Introduction to Social Psychology

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Introduction to Social Psychology
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Cosmo Quiz

• Promising, and delivering, rewards to people for
  doing an enjoyable activity should, in the long
  run, make them enjoy the activity even more.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• You asked a complete stranger for a favor, and
  they turn you down. If you asked them for another
  favor in the future, they would agree.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• We form better relationships with people if they
  are as accomplished in the same domains as we
  are.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• Opposites attract.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• The greater the cohesiveness or solidarity of a
  group, the better its decisions will be.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• Our ability to know the causes of our own
  emotions is so limited that when we are aroused
  because of physical exercise, we may misinterpret
  that arousal as a sign that we are romantically
  attracted to someone nearby.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• Very wealthy people (e.g., lottery winners) are
  happier than most other people.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• Parental disapproval for a relationship (e.g.,
  Romeo and Juliet) increases the chance that the
  partners will stay together.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• "Putting on a happy face" (i.e., smiling when you
  are really not happy) will not make you feel more
  positive.
• T/F ?

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Cosmo Quiz

• Believing that bad things happen to other people
  more than they happen to you is actually
  associated with better health and well-being.
• T/F ?

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What is Social Psychology?
Social psychologists are interested in how
peoples thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are
influenced by the real or imagined presence of
other people.
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Current Topics in Social Psychology

• Do people with firm handshakes really make better
  first impressions on others?
• What happens when we imagine what might have
  been in various situations?
• Can our attitudes be affected by information we
  dont even notice?
• Have gender stereotypes changed in recent years?
• Do we prefer as romantic partners people who view
  us favorably or people who see us for ourselves?
• What is jealousy? What are its major causes?
• How can we get other people to say yes to our
  requests?
• Is there such a thing as pure altruism-helping
  others without expecting anything in return?
• Does heat really increase aggression?
• Do people accomplish more working alone or
  together?
• Is justice really blind, or are jurors influenced
  by the race, gender, and physical appearance of
  persons on trial?

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Introductory Social Psychology Textbooks
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Folk Wisdom

• Dont bite the hand that feeds you.
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
• Great minds think alike.

• If 50 million people say a stupid thing, its
  still a stupid thing. -Anatole France
• A witty saying proves nothing. -Voltaire
• Conventional wisdom--or any theory about human
  behavior, must be weighed against evidence.

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The Experimental Method

• Random Sampling
• Random Assignment
• Independent Variable
• Dependent Variable
• Confounding
• Internal Validity
• External Validity

Generalizability Demand Characteristics Halo
Effects