Psyche | Issue 1 | June 2015 by themagi

p syche. JUNE 1, 2015 | I SSUE no 6

SPEAK UP CONVERSAT I ONS T HAT MAT T ER: Conformity, altruism, attraction, prejudice and more !

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Since my appointment as Editor- in- Chief of Psyche Magazine, I have had the honor to curate thousands of articles. Yet, it is not until now that I have had such a collection as this. T his issue explores the intricacies of the human experience, in its entirety. T he ways in which we interact with one another are truly some of the world?s greatest wonders. T he complex relationship between parent and child, girlfriend and boyfriend, stranger and strangerthese are the networks of interpersonal relationships that constitute the very foundation of human civilization. However, with these connections, golden threads of treasure interwoven throughout the whole of society, there are a myriad of problems as well. T he plague of stereotypes the world has created has given rise to prejudice, which in turn yields discrimination. Nevertheless, it is up to us to change. I t is up to us to make the world a better place. Mikaela Magpali Editor- in- Chief AP Psychology Period 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER TO THE EDITOR......3

THE END OF PREJUDICE......10 -12

THE KEY TO PERSUASION...14 -15

THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONFORMITY.....5-7

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BRAIN....16 THE SCIENCE OF ATTRACTION......13

THE ALTRUISTIC AFFAIR......8

HEAD GAMES......17

t he conseq uences of confor m it y by jane west

I f you witnessed an emergency happening right before you eyes, you would certainly take some sort of action to help the person in trouble, right? W hile we might all like to believe that this is true, psychologists suggest that whether or not you intervene might depend upon the number of other witnesses present.

THE BYSTANDER EFFECT T he term bystander effect refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress. W hen an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses. Being part of a large crowd makes it so no single person has to take responsibility for an action (or inaction). I n a series of classic studies, researchers Bibb L atane and John Darley found that the amount of time it takes the participant to take action and seek help varies depending on how many other observers are in the room. I n one experiment, subjects were placed in one of three treatment conditions: alone in a room, with two other participants or with two confederates who pretended to be normal participants.

EXAMPLES T he most frequently cited

W hile Genovese's case has been

example of the bystander effect

subject to numerous

in introductory psychology

misrepresentations and

textbooks is the brutal murder of

inaccuracies, there have been

a young woman named Catherine "K itty" Genovese. On Friday, March 13, 1964, 28- year- old Genovese was returning home from work. As she approached her apartment entrance, she was attacked and stabbed by a man later identified as Winston Moseley. numerous other cases reported in Despite Genovese?s repeated As the participants sat filling

calls for help, none of the dozen

out questionnaires, smoke began

or so people in the nearby

to fill the room. W hen

apartment building who heard

participants were alone, 75%

her cries called police to report

reported the smoke to the

the incident. T he attack first

experimenters. I n contrast, just

began at 3:20 AM, but it was not

38% of participants in a room

until 3:50 AM that someone first

with two other people reported

contacted police.

the smoke. I n the final group, the two confederates in the

I nitially reported in a 1964

recent years. T he bystander effect can clearly have a powerful impact on social behavior, but why exactly does it happen? W hy don't we help when we are part of a crowd? T here are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect. First, the presence of other people creates a diffusion of responsibility.

New York T imes article, the

Because there are other

story sensationalized the case

observers, individuals do not feel

and reported a number of factual

as much pressure to take action,

inaccuracies. W hile frequently

since the responsibility to take

cited in psychology textbooks, an

action is thought to be shared

Additional experiments by

article in the September 2007

among all of those present. T he

L atane and Rodin (1969) found

issue of American Psychologist

second reason is the need to

that while 70 percent would help

concluded that the story is

behave in correct and socially

a woman in distress when they

largely misrepresented mostly

acceptable ways. W hen other

were the only witness, only about

due to the inaccuracies

observers fail to react,

40 percent offered assistance

repeatedly published in

individuals often take this as a

when other people were also

newspaper articles and

signal that a response is not

present.

psychology textbooks.

needed or not appropriate.

experiment noted the smoke and then ignored it, which resulted in only 10% of the participants reporting the smoke.

