,# 2012 University of South Africa
All rights reserved
Printed and published by the
University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
PYC3701/1/2013±2014
98891693
3B2
PRS-Mod style
, (iii) PYC3701/1/2013±2014
Contents
Chapter Page
INTRODUCTION vi
1 (No chapter 1) 1
2 SOCIAL COGNITION: HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL WORLD
(Dr C Ochse & Prof JC Mynhardt) 2
Study unit 2.1: Schemas: mental frameworks for organising Ð and using Ð
social information 3
Study unit 2.2: Heuristics: how we reduce our effort in social cognition 3
Study unit 2.3: Automatic and controlled processing: two basic modes of
thought 5
Study unit 2.4: Potential sources of error in social cognition: why total
rationality is rarer than you think 5
Study unit 2.5: Affect and cognition: how feelings shape thought and thought
shapes feelings 6
3 SOCIAL PERCEPTION: PERCEIVING AND UNDERSTANDING OTHERS
(Dr C Ochse & Prof JC Mynhardt) 8
Study unit 3.1: Nonverbal communication: the unspoken language of
expressions, gazes, and gestures 9
Study unit 3.2: Attribution: understanding the causes of other people's
behaviour 9
Study unit 3.3: Impression formation and impression management: combining
information about others 11
4 THE SELF: ANSWERING THE QUESTION ``WHO AM I'' (Prof JC Mynhardt) 12
Study unit 4.1: Self-presentation: managing the self in different social
contexts 13
Study unit 4.2: Self-knowledge: how do we know who we are? 13
Study unit 4.3: Thinking about the self: personal versus social identity 14
Study unit 4.4: Self-esteem: attitudes toward ourselves. 14
Study unit 4.5: Social comparison: how we evaluate ourselves 15
Study unit 4.6: The self as target of prejudice 16
5 ATTITUDES: EVALUATING AND RESPONDING TO THE SOCIAL WORLD
(Prof JC Mynhardt) 17
Study unit 5.1: Attitude formation: how attitudes develop 18
Study unit 5.2: When and why do attitudes influence behaviour 19
Study unit 5.3: How do attitudes guide behaviour 20
Study unit 5.4: The fine art of persuasion: how attitudes are changed 20
Study unit 5.5: Resisting persuasion attempts 20
Study unit 5.6: Cognitive dissonance: what it is and how do we manage it? 21
, (iv)
Chapter Page
6 STEREOTYPING, PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION: THE CAUSES,
EFFECTS AND CURES (Prof JC Mynhardt) 23
Study unit 6.1: How members of different groups perceive inequality 24
Study unit 6.2: The nature and origins of stereotyping 24
Study unit 6.3: Prejudice and discrimination: feelings and actions toward
social groups 25
Study unit 6.4: Why prejudice is not inevitable: techniques for countering its
effects. 27
7 INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
(Prof JC Mynhardt) 30
Study unit 7.1: Internal determinants of attraction: the need to affiliate and the
basic role of affect 31
Study unit 7.2: External determinants of attraction: proximity and other's
observable characteristics 31
Study unit 7.3: Factors based on interacting with others: similarity and mutual
liking 32
Study unit 7.4: Close (and interdependent) relationships: family, friends,
lovers, and spouses 33
Study unit 7.5: Romantic relationships and falling in love 34
Study unit 7.6: Marriage: happily ever after Ð or not? 34
8 SOCIAL INFLUENCE: CHANGING OTHERS' BEHAVIOUR
(Prof JC Mynhardt & Ms P Segalo) 36
Study unit 8.1: Conformity: group influence in action 37
Study unit 8.2: Compliance: to ask Ð sometimes Ð is to receive 38
Study unit 8.3: Symbolic social influence: how we are influenced by others
even when they are not there 38
Study unit 8.4 Obedience to authority: would you harm an innocent stranger
if ordered to do so? 39
9 PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: HELPING OTHERS
(Prof JC Mynhardt & Ms P Segalo) 40
Study unit 9.1 Why people help: motives for prosocial behaviour 40
Study unit 9.2 Responding to an emergency: will bystanders help? 41
Study unit 9.3 External and internal influences on helping behaviour 41
Study unit 9.4 Long-term commitment to prosocial acts 42
10 AGGRESSION: ITS NATURE, CAUSES AND CONTROL
(Prof JC Mynhardt & Ms P Segalo) 44
Study unit 10.1 Perspectives on aggression: in search of the roots of violence 44
Study unit 10.2 Causes of human aggression: social, cultural, personal, and
situational 45
Study unit 10.3 Aggression in ongoing relationships: bullying and aggression
at work 47
Study unit 10.4 The prevention and control of aggression: some useful
