General Psychology Article Critique VII

PSY 1010, General Psychology 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

2. Recall research methodologies used in the field of psychology.

3. Discuss social factors that influence human behaviors. 3.1 Identify social factors that influence people or groups to conform to the actions of others. 3.2 Indicate how one’s behaviors and motivation are impacted by the presence of others.

7. Identify biopsychology contributors to perception, motivation, and consciousness.

7.1 Indicate the structures of the brain that are involved in emotion and motivation.

8. Examine a scholarly, peer-reviewed psychology journal article. 8.1 Examine an article’s generalizability to various areas of psychology.

Course/Unit Learning Outcomes

Learning Activity

2 Unit VII Article Critique

3.1

Unit Lesson Chapter 12 Video: The Basics: Under the Influence of Others Video: The Big Picture: The Social World Video: Nature vs. Nurture and the Stanford Prison Experiment: Phil Zimbardo Unit VII Article Critique

3.2

Unit Lesson Chapter 12 Video: The Basics: Under the Influence of Others Video: The Big Picture: The Social World Video: Nature vs. Nurture and the Stanford Prison Experiment: Phil Zimbardo Unit VII Article Critique

7.1

Unit Lesson Chapter 9 Video: The Big Picture: Motivation and Emotion Unit VII Article Critique

8.1 Unit VII Article Critique

Reading Assignment Chapter 9: Motivation and Emotion Chapter 12: Social Psychology Links to Chapters 9 and 12 of the eTextbook are provided in the Required Reading area of Unit VII in Blackboard.

UNIT VII STUDY GUIDE

Motivation, Emotion, and Social Psychology

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Additional Reading Assignments: View the following four videos in MyPsychLab. You can access the videos by clicking the links provided in the Unit VII Required Reading area in Blackboard. (You must be logged into Blackboard in order to access any MyPsychLab features.)

 The Big Picture: Motivation and Emotion

 The Basics: Under the Influence of Others

 The Big Picture: The Social World

 Nature vs. Nurture and the Stanford Prison Experiment: Phil Zimbardo

Unit Lesson Motivation and Emotion Within this unit, Ciccarelli and White (2017) discuss that we have various sources of motivation in our lives. One particular universal source of motivation for eating is related to hunger. However, did you realize that hunger can be influenced by social and physiological factors? When it comes to physiological drives, we need our glucagons and insulin levels to remain a certain level to effectively regulate the glucose in our blood. Additionally, the hypothalamus is a large influencer over our ability to regulate our eating habits. Unfortunately, some people experience major complications in these areas and thusly have a difficult time maintaining a healthy weight. (We will examine this issue in greater detail later.) Begin to think about how hormonal imbalances could ultimately lead to obesity. Speaking of motivation, did you realize that we are influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction in various areas of our lives? As you explore this unit, you will learn more about several innate drives that we possess that influence our motivation in numerous areas including love, sex, achievement, and eating. Ciccarelli and White (2017) explain that instincts were initially utilized to explore motivation, but this approach could only focus on behaviors instead of truly explaining the reasons behind them. New approaches eventually emerged that helped researchers more effectively examine our needs and drives. As you read this chapter, begin to think about what drives you. Are you motivated by incentives? Does it take a great deal to cajole you to do something? How does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs relate to your motivation? On the other hand, would you say that the self-determination theory is a better way to explain your motivation? In essence, proponents of this theory purport that we must satisfy certain universal needs to feel whole. Pay close attention to this section, and examine your personal thoughts about how much you seek to master challenges that arise in your life (competence) while feeling in control (autonomy) and possessing the ability to have secure relationships (relatedness).

Do you think society positively shapes women’s views of their bodies? Does

a woman’s outward size make a difference in her acceptance by

society?

(Iqoncept, n.d.)

