PSYC 3330 Lecture Notes - Social Comparison Theory, Stanford Prison Experiment, Social Exchange Theory

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3330
• Professor: Brown

Document Summary

The scientific study of the ways in which the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of one individual are influenced by the real, imagined, or inferred behavior or characteristics of other people. How does group membership affect individual behavior: humans are social animals enmeshed in a complex network of social relationships. Social psychology studies how individuals behave, think, and feel in social situations: culture provides a broad social context for our behavior. One"s position in groups defines a variety of roles to be played. Social roles, which may be achieved or ascribed, are particular behavior patterns associated with social positions. When two or more contradictory roles are held, role conflict may occur. The stanford prison experiment showed that destructive roles may override individual motives for behavior. Positions within groups typically carry higher or lower levels of status. High status is associated with special privileges and respect: group structure refers to the organization of roles, communication pathways, and power within a group.