L33 Psych 100B Chapter Notes - Chapter 12.1: Abu Ghraib Prison, Prefrontal Cortex, Stanford Prison Experiment
24 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Social psychology: the study of how people influence other people"s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Humans have an overriding motivation to fit in with the group --> need for interpersonal attachments is a fundamental motive that has evolved. Must pass on genes from generation to generation, so relationship formation is fundamental for survival. From an evolutionary standpoint, living in social groups has promoted survival and, since the gene has thus been passed on, contemporary humans continue to do so today. The bigger the brain, the bigger the social groups. Advantages of being in a group: security from predators, assistance in hunting, mating opportunities. Disadvantages: competition with other groups for limited resources. Alternatively, groups may facilitate resources for one another, such as through trade. Outgroup: group to which one does not belong. Reciprocity: if person a helps person b, then person b will help person a. Transitivity: people share their friend"s opinions of other people.
