The Sexy Ones

Social Psych Extra Credit

5 Sexiest Theories

Fundamental Attribution Error: This is one of my favorite theories of all time. I see this all time and it frustrates me to a certain point, but it also amuses me. After learning about this theory, I try to figure the situational reason for why someone is acting in a certain way, and often find myself less aggravated and quick to judge than my friends. Or at the very least less vocal and quick about it.

Ingroup bias: This is something, that I see all the time and that I also participate in. Especially in APO (Service Fraternity), where we have are little individual families, I see this ingroup bias quite often and most of the time it’s harmless in APO, and just good fun, but I can see the areas where it can be harmful.

Self-Perception Theory: I like this theory a lot and I think it is very true, if not a bit over simplified. I think we really do come to understand ourselves in the same way we come to understand other people; by observing our behavior. I also think this theory can work well with Taylor’s self-serving cognition and positive allusions theory, in the idea that we are certainly bias in how we view ourselves and our behaviors.

Self-Enhancement Theory: This theory makes a lot sense in many ways. I often see this theory with people I know and of course myself. In my opinion it is hard to deny that people do this, and I overall I think this is something that is good for people to do, but also problematic when certain allusions are very unrealistic.

Social Facilitation: This theory makes so much sense in so many ways. When we were learning about this theory, all I kept thinking about  when I was younger and I was practicing (goofing off) shooting hoops in my driveway. I would make 20 straight in a row when I was all by myself, but the second someone started watching I missed, I could barely make one. This frustrated me to no end when I was younger.

5 Sexiest Psychologist

Robert Zajonc: Honestly I really like his name. When I was studying or reading, it was rather fun watching my friends try to pronounce his name. I also like his theories as they were in my opinion easy to understand. 

Shelly Taylor: I liked the rivalry between her and Swan, it was helpful in remembering their theories. I also liked her positive allusions theory, as it makes a lot of sense. 

Stanley Milgram: Milgram’s electrical shock experiment, is one experiment that is always taught in beginning/principles of psychology classes and it’s one of the most memorable and terrifying. I personally really liked the experiment, though I am disturbed by it, but I think it was a beyond useful experiment.

Daryl Bem: I liked a lot of Bem’s work. Overall though his self-perception theory was one of my favorite theories to learn about and was easy to remember. 

Hazel Markus: I overall really liked her Self-Schema theory. It tied in well with a lot of general human behavior, other theories, and it personally helped explained a lot of things about myself and people I know.