Social Thinking

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Social Thinking: What do you think about that?

Thinking Socially

Social psychology comes from the belief that our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads. It is believed that if a butterfly flaps its wings in one place that this flapping of the wings can be felt all over the world. How can that be? The actual flapping of the butterfly’s wings cannot be felt in the United States if the wings were flapped in Europe. However, the result can be. The flapping of its wings may create tiny changes in the atmosphere which can lend itself to tornados and other natural disasters. Clearly this little flap of a butterfly’s wings could not cause a tornado, much less a natural disaster; however, it is a contribution to the world—to society. The social psychologists explore these connections by studying the scientific ways in which humans influence, think about, and relate to one another. In order to understand social psychology, it is very important you understand the theories associated with it.

Actions and Attitudes

Attitudes are beliefs and feelings that predispose. our reactions to objects, people, and events. If we feel someone is nice, we act friendly. Steve Biko, a South African civil rights activist, said “change the way people think and things will never be the same.” This is the power of persuasion. Do our attitudes affect or guide our actions?

Predispose To make (someone) inclined to something in advance