final- social psych

Question 1

what is system 1/2 thinking?

Answer 1

• system 1 thinking: intuitive, automatic, non-verbal, experimental, emotional, FAST **brain conserves energy by relying on this system as much as possible
• system 2 thinking: analytical, rational, effortful, SLOW

Question 2

define affect heuristics

Answer 2

• an emotionally driven mental shortcut (a mode of thought influenced or driven by emotion)

Question 3

define attributional biases

Answer 3

• the selective attribution/non-attribution of qualities to an individual or a group based on the behaviors/actions of an individual within that group
• this includes our own views of ourselves

Question 4

what is the halo effect

Answer 4

• we apply these attributional biases from individuals and individual actions to whole groups in the form of stereotypes

Question 5

define availability bias

Answer 5

• the easier it is to recognize/notice a risk the more likely people are to overestimate that risk.

Question 6

define anchoring effect

Answer 6

• The more a risk or value relates to a
  person’s past experience or knowledge, then the more
  likely a person is to estimate risk/value in terms of that
  anchor, also have confidence in their own risk/value
  assessment.

Question 7

define gain and loss frames

Answer 7

• The two scenarios are the exact
  same probabilities. One is framed as a gain (scenario 1)
  and another is framed as a loss (scenario 2). People are
  generally more risk averse for a gain frame (wanting to keep
  the sure thing) and more risk-seeking for loss frames
  (wanting to avoid a certain loss)

Question 8

define distribution over time

Answer 8

• People are more likely to
  underestimate a risk that is constant and/or dispersed
  geographically and overestimate risks that occur in a single
  punctuated event.

ex: people underestimate the risks associated with car accidents because, although fatalities are high, they are dispersed widely geographically and throughout the year

Question 9

define representation bias

Answer 9

• people exaggerate the overall risks associated with singular events that they or others close to them have personally experienced. If you know someone who was robbed, you will think that robbery is a major social problem

Question 10

define optimism bias

Answer 10

• people often view hazards as more risky for others than themselves. related to the degree of controllability of the risk, its base probability, its level of undesirability, and its stereotype bias (how well one can imagine a “typical” person subject to the risk)

Question 11

define severity bias

Answer 11

• people exhibit less inclination to assess evidence if the outcome of a potential risk is highly severe but resort to the optimism bias as a means of defense

Question 12

define the just world belief/fallacy

Answer 12

• sees the world as fundamentally fair, such that any inequities are the product of individuals
• in this view, people systematically succeeding in society deserve to succeed and the people who aren’t are losers
• this view causes people to be less likely to acknowledge disparities of social class, race, ethnicity, gender, etc