CONTENT SUMMARY 1
Content Summary: Week One
Student Name
Liberty University
(Note: Include all elements in APA Format: Title Page, Body, Reference Page)2
CONTENT SUMMARY 2
Content Summary: Week One
Social psychology is a continuously growing field that is considered fairly new to the
scientific world, in comparison to other psychological fields. Social psychology scientifically
studies individuals in regards to their thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns, all within a
social context (Kassin et al., 2017). Social psychology is a highly impacting field that offers
insight into a variety of practical situations, such as cultural variations on behavior, political
concerns, and economical perspectives. Through the use of qualitative and quantitative research,
social psychology aims to uncover various aspects of social phenomena, such as obedience,
aggression, and social influence (Kassin et al., 2017). Each specific phenomena will be
discussed at length in the following paragraphs. (Note: Must be 1 Paragraph (5-7 sentences) / Must
contain the appropriate header / *Doesn’t have to contain sources in this paragraph, but must introduce the
material for the week and give a broad summary of what will be discussed.)
Key Topics
Behavioral Obedience
In society, obedience is a learned action of complying to an order or command due to the
submission of authority (Milgram, 1963). Obedience is a behavioral outcome that is often
exhibited from an individual when the opposing relational component carries an amount of
power in the relationship. The act of obedience can have either beneficial or detrimental effects
on a situation, depending upon the underlying purpose of the commanded action (Milgram,
1963). Beneficial acts of obedience such as when individuals abide to the traffic laws aid to the
positive flow of society. Beneficial obedience can often stem from cooperative interdependence
and the value orientation of maximizing the outcome for both self and other (Rumble, 2011).
CONTENT SUMMARY 3
Detrimental acts of obedience such as the Nazi officer efforts in World War II aid to the
hindrance of society, and typically stem from unilateral dependence and partner control (Kassin
et al., 2017; Rumble 2011). (Note: Must be 1 Paragraph (5-7 sentences) / Must contain the appropriate
header / Must contain a MINIMUM of 2 SOURCES (Ex: Text, Theory Book, Assigned Articles, or other
Journal articles that you find that relate to this topic. **The idea is to HIGHLIGHT the 3-5 Major
topics/ideas that have been discussed ACROSS all of the Assigned Reading material for the week.)
Human Aggression
Human aggression is the complex dynamic of the social self that is often a behavioral
response to a combination of internal and external factors. Aggression can be manifested in
many forms, such as active aggression shown in the Zimbardo study with the guards’ harsh
behavior towards the prisoners, or non-assertive aggression that was shown in the Milgram
study, in which the subjects permitted the experimenter to infringe upon their ethical boundaries
by continuing to obey the experimenters’ orders to administer harmful shocks to the victim
(Haney et al., 1973; Milgram, 1963). Aggression can vary in its presented form based upon
cultural differences, as well as its external trigger, such as alcohol or violent video games
(Kassin et al., 2017). It’s also important to determine how the situation influences the expression
of aggressive behavior. People look for social cues such as norms, authority, peers to determine
how to express their behavior, even if it’s aggressive in nature. (Note: Must be 1 Paragraph (5-7
sentences) / Must contain the appropriate header / Must contain a MINIMUM of 2 SOURCES (Ex: Text,
Theory Book, Assigned Articles, or other Journal articles that you find that relate to this topic. **The idea is
to HIGHLIGHT the 3-5 Major topics/ideas that have been discussed ACROSS all of the Assigned Reading
material for the week.)
CONTENT SUMMARY 4
Interdependence
Interdependence results when two or more interacting individuals have influence on the
behavioral outcomes of each other (Rumble, 2011). Interdependence stems from the
interactionist perspective that human behavior is due to both the individuals’ personality and the
surrounding social context (Kassin et al., 2017; Rumble, 2011). A personality that includes
elements of understanding and dependability, coupled with an environment of mutual partner
control will likely lead to a positive outcome of cooperative interdependence (Rumble, 2011).
Due to cultural differences, the act of interdependence can be more prevalent in certain cultures
and societies (Kassin et al., 2017). It is interesting to see how a culture’s adoption of
interdependence influences much of how the culture operates. (Note: Must be 1 Paragraph (5-7
sentences) / Must contain the appropriate header / Must contain a MINIMUM of 2 SOURCES (Ex: Text,
Theory Book, Assigned Articles, or other Journal articles that you find that relate to this topic. **The idea is
to HIGHLIGHT the 3-5 Major topics/ideas that have been discussed ACROSS all of the Assigned Reading
material for the week.)
Conclusion
Behavioral obedience is the action of complying to an order, typically from an authority
or respected figure. Obedience is necessary for many beneficial components of society, but can
also be harmful to society when the obeyed order crosses a legal, ethical, or moral boundary.
Aggression can be a result of negative acts of obedience, such as the Nazi actions of World War
II. Interdependence can play a role in both acts of obedience and aggression, dependent upon the
characteristics of the relationship and individuals’ personalities. Together these behaviors help us
better understand human beings in social contexts. (Note: Must be 1 Paragraph (5-7 Sentences) /
Include the appropriate header / Summarize the main elements of your weekly summary)
CONTENT SUMMARY 5
References
Haney, C., Banks, C., & Zimbardo, P. (1973). A study of prisoners and guards in a simulated
prison. Naval Research Reviews, 1-17.
Kassin, S., Fein, S., & Markus, H.R. (2017). Social psychology. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. The Journal of Abnormal and Social
Psychology, 67(4), 371-378.
Rumble, A. (2011). Interdependence in social interaction. In D. Chadee (Ed.), Theories in social
psychology (191-207). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
(Note: Make sure to Reference All Assigned Reading Materials for the week along with any additional
materials that you decided to add)
