Learning and Social Part 2 Flashcards
Non social cognitive and social contrition
Non-Social Cognition: Refers to cognitive processes that do not involve interpersonal relationships or social contexts. It includes areas like problem-solving, memory, and perception that are independent of social influences.
Social Cognition: Involves understanding how people think about, interpret, and respond to social situations. It encompasses the processes of perception, judgment, and decision-making in social contexts.
Morality
Morality refers to the principles and standards that guide individuals in determining right from wrong. It encompasses beliefs about justice, fairness, and ethical behavior, influencing how people interact with others and make decisions.
Kholbergs theory of development
Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a theory of moral development that consists of three main levels, each with two stages:
Preconventional Level: Focuses on self-interest and the consequences of actions.
Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation.
Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange.
Conventional Level: Emphasizes adherence to social rules and the expectations of others.
Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships.
Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order.
Postconventional Level: Involves abstract reasoning and principles of justice.
Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights.
Stage 6: Universal Principles.
Moral development and criminal behaviour
Moral development influences criminal behavior by shaping an individual’s understanding of right and wrong. Individuals at lower levels of moral reasoning may justify antisocial actions, while those at higher levels typically recognize the impact of their actions on others, reducing the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior.
Moral disengagement
Moral disengagement refers to the cognitive process by which individuals justify unethical behavior, allowing them to act against their moral beliefs without feeling guilt or remorse. This process enables people to commit harmful actions while distancing themselves from the moral implications.
Moral disengagement
Moral disengagement refers to the cognitive process by which individuals justify unethical behavior, allowing them to act against their moral beliefs without feeling guilt or remorse. This process enables people to commit harmful actions while distancing themselves from the moral implications.
Four mechanisms of moral disengagement
Moral Justification: Justifying harmful actions as serving a higher purpose (e.g., “I did it for the greater good”).
Euphemistic Language: Using sanitized language to disguise the severity of harmful actions (e.g., referring to theft as “reallocation”).
Advantageous Comparison: Comparing one’s actions to more harmful behaviors to make them seem less serious (e.g., “At least I’m not as bad as others”).
Displacement of Responsibility: Attributing the responsibility for actions to others, such as authority figures or societal pressures (e.g., “I was just following orders”).
Critical thinking
Criminal thinking refers to the cognitive patterns and beliefs that support or justify criminal behavior. Walters and White identified eight distinct criminal thinking styles:
Cognitive Distortions: Misinterpretations of reality that justify criminal behavior.
Self-Serving Bias: Viewing oneself as a victim to rationalize wrongdoing.
Entitlement: Believing one deserves special treatment or rewards without effort.
Power Orientation: Valuing power and control over others.
Cold and Callous Thinking: Lack of empathy or concern for others.
Impulse Control Problems: Difficulty managing urges, leading to spontaneous criminal acts.
Failure to Accept Responsibility: Refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing.
Narcissism: Excessive self-focus that dismisses the rights of others.
Excitation transfer theory
Excitation transfer theory posits that physiological arousal from one stimulus can be misattributed to a different stimulus, intensifying emotional responses. For example, if a person is already aroused due to anger or fear, they may react more aggressively to a subsequent stimulus.
Frustration aggression hypothesis
The frustration-aggression hypothesis suggests that frustration, arising from the inability to achieve a goal, leads to aggressive behavior. This aggression can be directed towards the source of frustration or displaced onto a different target.
Frustration aggression hypothesis
The frustration-aggression hypothesis suggests that frustration, arising from the inability to achieve a goal, leads to aggressive behavior. This aggression can be directed towards the source of frustration or displaced onto a different target.
Deindividuation
Deindividuation is a psychological state characterized by reduced self-awareness and diminished personal responsibility, often occurring in group settings. It can lead to behaviors that individuals might not typically engage in, such as increased aggression or mob behavior.
Milgams obedience studies
Stanley Milgram’s studies on obedience demonstrated how ordinary people can commit harmful acts when instructed by an authority figure. Participants believed they were administering electric shocks to others and continued to do so despite the apparent distress of the victim, highlighting the influence of authority on moral decision-making.
Key terms
Social Cues: Signals in social interactions that guide behavior, such as facial expressions or tone of voice.
Encoding: The process of converting information into a form that can be stored in memory.
Attribution: The process of explaining the causes of behavior, either one’s own or that of others.
Script: A mental representation of a sequence of events or actions in specific contexts.
Priming: The activation of certain associations in memory, influencing perceptions and behaviors.
Three factors in evaluating and enacting scripts
Situational Context: The specific circumstances or environment that can affect the interpretation of a script.
Personal Experience: Past experiences that shape how an individual perceives and responds to a situation.
Social Norms: The accepted behaviors and expectations within a society or group that influence script enactment.