techniques 48
All rights reserved
Printed and published by the
University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
PYC3701/1/2013±2014
98891693
3B2
PRS-Mod style
, (iii) PYC3701/1/2013±2014
Contents
Chapter Page
INTRODUCTION vi
1 (No chapter 1) 1
2 SOCIAL COGNITION: HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL WORLD
(Dr C Ochse & Prof JC Mynhardt) 2
Study unit 2.1: Schemas: mental frameworks for organising Ð and using Ð
social information 3
Study unit 2.2: Heuristics: how we reduce our effort in social cognition 3
Study unit 2.3: Automatic and controlled processing: two basic modes of
thought 5
Study unit 2.4: Potential sources of error in social cognition: why total
rationality is rarer than you think 5
Study unit 2.5: Affect and cognition: how feelings shape thought and thought
shapes feelings 6
3 SOCIAL PERCEPTION: PERCEIVING AND UNDERSTANDING OTHERS
(Dr C Ochse & Prof JC Mynhardt) 8
Study unit 3.1: Nonverbal communication: the unspoken language of
expressions, gazes, and gestures 9
Study unit 3.2: Attribution: understanding the causes of other people's
behaviour 9
Study unit 3.3: Impression formation and impression management: combining
information about others 11
4 THE SELF: ANSWERING THE QUESTION ``WHO AM I'' (Prof JC Mynhardt) 12
Study unit 4.1: Self-presentation: managing the self in different social
contexts 13
Study unit 4.2: Self-knowledge: how do we know who we are? 13
Study unit 4.3: Thinking about the self: personal versus social identity 14
Study unit 4.4: Self-esteem: attitudes toward ourselves. 14
Study unit 4.5: Social comparison: how we evaluate ourselves 15
Study unit 4.6: The self as target of prejudice 16
5 ATTITUDES: EVALUATING AND RESPONDING TO THE SOCIAL WORLD
(Prof JC Mynhardt) 17
Study unit 5.1: Attitude formation: how attitudes develop 18
Study unit 5.2: When and why do attitudes influence behaviour 19
Study unit 5.3: How do attitudes guide behaviour 20
Study unit 5.4: The fine art of persuasion: how attitudes are changed 20
Study unit 5.5: Resisting persuasion attempts 20
Study unit 5.6: Cognitive dissonance: what it is and how do we manage it? 21
, (iv)
Chapter Page
6 STEREOTYPING, PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION: THE CAUSES,
EFFECTS AND CURES (Prof JC Mynhardt) 23
Study unit 6.1: How members of different groups perceive inequality 24
Study unit 6.2: The nature and origins of stereotyping 24
Study unit 6.3: Prejudice and discrimination: feelings and actions toward
social groups 25
Study unit 6.4: Why prejudice is not inevitable: techniques for countering its
effects. 27
7 INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
(Prof JC Mynhardt) 30
Study unit 7.1: Internal determinants of attraction: the need to affiliate and the
basic role of affect 31
Study unit 7.2: External determinants of attraction: proximity and other's
observable characteristics 31
Study unit 7.3: Factors based on interacting with others: similarity and mutual
liking 32
Study unit 7.4: Close (and interdependent) relationships: family, friends,
lovers, and spouses 33
Study unit 7.5: Romantic relationships and falling in love 34
Study unit 7.6: Marriage: happily ever after Ð or not? 34
8 SOCIAL INFLUENCE: CHANGING OTHERS' BEHAVIOUR
(Prof JC Mynhardt & Ms P Segalo) 36
Study unit 8.1: Conformity: group influence in action 37
Study unit 8.2: Compliance: to ask Ð sometimes Ð is to receive 38
Study unit 8.3: Symbolic social influence: how we are influenced by others
even when they are not there 38
Study unit 8.4 Obedience to authority: would you harm an innocent stranger
if ordered to do so? 39
9 PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: HELPING OTHERS
(Prof JC Mynhardt & Ms P Segalo) 40
Study unit 9.1 Why people help: motives for prosocial behaviour 40
Study unit 9.2 Responding to an emergency: will bystanders help? 41
Study unit 9.3 External and internal influences on helping behaviour 41
Study unit 9.4 Long-term commitment to prosocial acts 42
10 AGGRESSION: ITS NATURE, CAUSES AND CONTROL
(Prof JC Mynhardt & Ms P Segalo) 44
Study unit 10.1 Perspectives on aggression: in search of the roots of violence 44
Study unit 10.2 Causes of human aggression: social, cultural, personal, and
situational 45
Study unit 10.3 Aggression in ongoing relationships: bullying and aggression
at work 47
Study unit 10.4 The prevention and control of aggression: some useful
techniques 48
