Chapter 1

Question 1

What is social psychology?

Answer 1

• interface b/w individual and social world
• how people comprehend, and interpret the social world
• How does this construal influence behaviour
• Recognizes individual differences but emphasizes the power of social influence.
• Universal properties of human nature that make everyone susceptible to social influence

Question 2

Fundamental attribution error

Answer 2

• tendency to believe actions are influenced more by personality traits than social factors
• Underestimate power of social influence and overestimate importance of personality

Question 3

Two motives driving construals

Answer 3

• Self-esteem: need to feel good about ourselves
• Truth: need for truth
  Tensions arises when one pitted against the other; usually self-esteem wins

Question 4

Distortion strategies

Answer 4

Strategies used in order to protect self-esteem

• justify past behaviour
• justify suffering