Social Psychology
This part of the course focuses on how individuals relate to one another in social situations. Social psychologists study social attitudes, social influence, and other social phenomena.
AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:
• Apply attribution theory to explain motives (e.g., fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias).
• Describe the structure and function of different kinds of group behavior (e.g., deindividuation, group polarization).
• Explain how individuals respond to expectations of others, including groupthink, conformity, and obedience to authority.
• Discuss attitudes and how they change (e.g., central route to persuasion).
• Predict the impact of the presence of others on individual behavior (e.g., bystander effect, social facilitation).
• Describe processes that contribute to differential treatment of group members (e.g., in-group/out-group dynamics, ethnocentrism, prejudice).
• Articulate the impact of social and cultural categories (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity) on self-concept and relations with others.
• Anticipate the impact of behavior on a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Describe the variables that contribute to altruism, aggression, and attraction.
• Discuss attitude formation and change, including persuasion strategies and cognitive dissonance.
• Identify important figures in social psychology (e.g., Solomon Asch, Leon Festinger, Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo).
AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:
• Apply attribution theory to explain motives (e.g., fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias).
• Describe the structure and function of different kinds of group behavior (e.g., deindividuation, group polarization).
• Explain how individuals respond to expectations of others, including groupthink, conformity, and obedience to authority.
• Discuss attitudes and how they change (e.g., central route to persuasion).
• Predict the impact of the presence of others on individual behavior (e.g., bystander effect, social facilitation).
• Describe processes that contribute to differential treatment of group members (e.g., in-group/out-group dynamics, ethnocentrism, prejudice).
• Articulate the impact of social and cultural categories (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity) on self-concept and relations with others.
• Anticipate the impact of behavior on a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Describe the variables that contribute to altruism, aggression, and attraction.
• Discuss attitude formation and change, including persuasion strategies and cognitive dissonance.
• Identify important figures in social psychology (e.g., Solomon Asch, Leon Festinger, Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo).
Unit Resources
Powerpoint for Social Psychology
Practice MC Questions for preparation for the Exam "Trippy Text" This online book is written by another AP psychology teacher. This chapter covers social psychology |
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Unit Activities
19 August: Today we will review the exam you took over History and Approaches. We will then introduce Social Psychology. Why do we change our behavior when we are around different people?Can you think of some of the ways we are influenced by others?
20/21 August: (Module 74) Today in class, you will view clips from Quiet Rage: The Stanford Prison Experiment. (Warning: This video contains archival footage from the experiment and the language during breakdowns may not be appropriate for all audiences)
20/21 August: (Module 74) Today in class, you will view clips from Quiet Rage: The Stanford Prison Experiment. (Warning: This video contains archival footage from the experiment and the language during breakdowns may not be appropriate for all audiences)
How would you have done in the study? Could you have risen above the turmoil? What would you have done?
After the discussion on the video we will discuss Attribution Theory, Cognitive dissonance, and if time permits, introduce the concept of conformity.
22 August: (Modules 74 & 75) We will continue our discussion on Social psychology. Recap material on cognitive dissonance and continue our discussion on Conformity. We will examine the study by Soloman Asch found below.
If the videos below fail to load, they can be found at the following links.
A short video on Asche's conformity can be seen here.(Part One)
Part Two of the same video.
After the discussion on the video we will discuss Attribution Theory, Cognitive dissonance, and if time permits, introduce the concept of conformity.
22 August: (Modules 74 & 75) We will continue our discussion on Social psychology. Recap material on cognitive dissonance and continue our discussion on Conformity. We will examine the study by Soloman Asch found below.
If the videos below fail to load, they can be found at the following links.
A short video on Asche's conformity can be seen here.(Part One)
Part Two of the same video.
We will also view this film on the work of Stanley Milgram with the following video. If it fails to play, please access the video through this link:
The video on Milgram's obedience study can be found here.
The video on Milgram's obedience study can be found here.
25 August: ( recap and review modules 74 & 75) Today we will review what we have covered in the past few days and view a TED Talk by Zimbardo highlighting some of his discoveries as a psychologist. Here is a link if the video fails to play. TED Talk
Before class tomorrow, try and think about how these 3
studies (Asch's study on conformity, Milgram's study on obedience, and
Zimbardo's study on the roles we play) Each one of these can show us
things about ourselves that can help us navigate the issues we all face
in life.
How do conformity and obedience impact how, why and what we do? What would you have done if you were in these situations?
26 August: We will review the studies in Social Psychology by Asch, Milgram, and Zimbardo. If there are any aspects of the studies you are not sure of, please ask. We will then discuss the phenomenon associated with Group Behaviors (Module 76) of Social Facilitation, Social inhibition, Social Loafing, and Bystander Effect.
Don't forget your flashcards for the unit are due today.
27/28 August: Today we will continue our focus on Social interactions as far as understanding Group Relationships. We will then move on and begin our discussion on Prejudice and Discrimination. (Module 77) Why are people inherently prejudiced? Why do stereotypes exist? How can we overcome these things that have the potential to tear our society apart? What are examples of prejudice and descrimination in your life? How can you use the material from class to help change your world?
We will begin to discuss Aggression and its sources (Module 78) and its sources. Why are people aggressive? What can we do to control our own aggressive tendencies?
29 August: Today we will continue our discussion on Aggression if needed and then discuss the social aspects of personal relationships (including love)( Module 79) and then begin to wrap up the unit by discussing altruism, conflict, and peacemaking ( Module 80). This discussion should tie together the various aspects of the social psychology unit.
Your vocabulary Quiz for the Social Psychology Unit will be today.
Due to the Sudden Illness of the Senior class on Friday, We will change the schedule for Tuesday and Hybrid day to he following:
2 September: Today we will finish discussing all material that has not been discussed yet. We will then discuss how to write an essay for the AP Psychology Exam and wil then go to the maclab to create turnitin accounts for the class.
3/4 September: Today we will wrap up our study of social psychology and take the examination for the unit. Before you take the exam you will have the opportunity to ask any last minute questions you have.
How do conformity and obedience impact how, why and what we do? What would you have done if you were in these situations?
26 August: We will review the studies in Social Psychology by Asch, Milgram, and Zimbardo. If there are any aspects of the studies you are not sure of, please ask. We will then discuss the phenomenon associated with Group Behaviors (Module 76) of Social Facilitation, Social inhibition, Social Loafing, and Bystander Effect.
Don't forget your flashcards for the unit are due today.
27/28 August: Today we will continue our focus on Social interactions as far as understanding Group Relationships. We will then move on and begin our discussion on Prejudice and Discrimination. (Module 77) Why are people inherently prejudiced? Why do stereotypes exist? How can we overcome these things that have the potential to tear our society apart? What are examples of prejudice and descrimination in your life? How can you use the material from class to help change your world?
We will begin to discuss Aggression and its sources (Module 78) and its sources. Why are people aggressive? What can we do to control our own aggressive tendencies?
29 August: Today we will continue our discussion on Aggression if needed and then discuss the social aspects of personal relationships (including love)( Module 79) and then begin to wrap up the unit by discussing altruism, conflict, and peacemaking ( Module 80). This discussion should tie together the various aspects of the social psychology unit.
Your vocabulary Quiz for the Social Psychology Unit will be today.
Due to the Sudden Illness of the Senior class on Friday, We will change the schedule for Tuesday and Hybrid day to he following:
2 September: Today we will finish discussing all material that has not been discussed yet. We will then discuss how to write an essay for the AP Psychology Exam and wil then go to the maclab to create turnitin accounts for the class.
3/4 September: Today we will wrap up our study of social psychology and take the examination for the unit. Before you take the exam you will have the opportunity to ask any last minute questions you have.