chapter 1 * Flashcards
cognitive processes
the mental activities of an individual,including perception, memory, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making
cognitive structures
any form of organization among a person’s concepts and beliefs
cognitive theory
a theoretical persepctive based on the premise that an indivdual’s mental activities (perception, memory, reasoning) are importanr determinants of behaviour
conditoning
a process of learning in which, if a person performs a particulae response and if this response is then reinforced, the response is strengthened
equity
when people recieve rewards in proportion to the contributions they make toward the attainment of group goals
evolutionary pscyhology
a theoretical perspective posting that predispositions toward some social behaviours are passed genetically from generation to generation and shaped by the process of natural selection
heuristics
mental shortcuts that allow individuals to quickly select and apply schemas to new or ambiguous situations
middle range theories
narrow, focused, theoretical frameworks that explain the conditions that produce some specific social behaviour. See also Theoretical perspectives
reflexive self
the ability to act toward oneself, taking the role of both the subject and the object in a situation; a uniquely human trait
role taking
in symbolic interaction theory, the process of imaginatively occupying the position of another person and viewing the situation and the self from that person’s perspective;the process of imagining the other’s attitudes and anticipating that person’s responses
role theory
a theoretical perspective based on the premise that a substantial portion of observable, day-to-day social behaviour is simply persons carrying out role expectations
schema
a specific cognitive structure that organizes the processing of complex info about other persons, groups, and situations. Our schemas guide what we percieve in the environment, how we organize info in memory, and what inferences and judgements we make about people and things
self
the indvidual viewed as both the active source and the passive object of reflexive behaviour
significant other
people whose views and attitudes are very important and worthy of consideration. The reflected views of a significant other have great influence on the individual’s self concept and self-regulation.
situated identity
a conception held by a person in a situation that indicates who they are in relation to the other people involved in that situation.
social exchange theory
a theoretical perspective, based on the principle of reinforcement, that assumes that people will likely choose actions that maximize rewards and minimize costs.
social identity theory of intergroup behaviour
a theory of intergroup relations based on the premise that people spontaneously categroize the social world into various groups (specifically, in-groups and out-groups) and experience high self-esteem to the extent that the in-groups to which they belong have more status than the out-groups.
social psychology
the field fhat systematically studies the nature and causes of human social behaviour
status
the social ranking of a person’s position relative to others
symbolic interaction theory
a theoretical perspective based on the premise that human nature and social order are products of communication among people. Also known as symbolic interactionism.
theoretical perspectives
theories that make broad assumptions about human nature and offer general explanations of a wide range of diverse behaviours
theory
a set of interrelated propositions that organizes and explains a set of observed facts; a network of hypotheses that may be used as a basis for prediction
what is symbolic interaction theory
human nature and social order are products of communication among people. it stresses the importance of the self role, of role taking, and of consensus in social interaction. it is most useful in explaining fluid, contigent encounters among people
the group processes perspective
focuses its attention on interaction in social groups or networks. it mainly draws on experimental research to demonstrate how the structure of groups influences individual behaviour and experiences with groups
what is social structure and personality theory
argues that individuals’ positions in the social structure influence their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. some argue that it is the most sociological of the approaches because it considers how macro sociological structures influence individuals
what is cognitive theories
hold that such processes as perception, memory, and judgement are significant determinants of social behaviour. Differences in cognitions, including the use of low-effort or high-effort cognitive processing, help to illuminate why individuals may behave differently from one another in any given situation
what is evolutionary theory
posits that social behaviour is a product of long-term- evolutionary adaptation. behavioural tendencies exist in human beings because these behaviours aided our ancestors in their attempts to survive and reproduce
