Description
PSY 362 Discussion Question 1 Topic 1: Explain two major differences between common sense understandings and social psychological theories. Illustrate with an example. What is the danger in relying on common sense or intuition in learning about the relationship between the individual and his or her environment?
PSY 362 Discussion Question 2 Topic 2: Look over the table of contents in your textbook. Which topic is the most interesting to you personally? Why? Which topic looks like it may connect most to your spiritual, emotional, and professional development?
PSY 362 Discussion Question 1 Topic 2: From your perspective, how does the material in your textbook on the topics of self-presentation and social perception relate to the passage from Matthew 7:3-5, in which Jesus asks: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers’ eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eyes when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
PSY 362 Discussion Question 2 Topic 2: Describe three important functions of the self. Give examples of each.
PSY 362 Topic 3 Discussion Question 1: Research on the relation between religion and prejudice is well summarized by Gordon Allport: “The role of religion is paradoxical. It makes prejudice and it unmakes prejudice.” In your opinion, do you agree, and, if so, why might this be true? If you do not agree, explain your reasoning.
PSY 362 Topic 3 Discussion Question 2: Assume that an individual engages in behaviors that are in conflict with their stated religious beliefs, and they experience dissonance. What impact might this have on their beliefs? What might allow people to productively resolve that dissonance?
PSY 362 Topic 4 Discussion Question 1: To what groups do you belong? Describe a situation when you experienced deindividuation, social loafing, or social facilitation while performing a task?
PSY 362 Topic 4 Discussion Question 2: How are both the power of the situation and the power of the person evident in the results of Asch’s conformity research? Explain.
PSY 362 Topic 5 Discussion Question 1: What are Robert J. Sternberg’s (in “Construct Validation of a Triangular Love Scale”) three components of intimate relationships? Is it necessary for all three to be present in an intimate relationship? How do relationships that vary on these components differ from each other?
PSY 362 Topic 5 Discussion Question 2: Using social exchange or equity theory, what are the elements that affect our willingness to stay in a relationship? Explain how these elements affect our choices.
PSY 362 Topic 6 Discussion Question 1: What effect do you think television violence has on children, adolescents, and adults? What effect do you think it has on society? Go to some of the websites on this topic and include their findings in your answer; please do not forget to cite the source.Here are a couple suggested sites to view on the topic: http://www.abelard.org/tv/tv.php
http://kff.org/other/fact-sheet/children-health-and-the-media-report-and/
PSY 362 Topic 6 Discussion Question 2: How do you define aggression? How aggressive do you think humans usually are? How aggressive do you think they are by nature? Are these the same or different? Why and how? How is acting aggressively different from acting assertively?
PSY 362 Topic 7 Discussion Question 1: Does religion influence an individual’s occupational choice, social network, and views on marriage? Explain.
PSY 362 Topic 7 Discussion Question 2: What is the direction of religion in the United States? How is it evolving? How is the role of religion changing, are more people becoming more religious or less religious in our country?
PSY 362 Topic 8 Discussion Question 1: What issues within contemporary society do you think require the attention of social psychologists? Why do you believe these exist in contemporary society? Explain.
PSY 362 Topic 8 Discussion Question 2:In thinking about the future of our society, what issues do you believe will emerge as a field of focus for social psychologists? Explain.
