PSYCHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT
PSYCOLOGY ASSIGNMENT ON SECTIONS #3 – 6
SOCIAL PERCEPTIONS
SECTION 3: Heuristics
Topic
This section of the assignment is designed to help you understand heuristics and the how they can inadvertently lead to erroneous judgments.
1. Play a first person shooter game online at http://psych.colorado.edu/~jclab/FPST.html. Were you surprised by the finding? What, if anything, did it tell you about your own heuristics?
2. Google and Read the Police Officer's Dilemma article. Describe one of the major findings. Do you think the representativeness heuristic and availability heuristic explain the recent policy shootings in the media? What other factors do you think may be involved?
SECTION 4: Behavior and Attitudes
Topic
Behavior and Attitudes'
This section is designed to help you understand factors that influence our attitudes and behavior.
1. What is cognitive dissonance? Describe a time when you experienced cognitive dissonance. How do theorists suggest that people reduce dissonance? How did you reduce yours?
2. Describe the over justification effect and give an example that illustrates it.
3. Develop a question of your own around one of the concepts from the chapter that can help the class understand it better (Do not ask yes/no or True/False) questions as they do little to encourage critical
thinking.
SECTION 5: Cultural Similarities & Differences
Cultural Similarities & Differences
.
This section is designed to help you understand and appreciate cultural similarities and differences. Speak with someone from a different culture than yourself (culture can represent a different generation, gender, race, ethnicity, differing abilities, veteran status, sexual orientation, etc. as culture can be very broad).
In three to five paragraphs you will share what you learned about the different culture you experienced. What were some of the similarities and differences? What aspects of their culture did you find most interesting or surprising?
SECTION 6: Conformity & Obedience
Conformity & Obedience
This section will help you to differentiate among different types of conformity. DEFINE Conformity and answer the two following questions in 3 – 5 paragraphs each.
1. Define: Compliance, Obedience, or Acceptance. Give an example of a time when you engaged in one of the particular forms of conformity.
2. What was one factor that decreased obedience in the Milgram studies? How much did it decrease obedience?