PSY201 Week 9: Social Psychology Paper Scenario Essay Example
1. The main factor that contributed to Sarah’s attitude towards her curfew was social cognition. Partying with friends was yet a new thing to her and she had been hearing of it from her friends but had never been to it due to the restrictions put by her parents. It was her curiosity to better know and understand her society and to see the things that she had heard of which actually made her break the curfew and go to the party. Moreover, there is also an underlying optimistic bias that influenced her decision to do so where she believes that things will turn out to be well overall. So, it is her social cognition that she still does not know very well of her society and that there is more to see and know for which she takes the decision. The fear to miss the things also made her go to the party and disregard the curfew.
2. Sarah has dissonant cognitions in her mind at the time she is going to the party. On one side she has mind her parents’ instructions to follow the curfew and be back home after leaving her school. On the other side she has heard of party from her friends and wishes to be there. These two contradictory cognitions drive her to a psychological state of tension. Here she adjusts the psychological weight of t he two cognitions by paying less importance to the first and breaking the curfew. On the other side she pays higher importance to the cognition received from her friends and goes to the party. While evaluating both the cognitions she is in a state of cognitive dissonance.
3. Sarah confirmed to her per’s beliefs of being a smart, sociable girl. She agreed to their proposal of going to the party and enjoying the night. The most important reasons behind this could be her curiosity to meet and see everyone and how people of her age in her society do and behave. Moreover, there could also be a fear of being considered unsociable and not so socializing type that made Sarah do this. She starts interacting and socializing with people and comes across
2. Sarah has dissonant cognitions in her mind at the time she is going to the party. On one side she has mind her parents’ instructions to follow the curfew and be back home after leaving her school. On the other side she has heard of party from her friends and wishes to be there. These two contradictory cognitions drive her to a psychological state of tension. Here she adjusts the psychological weight of t he two cognitions by paying less importance to the first and breaking the curfew. On the other side she pays higher importance to the cognition received from her friends and goes to the party. While evaluating both the cognitions she is in a state of cognitive dissonance.
3. Sarah confirmed to her per’s beliefs of being a smart, sociable girl. She agreed to their proposal of going to the party and enjoying the night. The most important reasons behind this could be her curiosity to meet and see everyone and how people of her age in her society do and behave. Moreover, there could also be a fear of being considered unsociable and not so socializing type that made Sarah do this. She starts interacting and socializing with people and comes across