Ch. 12 - Social Psychology Flashcards
fundamental attribution error
tendency to overemphasize internal factors as explanations/attributions for the behavior of other people and underestimate the power of the situation
actor-observer bias
phenomenon of explaining other people’s behaviors are due to internal factors and our own behaviors are due to situational forces
self-serving bias
tendency of an individual to take credit by making dispositional or internal attributions for positive outcomes but situational or external attributions for negative outcomes
just-world hypothesis
belief that people get the outcomes they deserve
self-fulfilling prophecy
an expectation held by a person that alters their behavior in a way that tends to make it true
Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
psychological discomfort arising from holding two or more inconsistent attitudes, behaviors, or cognitions
foot-in-the-door technique
making a small request before making a big one
door-in-the-face technique
making an unreasonably large request before making a smaller one
conformity
the change in a person’s behavior to go along with the group, even if he does not agree with the group
Asch’s Conformity experiment
one naive subject amongst confederates who gave the wrong answer, 76% conformed to group pressure at least once (incorrect)
Asch effect
the influence of the group majority on an individual’s judgment
factor’s to conform (Asch)
-the size of the majority
-the presence of another dissenter
-the public or private nature of the responses
Obedience study (Milgram)
shows the degree to which people obey authority
- participants were told to shock “learners” for giving a wrong answer
-two out of three participants continued to administer shocks to an unresponsive learner
prejudice
a negative attitude and feeling towards an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group
stereotype
a specific belief or assumption about individuals based solely on their membership in a group
