Social Traits
Social Traits - Related Videos
02:08
Trait and State Self-Esteem
0 Views •
2020
The term self-esteem is often used generically, to refer to how people feel about themselves. However, according to research, there are three distinct constructs that should not be used interchangeably (Brown & Marshall, 2006). Global Self-Esteem When someone says they have high self-esteem, they are likely referring to their global or trait self-esteem—an individual’s self-opinion over long periods, which typically remains stable throughout adulthood. Research suggests that it probably...
02:57
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
0 Views •
2020
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
11:51
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
0 Views •
Cited by 9 •
2011
The procedure described in this protocol shows that testosterone administration and folk beliefs about testosterone may be associated with directly opposed social behaviors.
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
0 Views •
Cited by 13 •
2015
Previous research on the social dimension of stress has focused on two important variables: social identity and social support. This protocol introduces an effective experimental manipulation of these two social variables and describes their implementation in a standard stress induction paradigm (Trier Social Stress Test).
00:52
Social Proof
0 Views •
2020
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do. A good example of social proof is from laugh tracks on television shows. Fullery & Skeffington (1974) found that adding group laughter sounds to material increased how humorous the participants perceived that material, regardless of whether the content itself was funny or not. By adding a laugh...
FAQs
Temperament provides initial tendencies in emotional and interpersonal responding, while learning and repeated social experiences can strengthen, modify, or redirect those tendencies. Cultural context also influences which behaviors are encouraged or discouraged. Examining these interacting influences helps psychologists explain why people may show consistent patterns across relationships while still responding differently in particular social settings.
Cultural context affects the meaning and value assigned to behaviors such as cooperation, dominance, communication, and trust. A pattern viewed as appropriate in one setting may be interpreted differently in another. Considering culture prevents researchers from treating one group’s social expectations as universal and improves interpretation of findings about relationships, group participation, and interpersonal behavior.
Different social traits can shape how people approach shared activities, respond to others’ experiences, exchange information, and decide whether others are reliable. These processes affect relationship formation and participation in groups. Studying the traits alongside specific social behaviors allows psychologists to connect individual patterns with outcomes such as effective communication, cooperation, and social decision-making.
Social traits provide a focused way to examine how people think, feel, and behave with others, whereas psychology can also study personality more broadly. Researchers connect these traits with personality, development, mental health, and decision-making, but also investigate them in practical settings such as education, workplaces, relationships, and group dynamics.
Psychologists assess social traits through behavioral observation, self-report measures, interviews, and controlled experiments. Observation captures behavior in interactions, whereas self-reports and interviews provide information about personal experiences and perceptions. Experiments allow researchers to examine responses under controlled conditions. Using multiple methods can support a broader analysis of interpersonal patterns and their consequences.
Controlled experiments examine how people respond when researchers regulate aspects of a social situation. This approach can help relate individual patterns to social decision-making and compare responses across specified conditions. In contrast with interviews or self-reports, experiments focus on behavior under controlled circumstances, providing another perspective on how social traits operate during interaction.
Research on social traits informs the study of interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, education, workplace behavior, and mental health. It can also support interventions intended to promote effective communication and social well-being. These applications use evidence about cooperation, empathy, communication, dominance, and trust to understand challenges in social participation and identify relevant areas for support.