NCJ Number
45906
Editor(s)
J S CARROLL,
J W PAYNE
Date Published
1976
Length
304 pages
Annotation
THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL EXPLORATIONS OF THE LINKAGE BETWEEN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY ARE PRESENTED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF A SYMPOSIUM THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH FIELDS.
Abstract
THE SYMPOSIUM WAS A RESPONSE TO THE DESIRE AMONG SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO FIND A MORE SYSTEMATIC BODY OF THEORY, AND TO A CORRESPONDING DESIRE AMONG COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS TO STUDY THE EVERYDAY AFFAIRS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE LABORATORY. THE THEORETICAL VIEWPOINT OF THE SYPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS IS THAT HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS DETERMINED IN GREAT MEASURE BY PERCEPTIONS, EVALUATIONS, INFERENCES, AND OTHER PROCESSES OF HUMAN THOUGHT. ATTRIBUTION, STEREOTYPING, INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION, AND A NUMBER OF SOCIAL ISSUES ARE AMONG THE TOPICS TOUCHED UPON. THE OPENING SECTION PRESENTS VIEWPOINTS CONCERNING APPROACHES TO DEVELOPING A COGNITIVE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, I.E., THE STUDY OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR BASED SOLIDLY ON KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCESSES OF HUMAN THINKING. AMONG THESE PAPERS IS AN EXAMINATION OF ATTRIBUTION THEORY AND INFORMATION-PROCESSING PSYCHOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PAROLE DECISION PROCESS. THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL APPROACHES TO PERSON PERCEPTION ARE PRESENTED IN PAPERS ON COGNITIVE BIASES IN THE PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL GROUPS, THE ROLE OF INFORMATION PROCESSING IN MAKING CAUSAL ATTRIBUTIONS FOR SUCCESS AND FAILURE, POPULAR INDUCTION, LIFE-AND-DEATH CONSEQUENCES OF PERCEIVED CONTROL, AND SOCIAL PERCEPTION AS PROBLEMSOLVING. OTHER PAPERS EXAMINE IMPORTANT SOCIAL DECISIONS (E.G., CONSUMER DECISIONS, COLLEGE SELECTION, DATING CHOICES) AS SETTINGS FOR THE EXPLORATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR. A CLOSING DISCUSSION EXPLORES THE THEMES OF THE SYMPOSIUM AND ARGUES THAT COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. FOR THE PAPER ON PAROLE DECISIONMAKING, SEE NCJ-45907.