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Social psychologists are interested in all aspects of personality and social interaction, exploring the influence of interpersonal and group relationships on human behavior. Understanding Social PsychologyThe way we perceive ourselves in relation to the rest of the world influences our behaviors and our beliefs. The opinions of others also affect our behavior and how we view ourselves. Social psychologists are interested in all aspects of interpersonal relationships and the ways that psychology can improve those interactions. For example, their research helps us understand how people form attitudes toward others and, when these are harmful — as in the case of prejudice, for example — provides insight into ways to change them. Social Psychology AppliedSocial psychologists study how social influence, social perception and social interaction influence individual and group behavior. Some social psychologists focus on conducting research on human behavior. Others focus on the practical application of social psychology by helping organizations hire and train employees; evaluating educational programs to determine if intervention strategies are working; searching for ways to encourage people to reduce pollution; or offering advice to businesses or employees who need help with conflict mediation. Because social psychologists are trained to combine their knowledge of human behavior with scientific research methods, job options and work settings are diverse. Many social psychologists choose to work in educational environments such as colleges and universities where they conduct research, teach classes and run social psychology laboratories. Other social psychologists work for government offices, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, social service agencies and private corporations. The range of career options for a social psychologist is so varied it may include research, marketing, politics or even technology design. Date created: 2014 RelatedCognitive dissonance is a theory in social psychology. It refers to the mental conflict that occurs when a person’s behaviors and beliefs do not align. It may also happen when a person holds two beliefs that contradict one another. Cognitive dissonance causes feelings of unease and tension, and people attempt to relieve this discomfort in different ways. Examples include “explaining things away” or rejecting new information that conflicts with their existing beliefs. Read on to learn more about cognitive dissonance and its effects.
The psychologist Leon Festinger published his theory of cognitive dissonance in his 1957 book, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Festinger proposed that people experience discomfort when they hold conflicting beliefs or when their actions contradict their beliefs. Since then, cognitive dissonance has become one of the most influential and researched theories in social psychology. People will try to reduce this dissonance to relieve the discomfort. The drive to resolve dissonance is called the “principle of cognitive consistency.” It is important to note that cognitive dissonance is not automatic when a person holds opposing beliefs. They must have an awareness of the inconsistency to feel discomfort. Not everyone experiences cognitive dissonance to the same degree. Some people have a higher tolerance for uncertainty and inconsistency and may experience less cognitive dissonance than those who require consistency. Other factors that affect the degree of cognitive dissonance that a person experiences include:
Cognitive dissonance has the immediate effect of causing feelings of discomfort and unease. As people generally have an innate desire to avoid this discomfort, cognitive dissonance has a significant effect on a person’s:
People experiencing cognitive dissonance may notice that they feel:
As a result, they may:
Avoiding factual information can allow people to continue maintaining behaviors with which they do not fully agree. Of course, cognitive dissonance may prompt some people to change their behavior so that their actions align with their beliefs. In this way, it provides people with an opportunity to examine their values and actions and achieve cognitive consistency. As a result of cognitive dissonance, many people confront problematic attitudes and actions. They may make positive changes in their lives, such as addressing unhealthful eating habits, addiction, or anger issues. Share on PinterestIf a person smokes despite knowing the risk, they may experience cognitive dissonance.Situations where cognitive dissonance can occur include:
People who experience cognitive dissonance can take steps to reduce it. They may do this by: Rejecting or avoiding conflicting informationOften, people resolve cognitive dissonance by devaluing and discarding conflicting knowledge. They may limit their exposure to new information that does not align with their existing beliefs — a phenomenon called “confirmation bias.” One example of this is devaluing particular news sources by describing them as biased or false. Persuading and justifyingIndividuals may persuade themselves that no conflict exists. They may seek out support from others who share similar beliefs or try to convince others that the new information is inaccurate. Alternatively, a person may find a way to justify behaviors that conflict with their beliefs. For example, someone who smokes despite knowing that it is bad for their health may rationalize the behavior on the basis that it helps them socialize with others. Reconciling the differencesShare on PinterestA person may reconcile differences by giving up eating meat because they love animals.This method of reducing dissonance may be the most effective, but it is also the most challenging to implement. It involves a person changing their behaviors so that they are consistent with their other beliefs. Reconciling the differences between conflicting beliefs, or between actions and beliefs, is a form of personal growth. One example of reconciling differences is when a person stops eating meat because they love animals or dislike the thought of killing them. Cognitive dissonance affects everyone, and it plays a role in many of a person’s daily judgments and decisions. Although cognitive dissonance may seem like a negative effect, it can also help people change and grow in positive ways. Through awareness of conflicting beliefs and actions, people can address their habits and bring their behaviors in line with their values. Read this article in Spanish. Why is it called the Hawthorne effect?The Hawthorne Effect refers to the fact that people will modify their behavior simply because they are being observed. The effect gets its name from one of the most famous industrial history experiments that took place at Western Electric's factory in the Hawthorne suburb of Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
What is the Hawthorne effect psychology?The Hawthorne effect is the modification of behavior by study participants in response to their knowledge that they are being observed or singled out for special treatment. In the simplest terms, the Hawthorne effect is increasing output in response to being watched.
What is an example of the Hawthorne effect?Example. A study of hand-washing among medical staff found that when the staff knew they were being watched, compliance with hand-washing was 55% greater than when they were not being watched (Eckmanns 2006).
What is the term for an individual in a research study who is pretending to play a role?In research methodology, an accomplice of the experimenter in research involving deception, pretending to be an experimental participant or subject, along with the real participants, but actually playing out an assigned role. Also called a stooge.
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What is it called when someone becomes so involved in the study that they are influenced by it?
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