psychology - U2 AoS1

Question 1

person perception

Answer 1

the process of interpreting and forming judgments about others based on their behavior, appearance, and social cues

Question 2

compare and contrast internal and external attribution

Answer 2

internal attribution: Attributes behavior to a person’s internal characteristics, such as personality, motives, or abilities

external attribution: attributes behavior to external factors or the environment, such as social pressures, luck, or circumstances

comparison:
- Both are used to explain behavior and form judgments about others.
- