Ch. 11 Flashcards
What does social psychology examine?
The effects of social variables and cognitions; attempts to understand behavior within its social context
Situationism vs. Dispostionism
- The external environment, or the social one, can have both subtle and forceful effects on people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Tendency to attribute behavior to internal factors such as genes, personality traits, and character qualities
Socially defined pattern of behavior that is expected of persons in a given setting or group
Social Role
A group’s expectations regarding what is appropriate and acceptable for its members’ attitudes and behaviors
Social Norms
Cognitive structure, cluster of related concepts
Schema
Knowledge about the sequence of events and actions that is expected in a particular setting
Script
Social Neuroscience uses…
Methods from brain sciences to investigate social behaviors
Describe “groupthink”:
Members of the group attempt to conform their opinions to what each believes to be the consensus of the group
People who resist situational forces that overwhelm their peers and remain true to their personal values
Heroes
A voluntary act on behalf of others in need, or in defense of a moral cause, with potential personal risk or cost, and without expectation of tangible reward
Heroism
What is the Diffusion of Responsibility?
Weakening of each group member’s obligation to act when responsibility is perceived to be shared with all group members
What influences our judgements of others?
Behavior + interpretation of their actions within a social context
What are the four sources of reward?
- Proximity
- Similarity
- Self-disclosure
- Physical attractiveness
Explain the “Expectancy-Value Theory”:
People decide whether or not to pursue a relationship by weighing the potential value of the relationship against their expectations of success in establishing the relationship
A highly motivating state in which people have conflicting cognitions, especially when their voluntary actions conflict with their attitudes or values
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
The tendency to emphasize personal traits and minimize situational influences
Fundamental Attribution Error
Attributional pattern in which one takes credit for successes but denies responsibility for failures
Self-Serving Bias
A negative attitude towards an individual based solely on his or her membership in a particular group
Prejudice
A negative action taken against an individual as a result of his or her group membership
Discrimination
The group with which an individual identifies
In-Group
Those outside the group with which an individual identifies
Out-Group
The perceived difference of similarity between oneself and another person
Social Distance
What are the possible tools for combating prejudice:
- New role models
- Equal status contact
- Legislation
Influences on behavior that come from top-down sources in the form of creating and maintaining various situations that in turn have an impact on actions of individuals in those behavioral contexts
System power
The use of violent unpredictable acts by a small group against a larger group for political, economic, or religious goals
Terrorism
