. As the size of the group increases,
conformity also increases.
 Studies have shown that the effect of group
size levels off quickly such that as the group
size reaches four people, conformity rates
level off (Gerard et.al, 1968; Milgram
et.al,1969)
2. Unanimity. It makes a difference if everyone in
the group behaves in a certain way as opposed to
some members of the group not conforming (Asch,
1995; Morris & Miller, 1975)
3. Cohesion. Belonging to a peer group makes it
difficult not to conform to them (Crandall, 1988)
4. Expertise and status. It is expected that people
would conform more to someone who is perceived
as having high status in society or someone who is
an expert in the field (Cialdini & Trost; Driskell &
Mullen, 1990)
Filipino Social Expectations
1. Pakikisama
 Filipinos particularly valued being accepted by
others (Lynch, 1973, 1984).
 One way to gain social acceptance is by getting
along with others, or Pakikisama
2. Hiya
 This includes the need to be accepted by one’s
barkada or set of friends (Bulatao, 1998).
 The fear or anxiety of losing support or
approval requires one to be sensitive to others
3. Pakikiramdam
 Pakiramdam is feeling and Pakikiramdam is
feeling for another (Mataragnon, 1987).
 Pakikiramdam is an active process involving
great care and deliberation in one’s action
toward another. It refers to heightened
awareness and sensitivity (Enriquez, 1990).

5. Difficulty or ambiguity of the task. In situation

where the task is ambiguous or difficult , people
often conform to what others are doing (Baron,
Vandello, & Brunsman, 1996)

6. Public response. If everyone can freely observe

other’s behavior, it is easier to conform (Asch,
1995). But if you do something privately, then you
would feel that it’s okay to express your own true
feelings.

7.No prior commitment If you have already made

a public commitment, you must conform because
people in general prefer it when we stick to our
principles (Deutsch & Gerard, 1955).

