Cognitive Biases & Culture Reshaping Behavior (AP Psychology Review: Unit 0 Topic 1B)

Summary

In this video, Mr. Sin explains how cultural norms, expectations, and circumstances influence behavior and mental processes. Using the example of Emma, an aspiring engineer facing societal pushback, he explores how biases, like confirmation bias and overconfidence, shape perceptions and decisions. He also addresses the ethical implications of misapplying psychological concepts, particularly in the context of intelligence testing and cultural bias. The video highlights the importance of recognizing these factors in psychological research and practice to avoid harmful stereotypes and misdiagnoses.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cultural norms, expectations, and circumstances influence behavior and mental processes in individuals and groups.
• 😀 Cultural norms are shared rules within a society that dictate appropriate behaviors, like gender roles in the workplace.
• 😀 Cultural expectations are anticipated behaviors based on those norms, and when violated, individuals face social pushback.
• 😀 Circumstances, such as socioeconomic factors and historical events, can affect an individual's ability to pursue certain goals or careers.
• 😀 Cognitive biases, including confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and overconfidence, can distort our perception of events and impact our actions.
• 😀 Confirmation bias leads individuals to favor information that supports their existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
• 😀 Hindsight bias makes individuals believe they could have predicted an event's outcome after it occurs, distorting past experiences.
• 😀 Overconfidence bias causes people to overestimate their abilities or knowledge, leading to poor decisions or under-preparedness.
• 😀 Misuse of psychological concepts, like intelligence tests, can lead to harmful stereotypes and unethical practices.
• 😀 Ethical implications arise when psychological concepts are applied incorrectly or discriminatorily, as seen in the misuse of intelligence tests historically.
• 😀 Understanding and considering cognitive biases and cultural factors is essential in conducting accurate psychological research and providing fair treatments.

Q & A

What are cultural norms and how do they affect behavior?

Cultural norms are shared rules and guidelines within a community that dictate appropriate and acceptable behaviors in society. They influence behavior by shaping expectations and creating standards for what is considered normal or acceptable, such as gender roles or career choices.

How do cultural expectations differ from cultural norms?

Cultural expectations refer to the anticipated behaviors and roles individuals are expected to fulfill based on cultural norms. While cultural norms define what is acceptable in a society, expectations are more about the roles people are expected to play within those norms, often leading to pressure when one goes against them.

Can you explain how Emma’s story illustrates the impact of cultural norms and expectations?

Emma’s story highlights the impact of cultural norms and expectations in a society where engineering is seen as a male-dominated field, while women are expected to pursue more traditional roles like teaching or nursing. Her struggle illustrates how cultural expectations can limit personal aspirations and cause resistance when individuals step outside those roles.

What are cognitive biases and why should we be aware of them?

Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment, whereby people make decisions or form beliefs based on subjective perceptions. Being aware of biases like confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and overconfidence can help prevent distorted thinking and improve decision-making in both everyday life and research.

How does confirmation bias affect the way we process information?

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that aligns with our existing beliefs and ignore evidence that contradicts them. This bias can lead to polarized thinking and prevent individuals from considering new or alternative viewpoints, which can distort judgment and decision-making.

What is hindsight bias, and how does it affect our ability to learn from past events?

Hindsight bias is the tendency to believe, after an event has occurred, that the outcome was predictable or should have been anticipated. This bias can distort memory and prevent individuals from accurately reflecting on past experiences, making it harder to learn from mistakes or improve future predictions.

How does overconfidence manifest in students and what are its potential consequences?

Overconfidence occurs when individuals overestimate their knowledge, ability, or the likelihood of being correct. In students, this can manifest as underestimating the need to study or prepare for exams, leading to poor performance. Overconfidence may also lead to risky behaviors or poor decision-making.

What ethical concerns are raised by the misapplication of psychological concepts?

Misapplying psychological concepts, such as using outdated stereotypes or cultural biases, can have significant ethical, social, and practical implications. For example, misdiagnosing a mental health condition based on cultural biases can lead to harmful or ineffective treatments, potentially exacerbating the issues individuals face.

How were intelligence tests misused in the past, according to the script?

Intelligence tests, particularly early versions, were misused to justify discriminatory practices, such as ranking different ethnic or cultural groups as intellectually inferior. For instance, tests designed to help children with developmental disabilities were later used to reinforce harmful stereotypes, including the idea that certain racial or ethnic groups were unfit for self-rule.

What role did Alfred Binet and Henry Goddard play in the history of intelligence testing?

Alfred Binet developed an intelligence scale to identify children with developmental disabilities who needed extra support. However, Henry Goddard, an American eugenicist, misused Binet's test by translating it and promoting its use in the United States to rank people into mental categories, eventually using it to argue for eugenic policies like sterilization.