Abstract
An analysis of the social judgment theory accredited to Muzafer Sherif. Social Judgment can best be described as the process that new ideas go through when entering are minds. The paper examines all of its aspects as outlined in communication textbooks and journals and uses direct references from all four sources in the paper.

From the Paper
"Muzafer Sherif is credited with this theory and is responsible for its development and testing. Social Judgment theory is a process that occurs in your head every time you hear an opinion of someone else. It either falls into your area of acceptance or rejection. A very important part of this theory is how persuasion plays a major role into how we view our world. This theory helps us to understand how we process the thoughts and opinions that interact with our minds almost every minute of the day."

Tags:Muzafer, Sherif, mind, thought, process

Abstract
This paper briefly examines the social judgement theory. It begins by providing a definition of the theory and the background to its development. It explains that among the problems to which such a theory can be addressed are those concerning the distribution of wealth, property rights, socialization of vital industries and business ethics. It looks at the theory's four principles and then discusses its application.

From the Paper
"The key to Social Judgment Theory is that an attitude change on a specific issue results from judgments on related issues. A person's attitude cannot be observed by using traditional research methods, and this is why the social judgment theory was developed (Sherif et al., 1967, 112). Judgements are measured using the ordered alternatives questionnaire established by Sherif and Hovland, and this questionnaire requires that the participant rate a list of statements as being acceptable, objectionable, or neither acceptable nor objectionable. The results from the questionnaire serve to measure an individual's latitudes of acceptance, rejection, and noncommitment (O'Keefe 1990, 31)."

Tags:wealth, property, business, ethics, sherif, hovland

Abstract
The paper explains the social judgment theory, which uses five different components to convince others of a particular idea. The paper discusses how this theory provides a framework from which persuasion techniques and responses can be clearly understood. The paper shows how in the world of advertising it is important to understand the constructs of the theory so that one can be sure to target acceptance latitude areas and thus promote successful advertising.

Outline:
Introduction
The Theory
Advertising Application
An Invented Ad
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The world revolves around the ability to persuade. If one can get another to think the way he thinks, believe what he believes or adopt another opinion then changes can be made. The art of persuasion is one of the most powerful tools available to changing the path of resistance and convincing people to make a particular choice(Boller, 1991). This holds true in many areas of life including of politics, employment, and advertising. There are several theories of persuasion that are commonly used in the field of advertising to persuade consumers to purchase a service or product. The social judgment theory is one that uses five key elements to get people to respond in a desired manner."

Tags:acceptance, latitude, distortion, judgement

Abstract
This paper explores the representativeness heuristic, stereotypes and social judgment theory and shows how they all possess common characteristics, namely that they involve the individual's classification of objects, people, events, opinions, etc. into categories that are manageable for them. Second, the paper demonstrates how all these theories have dynamics that tend to distort incoming information and force it to conform to the categorizing structure in place. Finally, the paper shows how social judgment theory and stereotyping are offshoots of the representativeness heuristic.

From the Paper
"The relationship between the representativeness heuristic, stereotypes and social judgment theory can be seen by enumerating their common characteristics. First, all these theories involve the individual's classification of objects, people, events, opinions, etc. into categories that are manageable for them. These categories, unfortunately, do not account for small (yet distinguishing) differences between these objects, events or people and are classified according to the closest-fitting category. For example, the representativeness heuristic explains the..."

Tags:social, psychology, cognition

Abstract
This paper discusses how in today's society we are constantly judging others and how this is to help us look at how society works and how people are supposed to behave in order to be socially accepted. It examines the statement that "our social judgments are essentially flawed; we are either wrong about others or wrong about ourselves" and critically discusses it with reference to psychological theory and research.

From the Paper
"Jones and Davis (1965) said that we make these attributions by correspondent inference. This is where we look at the average person and what they would do. The more 'less average' a person is perceived to be, the more correspondent the inference. We then perceive their behaviour to be their intention. This is a clear example of how we can judge others wrongly. We can not be sure that our perception of the 'average' person is correct, and so if our perception is wrong, then we can not guarantee that the person is acting less average. It could be perfectly normal behaviour to others, thus resulting in a flawed impression. This is not always the case, sometimes we may be right about someone, especially with more extreme behaviours, as they are more likely to be further from the 'norm'."

Tags:inference, impression

Abstract
The paper examines David Hume's philosophy of causality that follows on from the empiricist philosophy. The paper discusses Hume's theory that people do not make judgments of how or why because causality does not exist. The paper explains the belief that only through the senses is information recorded, processed and inscribed upon our empty minds as a reaction to an aggregated association of thought. The paper stresses how empiricist philosophy denies the relevance of the person as a social, choosing being.

From the Paper
"David Hume (1711-1776) was the last and perhaps most controversially influential of "the three most famous British Empiricists of the eighteenth century" [John Locke 1632-1704, and George Berkeley (1685-1753](Flage 1). Although Hume's ideas had great impact on Immanuel Kant, Adam Smith, Jeremy Bentham, and Charles Darwin, the concept of empiricism can be traced back at least to Protagoras of Abdera, a fifth century Greek Sophist, who propounded the radical relativism that "Of all things the measure is man, of the things that are, that {or'how'] they are, and of things that [or 'how'] they are not" (Poster 4). Protagoras' taught that judgment of qualities, as abstractions like truth, are subjective, relative only to the individual observer. This, of course, is the basis of empiricism, the philosophy that all knowledge is derived from the experiences of the senses."

