M1 intro

Question 1

what is the study of individual differences

Answer 1

studying variation among people

how different people behave in the same situation

Question 2

what are dispositions

Answer 2

enduring characteristics of a person

Question 3

3 assumptions of dispositions

Answer 3

stable over time

consistent across situations

they are the best way to summarize personality

Question 4

colloquial term for individual differences

Answer 4

personality

Question 5

5 questions asked by individual differences psychologists

Answer 5

1) what are our unique, enduring characteristics?

2) how does one reliably assess personality?

3) how do others see us? how consistent is that with our self perception?

4) to what extent is behavior determined by enduring traits? Needs? Biological processes?

5) how consistent is behavior across situations?

Question 6

difference between individual differences (personality psychology) and social psychology

Answer 6

indiv dif/personality psych: see how dif people behave in same situation

social psych: how most people behave in one specific given situation (the average reaction)

Question 7

Gordon Allport’s definition of social psychology

Answer 7

scientific attempt to understand and explain how individuals’ thoughts, feelings and behaviors are influenced by actual, imagines, or implied presence of others

Question 8

D Myers’ definition of social psychology

Answer 8

scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to each other

Question 9

situationism

Answer 9

the belief that social situation has the most powerful impact on behavior

Question 10

6 questions asked by social psychologists

Answer 10

1) how do we form beliefs of others and how does that impact their behavior (social cognition)

2) how do attitudes develop? when and why do we change our attitudes and beliefs? (attitudes and attitude change)

3) why do we stereotype other people? can our biases be changed and how? (stereotype and prejudice)

4) who are we attached to and why? what types of relationships are most stable? (attraction and relationships)

5) when and why do we help/hurt other people? (altruism and aggression)

6) do groups make better decisions than individuals? how does the presence of other influence out beliefs and behaviors? (conformity and group influence)

Question 11

hindsight bias

Answer 11

tendency to exaggerate the ability to have forseen something (after you learned the outcome - “oh yeah I knew that was going to happen”)