Social Psychology Paper (Sarah)
PSY/201Social Psychology Paper (Sarah)
What is Social Psychology? According to “Learn Psychology”, “Social psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influence and are influenced by others” (Carter & Seifert, 2014, p. 617). This brings up for evaluation of a 15 year old Caucasian female name, Sarah. Sarah will be assessed on how she behaves in relation to the social influences she encounters.
Attitude
Sarah has made new friend at the start of her sophomore year in high school; and she is looking forward to hanging out with them! The presence and influences of other people can cause oneself such as Sarah to reach out and make a social connections; this can create diverse perspectives of attitudes. Sarah has always been a rule-follower; her parents have strict rules regarding her curfew, even though she has never broken them. Sarah has been in compliance of her parents. She has been monitoring her behavior because of requests from her parents. This could be because of her obedience is rewarded.
084455000 Psychologist define attitude as a learned tendency to evaluate things in a certain way. This can include evaluations of people, issues, objects or events (Carter, K & Seifert, C, 2013). Sarah’s attitude is formed by direct events from observations and experiences. According to “Learn Psychology” (2013) attitudes found to be linked between affects (A), behavior (B), and cognition (C); components short for ABC. Sarah attitude is contributed to her curfew (A), this ultimately brings out her compliance and obedience (B), where she may assume she will be punish if the rules are broken (C). Sarah implicit attitude and preference is contributed from her behavior. (p.623)
Cognitive Dissonance
Sarah’s new friends have asked her to stay out late to join them at a party. Her friends continuously advised Sarah how much fun she’ll miss if she did not attend. Sarah decides to go since she has never been to a party. At this moment Sarah is experiencing a conflict of concerned, where she is battling within herself of two opposing ideas. This discomfort comes from considering the idea of “going to the party” or opposing the idea of “obeying her parent’s curfew”; this is known as cognitive dissonance (Carter & Seifert, 2013, p. 623). (p. 623)Conforms
When Sarah arrives, she realizes how popular her friends are. Sarah continues to stay at the party even though she is worried she will get trouble. Sarah attitude has begun to be reshaped and conform to another. Sarah was persuaded to go to the party. According to “Learn Psychology” persuasion is due with convincing another person to act or believe (2013). When Sarah discovers how popular her new friends are, a signaling to the brain changed her overall attitude.
Taking a deeper look into, “peripheral route to persuasion in which “Sarah” attitudes “is” influence not by the merits of the persuader’s argument but by the insignificant, noncore factor” (Carter, K & Seifert, C. P2013, 624). This of course is from prominence of reputation placed upon her new friends. Sarah ultimately conformed once more, such as she did with her parents; through obedience and compliance. Thusly, Sarah conforms to her peers’ belief, due to social pressures and norms; this also known as normative social influence.
Factors of Attraction
Sarah was beginning to have fun and even felt happy that she went; because later on she meets a guy name Jack. Sarah talks with him and finds out they have many things in common, such as; living in the same neighborhood. Jack confides in Sarah that she is beautiful. Currently the situation between Sarah and Jack has sparked a connection of romantic interest. Jack is obviously interested in Sarah. He finds her physically attractive, the proximity of living in the same neighborhood and shared similarities has caused him to court Sarah with comfort and without him
