Social - Cognition

Personality Reflects Internal Representations

Social Cognition

• Emphasis on internal cognitive processes (like Kelly)– How do we make sense of our social world?

• Internal representations rather than external reality– No direct access to social world; entirely

mediated• Empirical; emphasis on memory and

perceptions

Schemas

– Knowledge Structure– Organized set of constructs • Relevant for a particular domain– Roles, events, etc.

– Activated schemas:• Influence memory• Influence perceptions

Schemas - Memory

• Claudia Cohen• 2-part study• Part 1 – determine schema content

Part 1: Schema content

Librarian Waitress

Introverted

Extroverted

Cultured Un-cultured

Wine

Classical Music

Beer

Country Music

History Novel

Harlequin Romance

Europe

Graceland

Part II: Memory effects

• Created ambiguous video– ½ waitress consistent (e.g., beer)– ½ librarian consistent (e.g., Motzart)

• Ps watch video• Told to form impression• One-half told:– woman is waitress– woman is librarian

Memory Effect Results

• Ps given surprise memory test

• Told: • Waitress

Waitress behaviors• Librarian

Librarian behaviorsBetter memory for schema consistent info.

Memory Effects: Implications and Limitations

• Stereotype Maintenance– Cognitive explanations

• Effect due to:– Selective encoding– Selective retrieval

• Exceptions?• Stereotype change?

Schemas - Perception

• Activated schema influences perceptions– View others differently as function of different

schemas• Differential encoding and interpretation• Langer and Abelson – Mental Patient Schema

Perception: Mental Patient Schema

• Create ambiguous audiotape– Employment or psychiatric interview– Older man interviewing younger man• e.g., asks about his past, employment future

• Ps Ph.D clinical psychologists– Either Psychodynamic or Behavioral

• Listened to one tape and provided assessment• Assessments coded for overall psychological

functioning

Mental Patient Schema-Results

Psychodynamic Behavioral Therapists TherapistsEmploymentInterview 6.2 6.3

PsychiatricInterview 3.6 5.6

Same external reality; different internal representation

Implications

• Our social world is mediated – We don’t interact with other people; we interact

with our perceptions of other people• Acting on our internal representations can

sometimes influence others’ behaviors (and vice-versa)– Elicit behaviors consistent with beliefs– Self-fulfilling prophecy (Rosenthal)