Your task this week is to prepare a PowerPoint presentation on the topic of social cognition, or more specifically, how we think about the social world around us, and why we do so. The audience for this presentation is an undergraduate social psychology course. Be sure to include the following in your presentation:

1. Provide a description and overview of social cognition in your own words.
2. Explain briefly what heuristics are and why we use them.
3. Describe the required error in thinking of the ‘fundamental attribution error’, and then select three more common errors from the list below (if you find one that is not on the list and want to use it – reach out to your professor for approval):
   • Framing
   • Priming
   • Self-serving biases
   • Self-justification
   • Change blindness
   • Blaming the victim
   • Belief in a just world
   • Unrealistic optimism
   • Automatic believing
   • Self-fulfilling prophecy
   • Representativeness
   • Availability
   • Anchoring
   • Stereotypes
4. Define each of the three errors that you have selected above, in addition to the required fundamental attribution error (a total of four errors). Then, using the information which you have located through your research, explain what leads to these errors in thinking, and why they occur. Describe how each of these errors distorts reality as a protective mechanism, and how these errors can, in some instances, be viewed as beneficial or helpful to the self-esteem of the individual. Provide an example of each type of error from the recent news media, and describe how this error distorts reality to protect an individual’s self-esteem in some way. In your response, be sure to explain your answer fully to illustrate your thorough understanding of each error.
5. Conclude with an analysis of how the culture of an individual may or may not cause this error to occur more frequently, along with at least one strategy or tip for preventing each type of error in thinking (based on the recommendations within the scholarly research). Describe how this strategy can be used to prevent or remedy this type of error in thinking about the social world around us, and why this may be helpful to the individual when interacting with others. Support these recommendations with scholarly research citations throughout your presentation.

Include at least five references from peer-reviewed journals. Other scholarly resources may be used as appropriate.

Incorporate appropriate animations, transitions, and graphics as well as speaker notes for each slide. The speaker notes may be comprised of brief paragraphs or bulleted lists.

Length: 12-15 slides (with a separate reference slide)

Notes Length: 200-350 words for each slide

Create a professional presentation incorporating appropriate animations, transitions, graphics, and speaker notes. The speaker notes may be comprised of brief paragraphs or bulleted lists. Be sure to add a reference slide or transition for all the references you use. Your presentation should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your paper should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University’s Academic Integrity Policy.