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It is no surprise that some people view obesity as a turnoff. However, did you know that some cultures view large thighs and full hips as desirable characteristics? A study was conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona in which African American and Caucasian teen girls were asked to describe what their idea was for the perfect girl. According to Nichter (2001), the Caucasian teens overwhelmingly described slender, blue- eyed, tall girls who weighed no more than 110 pounds as their goal. (Basically, they wanted to look like a real- life Barbie.) On the other hand, the African American girls initially chose to describe a girl’s personality, sense of fashion or style, and her ability to think well as characteristics that they valued most. When researchers encouraged the Africa American girls to also include physical aspects within their descriptions, they commented that full hips and thighs were culturally acceptable to them as well as a small waist. Sadly, 90% of the Caucasian teens were unhappy with their weight. However, 70% of the African American girls were happy with their looks, particularly their weight (Nichter, 2001). Do you think the fact that Caucasian teens who were more focused on their weight and physical appearance could have experienced more stress as they longed to have a socially acceptable body? Could you see how this could lead to eating disorders? On the flip side of this coin, what do you think about the initial lack of concern about the weight of the African American girls? Could their relaxed attitude about weight lead to a higher propensity for hypertension later in adulthood? How could these sources of motivation impact their eating habits?

While we are on the topic of eating, did you know that one’s emotions can directly impact his or her hunger arousal as well? Think about it. If you are having an extremely stressful day at work, do you long to go home and eat a huge, veggie laden salad while drinking a large, cold glass of ice water at the end of your day? Or, does the local fast food chain that you pass by on your way home seemingly call your name as you tiredly travel your normal route? Does that large, juicy cheeseburger with an order of crispy, slightly-salted fries and an icy cold beverage seem like a quick fix for the end of your long, hectic day? (Did reading this description make you either hungry or repulsed?) We are indeed at times driven by our emotions. In fact, Ciccarelli and White (2017) explain that our emotions can be correlated to numerous physiological reactions that we experience. Research has discovered that the amygdala is critically important to help regulate emotions. Further still, our emotions can manifest to the world via facial expressions, the manner in which we move our bodies, and numerous other actions.

Since we are on the topic of emotions, has anyone ever told you that you look worried? Do you show your emotions on your face? Let’s explore this area a little more. When you are experiencing an emotion, the sympathetic nervous system is aroused. Have you ever noticed that your breathing quickens, your pupils possibly dilate, and your heart rate increases as you become anxious? Ciccarelli and White (2017) explain that the amygdala is associated with numerous emotions, including pleasure and fear, while also influencing the expressions on our face. You will be interested to know that research conducted by Ekman et al. (1987) discovered that people display different kinds of smiles for multiple situations: the embarrassed smile, the angry smile, and the compliant one, just to name a few. Think about this for a moment. Have you ever noticed the various smiles you share? What happens when you attempt to look happy? Could there be a hidden message behind your pearly whites? Additional perusal of this unit will introduce you to early theories of emotion. Which one resonates most with you?

Body image (Drawlab19, n.d.)

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Social Psychology

As we continue our exploration of this unit, let’s begin to put the puzzle pieces together. You do not have to be a psychology major to agree that numerous social factors exist that influence our behaviors on a daily basis. In fact, think about your life. How often do you embrace social media? Do you check your accounts daily? Are you aware of just how many social media platforms are out there and being used to connect people to each other? The image to the right is just a sampling of icons for different social medial platforms. How many do you use? Have you even heard of any beyond Facebook? Are you compelled to like your friends’ pictures on Facebook after you hear about their vacation? Further still, have you heard teens and young adults talk about Snapchat? Why do we feel pressure from various groups to conform and join in the various social media outlets to connect and share with people we know and even people we have never met before?

Ciccarelli and White (2017) explain that social psychology seeks to examine group influence on an individual’s behaviors. On the other hand, cultural psychologists want to ascertain the impact that those cultural influences can have on our actions. As you progress throughout this unit, pay close attention to the information for conformity. Can you recall a period in your life in which you desperately wanted to fit in so you changed your behaviors to mirror that of the people around you? Do you think conformity is especially more prevalent with women? Why do you have the desire to be liked by others? (Do you really need 100 people to like your picture in Facebook to feel important?) If your friend has more followers on Instagram than you, then do you feel less accepted by others?

