chapter 14 social psychology recall Flashcards
social psychology
the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to each other.
attribution theory
the theory that we explain someone’s behavior crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition.
fundamental attribution error
the tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
attitude
feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events.
peripheral route persuasion
occurs when people influenced by incidental cues, such as the speaker’s attractiveness.
central route persuasion
occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts.
Foot-in-the-door phenomenon
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
role
a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position out to behave.
cognitive dissonance theory
the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, we become aware that our attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.
conformity
adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with group standard
normative social influence
influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
informational social influence
influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
social facilitation
stronger responses on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others
social loafing
the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable.
deindividualization
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.
group polarization
the enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group
groupthink
the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives
prejudice
an unjustifiable (and unusually negative) attitude toward of group and its members. Prejudice generally involve stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory actions.
stereotype
a generalized (sometimes accurate but often exaggerated) belief about a group of people.
discrimination
unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members.
Just-word phenomenon
the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get.
ingroup
“Us”- people whom we share a common identity
outgroup
“Them” - those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup
ingroup bias
the tendency to favor our own group
scapegoat theory
the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame
Other-race effect
the tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races. Also called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias.
aggression
any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy
Frustration-aggression principle
the principle that frustration-the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal-creates anger, which can generate aggression.
social script
culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.
mere exposure effect
the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them.
passionate love
an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present in the beginning of love relationship.
companionate love
the affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.
equity
a condition in which people from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it.
Self-disclosure
revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others.
altruism
unselfish regard for the welfare of others.
bystander effect
the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.
social exchange theory
the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs.
reciprocity norm
an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them.
Social-responsibility norm
an expectation that people will help those dependent on them.
conflict
a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.
social trap
a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior.
Mirror-image perceptions
mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive.
superordinate goals
shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.
GRIT
Graduated and Reciprocated initiatives in Tension-Reduction – a strategy to decrease international tensions.
