Understanding of social being

Virat Kohli's phenomenal century in the 2023 Cricket World Cup against South Africa stands as a remarkable achievement, not only for him personally but also as a significant moment for Indian cricket. This notable feat was further magnified as Kohli equaled the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in one day internationals at that very juncture. Nevertheless, discussions arose regarding whether Kohli's deceleration as he approached his hundred might have influenced the team's collective performance and potentially could have adverse effects on a particular day's outcome. I will be analysing various aspects of that innings using various theories in social psychology. I am a big fan of Virat Kohli but I will be analysing things in a very neutral manner. Image credits : Hindustan times Self-determination theory Self-determination theory suggests that people are motivated by three things: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Kohli may have

Introduction: In the complex web of human social dynamics, the bystander effect stands as a fascinating and perplexing phenomenon. Understanding the social being requires a closer understanding of the psychological factors that influence individuals to remain passive observers in the face of others’ distress. This blog aims to unravel the complexities of the bystander effect and try to shed light on the psychological intricacies that contribute to non-intervention in various social settings. Credits:   ALERT NGO The Bystander Effect: The bystander effect refers to the observed phenomenon where the greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less likely any one of them is to help the victim, which is completely in contrast with intuitive behaviour that assumes that more the number of people present, the higher is the likelihood of assistance. Psychologists have identified many psychological mechanisms that contribute to the bystander effect, making it a subject of imm

Conformity arises as an ever-present force in a world that continually pulls at the threads of individuality, subtly influencing our lives in ways we may not even be aware of. In every aspect of our lives, from our clothes to our beliefs, conformity influences our decisions and shapes our identities. A fine example of how conformity affects us in the presence of others is demonstrated in the experiment discussed in class, Asch's Line Judgement Experiment. In this blog, we'll explore the pervasive nature of conformity and its impact on various aspects of our lives. Conformity in action [Image credits: learndojo.org/a-level/aqa-psychology/social-influence/] We are social beings who continuously seek the approval of our peers. We conform our ideas and actions to those of the group to fit in and not get ostracised. This form of influence that moulds us is called normative social influence. In the intricate dance of human interaction, normative social influence emerges as a powerf

In the realm of academic excellence and technological advancement, very few names in India resonate as profoundly as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). These prestigious institutions have, over the years, acquired an almost mythical status, an epitome of intellectual rigor and promise. For people outside the IITs, they represent a sanctuary of knowledge, a cradle for budding engineers, and a conduit to a promising future.   Image credit : Hindustan times   As students embark on their journey in these revered whereabouts of learning, the expectations are high, and the stakes even higher. This journey at IITs is not just a progression through coursework; it's a transformation, an evolution of self, an exploration and modification of one's identity in the face of an intellectually charged and competitive environment. In this blog, I would like to discuss about how my identity is influenced after entering IIT Delhi. Is the impact all positive or there are negative aspect

The importance of cooperation can occasionally be undervalued in a world where competition frequently takes front stage. But studying psychology reveals the complex mechanisms that govern both the human inclination towards cooperation and how effective collaborations can be made. An essential component of human connection, cooperation cuts across boundaries and encourages the growth and success of communities, businesses, and societies as a whole. Yet, cooperation can also be difficult to achieve, there are often breakdowns in people’s ability to work effectively in teams, or in their willingness to collaborate with others. For example, the issues like climate change which require significant cooperation at the global level, countries often prioritize their prioritize their short-term economic interests over long-term environmental sustainability, leading to disagreements and deadlocks in decision-making From the trust that people place in others to the lines they draw between “us

Prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping are widespread issues that many individuals face both in India and beyond. They are predicated on inaccurate and rigid generalizations about people or groups according to their social identities, including language, caste, gender, race, religion, and so on. These unfavorable beliefs and actions have the ability to limit society's potential and diversity while also harming and unfairly treating their targets.  What are Prejudice, Discrimination, and Stereotyping? Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude (usually negative) towards an individual or group based solely on their membership of a social group. For example, prejudice can be expressed as hatred, contempt, fear, or hostility towards a certain group of people. Discrimination is the negative behavior or action against an individual or group based on their social identity. For example, discrimination can be manifested as exclusion, rejection, harassment, violence, or unequal t

Have you ever wondered how we form opinions about ourselves and other people? How do we make sense of the complex social world we live in? How do we decide what to do in different situations? These are some of the questions that social psychologists try to answer by studying social cognition and attitudes. Let's delve into these fascinating concepts by exploring real-life examples that illustrate their relevance in our everyday lives. What is Social Cognition? Social cognition is the area of social psychology that examines how people perceive and think about their social world. It involves various mental processes that help us simplify, organize, and interpret information about ourselves and others. For instance, think about the last time you met someone new at a party. You most likely formed an opinion of them immediately based on their demeanor, actions, or words. Perhaps they were dressed wisely, smiled kindly, and made witty remarks. You quickly established a first impression o

In this blog, we will view self and identity through various perspectives. We will begin first by defining what self is. The self encompasses the individual's core nature, which includes emotions, thoughts and experiences. On the other hand, identity is the collection of  characteristics, beliefs, and affiliations that define an individual in specific contexts, such as cultural, and social spheres. For, survival, humans need to interact with others and live in groups and communities. So, it is important to show oneself as important to the group otherwise, they may feel ostracized by the group. In this process to show others that the person is important to the group, they desire improvement in themselves. In this process, the 'I' may explore 'Me' through the following perspectives: (a) a social actor (b) a motivated agent (c) an autobiographical author 'I' discovering self [Image credits: improvewithmetacognition.com] The Social Actor Perspective Huma

In the realm of human beings, categorization is the process of understanding things by knowing what other things they are similar to or distinct from. It is the central part of human cognition that helps us to process the information that we get from our sense organs. The term category is used in almost the same way as people use the term concept .  Also it is important to note that the same thing can be categorized into different categories by different people, but we are interested in exploring the fact that even a single person can not categorize all things in a specific category. There are many things which we are not able to fit in a well-defined category after a certain level. This is where the concept of Fuzzy Categorization comes into picture. It is very fascinating to see such a cognitive phenomenon which acknowledges the shades of Gray area that exists between boundaries of different categories. Traditional concepts about categorization assume that there are well-defined b

Our minds are continuously at work, interpreting the world around us through a process known as social cognition in the complex world of human interaction. Sensation, perception, and schemas are the three main elements of this cognitive process, and they all work together to help us comprehend and manage the complexity of social circumstances. In this blog, I’ll discuss about them. Sensation and Perception: The Building Blocks of Cognition I hope you know the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Watson. So, think of your senses as Watson, gathering clues from the world around you. Sensing is Watson picking up details like the aroma, the sounds, and the warmth. Now, comes Sherlock, your brain's perception. He takes these clues and crafts a story. He tells you it's a café – cozy, lively – where you can savor a cup of coffee and chat with friends. Note that both these events are essential for solving any mystery. Our senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell are