Week 1 Module Introduction to Sociology Sociology of

Week 1 Module: Introduction to Sociology

Sociology of Arts & Humanities Topic: Our Evolution as a Society • • • Name of Artistic Work or Event: The Global Brain Type of Artistic Work or Event: Film Documentary Sociological Theory: Functionalism Theorist: Herbert Spencer How it reflects or inspires change in society: This ground breaking documentary compares our social evolution to biological evolution using the symbol of the Earth as a living organism known as The Gaia Hypothesis. If reflects society as a functional whole where all systems mimic the systems of a physical organism, showing how we are an interdependent, integrated whole. Herbert Spencer often compared our social evolution to biological evolution in his writings as well.

Defining Motivation 9. 1 Distinguish between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation: Act itself is motivating or internally rewarding Extrinsic motivation: Outcome is separate from person

Early Approaches to Understanding Motivation 9. 2 Identify the key elements of the early instinct and drive-reduction approaches to motivation. Instinct approaches proposed that some human actions may be motivated by instincts, which are innate patterns of behavior found in both people and animals.

Primary and Acquired Drives Primary drives: Involve the needs of the body Acquired drives: Learned through experience

Different Strokes for different folks

The self-theory of motivation • View of self: Beliefs about one’s own abilities • Locus of control: Internal vs. external • Beliefs about intelligence: Fixed vs. changeable

Incentive Approaches Incentives: Things that lure people to action Incentive approaches: Behavior is response to rewards of external stimulus Expectancy-value theories • Beliefs, values, importance

Humanistic Approaches 9. 5 Describe how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and self-determination theories explain motivation.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self-Determination Theory

The Three Elements of Emotion 9. 8 Describe three elements of emotion.

Physiology of Emotion • Emotion associated with sympathetic nervous system activity • Amygdala: Fear and facial expressions

Labeling Emotions Interpreting subjective feelings • Labeling and culture

Conformity 12. 1 Identify factors that influence people or groups to conform to the actions of others Social influence: Process through which the real or implied presence of others can directly or indirectly influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior of an individual Conformity: Changing one’s own behavior to match that of other people

Click here to watch a video about social influence

Group Behavior 12. 2 Explain how our behavior is impacted by the presence of others.

Characteristics of Groupthink Characteristic Description Invulnerability Members feel they cannot fail. Rationalization Members explain away warning signs and help each other rationalize their decision. Lack of Introspection Members do not examine the ethical implications of their decisions because they believe that they cannot make immoral choices. Stereotyping Members stereotype their enemies as weak, stupid, or unreasonable. Pressure Members pressure each other not to question the prevailing opinion. Lack of disagreement Members do not express opinions that differ from the group consensus. Self-deception Members share in the illusion that they all agree with the decision. Insularity Members prevent the group from hearing disruptive but potentially useful information from people who are outside the group. Source: Janis (1972, 1982). Blank cell

Group Behavior Group polarization: Tendency for members involved in a group discussion to take somewhat more extreme positions and suggest riskier actions when compared to individuals who have not participated in a group discussion

Group Behavior 2 Social facilitation: Positive influence of others on performance Social impairment: Negative influence of others on performance Social loafing: When a lazy person works in a group, that person often performs less well than if the person were working alone Deindividuation: Lessening of sense of personal identity and responsibility

Compliance 12. 3 Compare and contrast three compliance techniques. Compliance and consumer psychology: • Foot-in-the-door technique • Door-in-the-face technique • Lowball technique

Cults and the Failure of Critical Thinking

Obedience 12. 4 Identify factors that make obedience more likely. • Compliance due to perceived authority of the asker • Request perceived as command

Milgram’s Obedience Experiment METHOD: Participants (“teachers”) were instructed to give electric shocks to another person (“learner”), who only pretended to be shocked. RESULTS: 65% obeyed until the end, even though many were upset by being asked to do so.

Sample Script Items from Milgram’s Classic Experiment Voltage of “Shock” Learner’s Script 120 “Ouch! Experimenter, let me out of here, I’m through! Please, I have heart trouble, I don’t want to go on. ” 150 “That’s it, enough! I will not be part of this experiment, let me out now!” 300 (Scream of pain heard in the background) ”I am not doing this anymore, you can’t make me stay here. Get me out, get me out!” 330 (Louder and longer scream of pain) ”Get me out, get me out, my heart! My chest hurts, get me out of here, let me out of here, you have no right to do this! Let me out of here!” Blank cell Source: Milgram (1964 a, 1974).

Click here to watch classic video footage of Milgram's obedience study

Attitudes 12. 5 Identify the three components of an attitude and how attitudes are formed. Attitude: Tendency to respond positively or negatively toward certain people, ideas, objects, or situations

Attitude Change: The Art of Persuasion 12. 6 Describe how attitudes can be changed. Persuasion: Attempt to change another’s attitude via argument, explanation, etc. • • Source of message Message itself Target audience Medium

Cognitive Dissonance: When Attitudes and Behavior Clash 12. 7 Explain how people react when attitudes differ from behavior. Cognitive dissonance: Discomfort arising when one’s thoughts and behaviors do not correspond Lessening cognitive dissonance: • Change the conflicting behavior • Change the conflicting attitude • Form a new attitude to justify the behavior

Impression Formation 12. 8 Describe how people form impressions of others.

Types of Prejudice and Discrimination In-group: Social groups with whom a person identifies; “us” Out-group: Social groups with whom a person does not identify; “them” US • Scapegoating THEM

Prosocial Behavior 12. 15 Identify the factors influencing why people help others. • Altruism and prosocial behavior • Bystander effect • Diffusion of responsibility – Fewer bystanders = less diffusion, more help

Five Steps in Making a Decision to Help Lecture activities