Application Paper:
The Social Psychology of a Movie
Social Psychology
In addition to entertaining us, movies offer
detailed portrayals of human social behavior.
Your task in this assignment is to analyze -- from a
social-psychological perspective -- the behaviors and events depicted in one of
the films listed below. You are not
being asked to critique the film in terms of its value as a work of art or as
entertainment. Rather, you should think
carefully about the human actions and events portrayed in the film. Then, to make sense of this material, apply
what you've learned this semester regarding the factors that predict and
explain human social behavior. This
assignment is comprehensive: I urge you
to bring any/all concepts encountered in this course that relate to the issues,
interactions, and behaviors portrayed.
Choose one of the films identified in class
The
Spring 2004 list is included below (or if you
want to do another movie - that’s fine - just get my approval first!)
*
13 Days
*
12 Angry Men
*
Searching for Bobby Fischer
*
To Kill a Mockingbird
View the film you choose at least once, (I
recommend several viewings!) Then
- First, after reviewing
your notes and readings, identify the ONE study that we went over in class that
the movie best represents. Describe the social-psychological principle that
that study illustrated (Be sure to explain that study and its results) Then
show how the movie connects with that study.
- Next, identify and
discuss how two (2) other social-psychological principles
are depicted in the
film. (e.g., interpersonal attraction, prejudice &
stereotypes, social
influence (conformity, compliance, obedience),
self-
fulfilling prophecies,
deindividuation, bystander effect, social loafing,
groupthink, persuasion
& attitude change, cognitive dissonance, social
perception,
attributions, social comparison, etc. etc. etc…).
(Note: if the movie obviously violates the
findings of a principle, you can use this as well!)
For the study:
Be sure to describe the study in detail and be
sure that you clearly establish how the movie relates to this study and/or its
findings.
For the 2 principles that you identify:
(a) briefly describe the relevant scene (you may
assume that I have seen the film);
(b) describe in detail the social-psychological
principle you believe is relevant, and
(c) elaborate on how the selected scene conforms
and/or fails to conform to the social-psychological principle you have
identified, (feel free to describe how the scene is similar to or different
from relevant experiments we have discussed).
Your written analysis should be succinct and
well-written (5-7 pages). Be sure to
include a short Introduction to set up the structure & main ideas of the
paper, as well as a provocative Conclusion/Discussion to tie things
together.
Have fun!
Grading Structure:
Overall
Writing 10pts
Grammar, Transition b/w paragraphs, paragraph structure, etc…
Intro 5pts
Setting up the paper
Connection
b/w Movie and Study 25pts
Choice of Study/selection of scenes (5 pts)
Discussion of principle,
study details, and findings (10 pts)
Connection b/w the movie and the principle (10pts)
Principle
#1 25pts
Description of principle/selection of scene #1 (10 pts)
Connection b/w the scene and the principle (15 pts)
Principle
#2 25pts
Description of principle/selection of scene #2 (10 pts)
Connection b/w the scene and the principle (15 pts)
Discussion/Conclusion 10pts
Thought Provoking?
Possible issues:
Was
there behavior that you would have changed if you were the
director? Why?
Was the
behavior of a character consistent/inconsistent? How?
Why?
Reality
of Social Psych vs. the Fiction of a movie? Thoughts?
Broad
application of the issues discussed/ Social Psych in
general?