What is Social Science?. “Everyone in this class is an observer and predictor of human...
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Transcript of What is Social Science?. “Everyone in this class is an observer and predictor of human...
Things to keep in mind...
• Everyone has the right to express an informed opinion
• Be mindful of your own bias
• Listen with respect
• Have an open mind
• We do not have to agree, but we are respectful when we disagree
• Offensive comments are never permitted
• Everyone in the class has a right to learn
Can you predict behaviour?
A group of people are gathered in a room. A bar is opened and they are told to drink whatever they like – a bartender will serve them. There is rum,
rye, vodka, gin, beer, wine, etc....
Two hours later, most people are showing distinct signs of intoxication. When asked to perform
simple coordination tasks, they fail.
How do we explain this?
The Placebo Effect
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRVCaA5o18
There are many non-scientific ways of predicting behaviour. People
generalize in an effort to understand each other and be able to anticipate
behaviours...
• Clichés
• Truisms
• Proverbs
.
Cliché
• Figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out due to overuse
• E.g. Live and learn
Truism
• A claim so obvious or self-evident it is hardly worth mentioning
• E.g. a watched pot never boils
Proverbs
• Sayings popularly known and repeated which express a truth based on common sense or practical experience of humanity
Other non-scientific ways of looking at human behaviour
• Talk shows
• Self-help books
• Self-proclaimed experts
Anthropology
• The study of culture- the arts, beliefs, habits, institutions and other endeavors that are characteristic of a specific community, society or nation
Psychology• The study of behaviour based on
mental processes• Psychologists use an understanding of
mental processes and the characteristic patterns of motivation that they call personality to explain individual behaviour (micro studies)
• Also examine how individuals interact (macro studies)
Sociology
• The study that explains the behaviour of individuals in social groups, families and society
• Investigate social facts
• More concerned with patterns of behaviour observed in large numbers of people or groups rather than individuals
Demographics
• The analysis of statistical data of a population
• Age
• Marital status
• Average income
Ethnocentrism
• combines "ethnic" and centre". • to believe that your culture or ethnic group is
superior to all other races or cultures, or to view alien groups or cultures from your own biased perspective.
• causes individuals or groups to judge other groups in how they relate to themselves.
• examples of how they relate themselves to other groups are language, behaviour, customs and religion.