Module Outline

Module 18: Social Thinking and Social Influence

Module 18 introduces the first of three modules on social psychology. The area of study is defined and attribution theory, attitudes, and cognitive dissonance are discussed.

The areas within social influence are explained. Solomon Asch’s conformity study and Stanley Milgram’s famous study on obedience are detailed.

The module concludes by discussing how the presence of others influences our behavior.  How others enhance and detract from our performance is explained, as well as how the members of a group influence our attitudes.

Introduction to Social Thinking and Social Influence
	Social psychology
Social Thinking
	Disposition
	Situation
	Attribution theory
	Dispositional attribution
	Situational attribution
	Fundamental attribution error
	Self-serving bias
	Attitude
	Foot-in-the-door phenomenon
	Role playing
	Zimbardo’s prison study
	Cognitive dissonance
	Cognitive dissonance theory
Social Influence
	Conformity
	Solomon Asch
	Asch’s conformity study
	Stanley Milgram
	Obedience
	Milgram’s obedience study
	Group influence
	Social facilitation
	Social loafing
	Deindividuation
	Group interaction effects
	Group polarization
	Groupthink
	The power of the individual
	Self-fulfilling prophecy
	Minority influence