Ch 12: Social Psychology Flashcards

Question

What is the foot-in-the-door technique in compliance?

Answer 1

The foot-in-the-door technique involves making a small request that is easy to agree to, followed by a larger request that is more likely to be accepted due to the person’s desire to maintain consistency.

Answer 2

Consistency refers to the psychological pressure to act in a manner consistent with past behaviors. People are more likely to comply with requests that align with their previous commitments or actions.

Answer 3

Cognitive dissonance theory suggests that people are motivated to reduce discomfort when their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors are inconsistent.

Answer 4

When people experience dissonance (psychological discomfort) due to inconsistent attitudes and behaviors, they are motivated to change their attitudes or beliefs to restore consistency.

Answer 5

In cognitive-dissonance theory, the tendency to seek justification (acceptable reasons) for strenuous efforts

Answer 6

Prejudice refers to negative feelings or attitudes toward a person based on their group membership.

Answer 7

1) Dissimilarity - we tend to favour similar ppl - us vs them 2) Competition for resources - jobs, resources, etc 3) Social learning - can be passed down through generations 4) Information processing - mental shortcuts to process info 5) Social categorization - in vs out groups

Answer 8

people are motivated to view society in terms of groups, identify with their own group, and then view their group as better than every other social group

Answer 9

frequent, equal status, and common goal meetings between intergroup members reduce prejudice

Answer 10

any behaviour that differentiates how one acts toward the individual based on that individual’s group membership alone

Answer 11

Social discrimination: Avoiding or marginalizing individuals based on their group identity. Institutional discrimination: Practices or policies that disadvantage certain groups, such as racial segregation or biased hiring practices.

Answer 12

Beliefs about the attributes of individuals who belong to a group Ex: Assuming that all lawyers are argumentative or that attractive people are more intelligent.

Answer 13

Physical appearance plays a significant role in attraction, with features like facial symmetry and averageness often considered universally appealing.

Answer 14

The attraction-similarity hypothesis suggests that people are more likely to form romantic relationships with others who share similar characteristics, including physical attractiveness, attitudes, and interests.

Answer 15

Women: - value intelligence, stability, height, education, and reliability. - This preference is thought to be rooted in evolutionary psychology, where women benefit from partners who provide a stable environment for child-rearing Men: are more likely to prioritize physical attractiveness and traits like cooking ability. - Evolutionary theories suggest that men look for physical signs of fertility, like youth and health, which are associated with reproductive potential

Answer 16

We are also more likely to form relationships with people who are geographically closer to us, which increases the likelihood of shared attitudes, values, and experiences

Answer 17

Intimacy (closeness and emotional sharing) Passion (romantic and sexual feelings) Commitment (decision to maintain the relationship)

Answer 18

Consummate Love: The ideal type of love that combines intimacy, passion, and commitment. Romantic Love: Characterized by intimacy and passion but lacks long-term commitment.

Answer 19

Social perception is a subfield of social psychology that explores how we form, modify, and maintain impressions of others. It looks at the ways in which we perceive and interpret the behavior, intentions, and traits of those around us

Answer 20

The primacy effect is the tendency to place greater importance on the first pieces of information we receive about someone or something. This early information often influences how we view subsequent details. Ex: In a job interview, the first impression you make (such as your appearance) can strongly impact how the interviewer evaluates your answers and behavior throughout the rest of the interview.

Answer 21

The recency effect refers to the tendency to give more weight to the most recent information we learn about a person or situation. This is especially noticeable when there’s a gap between the first and most recent pieces of information. Ex: If a candidate initially impresses during an interview but later makes a mistake, the interviewer may judge the candidate negatively based on the most recent information (the mistake) rather than the earlier good impression

Answer 22

a judgment concerning why people behave in a certain way

Answer 23

Attribution theory deals with how we explain the causes of others' behaviors, deciding whether their actions are due to internal factors (dispositional) or external factors (situational).

Answer 24

Dispositional attribution: - Attributing behavior to internal factors like personality traits - Ex: someone’s aggression is seen as part of their nature Situational attribution: - Attributing behavior to external circumstances - Ex: someone’s aggression is due to external stress or provocation

Answer 25

The actor-observer effect refers to the tendency for people to attribute their own behaviors to situational factors, but to attribute others' behaviors to dispositional factors. Ex: If you fail a test, you might blame it on being tired or sick (situational). But if someone else fails, you might think they didn't study enough (dispositional).

Answer 26

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overestimate the influence of someone's personality (dispositional factors) while underestimating the role of external factors (situational influences) in their behavior. Ex: If a person cuts you off in traffic, you might assume they’re rude or inconsiderate, overlooking the possibility that they might be rushing to an emergency.

Answer 27

Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors (e.g., our own abilities) and our failures to external factors (e.g., bad luck or situational circumstances). Ex: If your team wins a game, you might attribute it to great teamwork or skill, but if you lose, you might blame bad refereeing or poor weather conditions.

Answer 28

Research shows that men may often interpret a woman’s friendly behavior, such as smiling or politeness, as flirting, even when the behavior is simply an expression of politeness. This reflects how gender norms and expectations influence social perception.

