Social Self:

Relating Harmoniously and Properly with Everyone

Social Psychology
● The study of social relationships or interactions.
● Branch of Psychology that studies individuals as they interact with others (Lahey,
2007).
● Social Psychology is a broad field whose goal is to understand and explain how
thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behaviours are influenced by the presence of,
interactions with, others (Plotnik and Kouyoumdjian, 2014).
Interaction
The mutual and reciprocal exchange of
communication or action between two or
more persons of group.
 Relationships

A particular way in which two or more

individuals, groups, or even countries talk
to, behave toward, or deal with each other.
There is an established connection or
kinship between persons or group.
Person Perception
❏ Forming impressions and making
judgments about another person’s
likability after seeing or meeting
him/her.

❏ First Impressions

Formed within a short period of time

with little conscious thought
Social Norms
❏ Norms - patterns or traits characterized as typical or usual for a group.

“Average” or “normal”

❏ Social norms - the spoken and unspoken rules for behaving in particular situations. Rule or
standard of behaviour shared by members of a social group.

Examples:

Covering one’s mouth when sneezing

Filipinos tend to dress modestly, especially when in public

In Social situation where people work and do things together, two things may happen:

Social Facilitation Social Loafing

Performance of individual may Happens when someone puts in less
improve when they are with others. effort when they're judged as part of
a group.
Conformity
❏ Yielding to group pressure to act as everyone
does, even when no direct request has been
made (Lahey, 2009).
❏ Factors that make conformity more likely to exist
in a group:
1. Size of the group
2. Unanimous groups
3. Culture
4. Gender
Nature and Depth of Relationships
❏ Familiarity
- Being comfortable with another person and is a necessary condition for a close
relationship to develop

❏ Attraction
- One person may be drawn or attracted to another due to similarities or differences
in interests, personality, characteristics, life goals, and lifestyles. This may lead to
deeper relationships.
Nature and Depth of Relationships
❏ Love
- A special attachment one has for himself/herself or for somebody else. It is an intense feeling of deep
or constant affection and emotion in which a person always sees to the good, happiness, and welfare
of the other.

❏ Three most basic kinds of love:

1. Romantic Love - also called passionate love that includes intermingling of different emotions: fear,
anger, sexual, desire, joy, jealousy, among others.
2. Affectionate Love - known as compassionate love, a deep and caring affection for a person and desires
to have him/her near constantly.
3. Consummate Love - strongest and fullest type of love (Sternberg, 1985). Involves passion, intimacy,
and commitment.
The Triangular Theory of Love

● Passion - Sexual and

physical attraction
● Intimacy - emotional
feelings of warmth and
closeness
● Commitment - cognitive
appraisal of relationship
and the extent to
maintain it even in the
face of the problem
Stereotypes
❏ Stereotypes

Generalizations in which the same characteristics or traits are assumed to be

possessed by all members of a group (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2002).

Negative stereotypes:

● Prejudice - unfair, biased, or intolerant attitude or opinion towards the members of a

group

E.g. Homophobia: negative attitudes toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Racism: negative attitudes based on race, ethnicity and/or culture.

● Discrimination - specific unfair behavior or treatment towards the members of a
group

E.g. A racialized youth being monitored without cause while shopping in a store

A health-care provider refusing to treat/diagnose a patient who is part of a

particular racial/ethnic group
References:
❏ Arcega, A. Brawner, D. (2018). Understanding the Self. C&E Publishing, Inc. Quezon
City, Philippines.
❏ Alata, E.J.P. Casilib, Jr. B. N. Serafica, J. P. J. and Pawilen R.A. (2018). Understanding
the Self. Rex Book Store. Manila, Philippines.