Social Psychology

Now, it's time for your second Living Lab! For this week's Apply assignment, we will focus on Social Cognition
and a few other aspects of Social Psychology, which we will cover in future weeks. Like before, remember not
to tell anyone what you are doing! Doing so would create a bias in the experiment, which will undermine the
intent of this unique endeavor!
Read through the requirements on this assignment, so that you can choose the day most appropriate for your
lab. On the day of the Living Lab, you are challenged to wear a sign, shirt (which you may need to make),
button, name-tag, or any other device that states a belief about a popular or divisive issues in our society.
We would prefer that these beliefs be actual beliefs (ones that you hold to) or beliefs that you can defend with
integrity. Please do not make up a belief just to be controversial.
You will also need to be careful not to be harmful or unethical in your interactions through the day. This lab
lends itself to extreme behavior by those you come in contact with. Please act with kindness and a Christian
attitude. Depending on your work environment you may not be able to display your statement, or you may need
to receive permission before doing so.
The intent of the Lab is to experiment with the issues you studied concerning Social Cognition. Your statement
of belief is to serve as the spark to gain feedback concerning certain beliefs held by the culture around you.
your belief). Feel free to engage them in conversation (especially in group settings). Observe the ebb and flow
of the conversation. Who agrees and who disagrees? Do people vacillate? Do people change their mind
(why)? Are people more influenced by persuasive issues or social conformity, this will get you geared up for
next week’s discussion as well? Do people react differently to you, just because of your statement?
Please keep in mind one of the main purposes and intents of this activity is for you to engage with other
people. So you may have to assess people’s non-verbal communications if they are not directly talking with
you, for some of your writings in your homework, however you may need to approach someone if you can tell
by their non-verbal communication that they disagree. This activity is not necessarily about changing someone
else’s mind about something. We need to hear another person’s point of view and make them feel heard, and
then ask them if you can share why you are passionate about this belief, thought, action, or whatever you put
on your shirt/tag. For many of us, learning how to dialogue with one another is a huge feat, but we live in a
social world, whether we like it or not, and we have to learn how to interact within the world we live in and with
people who do not think exactly how we think. It doesn’t make them any less of a person, it makes them
different. Use this unique opportunity to learn and grow with and from another person.
Please do not write the whole paper on your “belief statement”. You should have no more than a paragraph
explaining what your shirt, tag, or button said. The bulk of your paper should be in reflection about your internal
thought processes and reactions, others' reactions and statements, and the interactions and exchanges you
had with others.
Format Requirements
Document Type: MS Word
Paper Size: 8.5 X 11"
Length: 2-3 pages
Margins: 1"
Font: 10-12 pt Times New Roman or similar font
Line Spacing: Double. No extra double space between paragraphs please.
In-text Citations & Reference List Style: APA
Paper Structure:
Cover Page
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
References