Answer 29

Social influence refers to the ways in which people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are affected by others. This includes processes like conformity, obedience, and persuasion, where individuals or groups affect how others act

Answer 30

Milgram’s study revealed that people are willing to obey authority figures, even when the instructions involve inflicting harm on others. In the study, 65% of participants continued administering electric shocks to a person they believed was in extreme pain, simply because an authority figure instructed them to do so. Ethical concerns: The study caused significant stress to participants, leading to debates about its ethical implications.

Answer 31

Socialization: - From a young age, people are taught to obey authority. Lack of Social Comparison: - In Milgram’s study, participants had no one else to compare their actions with, increasing obedience. Perception of Legitimate Authority: - People are more likely to follow commands from figures who appear authoritative. Foot-in-the-door effect: - Once someone begins obeying small commands, they feel pressure to comply with larger requests. Inaccessibility of Values: - Emotions may cloud judgment, leading participants to ignore their moral beliefs. Buffers: - Physical separation between the teacher and the learner, or the teacher holding the learner’s hand on the shock plate, decreased compliance.

Answer 32

culturally determined (unwritten) rules about acceptable behaviour

Answer 33

Conformity is the process of changing one's behavior or beliefs to match the norms or expectations of a group. It can be driven by the desire to fit in or avoid rejection. Ex: The pressure to wear a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen as a form of conformity to public health norms.

Answer 34

In Asch’s conformity experiment, participants were asked to identify which of 3 lines matched a reference line. Despite knowing the correct answer, most participants conformed to the incorrect majority opinion. This demonstrated the power of social influence and the tendency to conform to a group, even when the group is clearly wrong

Answer 35

Group size: The larger the group, the more likely people are to conform. Social support: Having even one ally who shares your opinion can reduce pressure to conform. Cohesion: The more cohesive a group is, the more likely members are to conform.

Answer 36

Social facilitation is the tendency to perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others. However, it can impair performance on more complex tasks due to heightened arousal and pressure. Ex: You might run faster in a race when others are watching, but performing poorly on a complex math problem in front of an audience.

Answer 37

Concern that others are evaluating our behaviour The concern of being judged or evaluated by others can impact performance, especially in situations like giving a speech.

Answer 38

Social loafing refers to the tendency of individuals to exert less effort when working in a group, particularly when individual contributions are not easily identifiable. Ex: In a group project, some people may do less work because they assume others will pick up the slack.

Answer 39

The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon where people are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when other bystanders are present. The presence of others diffuses personal responsibility. Ex: During an emergency, individuals may look to others to act first, assuming someone else will take charge.

Answer 40

Deindividuation occurs when individuals in a group lose self-awareness and feel less accountable for their actions. This can lead to behaviors that individuals wouldn’t normally engage in, such as aggression during a riot. Ex: In a crowd, anonymity and group dynamics can lead people to act in ways they wouldn’t if they were alone, such as vandalizing property or engaging in violence.

Answer 41

the spreading or sharing of responsibility for a decision or behaviour within a group

Answer 42

rules for predicting the final outcome of group decision making on the basis of the members’ initial positions

Answer 43

1) Majority-Wins Scheme 2) Truth-Wins Scheme 3) Two-Thirds Majority Scheme 4) First-Shift Rule

Answer 44

The decision that the majority supports is chosen. When Used: When there’s no clear "correct" answer and quick consensus is needed. - Strengths: Efficient; reflects the majority's opinion. - Weaknesses: Minority views may be ignored.

Answer 45

The group aims to find the objective truth by sharing information. When Used: When there is a clear, verifiable truth to be found. - Strengths: Leads to accurate, informed decisions. - Weaknesses: If the right information isn’t available, it may mislead the group.

Answer 46

A decision requires approval from at least two-thirds of the group. When Used: In settings where strong consensus is needed, like juries. - Strengths: Ensures significant support for decisions. - Weaknesses: Slow and may lead to overruled minorities.

Answer 47

The first person to change their opinion can influence the whole group. When Used: When the group is divided and a shift is needed. - Strengths: Helps break deadlocks and move the group forward. - Weaknesses: Can lead to hasty decisions based on one person’s shift.

Answer 48

Groupthink occurs when the desire for group harmony and conformity overrides critical thinking and realistic decision-making. It leads to flawed or irrational decisions. Ex: Groupthink might explain poor decisions made by groups like the Bay of Pigs invasion, where dissent was not allowed.

Answer 49

Suppressing dissenting opinions - Ppl who might have a different viewpoint may hesitate to speak up, fearing they’ll disrupt group harmony or be viewed negatively. Failing to explore alternatives - They may stick to the first idea that appears acceptable to everyone, even if it’s not the best Ignoring contradictory information - it may be dismissed or ignored to maintain the sense of agreement, even when it’s crucial for an informed decision

Answer 50

1) Feelings of invulnerability 2) Belief in the group’s rightness 3) Discrediting contrary information 4) Pressure to conform 5) Stereotyping the out-group

Answer 51

unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Answer 52

1) Good mood 2) Empathy 3) Perception of Emergency 4) Diffusion of Responsibility 5) Knowledge of What to Do 6) Familiarity 7) Similarity 8) Attribution of Responsibility