AP Psychology Unit 14: Social Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Social Psychology

A

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

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2
Q

Attribution Theory

A

The theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation (situational attribution) nor the person’s disposition (dispositional attribution). People are more likely to attribute their own behavior to the situation

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3
Q

Fundamental Attribution Error

A

The tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the impact of personal disposition

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4
Q

Attitude

A

Feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events

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5
Q

Peripheral Route Persuasion

A

Occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness. It produces fast results, but does not engage systematic thinking

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6
Q

Central Route Persuasion

A

Occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts. It works for people who are naturally analytical and is usually more durable

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7
Q

Foot-in-the Door-Phenomenon

A

The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request. Using this tactic, it is possible to induce somebody to act against their beliefs

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8
Q

Role

A

A set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in that position ought to behave

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9
Q

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

A

The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort 9dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, when we become aware that our attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes

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10
Q

Norms

A

Understood rules for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior

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11
Q

Chameleon Effect

A

Nonconscious mimicry of the postures, mannerisms, facial expressions, and other behaviors of one’s interaction partners

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12
Q

Mood Contagion

A

Our tendency to take on the mood of those who surround us

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13
Q

Mood Linkage

A

The human tendency to absorb and participate in the prevailing mood of the other people around

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14
Q

Positive Herding

A

When positive ratings/feelings generate more positive ratings/feelings

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15
Q

Conformity

A

Adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

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16
Q

Normative Social Influence

A

Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval. This is a large aspect of humans’ tendency to conform

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17
Q

Informational Social Influence

A

Influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality

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18
Q

Minority Influence

A

The power of one or two individuals to sway majorities. It is strengthened when those in the minority have conviction in their beliefs

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19
Q

Social Facilitation

A

Improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others. This is due to increased arousal

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20
Q

Social Loafing

A

The tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable. This is due to diminished feelings of responsibility

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21
Q

Reasons for Social Loafing

A
  1. People feel less accountable for their work
  2. People view their individual contributions as dispensible
  3. People overestimate their own contributions
  4. People slack off if they share equally in the benefits
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22
Q

Deindividuation

A

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity. This is due to reduced self-awareness

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23
Q

Behavior in the Presence of Others: Three Phenomena

A
  1. Social facilitation
  2. Social loafing
  3. Deindividuation
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24
Q

Group Polarization

A

The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group.

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25
Q

Groupthink

A

The mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. It is fed by overconfidence, conformity, self-justification, and group polarization. It can be prevented when a leader welcomes debates/dissenting opinions and encourages people to find issues within a plan.

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26
Q

Culture

A

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

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27
Q

Prejudice

A

An unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action

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28
Q

Stereotype

A

A generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people

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29
Q

Discrimination

A

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

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30
Q

Ethnocentrism

A

Assuming the superiority of one’s ethnic group

31
Q

Just-World Phenomenon

A

The tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get

32
Q

Ingroup

A

“Us” - people with whom we share a common identity

33
Q

Outgroup

A

“Them” - Those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup

34
Q

Ingroup Bias

A

The tendency to favor our own group

35
Q

Scapegoat Theory

A

The theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

36
Q

Scapegoat Theory Evidence

A
  1. Economically frustrated people tend to experience heightened prejudice
  2. Experiments that create temporary frustration intensify prejudice
37
Q

Outgroup Homogeneity

A

Perceived uniformity of outgroup attitudes, personality, and appearance

38
Q

Other-Race Effect

A

The tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races. Also called the cross-race effect or the own-race bias

39
Q

Aggression

A

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally

40
Q

Monoamine Oxidase A Gene

A

A gene that helps break down neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. People with low MAOA gene expression are more aggressive when provoked

41
Q

Aggression: Genetic Influences

A
  1. The Y-Chromosome (men tend to be more aggressive than women)
  2. The MAOA gene (lower levels equals higher aggression)
42
Q

Aggression: Neural Influences

A
  1. Amygdala activity increases aggression
  2. Diminished activity in the frontal lobes, which play an important role in controlling impulses, lead to higher aggression
43
Q

Aggression: Biochemical Influences

A
  1. Testosterone is associated with higher levels of aggression
  2. Alcohol acts as a disinhibitor (slows neural activity), so people may act more rashly under the influence
44
Q

Frustration-Aggression Principle

A

The principle that frustration - the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal - creates anger, which can generate aggression

45
Q

Social Script

A

A culturally modeled guide for how to act in certain situations

46
Q

Proximity

A

Geographic nearness. It is friendship’s most powerful predictor, since we tend to like things that are familiar to us

47
Q

Mere Exposure Effect

A

The phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them

48
Q

Elements of Attraction

A
  1. Proximity
  2. Physical attractiveness
  3. Similarity
49
Q

Reward Theory of Attraction

A

We will like those whose behavior is rewarding to us, including those who are both able and willing to help us achieve our goals

50
Q

Passionate Love

A

An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship

51
Q

Companionate Love

A

The deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

52
Q

Equity

A

A condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it

53
Q

Self-Disclosure

A

The act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others

54
Q

Altruism

A

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others

55
Q

Bystander Intervention: The Decision-Making Process

A
  1. Notice the incident
  2. Interpret the incident as an emergency
  3. Assume responsibility
    The likelihood of all of these events occurring decreases when more people are present
56
Q

Diffusion of Responsibility

A

A sociopsychological phenomenon whereby a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when other bystanders or witnesses are present

56
Q

Bystander Effect

A

The tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present

57
Q

Social Exchange Theory

A

The theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs

58
Q

Reciprocity Norm

A

An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them

59
Q

Social-Responsibility Norm

A

An expectation that people will help those needing their help

60
Q

Conflict

A

A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

61
Q

Social Trap

A

A situation in which the conflicting parties, by each pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior

62
Q

Mirror-Image Perceptions

A

Mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and sees the other side as evil and aggressive

63
Q

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment

64
Q

Superordinate Goals

A

Shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation

65
Q

GRIT

A

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction - A strategy designed to decrease international tensions. One side first announces its intent to reduce tensions and follows it with small, conciliatory acts. The other side may reciprocate, and the tension will decrease

66
Q

Philip Zimbardo

A

Studied humans’ capability to adapt to their prescribed roles in the Stanford Prison Experiment, finding that people quickly adapt to the roles they are made to play

67
Q

Leon Festinger

A

Coined cognitive dissonance theory, which helps to explain why people who are forced into certain roles do morally deplorable things.

68
Q

Solomon Asch

A

Studied conformity within a group by conducting an experiment in which a group of confederates incorrectly answered a question. The participants in the experiments conformed with the group about 1/3 of the time, showing the power of social influence over our decisions

69
Q

Stanley Milgrim

A

Studied humans’ capacity to obey by placing participants in a situation where an authority figure forced them to “hurt” a subject by giving them electrical shocks. Most of the participants obeyed the authority to the end, ultimately delivering a shock that presumably killed the subject.

70
Q

John Darley and Bibb Latané

A

Studied how the presence of others impacts how a person reacts to a crisis. They found that a person will help in a situation if they notice the incident, deem it an emergency, and assume responsibility. The probability of a person coming to this conclusion is decreased by the presence of others

71
Q

Elaboration Likliehood Model

A

Consists of two types of persuasion. The central route to persuasion focuses on the central qualities of a product and the peripheral route to persuasion focuses on the peripheral qualities of a product

72
Q

Door-in-the-Face

A

A technique used to get compliance from others in which a large request is made knowing it will probably be refused so that the person will agree to a much smaller request. The small request is made to seem very reasonable because it is compared to such a large, seemingly unreasonable request.