4.1-4.3e Social Psychology Flashcards
how we form impressions of ourselves and others, including attributions of behavior
person perception
the theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s stable, enduring traits.
attribution theory
the tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behaviors, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
fundamental attribution error
the tendency for those acting in a situation to attribute their behavior to external causes, but for observers to attribute others’ behavior to internal causes.
actor-observer bias
an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members
prejudice
a generalized belief about a group of people
stereotype
unjustifiable negative behavior towards a group or its members
discrimination
the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get
just-world phenomenon
the “we” aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “Who am I?” that comes from our group memberships
social identity
“us” – people with whom we share a common identity
ingroup
“them” – those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup
outgroup
the tendency to favor our own group
ingroup bias
the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame
scapegoat theory
the tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races.
other-race effect
feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events
attitudes
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
foot-in-the-door phenomenon
a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
role
the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent.
cognitive dissonance theory
changing people’s attitudes, potentially influencing their actions
persuasion
occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speakers’ attractiveness
peripheral route persuasion
occurs when interested people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments
central route persuasion
a society’s understood rules for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior in individual and social situations
norms
adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
conformity
influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
normative social influence
influence resulting from a person’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
informational social influence
complying with an order or command
obedience
in the presence of others, improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks, and worsened performance on difficult tasks
social facilitation
the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal (group project) than when individually accountable
social loafing
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity
deindividuation
the enhancement of a groups prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group
group polarization
the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives
groupthink
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
culture
a place with clearly defined and reliably imposed norms
tight culture
a place with flexible and informal norms
loose culture
any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally
aggression
the principle that frustration - the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal - creates anger, which can generate aggression
frustration-aggression principle
a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
social script
the tendency for repeated exposure to novel stimuli to increase our liking of them
mere exposure effect
an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship
passionate love
the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
companionate love
a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it
equity
the act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others
self-disclosure
unselfish regard for the welfare of others
altruism
the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
bystander effect
the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize cost
social exchange theory
an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
reciprocity norm
an expectation that people will help those needing their help
social-responsibility norm
a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals or ideas
conflict
a situation in which two parties, by each pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior
social trap
mutual views often held by conflicting parties, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive
mirror-image perceptions
a belief that leads to its own fufillment
self-fulfilling prophecy
shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation
superordinate goals
Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction; a strategy used to decrease international tensions
GRIT
