This is a "Think Like a Social Psychologist" activity worth 20 points. Overview: On Tuesday, Novemb ...
This is a "Think Like a Social Psychologist" activity worth 20 points. Overview: On Tuesday, November 5th, United States citizens will be invited to cast their vote for the 47th President of the United States. The leading candidates, former President Donald Trump and current vice president, Kamala Harris are people - just like you and me. They had families, childhoods, friends, and experiences that shaped their identities. They grew up in cultures, cities, and communities that shaped their identities. I invite you to "try on" the new social psychology "lens" that you are developing in this course to evaluate these two people. A recent episode of the tv show Frontline provides a glimpse into their lives and the factors that shaped their identities so that we can do just that. To participate: Follow the step-by-step instructions below. Prepare to Participate. Before watching the episode of Frontline titled "The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump," take some time to consider the various concepts we've learned about thus far that may help you better understand the autobiographical narratives that shape our candidates' identities. Bring your "social psychology lens" into focus. Social Perception & Impression Formation: At its core, an election is about forming impressions of two candidates through the process of social perception. Review key concepts such as the fundamental attribution error, internal vs. external attributions, and the Covariation Model. As you watch, apply these concepts and consider how various factors influence your interpretations of candidates’ behaviors and statements. Are you more likely to attribute their successes to their personal qualities or to external circumstances? Consider the role of media portrayal and personal biases in shaping your perceptions. Identity Formation, Impression Management, & Self as Autobiographical Author: Identity formation is crucial in understanding how candidates present themselves to voters. Each candidate shares a narrative that reflects their experiences, beliefs, and values, allowing them to shape their identities as autobiographical authors. This process is intertwined with impression formation, as voters evaluate candidates based on the stories they tell and how those narratives resonate with their own experiences. Reflect on how these narratives may connect with different audiences and how social identity influences their appeal. Schema and Stereotypes: As you watch the episode, consider the role of schemas—mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information. Reflect on your schemas for "leader," "man," "woman," and particularly "U.S. President." These schemas shape your expectations and perceptions of the candidates. How might traditional views of leadership influence your evaluation of both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump? Think about how these schemas can lead to biases or assumptions that affect your understanding of their narratives and campaign strategies. Candidates may also navigate these schemas in their messaging to align with or challenge societal expectations. Cognitive Dissonance & Cognitive Dissonance Reduction: As you analyze the candidates' stories, pay attention to moments of cognitive dissonance—situations where candidates may express conflicting beliefs or actions. This dissonance can prompt them to justify their choices or alter their views in an effort to reduce that dissonance. Consider where candidates experienced cognitive dissonance, which strategy they used to resolve it, and how that shaped their identity and behavior going forward. Cultural Differences - Analytic vs. Holistic Processing & Independent vs. Interdependent Self-Concepts: Cultural differences significantly influence how candidates and voters interpret messages. Analytic processing tends to focus on individual traits and linear relationships, while holistic processing considers the broader context and more interdependent relationships between factors. Think about how the independent self-concept, which emphasizes personal achievements, contrasts with the interdependent self-concept, which highlights community connections. Both perspectives can shape candidates' messaging and impact voter responses. Watch the Video/Episode. Frontline is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television series that provides an in-depth look at current events. Watch the episode titled "The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump" (1:54:23) while thinking like a social psychologist. Review the writing prompts below before viewing the episode so you can take notes around and pay special attention to the themes asked about in the prompts while watching the documentary. Link to Episode: "The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump" of Frontline (PBS, 2024) Reflect & Write. Provide a thoughtful and well-organized response to each of the prompts below. Prompt 1: Analyze how Kamala Harris' and Donald Trump's life experiences, families, and cultures have been woven into a narrative with them as the autobiographical authors of their identities. How much have they been able to control that narrative, and how much has the public/media shaped it? How do we see them use impression management strategies (like ingratiation or self-handicapping) to manage the impressions others hold of them? Prompt 2: Consider the different cultural identities of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump who experienced different geographic areas, socioeconomic cultures, generational cultures; to name a few. Considering whether each candidate exhibits a more independent or interdependent self-concepts and how that is likely to impact their information processing and decision making based on what we know about cultural differences regarding analytic vs. holistic thinking. How might these differences manifest in their leadership styles as president? Prompt 3: Reflect on the role of schemas in shaping perceptions of identity. How do your (or the voting public's) schemas for "leader," "man," "woman," "Black", "Indian", "leader", and "U.S. President" influence your (their) understanding of the candidates? Which candidate better fits our collective schema of "U.S. President"? Use social psychology to explain why that matters and how their campaigns should use that information to help market their candidate. Prompt 4: In your concluding paragraph, examine social perceptions of the candidate from two perspectives. First, consider how the candidate views themselves. What motivates each to run for President? Is their motive intrinsic or extrinsic? Second, consider how others view the candidate. Use the Covariation Model and/or Attribution Theory (see Chapter 4 of textbook) to understand what types of information the public has used to reach conclusions about what type of person this candidate is.
