Social Psychology Portfolio

Chapter 3 Upward Social Comparison/Downward Social Comparison

Now this photo maybe upward social comparison to the extreme, but never the less it represents upwards-social comparison. The photo popular during the glory years of MySpace shows four generally thin girls one female barley showing in the corner with less revealing attire. The captions state "envy it wears a coat and hangs out in hallways", the concept portrayed could either be downwards social comparison from the girls posing or upwards social comparison the larger girl in the background. On page 88 the text describes the process of upwards social comparison to be a very delicate one. An individual cannot be too good so that the person doing the comparison loses positive self-regard. In my opinion this is the case, the larger girl has been comparing herself with an ideal she is unlikely to attain, since she is not in the "same general range". The captions represent the downwards-social comparison, which is shown as being envoy or jealousy by the person doing the comparison. The downward social comparison that is being portrayed by the girls posing is downwards in order to raise their own self-esteem. The obese girl in the background may have been using upward social comparison to raise her self-esteem although the group that she compared herself to were “out of her range” and gave the negative effect and made her feel bad about herself.

Chapter 5 Attitudes and Persuasion

The Peripheral Route To Persuasion

The undecided voters of Quahog have difficult time deciding if Louis or Adam West would be a good mayor for their town. The undecided voters during the debate rely on the peripheral route to persuasion rather then the central route to persuasion, a phenomenon that occurs in reality by voters. Using the Peripheral route is very bad idea especially when deciding on political candidates. The use of the peripheral route involves focusing on factors other then the quality of the message, a mistake clearly committed at the beginning of the clip. The central route would have been a much better way to pick a candidate at a debate because it focuses on the quality of the argument. (text P.156)

Chapter 8 Love and Romantic Relationships

Erotomania

I do not believe the term could be better summed up then with the classic movie "Fatal Attraction". The film is about a married man that has multiple sexual encounters with a single women in her 30s. the casual relationship goes sour after the women becomes more and more insane, cutting herself, showing up at his home and even killing his family's pet. the women would be a prime example of "erotomania" which is a disorder involving the "fixed incorrect belief that one is loved by another, even with strong evidence to the contrary"(p.268). the women is fits the description of a typical case of erotomania which includes "single an in her mid 30s".

Chapter 9-Prosocial Behavior

Perspective Taking/ Empathy

The Blockbuster hit Avatar, was a huge success. The movie involves Jake sully a paraplegic solider that takes on the body of a Navi humanoid using "mind transfer" to control a avatar. Jake must live with the Navi people and gain their trust in order to find precious resources under their habitat, so extraction of resource can take place (similar to fossil fuel). Once jakes mission is complete, he would be granted the surgery required to walk again. During his mission, Jake grows attachment to the Navi people and their way of life, he learns their language and prayer. The perspective taking or empathy shows Jake how important the earth is to the Navi people and extracting it for resources would destroy the planet and its habitat. Jake’s betrayal of the military he was assigned to in order to help the Navi people is similar to Sempo Sugihara and the Jews in the book. (p.314)

Chapter 10 Aggression

Psychopath

The Joker in the Dark Knight was a very disturbed criminal, killing for no goal opposite to instrumental aggression, which is aggression for a proposed goal. The joker is a Psychopath, which is characterized by "impulsivity, irresponsibility, low empathy, grandiose self-worth, and lack of sensitivity to punishment,(p.335). Joker is not looking to make money just simply to cause chaos in Gotham City. Joker feels no empathy for others and kills even his alliance.

Chapter 11-prejudice, stereotyping & Discrimination

Millionaire Matchmaker

Goes Gay | News | Advocate.com

^^^^^^Click Link above To Watch Video ^^^^^^^

Stereotype

Patti Stanger runs a dating company for millionaires; Patti got her first request from a gay millionaire. Although Jokingly Patti Stanger believes that the gay men cannot be together with out sleeping together on a first date and go bath houses for random sex. Patti has stereo typed the homosexual community as being promiscuous. Although not all homosexual are promiscuous, there are very many that are just like heterosexual men and women. Stereotyping a person a before even meeting them is not good, especially considering that the stereotypes are of her clients.

Chapter 12 -Groups

Transformational Leaders

Barack Obama is without a question a transformational leader. Obamas election in 2008 was the first black president in american history. The unity during his election was unbelievable, many people not involved in politics before had become involved and voted. A transformational leader is one that "changes the motivations, outlooks, and behaviors of followers, enabling the group to reach its goal better"(p.430). The leaders mission become the followers own, the leader gets followers to examine their values and approaches to life and have important contributions to make. Leaders that are transformational can use the ability to transform a nation for good, but also for bad such, Adolph Hitler. In Obamas case the leader fit the existing needs (the economy) of the groups(americans) rather then inspiring the group towards his own goals.