Tags:empiricist, philosophy, senses, information, knowledge, minds, choice

Abstract
This paper provides a broad description and understanding of the historical, biological, cognitive, social and moral issues related to the media's influence on feminine self-image, and how the media affects body image and self-perception, particularly in young females. The paper provides an understanding of the balance between theoretical perspectives and their practical implications and applications, with a particular focus being placed on "Social Judgment Theory".

From the Paper
""What did I need a mirror for, I was fat?" Every time I hear the "spokesmodel" from the Slim Fast commercial say that line, I can't help but wonder what kind of messages modern media is sending to women. It is as if the ad is saying that if you don't look like a size three model, then there is no way you could possibly take pride in your appearance, so a mirror would be of no use. This is not only insulting but also frightening. Women are already conditioned to feel insecure about their bodies and media images such as this only serve to perpetuate negative stereotypes."

Tags:anorexia, commericals, girls, teenage, television, women

Abstract
This essay will argue that this admission of social theory as expert testimony opens the door to an unprecedented degree of subjectivity in legal judgement. While it must be acknowledged that all expert testimony is, to some degree, subjective and open to interpretation and debate, the admission of feminist social theory as expert testimony lowers the bar considerably in terms of standards of evidence. Through an analysis of Mackinnon and Minow, it will be argued that this challenge to the concept of legal neutrality of the liberal state would, when taken to its logical conclusion, permit any number of groups who have historically been persecuted in Western society (Blacks, Aboriginals etc) to claim the right to preemptive self-defense. Building upon this argument, it will be demonstrated - in the course of an analysis of the Lavalee ruling - that this approach to the law is fundamentally flawed. While it is acknowledged that it may seem arrogant on the part of an undergraduate to challenge a ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada, I will nonetheless argue that the Court may have been influenced more by political power of an increasingly influential social group than by a rational analysis of the facts in the case. As the editors' "reading questions" at the end of the Lavalee ruling suggest, the Supreme Court's logic is clearly applicable to individuals in other social situations who have a clear and reasonable expectation of imminent violence. However, none of these individuals are granted the "license to kill" that the Supreme Court has established for women in this situation.

Abstract
This paper focuses on two concepts of sociology that can help to explain the illogical actions of the people of Salem. It describes the theory of fundamental attribution error, or the beliefs and judgment theory and the theory of religious prejudice. It examines each sociological issue in an attempt to show that, while many factors played a part in the atrocities of the Salem witch trials, there was perhaps no greater influence on behavior than the preconceived, prejudiced religious notions of a highly Puritan settlement in an era of unrest.

From the Paper
"Osborne faired no better during examination, and the fundamental attribution error was the cause in this case, as well. Osborne claimed to have been bewitched, rather than being a witch herself. When asked for clarification, Osborne told a story of a dream when an Indian pinched her and dragged her to the front of her home. She also admitted to hearing a voice that instructed her not to attend church. She claimed to have disobeyed the voice, and attended church the following Sabbath. However, the examiner questioned why she had then not attended church is a year. Osborne claimed to have been extremely ill (Gragg, 1992)."

Tags:religious, judgement, attribution, social

Abstract
The following paper discusses and gives examples of how new ideas and knowledge are offered to public consciousness and that they are in turn either accepted or disregarded and whichever judgment is chosen, makes a statement about where society places its trust, how ready we are to accept change and how radical we will allow any changes to be. This paper distinguishes between different kinds of knowledge: Medical (scientific knowledge), Religious knowledge, Political ideologies and Social Science theories.

From the Paper
"Medical knowledge is an area which appears to be constantly advancing and changing, new ideas are regularly offered to the public consciousness to be either accepted or disregarded and whichever judgment is chosen makes a statement about where society places its trust, how ready we are to accept change, how radical we will allow any changes to be and whose theories and evidence mass society is willing to accept. An example of this is Alternative Medicine, although it is more accepted now than in previous years like, aromatherapy massage which is now actively promoted by mainstream health professionals as a complimentary therapy during pregnancy and treatment of bad backs, we even have a small number of practitioners qualified in alternative therapies, like homeopathy, scientists have even remarked in the age old profession of palmistry being very accurate in the diagnosis of certain illnesses, the setting up of The Royal Society in 1662 emphasized the 'expert knowledge' camaraderie between so-called experts over common sense knowledge. 'Expert knowledge' was historically endorsed and distributed by middle and upper class male establishments like the Royal Society which was founded by Charles II and allowed male members only and women were only allowed to qualify in Medicine in 1876. This male superiority increased authority to this group in society; their medical knowledge trusted and officially endorsed which in turn dismissed female 'common sense' knowledge."

Tags:certainties, knowledge, science, social, sociology, advancing, changing, consciousness, public, opinion, fact, israel, death, sudden, syndrome