lec 8 social psych Flashcards
What is social psychology?
study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.
What is attribution theory?
explains behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition.
What is the fundamental attribution error?
-when analyzing others’ behavior
-tendency to underestimate impact of the situation and overestimate impact of personal disposition
What is an attitude?
Feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way
What is the foot-in-the-door phenomenon?
tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.
What is a role in social psychology?
A set of expectations (norms) about a social position
What is cognitive dissonance theory?
we act to reduce discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent
For example, when we become aware that our attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.
What is peripheral route persuasion?
people are influenced by attention-getting cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness.
What is central route persuasion?
interested people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments.
What are norms?
Understood rules for accepted and expected behavior
What is conformity?
Adjusting behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
What is normative social influence?
Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
What is informational social influence?
Influence resulting from a person’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
What is social facilitation?
In the presence of others, improved performance on simple tasks, and worsened performance on difficult tasks.
What is social loafing?
tendency for people in a group to exert less effort than when individually accountable for a goal
What is deindividuation?
loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.
What is group polarization?
enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group.
What is groupthink?
the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.
What is prejudice?
unjustifiable, usually negative attitude toward a group and its members
involving stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action