PSY 161 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Neuroticism, Stereotype, Factor Analysis
12 Oct 2018
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PSY 161
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Individual Differences and Dispositions
Individual Differences and Dispositions
• Individual differences
o The study of variation among people
• Dispositions
o Enduring characteristics of the person
3 Assumptions about Dispositions
• When we study individual differees, e assue the’re stale oer tie
• Consistent across situations
• Personality is best summarized in studying dispositions (personality is colloquial term of
individual differences)
Questions asked by Individual Difference Psychologists
• What are our unique, enduring characteristics?
• How does one reliably assess personality?
• How do others see us? To what extent are they consistent with self-perceptions
• To what extent is behavior driven by enduring traits? By needs? By biological processes?
• How consistent is behavior across situations?
What is Social Psychology?
• The sietifi attept to uderstad ad eplai ho the thoughts, feeligs, &
behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of
others. G. Allport
• The sietifi stud of ho people thik aout, ifluee, ad relate to oe aother.
(D. Myers)
• Situationism
o Belief that social situation has most powerful impact on behavior
But is’t that “oiolog?
• Sociologists generally focus on broader social patterns and groups as a whole
• Social psychologists focus on individuals within groups and societies
• The oudaries are fuzz, ad soe soiologists use the ter pshologial soiolog
Questions Asked by Social Psychologists
• How do we form beliefs about others and what effects do our beliefs about others have
on their behavior? (social cognition)
• How do attitudes develop and when and why do we change our attitudes and beliefs?
(attitudes and attitude change)
• Why do we stereotype others? Can our prejudices be changed and if so, how?
(stereotyping and prejudice)
• Who are we attracted to and why? What types of relationships are the most stable?
(attraction and relationships)
• When and why do we help one another? Hurt one another? (altruism and aggression)
• Do groups make better decisions than individuals? In what way does the presence of
others influence our beliefs and behaviors? (conformity and group influence)
Individual Differences vs Social Psychology
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• Individual differences
o Emphasizes how different people behave differently in the same situation
• Social psychology
o Emphasizes how most people behave in a given situation
Is Social Psychology Just Common Sense?
• Da after da soial sietists go out ito the orld. Day after day they discover that
people’s ehaior is prett uh hat ou’d epet. C. Murph
• M gradother told e that! Itro psh studet
• Hindsight bias
o The tede to eaggerate, after learig a outoe, oe’s ailit to hae
foreseen it
o I-knew-it-all-alog pheoeo
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Individual differences: the study of variation among people, dispositions. 3 assumptions about dispositions: when we study individual differe(cid:374)(cid:272)es, (cid:449)e assu(cid:373)e the(cid:455)"re sta(cid:271)le o(cid:448)er ti(cid:373)e, consistent across situations, personality is best summarized in studying dispositions (personality is colloquial term of individual differences) But is(cid:374)"t that o(cid:272)iolog(cid:455): sociologists generally focus on broader social patterns and groups as a whole, social psychologists focus on individuals within groups and societies, the (cid:271)ou(cid:374)daries are fuzz(cid:455), a(cid:374)d so(cid:373)e so(cid:272)iologists use the ter(cid:373) (cid:862)ps(cid:455)(cid:272)hologi(cid:272)al so(cid:272)iolog(cid:455)(cid:863) In what way does the presence of others influence our beliefs and behaviors? (conformity and group influence) Individual differences: emphasizes how different people behave differently in the same situation, social psychology, emphasizes how most people behave in a given situation. Is social psychology just common sense: (cid:862)da(cid:455) after da(cid:455) so(cid:272)ial s(cid:272)ie(cid:374)tists go out i(cid:374)to the (cid:449)orld. Two kinds of dispositions: types & traits, summarize observable behavioral tendencies and categorize, needs & motives, summarize basic motivations underlying observable behavior.