7. Culture. In a study of 17 nations, it was shown

that conformity does tend to be higher among
interdependent or collectivist culture (Bond &
Smith, 1996)
 WEEK 4: AGGRESSION AND RISKY
BEHAVIOR IN A SOCIAL SETTING
Topics to discussed:
1. Aggression and different classification of
aggression
2. Aggressive behaviors in a social context
3. Gender differences in aggression
Aggression and Risky Behavior in a Social
Setting
1. Peer group as a potential source of trouble and
negative influences such as being gluton, noisy and
boisterous (Conaco, Jimenez and Billedo, 2003)
2. According to the 2004 data of Youth and Fertility
STUDY 3, 21% of Filipino Adolescents aged 15 to 24
years old smoked and double that total number
(42%) drank (Raymudo and Cruz, 2004)
3. Further, 23% reported they have pre-marital sex,
whreas; 2.8% admitted using dangerous drugs.
(Raymundo & Cruz, 2004)
4. About 18% were gang members and only 5% of
nonstreet youth were members of gangs (NCSD,
1994)
5. Juvenile delinquents were found to have a
strong barkada attachment (TAMBAYAN, 2003)
WHAT IS AGGRESSION?
1. A police shoots a kidnapper
2. A man imagine a murder he wants to commit
3. An angry daughter purposely does not call/text
her mother who is expecting a call/text from her
4. A fisherman kills a fish and prepares it for dinner
5. A male professional boxer gives his opponent a
black-eye
6. A person commits suicide
7. A doctor gives injection to a screaming 3-year
old
8. A woman accidentally knocks over a glass that
injured passersby
WHAT IS AGGRESSION?
 Social psychologist have classified aggression
in different ways. One classification is hostile
and instrumental aggression (Berkowitz, 1993)
 Hostile aggression-usually comes from anger
with the goal of injuring another
 Instrumental aggression-has the goal of
harming another but only as a means to some
other end
WHAT IS AGGRESSION?
 Direct aggression includes behaviors such as
verbal or physical assault and threats to harm
 Indirect aggression, on the other
hand,involves circuitous approaches and
includes behavior such as gossiping and social
exclusion (Campbell, 1999)
 Rational aggression aggressors interferes with
peoples ability to relate with others, thus
damaging their social relationships (Crick &
Grotpeter, 1995)
 Among children, relational aggression occurs
in the context of friendship
 Studies with Filipinos have revealed that
spreading rumors and giving the silent
treatment are more likely to be adopted in the
school than in the workplace (Fiho,
Purunggunan, & Sanchez, 2004)
 Same study, Filipinos with low sociability are as
likely to spread humors in school
 In workplace, those with high sociability less
likely exhibit relational aggression
 Self-instigated aggression. Aggression hurts
others without provocation
 Retaliatory aggression. Defined as an attack in
reaction to some provocation
 A cross cultural study covering countris like
japan, US, India, Kenya, Mexico and the
Philippines found that retaliatory aggression
was rather constant across cultures with girls
retaliating less frequently compared to boys
(Tan, 1997)
Causes or Explanations of Aggression
 Aggression is Biological
1. Studies indicate that males tend to be more
aggressive than females due to males due to males
testosterone levels (Dabbs, 1992, Carr, Frady, &
Riad, 1995)
2. Another study also found that among Filipinos,
male children were more physically aggressive
than females kids (Sievert, 2001)
 Aggression is part of Evolution of human
species
1. Human male aggression, like that in nonhuman
primates, likely serves to display dominance over
other males, both to protect a mate and to
perpetuate a males genes
2. Sexual jealousy is part of male aggression
3. Women typically display instrumental forms of
aggression, withe their aggression serving as a
means to an end (Dodge & Schwaltz, 1997)
 Physical environment and aggression
1. A number of conditions in the physical
environment have proven to elicit aggressive
behaviors
2. For instance, it is a common belief that
aggression is more likely in hot weather than in
cold weather
3. In the US, the peak occurrences of common
crimes of violence (I.e., assault, rape, and murder)
occur in the hottest summer months (Anderson,
1989, Anderson, Dorr, DeNerve & Flanagan, 2000;
Bell, 2005)
 Aggression is a response to frustration
1. According to Miller (1941), frustration
produces different types of responses, one of
which is aggression.
2. Berkowitz (1993) contends that aggression is
the result of an interaction between an
INTERNAL EMOTIONAL STATE and CUES that
are available.
3. Frustration alone is not sufficient to produce
aggression. A frustrating experience creates a
readiness to aggress
 Aggression is a learned social behavior
1. Behavior is learned through observation and
imitation and by being rewarded or punished
(Bandura, 1975)
2. Vicarious or observational learning could also
occur where children watch others being rewarded
for aggressive behaviors; they are likely to learn
this behavior by observing others being rewarded
(Bandura, Ross and Ross, 1975)
Aggressive Behavior in Social Context
 Bullying. Is a repeated negative treatment of
another person; repeated behavior (Olweus,
1993)
1. Research on bullying in the Philippines has
shown that the behavior is prevalent among grade
school and high school students (Ong, Ante, 2001;
Suba, 2001)
2. The bullies reported that they bullied for
retaliation when they dislike someone or were
annoyed by someone, to have fun, join the
bandwagon, gain status, and obtain a sense of
power (Ong Ante, 2001; Suna, 2001
 Cyberbullying
1. Cyberbulying, like bullying, is repeted behavior
that is intended to cause psychological or
emotional harm to another person (Hoff & Mitchel,
2009).
2. The anonymity (covert aggression) gives the
bully power and the victim may feel helpless,
unable to escape harassment, and unable to
retaliate (Spears, Slee, Owens, & Johnson, 2009)
 The Bystander Effect
1. The bystander effect is a phenomenon in which
witness or bystander does not volunteers to help a
victim or person in distress. Instead, they just
watch what is happening (Latane & Darley, 1968)
Explanation: Diffusion of responsibility is the
tendency for no o0ne in a group to help because
the responsibility to help is spread throughout the
group (Bandura, 1999)
 Hazing
1. In the Philippines, hazing is a crime where the
victim experiences physical or psychological
suffering.
2. According to Go (2009), members of fraternities
perceive hazing as an important rite of passage
because it facilitates several psychological
processes essential for initiating newcomers to the
fraternity
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11053- bans all forms of hazing
and orders the regulation of initiation rites-physical
and psychological-of fraternities, sororities, and
organizations, including citizens military and army
training, to make it safer for recruits
Gender Differences in Aggression
 According Yacat and Mendoza (1996 as cited in
Puya, 1999) found that Filipinos perceive
aggression as justified compared to men
 Conaco (1997) also found that Filipino mothers
and Fathers in rural areas view corporal
punishment differently.
 Fathers think It is okay to hurt their children to
discipline them whereas, mothers are more
contrite and feel distress when parents hits
their children