Most people will readily agree that their behaviors, albeit minimally at times, are impacted by others. For example, in groupthink, people tend to embrace the cohesion of the group, even if the group’s opinions differ from that of their own. This phenomenon can also escalate to the point of group polarization. (This is when an individual is willing to act out on extreme or risky behaviors due to the influence of the group.) A group’s influence on an individual’s performance can be so negative that it becomes a social impairment. However, not all group influences are viewed negatively. Sometimes groups have a positive impact on an individual’s performance, and this is known as social facilitation. Regardless if the group has a negative or positive influence in the individual’s life, he or she might experience deindividuation; this takes place when a person loses his or her sense of identity due to group associations.

Social media icons (Rompikapo, n.d.)

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Were you an obedient child? Did you behave as you were told with no questions asked? Did you often act-out?

Even as adults, we have numerous factors that influence why we behave in a certain manner. Stanley Milgram wanted to know why people obeyed authority figures so easily, even when the directives violated the person’s ethical beliefs. As you read this section, you will see that his controversial study revealed some alarming findings. What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to hurt someone if your superior instructed you to do such? What shocking truths might you discover about yourself?

As you conclude your readings for this unit, challenge yourself to embrace personal areas of growth. It is obvious that we all possess various attitudes in relation to numerous aspects of our lives. However, have you ever stopped to examine how yours were formed? Did you realize that you can formulate biases based on situations from your past and those who have influence in your life as well? If you have a negative attitude towards

certain cultural groups, could you seek to avoid categorically judging others based on your initial impressions? Would you be bold enough to embrace self-reflection to determine if you hold any prejudiced beliefs or attitudes towards others while having the tendency to discriminate? Are you willing to learn new ways in which you could be inspired to help others?

References Ciccarelli, S. K., & White, J. N. (2017). Psychology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. Drawlab19. (n.d.). Girl, mirror, body, distorted, weight concept, ID 119507385 [Image]. Retrieved from

https://www.dreamstime.com/girl-mirror-body-distorted-weight-concept-hand-drawn-unhappy- teenage-girl-looks-mirror-distorted-body-image-concept-sketch-image119507385

Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V., O’Sullivan, M., Chan, A., Diacoyanni-Tarlatzis, I., Heider, K., . . . Tzavaras, A.

(1987). Universals and cultural differences in the judgments of facial expressions of emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53(4), 712–717.

Iqoncept. (n.d.). What do you think survey poll question, 20602105 [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-what-do-you-think-survey-poll-question- image20602105

Nichter, M. (2001). Fat talk: What girls and their parents say about dieting. Cambridge, MA: Harvard

University. Primovich-hrabar, O. (n.d.). Angry kid and sad mother, ID 114056451 [Illustration]. Retrieved from

https://www.dreamstime.com/angry-kid-sad-mother-angry-little-boy-who-screams-stomp-legs-his-sad- mother-image114056461

Rompikapo. (n.d.). Social media icons, ID 58260552 [Image]. Retrieved from

https://www.dreamstime.com/editorial-photography-social-medis-icons-set-different-media-white- background-image58260552

(Primovich-hrabar, n.d.)

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Suggested Reading In the Suggested Reading area of Unit VII in Blackboard, you will find MyPsychLab links to the resources below. The resources are interactive and allow you to further explore concepts in this unit.

 Explore the Concept: Hunger and Eating

 Simulate the Experiment: Implicit Association Test: Healthy Food and Junk Food

 Complete the Survey: How Do You Deal With Your Emotions? For a review of this unit’s concepts, you are encouraged to view the PowerPoint presentations for the chapter readings by clicking on the links provided below. Click here for the Chapter 9 PowerPoint Presentation. Click here for a PDF of the presentation. Click here for the Chapter 12 PowerPoint Presentation. Click here for a PDF of the presentation.

Learning Activities (Nongraded) Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. In the Nongraded Learning Activities area of Unit VII in Blackboard, you will find MyPsychLab links to access the following resources. They can help you to assess your understanding of this unit’s concepts.

 Study the Flashcards: Chapter 9

 Test Yourself: Chapter 9: On page 389, there is a Test Yourself section. You can take the quiz to assess your understanding of the chapter material.

 Study the Flashcards: Chapter 12

 Test Yourself: Chapter 12: On pages 502–503 of the eTextbook, there is a Test Yourself section. You can take the quiz to assess your understanding of the chapter material.