Social Cognition: Part 3

Every day, you are persuaded by those around you. Whether it is to make a quick decision, buy a product, or read an article with an evocative headline like this…

…We are likely to be open to suggestion during critical moments of non-thinking; what Kahneman famously refers to as System 1 processing. This is when our emotions take precedence over rational strategies while making decisions.

Social Cognition: Part 2

To most people, being part of a large group grants a sense of autonomy, relatedness, and power. When we are tied to something greater than our individual selves – be it a social cause, ideology, or cultural attribute – it can help shape our identity.

But being a member of a large group significantly changes the way we behave. We may gain some identity through shared group attributes, but those attributes make us feel less responsible for individual actions.

Social Cognition: Part 1

“People don’t just receive external information; they also process it and become architects of their own social environment” – Markus and Zajonc (1985)

Imagine yourself in a new environment full of people you’ve never met. For most, this is a stressful situation. Interacting with people without knowing how they see and interpret the world carries a fair degree of uncertainty, and therefore, vigilance.