Final answer:
The four "big ideas" in social psychology are the power of the situation, social cognition, conformity and social influence, and interpersonal relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four "big ideas" in social psychology are:
- Power of the situation: This idea emphasizes how external factors, such as culture and social norms, can greatly influence an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. For example, the Stanford prison experiment demonstrated how the situational factors of being assigned the role of a guard or a prisoner influenced people's behavior.
- Social cognition: This idea focuses on how individuals perceive and interpret social situations. It explores topics like attitudes, emotions, and the ways in which we think about ourselves and others. Cognitive dissonance and attitude change are examples of this concept.
- Conformity and social influence: This idea examines how people's behavior can be influenced by social pressures and the desire to fit in with a group. Famous experiments like Solomon Asch's conformity experiments highlight this concept.
- Interpersonal relationships: This idea explores how the presence of others affects an individual's behavior and the formation of relationships. It encompasses topics like attraction, close relationships, and prosocial behavior.