Author(s)

Mufan Zheng ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Department of Psychology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

Corresponding Author

Mufan Zheng

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the methods and approaches used to examine psychological processes in the field of social cognition research, with a specific focus on the area of social power. Social cognition refers to the mental processes involved in perceiving, interpreting, and understanding social information. Understanding how individuals perceive and respond to power dynamics within social interactions is crucial for comprehending various social phenomena. The article highlights the importance of examining psychological processes in social cognition research and provides insights into the specific example of social power. We introduced three types of methods to examine psychological processes at the level of experiment design proposed by Spencer, Zanna and Fong, and summarized situations of using these three designs in past. It discusses different experimental designs, measures, and paradigms commonly employed to investigate social power and its influence on cognitive processes. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of various research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of social cognition and its underlying psychological mechanisms. Overall, this article serves as a guide for researchers interested in studying psychological processes within the context of social cognition, particularly in relation to social power dynamics.

KEYWORDS

Psychological mechanism, social cognition, power, mediation, moderation, causal chain

CITE THIS PAPER

Mufan Zheng, Psychological Mechanisms in Social Cognition Research: Taking Social Power Area as an Example. Advances in Educational Technology and Psychology (2024) Vol. 8: 1-7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/aetp.2024.080201.

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