Stanley Milgram’s Obedience Study, conducted in the early 1960s at Yale University, is a foundational experiment in social psychology that sought to understand the extent to which individuals would follow orders from an authority figure, even when those orders could harm another person. Motivated by the atrocities of World War […]
Zimbardo’s Prison Theory – Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted in 1971, stands as one of the most notable demonstrations in social psychology, vividly illustrating the power of situational forces and social roles on human behaviour. This experiment aimed to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power, focusing on the […]
B. F. Skinner (Burrhus Frederic Skinner), born on March 20, 1904, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, was a pioneering American psychologist and one of the most influential behavioral scientists of the 20th century. His work primarily focused on the development and promotion of the theory of operant conditioning, a method of learning […]
Gordon Allport’s Contact Hypothesis, introduced in his 1954 book “The Nature of Prejudice,” is a foundational concept in social psychology that addresses how intergroup contact can reduce prejudice between members of different groups. According to the hypothesis, under certain conditions, direct contact between members of opposing groups can effectively decrease […]
Irving Janis’ theory of Groupthink is a critical concept in social psychology that describes the process by which a group can make poor or irrational decisions as a result of group pressures. Introduced in the 1970s, Groupthink occurs when the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in […]
The Bystander Effect Theory, a pivotal concept in social psychology, elucidates the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. First identified by social psychologists Bibb Latané and John Darley following the infamous 1964 Kitty Genovese murder in New York City, […]
Prospect Theory, developed by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in 1979, revolutionized the field of economics and psychology by introducing a realistic way of understanding how people make decisions under risk and uncertainty. This theory contrasts with the classical economic theory of expected utility, which assumes that individuals act rationally […]
Roy Baumeister’s theory of ego depletion refers to the idea that self-control and willpower draw upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up. When the energy for mental activity is depleted, self-control is typically impaired, which can affect a person’s ability to make decisions, focus, and […]
Peter Wason’s confirmation bias theory is a cornerstone in the field of cognitive psychology, highlighting a fundamental human tendency to prefer information that confirms existing beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding evidence that contradicts them. Introduced in the 1960s through his seminal card selection task and the 2-4-6 task, Wason’s experiments […]
William James (1842–1910) was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, often referred to as the “Father of American psychology.” Born in New York City into an intellectually vibrant family, James initially pursued an education in medicine at Harvard University, receiving his medical degree in 1869. Despite never practicing medicine, his […]