CAN YOU PREVENT THE BYSTANDER EFFECT? So what can you do to avoid falling into this trap of inaction? Some psychologists suggest that

Other researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to intervene if the situation is ambiguous. I n the

simply being aware of this

case of K itty Genovese, many of the 38 witnesses

tendency is perhaps the greatest

reported that they believed that they were witnessing a

way to break the cycle. W hen faced with a situation that requires action, understanding how the bystander effect might be holding you back and

"lover's quarrel," and did not realize that the young woman was actually being murdered. Characteristics of the situation can play a role. During

consciously taking steps to

a crisis, things are often chaotic and the situation is not

overcome it can help. However,

always crystal clear. Onlookers might wonder exactly

this does not mean you should place yourself in danger. But what if you are the person

what is happening. During such chaotic moments, people often look to others in the group to determine what is

in need of assistance? How can

appropriate. W hen people look at the crowd and see that

you inspire people to lend a

no one else is reacting, it sends a signal that perhaps no

hand? One often- recommended tactic is to single out one person from the crowd. Make eye contact and ask that individual specifically for help. By personalizing and individualizing your request, it becomes much harder for people to turn you down.

action is needed.

t he altr uist ic affair by theresa fernandez

On May 28, 2015, a man was hit by a double decker bus in L ondon, England. T rapped under the massive vehicle, there was little chance he could survive. Until, suddenly a crowd gathered to the side of the bus. T hey began pushing the bus to the side, lifting it with each effort of their collective strength. Over the course of minutes following his collision, he is freed from the bus, welcomed warmly by the 100 people who helped free him from it. T his is a recent example of pro- social behavior, the tendency of people to help one another- whether it be through donating money, volunteering, helping in an emergency, helping in a non- emergency, or even choosing between cooperation and competition. T he good Samaritans who came to the assistance of the cyclist, without hope or fear of the possible consequences of their actions, demonstrate altruistic behavior, the type of selfless behavior that benefits another at one?s own expense- the type which makes us truly human.

t he end of p rejud ice by kris norton On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 demonstrators took part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in the nation?s capital. During this monumental event, Martin L uther K ing Jr., leader of the Civil Rights Movement, delivered his memorable "I Have a Dream" speech, wherein he states, ?I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.? T his dream, this utopian vision of equality- a world without prejudice or discrimination- was one contested by all those oppressed in mid- 19th century America. I t was a cause that cost the sacrifice of thousands of lives set in protest against the unjust manners of society, yet today, it reaps the rewards of its tumult in the vast improvement of African American treatment. However, the dream that K ing possessed, as well as the hundreds of thousands of others who supported him, was not fully realized. Still today, African Americans, of all economic backgrounds, are subject to racism not unlike that of the earlier century. Still today, there exists the K lu K lux K lan, a testament to over two centuries?worth of hatred and disdain toward African Americans. Still today, the roots of prejudice burst out from the soil of our great country in protest of the progress made in the last five decades. T hey threaten the lives of millions of people- regardless of race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender, or sexual orientation- and foster the augmentation of discrimination, victimization, bigotry, and hate. T he question is: How will we stop it?

W HAT IS PREJUDICE? Prejudice is a negative or hostile attitude, opinion or feeling toward a person or group formed without adequate knowledge, thought or reason and based on negative stereotypes. Prejudice is the result of "prejudgment" and often leads to discrimination. W hile prejudice is an attitude, stemming from a stereotype, discrimination is an action. I t is understood as a practice or action, whether intentional or not, and based upon prohibited grounds of discrimination (race, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, place of origin, age, colour, marital status, ethnic origin, disability, citizenship, family status, gender identity, political affiliation/belief), that imposes burdens, obligations or disadvantages on an individual or group that are not imposed on others, or that withholds or limits access to opportunities, benefits and advantages available to others. T he impact of discrimination can be severe. Victims can be harmed physically, emotionally, economically, and socially. I t can adversely affect careers and academic performance. Some examples of discrimination include: - Denying appropriate accommodation to persons with medically- certified disabilities - Refusing the same benefits to same- sex partner that are granted to opposite- sex partners - Denying promotions to women because the employer believes women are not committed to their careers - Evaluating students negatively because the instructor disapproves of their political, religious or cultural beliefs

HOW DO W E STOP IT? T he solution to discrimination is simple, yet fails to register in the minds of all those who come across it: awareness, education, and action. With these tools, you, and only you, can initiate true social change. T he only question that remains is: Will you?

