Transcript Kitty Genovese Powerpoint

Definition of Social Psychology
The scientific study of how individuals
think. Feel, and behave toward other people
and how individuals thoughts, feelings, &
behaviours are affected by other people
(Brehm, Kassin, & Fein 2002 p5).
The scientific investigation of how the
thoughts feelings and behaviour of
individuals are influenced by the actual,
imagined and implied presence of others
(Hogg & Vaughan 2005 p4).
Social psychology of helping behaviour
On 13 March 1964 Catherine
Genovese (28), bar manager,
arrived home at about 3:15 a.m.
 She lived in a block of flats in
Kew Gardens (New York) where
she parked her car some 100 feet
from her apartment.
A stranger (Winston Moseley)
intercepted & stabbed her for no
known reason other than that
Moseley was a necrophiliac.
Catherine Genovese (Kitty)
Kitty (28 at the time)
• New York Times story
(27 March 1964)
• For about 1/2 hour 38
law abiding citizens
watched the murder of
Kitty Genovese without
phoning the police or
coming to her aid.
• Why did so many people
fail to help?
Social & cognitive processes
 Ways in which our emotions
influence our thinking
 Ways in which our motives justify
our means
 Ways in which significant others,
e.g. family, society, influence our
attitudes, values and beliefs.
 Ways in which our perceptions
influence our reality
Cognitive processes
Cognitive processes
8 Principles of Social Behaviour
Two fundamental principles:
 People construct their
own reality
 People are influenced &
influence others
Three motivational
principles:
 Strive for mastery
 Strive for connectedness
 Value “me & mine”
Three processing
principles:
 Conservatism
 Accessibility
 Superficiality Vs
Depth
Recommended Reading
 Brehm, S.S., Kassin, S., M., & Fein, S (2002)
Social Psychology. Houghton Mifflin: London
(chapter 1)
 Hogg, M., & Vaughan, G. (2005) Social
Psychology (4th edition) Prentice-Hall: London
(chapter 1)