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Definitions and Theories in Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

Definition: Psychology

A

The scientific study of human behavior and mental processes

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2
Q

Definition: Behavior

A

Observable action

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3
Q

Definition: Mental Processes

A

Internal experiences; feelings and thoughts

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4
Q

Definition: Operant Conditioning

A

We tend to repeat processes that lead to reward and not repeat processes that lead to discipline

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5
Q

Definition: Repression

A

Psychoanalytic term for burying information in the subconcious

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6
Q

Definition: Conscious Mind

A

Readily accessible mind

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7
Q

Definition: Unconscious Mind

A

Inaccessible mind, but influence behavior

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8
Q

Definition: Eugenics

A

A biographical plan loosely based on genetics to selectively breed humans in order to get the perfect human

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9
Q

Definition: Social Psych

A

Uses scientific method to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and actions of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of other human beings

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10
Q

Definition: Attitude

A

The evaluation of people, objects or ideas that can be both positive or negative and shape our world

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11
Q

Mere-Exposure Effect

A

You will like more what you see more. Therefore, seeing a lot of the same commercial will increase your likelihood of buying the product

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12
Q

Central Route of Persuasion

A

Explaining directly why you are better than the competition

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13
Q

Peripheral Route of Persuasion

A

Showing (not saying) why you are better than the competition

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14
Q

Definition: Cognitive Dissonance

A

The theory that people are motivated to reduce differences that are psychologically uncomfortable in thoughts, feelings, or actions.

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15
Q

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

A

A compliance strategy: If they agree to something small, they are more likely agree to a larger request later

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16
Q

Door-in-the-Face Strategy

A

A compliance strategy: If you start large and back off, small seems better and they are more likely to grant it

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17
Q

Norms of Reciprocity

A

If someone does something nice for you, you are more likely to do something nice for them back.

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18
Q

Fundamental Attribution Error

A

It is the bias to view the behavior of others in terms of dispositional characteristics, not considering other situations that could have impacted the outcome

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19
Q

False-Consensus Effect

A

We like something, so we assume that everyone else must feel the same way.

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20
Q

Just-World Bias

A

Good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. It’s our way of making sense of the world and assuming it is fundamentally fair.

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21
Q

Definition: Stereotype

A

A generalization or shared belief about a group of people. It can be positive or negative.

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22
Q

Definition: Prejudice

A

The negative side of a stereotype.

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23
Q

Definition: Discrimination

A

When action is taken due to stereotypes

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24
Q

Definition: Ethnocentrism

A

If you think other cultures are odd and your culture is the best.