PREJUDICE IN THE W ORLD

t he key t o per suasion by adam scott

I magine this: You are a high school junior. Fresh from four grueling weeks of Testing Hell, you are now subject to endure through the remainder of your classes?, suffering not only from boredom but also an incessant desire to frolic in the joys of the ever- elusive summer holiday. You are so deep into your stupor of sorrow that you forget about a research paper assigned prior to the testing period and due immediately following its conclusion. Yet, the worst has occurred: you have not even begun. I n fact, the matter had completely slipped your mind until your good- for- nothing, know- it- all friend informed you of the fact so smugly. You are now in a frenzy of panic, in your futile attempts to complete the assignment nearly three hours before it is due. Suddenly, a novel idea presents itself: W hat if you convince the teacher to postpone the due date? She had to be reasonable; it was not possible to complete anything during testing. I n fact, nearly all of the class forgot about their assignments until, quite frankly, tonight, the night before it was due. Yes, you think, this is perfect; she?ll understand and postpone it, only if I ask nicely- how do you do this?

THE COMPLIANCE STRATEGIES I n psychology, compliance strategies are a form of social influence, wherein an individual does what another wants them to do, following their request or suggestion. Although similar to obedience, wherein the individual is given a demand they must follow, this technique uses milder forms of coercion. T hese methods are quick, easy, and offer no risk to either party.

FOOT-INTHE-DOOR T his phenomenon

NORMS OF RECIPROCITY T his strategy stems out of

DOOR-INTHE-FACE T he opposite of the

suggests that when

the observed tendency of

Foot- in- the- Door technique,

presenting the desired party

people to feel obligated to

this request method presents

with a small request, they

reciprocate kind behavior.

an unrealistically large

will become more likely to

T his method is the most

request followed by a

accept a larger follow- up

time- consuming of the

smaller, more reasonable

request later. First, you ask

compliance methods

request- resulting in a greater chance of acceptance

your teacher for a bit of time

First, bring your teacher

to revise your final drafts in

her favorite snack or treat.

class. After your teacher

T hen, ask if the research

gives her approval, ask if the

paper due date may be

if the research paper due

essay due date may be

postpone by one day.

date could be postponed by

postponed one day.

by the desired party. First, you ask your teacher

one week. Following rejection at this absurd request, you ask if the due date may be postponed one day.

HEAD GAME

Across

hostile groups will reduce animosity

2. A route to persuasion that involves other aspects of the message, including the characteristics of the person imparting the message

19. I deas about what members of different groups are like, and these expectations may influence the way we interact with members of these groups

3. T he tendency for people to overestimate the number of people who agree with them

20. T he theory that states that people are motivated to have consistent attitudes and behaviors

4. A Set of beliefs and feelings 6. An undeserved, usually negative, attitude toward a group of people 9. An act of prejudice 12. T he belief that bad things happen to bad people 13. T he belief that one's culture is superior to others 14. People tend to think that when someone does something "nice" for them, they ought to do something nice in return

21. T he more one is exposed to something, the more one will come to like it Down 1. Expectations we have about others can influence the way those others behave 5. T he strategy that argues that after people refuse a large request, they will look more favorably upon a follow- up request 7. Strategies used to get others to comply with their wishes

15. Psychologist who explained that the type of attributions people make are based on 3 kinds of information

8. T he tendency for people to take more credit for good outcomes than for bad ones

16. A route to persuasion that involves deeply processing the content of the message

10. T he phenomenon suggests that if you can get people to agree to a small request, they will become more likely to agree to a follow- up request that is larger

17. theory T he theory that attempts to explain how people determine the cause of what they observe 18. theory T heory on how to reduce prejudice; states that contact between

11. T he tendency to overestimate the importance of dispositional factors and underestimate the role of situational factorsFAcross