Module 5B: social psychology

Question 1

social psychology

Answer 1

field of psychology that examines how people impact or affect each other, with particular
focus on the power of the situation

Question 2

group think

Answer 2

Modification of the opinions of members of a group to align with what they believe is the group consensus; goal is to maintain group harmony

Question 3

Group polarization

Answer 3

strengthening of original group attitude after discussion of views within a group

Question 4

self-serving bias

Answer 4

tendency for individuals to take credit by making dispositional or internal attributions for
positive outcomes and situational or external attributions for negative outcomes

Question 5

actor-observer bias

Answer 5

phenomenon of explaining other people’s behaviors are due to internal factors and our
own behaviors are due to situational forces

Question 6

cognitive dissonance

Answer 6

psychological discomfort that arises from a conflict in a person’s behaviors, attitudes, or
beliefs that runs counter to one’s positive self-perception