CE 00875-3 Character AI

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CE 00875-3 Character AI

• Diane Bishton - K229
• (d.k.bishton_at_staffs.ac.uk)
• these slides at http//www.blackboard.staffs.ac.uk
  
• Aspects of Human Behaviour

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Introduction
Social settings are extremely complex, with many
verbal non-verbal communications involved.
Social settings are easy to misinterpret the
way we react to other people is often as a
consequence of the labels applied to them e.g.
normal (!) volunteers self-presenting themselves
to mental hospitals have been assumed diagnosed
as mentally ill by staff. In this lecture well
look at a collection of key experiments in
psychology (tend to be lab-based, with
individuals or small groups) sociology (tend to
be natural settings, large groups / communities)
that have revealed some aspects of human
behaviour.
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Diffusion of Responsibility
Premise modern society is dehumanised
uncaring 40 people watched an 18 yr old office
worker, whod escaped from her attacker naked
bleeding, being dragged back inside. 11 people in
a train compartment left a 17 yr old to bleed to
death after his attackers had left. A victim may
be better off with 1 bystander, not many across
whom responsibility ( reproach / blame for not
helping) is shared. (15, 62 responded to a cry
for help ( slower than 11)) We take our cue
from others if theyre worried, so are
we. Rangers Celtic crash barriers gave way -
mass panic. Whos watching us ? If we care, we
react. Whats the relationship between a victim
attacker ? Close ? Did the victim ask for it ?
Whats the cost to us ?
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Attractiveness jury decision-making
Premise attractive people get better
treatment Aristotle beauty is a better
recommendation than a letter of
introduction Height is a valued male
characteristic. Mr England the student was
recalled as 5 shorter than Professor England.
Students 62 higher received a starting
salary 12 more than those lt 6. More
attractive faces are most symmetrical. Whats
your mental image of a typical criminal
? Unattractive people tend to be more harshly
treated by a jury, unless the crime is serious.
Car accident, plaintiff less attractive than
defendant - 17 5.5k Opposite ? 49 10k
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Handicaps of being unattractive
Premise unattractiveness contributes to mental
illness ( in general, in coping with
society) Evidence 1 female mental patients
were categorised as less attractive than
others. Less attractive more admissions to
hospital, longer stays, more likely to be
diagnosed with serious mental illness e.g.
schizophrenia Evidence 2 - Cosmetic surgery to
repair e.g. knife burn scars, tattoos in
prisoners - 30 returned to prison within 1
year, yet 56 of those not treated
returned. Evidence 3 3 x more people chose an
attractive man with the same qualifications as an
unattractive man for masculine jobs.
(Unattractive women chosen for masculine jobs !)
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Dangers of obedience puppet ?
Premise many people will obey an authority
figure even when they know the instructions are
ethically / morally wrong Experiment
apparently, the effect of punishment on learning.
Actually, the lengths people are prepared to go
to when told. Electric chair, electrodes, shock
generator 15 levels from 15 to 450V, Switches
labelled slight shock to (the last 2) XXX.
270V agonised scream from the learner. The
instructor insists that the experiment
continues. Psychiatrists predicted 1/1000 would
go to 450V. It was 62 in US, 85 in Munich.
(Values came down the nearer the learner got,
lowest when they had to have their hand forced on
the shockplate, or when experimenter was away).
The teachers often showed extreme signs of
stress anxiety. Less educated armed service
authoritarian personality gt obedient
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Remembering stressful events

Premise the memory of an eyewitness can be
distorted by information presented after an
accident or crime. Our memories are
reconstructions can be distorted. Using words
like smashed instead of contacted in a query
increases the estimate of speed by
10mph. Respondents will also introduce facts
e.g. about seeing broken glass, if the word
smashed is used. Perception of a complex event
e.g. a crime can be influenced by past knowledge
beliefs. We see what we expect to see. In
general, situations that create fear result in
less complete descriptions.
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Reacting to invasion of personal space
Argyle has suggested that NVC is used to maintain
personal relationships (its more ambiguous than
actually saying I dont like you so
potentially less damaging.) Personal space is
an area with invisible boundariesinto which
intruders may not come, a buffer
zoneprotection against perceived threats Many
people will, if they have the opportunity, leave
within 30 minutes if their space is invaded
(instead of asking the person to move).
Important people seem to have larger personal
spaces. Competitiveness is opposite (threat /
challenge), cooperativeness is side-by-side. We
respond to invasion by disliking the invader
even if the invasion is simply by being stared
at. Personal space reduces aggression / anxiety
/ embarrassment.
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Is there a criminal personality ?
Premise criminals are characterised by peculiar
personality profiles The action of conscience
is less powerful / absent (some people are less
easy to condition to societys expectations
than others does everyone in a society have the
same expectations ?) Introverts easier to
condition than extroverts (sociable, impulsive,
generally outgoing, who may therefore be more
ready to be anti-social !). Derren Brown
experiments ? Neuroticism (over-response of the
limbic system, which influences emotional
expression is less civilised). Genetic
factors may account for about 75 of some
personality characteristics.
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Personality politics
Ideology (first used in 1817) brings ideas of
struggle, terror, violence. Action is revered,
particularly in a military sense struggle,
resist, victory. Often defined as a set of
closely related beliefs or ideas, or even
attitudes, characteristic of a group or
community. An ideologist may well be
aggressive, violent, physical committed. An
authoritarian would be characterised as tough
minded ideologists typically have rigid
attitudes. What they believe, they feel strongly
about. Any criticism or denial is interpreted as
hostility. Intolerant of ambiguity, demand
immediate action decision.
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Finally

• Experiment (p.m.) look at the staff photographs
  in the Octagon. Put the names of the face-holder
  under higher, lower title.
• In general, pay more attention to observing
  individual group behaviours ( watch more
  football !)