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25
Definition: Out-group Homogeneity
Because we have a lot of experience in our in-groups, we are able to clearly see variance, however, with out-groups we have no experience and see them as all the same.
26
Definition: In-Group Bias
We have a desire to see ourselves as good people. Therefore, if we have a social identity we see as good, we will favor those with the same identity (our in-group)
27
Contact Theory
Minimizing prejudice through cooperation through a common superordinate goal
28
Bystander Effect
The more people involved as bystanders, the less likely any one individual is to take action.
29
Diffusion of Responsibility
The more people in a group, the less responsibility each individual will take.
30
Pluralistic Ignorance
We look at how other people are reacting to decide how we should react
31
Social Facilitation
The presence of one or more observers leads to better performance at routine or easy tasks.
32
Social Impairment
The presence of one or more observers leads to worse performance at difficult tasks
33
Definition: Conformity
The act of blending into the crowd or following along with ideas, actions, or view of others.
34
Group Norms
Rules of behavior (implicit or explicit) that a group operates by
35
Social Loafing
When members of a group do less than they would have on their own because their work won't be as easily seen in a group or they think someone else will pick up the slack.
36
Group Polarization
Ideas and actions within a group are more extreme than with the individual members. This is because groups tend to strengthen preexisting beliefs
37
Groupthink
The mistaken unanimity of a group decision that generally ends up poorly. Individuals downplay their beliefs of flaws for the sake of unanimity.
38
Deindividuation
When people lose sight of individual nature when excited (positively or negatively) and start to feel anonymous and simply part of the group.
39
Actor-Observer Attributional Divergence
Explains the perspective difference between the person doing the action and the person observing the action
40
Self-Serving Bias
Allows us to believe that we are going to have more impact on the success of something than it's failure.
41
Illusory Correlation
Seeing a relationship between two unrelated things
42
Slippery Slope
A small belief that gets larger and larger until it ultimately snowballs and has an enormous impact.
43
Hindsight Bias
When a researcher says that they knew the answer all along once the results have come through.
44
Halo Effect
If a person has one good trait, we assume that they must be good all around.
45
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
When we have a preconceived notion about a group, person, or situation, we tend to behave in order to get the expected outcome
46
Base-Rate Fallacy
When you use irrelevant information or don't use relevant information in order to support a decision or hypothesis.
47
Oversimplification
People are quick to explain an event or behavior rather than looking at all potential factors, and will often stick to the original conclusion even when information is found to the contrary.
48
Availability Heuristic
We judge things that come into our minds first as the most important because they are the most salient.
49
Representativeness Heuristic
We take information that we have conceptualized about a prototype and apply it to all situations in order to make a judgement.
50
Overjustification Effect
We believe that we have to be paid for jobs because we don't like them and therefore believe that if we are paid for something we love, we will eventually not like it .
51
Gain-Loss Theory
We like "gain" more than consistency. We find it more moving when someone has come from great tragedy because of the large gain then when someone has always had it good.
52
Social Exchange Theory
Our actions minimize costs and maximize rewards
53
Self-Presentation
Influences behavior so that we are accepted and is made up of 1) self-monitoring and 2) impression management
54
Self-Monitoring
Paying attention to and modifying behaviors to be more favorable
55
Impression Management
Acting in ways perceived favorably by others
56
Social Comparison
The process of evaluating our own abilities, actions and ideas against others
57
Stimulus Overload Theory
People in densely populated areas are less prosocial because they have excessive stimuli and can't handle more
58
Reciprocal Interaction
Constant communication between people which helps to create relationship
59
Equity Theory
We are most comfortable when rewards and punishments are equitable or logical.
60
Definition: Compliance
The individual conforms publicly but secretly maintains dissenting ideas
61
Definition: Acceptance
The individual conforms with no consent
62
Definition: Dissenter
A person who openly opposes the majority
63
The Sleeper Effect
It is a counterintuitive phenomenon that shows that a lesser known candidate with a confident message will be likely to undecided voters because they believe the less credible source will become stronger.
64
Excitation-Transfer Theory
Physiological arousal will transfer to unrelated areas which is the reason you shouldn't go skydiving on a first date. You may think you like the person, but are really just excited about the event.
65
Reciprocity of Disclosure
Allows feelings of emotional closeness to grow within a relationship when emotions, feelings and secrets are shared.
66
Objective Self-Awareness
The ability to attend to thoughts, actions, feelings, and selves. Opposite of deindividuation.
67
A Bogus Pipeline
A "machine" that the respondent believes will notify experimenters to lies or falsifications, thereby reduing the difference between the respondent's actual bias and reported bias. This tool is used to increase truthfulness in self-reports.
68
The Peter Principle
People will get promoted until they reach a level where they become incompetent and will remain in that position.
69
Cross-Cultural Research
To avoid generalizing it's important to take cultural variations into account before deciding what is normal and what is abnormal.
70
Reciprocal Socialization:
Socialization by both parties in a relationship
71
Facial Action Coding System (FACS)
Analyzes facial expressions and classifies into them emotions. Also, it analyzes whether a smile is truly genuinely reflective of emotion.
72
Sociotechnical System
Interplay between humans and technology at work
73
A Sunk Cost
A cost that won't be recovered and should be ignored
74
Definition: Empathy
Allows us to feel the emotions of others
75
Proxemics
The study of personal space or space bubble

Self Study Flashcards for Psychology (2 decks)

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