Paper Example on Theory vs Research: Contrasting Social Psychology Approaches

Introduction

Theory is a supposition or classification of molds, acknowledged ideologies and guidelines of the process built on partial evidence or familiarity, developed to scrutinize, envisage, or describe the fauna or conduct of a quantified set of marvels. On the other hand, research is an activity done by either a student, a business entity, or the government before the execution of an event or launch of a product. Social Psychology is the systematic study of how individuals contemplate, feel, and conduct themselves in social conditions. This paper discusses the self-perception theory with social psychology.

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Self-perception theory

Self-perception theory was developed by the psychologist Daryl Bem in the late 1960 and early 1970s. He describes in the argument that it is the process where individuals who don't have attitudes initially or have emotional responses usually develop the attitudes gradually by observing their character and concluding to what might have caused the particular behavior. Self-perception theory is counter-intuitive (Teng, 2018). A mutual acquaintance would make us don that an individual disposition and attitudes determine their actions, though, self-perception theory indicates that it is not always the situation. Self-perception theory illustrates that an individual is who is because of what he does. Conferring to self-perception theory, people interpret their actions the way they understand other people's actions. Effects are regularly informally influenced and not produced from an individual's own free will. The theory shows that people's attitude can be and is usually shaped to alter the reaction of the person.

Purpose of the study

The study is to determine how self-perception theory comes into play on an individual; the study aims to prove if it is true that people view themselves in the same way they see others (Roehm, 2016). And observation can be equal, but the cognitive part can be altered by perception. The study also aims to determine whether people's decision making can be influenced externally.

Methodology

Experimental and Observation

The method used for this study was innovative. An experiment is done, and the targeted populace will provide the result. The decision made after being subjected to the analysis will be noted and compared.

Daryl Bem, who come up with the theory, steered experimentation that intricate individuals who listened to a soundtrack of a person relating a peg-turning task devotedly. A section of the group was informed that the man was paid one dollar for his testimonial, while the other section was informed that he was paid twenty dollars for his testimony. The first section of the group thought that he adored the job more than how much the second section of the group thought; the second group believed that he enjoyed the career. Both groups' assumptions were interrelated to the emotional state of the artists. The partakers were able to conjecture the actors to feel appropriate. The two groups indicated that the artists must have observed their behavior at first before alluding to the thoughts discussed.

Secondly, during the period in which Bem was suggesting something counter to how people's attitudes and behaviors were supposed (Woosnam, Draper, Jiang, Aleshinloye & Erul, 2018). The majority of individuals would agree, for instance, an individual who distinguishes himself as attracted in road biking might, as an outcome of that curiosity, purchase bicycling apparatus and go on long cycling rides. The individual's self-perception impacts his actions. Though Bem, upturned this relation by signifying that it is likely that individuals comprehend their attitudes and interests Because they have made results built on their conduct. This means that the individual could deduce that he is concerned with road biking on the foundation of recurrent biking.

Personal observation

Self-perception theory, as illustrated by Bem, clearly proves that people make a decision basing on the judgment as they view themselves. The impression created on their minds always determines the decision they are going to make. It is also clear that different perspectives can lead to the same judgment (Goupil, Johansson, Hall & Aucounturier, 2019). When individuals put themselves in the position of something before judging or making a decision, they end up making a choice that would favor them, putting them in the same situation. It is to conquer with Daryl Bem that Self-perception theory is right, as he had suggested.

Self-perception theory is of considerable significance, especially in today's society, both in the industrial sector, political field, and spiritual growth. The society culture can be shaped for the greater good of the generation to come. This can be done by altering the way the populace view issues negatively in a positive way. On the contrary, the politicians apply the same theory to modify the citizens' way of thinking into their favor. Some twist bad ideas to look adorable with the main aim of manipulating the people's mindset to facilitate their ill motives. But not all politicians are ill-minded. Some do positively use the theory to build and enlighten the population for development. The spiritual leaders have always used the Self-perception theory to enhance discipline and create unity and love among the congregations. The art of the Self-perception theory has worked positively in a most religious institutions.

In conclusion, The Self -perception theory has helped shape society for the greater good. Even though there are some demerits, but merits surpass the demerits.

References

Goupil, L., Johansson, P., Hall, L., & Aucouturier, J. J. (2019). Influence of Vocal Feedback on Emotions Provides Causal Evidence for the Self-Perception Theory. Link: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02004456/

Roehm, M. L., & Roehm, H. A. (2016). Utilizing Self Perception Theory to Explain Social Media Behavior Relative to Print Advertisement 2-D Codes. Business and Economic Research, 6(1), 33-45.Link: https://pdfs.semantic scholar.org/c53b/bb97d2f22f2fbaa43d052b20ce9e9685d41d.pdf

Teng, C. I. (2018). Managing gamer relationships to enhance online gamer loyalty: The perspectives of social capital theory and self-perception theory. Computers in Human Behavior, 79, 59-67. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217305976

Woosnam, K. M., Draper, J., Jiang, J. K., Aleshinloye, K. D., & Erul, E. (2018). Applying self-perception theory to explain residents' attitudes about tourism development through travel histories. Tourism Management, 64, 357-368. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517717302054