module 10 notes - Module 10 Social Psychology I The Power of the Situation Kurt Lewin and his two classic statements o o Behaviour is a function of the

Module 10- Social Psychology I: The Power of the Situation • Kurt Lewin and his two classic statements o Behaviour is a function of the person and the situation o There is nothing quite so practical as a good theory • Conformity and obedience • Bystander intervention Kurt Lewin and his two classic statements • Father of field of social psychology • 90% of field can trace roots back to Lewin • Very eclectic psychologist • “Behaviour is a function of the person and the situation” o Anytime you look at behaviour you have to look at the power of the situation and how the person works and the two things work together o Statement has been fundamental in understanding social psychology o Most people believe they are not controlled by the situation, that they are their own person and do what they want to do o Social psychologists believe that most people can be treated the same, that they are affected in the same way by the same situation • “There is nothing quite so practical as a good theory” o Approach of social psychology is that you need to have a good theory about what is going on to understand and do something about a problematic situation o Concerned with real issues that really affect people Conformity and Obedience • Musafa Sherif- the Sherif Norm Formation Study • Wanted to understand people came to have a certain set of beliefs and why those beliefs are shared widely throughout society