AP PSych test Flashcards
Definition: The tendency for group discussion to intensify the initial leanings of group members, resulting in a more extreme position.
Example: If a group of students who slightly oppose school uniforms get together to discuss the issue, they may end up strongly opposing them by the end of the conversation.
Group Polarization
Definition: The tendency to overestimate the role of personal traits and underestimate situational factors when explaining others’ behaviors.
Example: You see someone yelling at a cashier and assume they’re a rude person (disposition), not considering they might have just lost their job or are having a terrible day (situation).
Fundamental Attribution Error
Definition: The idea that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get.
Example: Believing that someone who was robbed must’ve done something to deserve it, like walking alone at night, even if that’s unfair.
Just-World Belief
Definition: People tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them.
Example: You start liking a song after hearing it multiple times, even if you didn’t like it the first time.
Mere Exposure Effect
Definition: People exert less effort when working in groups compared to working alone.
Example: In a group project, one person doesn’t contribute much, assuming others will pick up the slack.
Social Loafing
Definition: People tend to perform better on simple tasks when others are watching.
Example: A runner might run faster in a race with spectators than when running alone in training.
Social Facilitation
Definition: Unjust treatment of different categories of people based on group membership (race, gender, etc.).
Example: A landlord refusing to rent to someone because of their ethnicity.
Discrimination
Definition: Asking for a large request first (likely to be refused), then asking for a smaller, more reasonable request.
Example: Asking your parents for $200, getting denied, then asking for $50 and getting it.
Door-in-the-Face Technique
Definition: A shared goal that can only be achieved through cooperation between groups.
Example: Two rival school clubs must work together to organize a charity event.
Superordinate Goal
Definition: The discomfort felt when holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors.
Example: A smoker knows smoking is harmful but continues to smoke, feeling internal conflict.
Cognitive Dissonance
Definition: Preconceived negative judgments about people based on group membership.
Example: Believing that someone is less competent because of their gender or race.
Prejudice
Definition: Believing your own culture or ethnic group is superior to others.
Example: Thinking other countries are “wrong” for eating different types of food or celebrating different holidays.
Ethnocentrism
Definition: The more people present, the less likely someone is to help in an emergency.
Example: A person collapses in a crowd, but no one helps because everyone assumes someone else will.
Bystander Effect
Definition: A conflict where pursuing personal benefit harms the group’s interest.
Example: In a drought, everyone wants to water their lawn, but if they all do, water runs out for the community.
Social Dilemma
Definition: Getting someone to agree to something small, then revealing the hidden costs later.
Example: A car dealer offers a low price, and once you agree, adds extra fees and charges.
Low-Ball Technique
Definition: Selfless concern for the well-being of others, even at a personal cost.
Example: Running into a burning building to save a stranger.
Altruism
Definition: Oversimplified beliefs about a group of people.
Example: Assuming all engineers are socially awkward, or all artists are emotional.
Stereotype
Definition: Getting someone to agree to a small request increases the likelihood they’ll agree to a larger request later.
Example: A charity asks for a small donation; after you agree, they ask for a monthly subscription.
Foot-in-the-Door Technique
Definition: Aggression with the intent to cause pain or damage.
Example: Punching someone out of anger during an argument.
Hostile Aggression
Definition: Attributing your own actions to the situation, but others’ actions to their personality.
Example: If you trip, you blame the uneven floor; if someone else trips, you think they’re clumsy.
Actor-Observer Bias
