01:830:101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cognitive Dissonance, Groupthink, Observational Learning

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: 01:830:101
• Professor: Sarah Carton

Document Summary

Study of people in various social situations. People behave differently when alone compared to other situations. Behavior in presence of other people (whether real, imagined or symbolic other) Settings in which behavior occurs (environmental setting) Expectations and social norms governing behavior in given setting. We usually adapt our behavior to the demands of the social situation, in new or ambiguous situations, we take our cues from the behavior of other in that setting. Look around to others to see what they are doing and copy what they are doing. Situationism- the external environment and behavior context can have both subtle and forceful effects on people"s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Social psychologist would argue that the situation is more powerful in determining behavior of an individual. Dispositionism- tendency to attribute behavior to internal factors such as genes, personality traits, and character qualities. Personality psychologists would argue that induvial"s would behave independently based on personality traits or genetic predispositions.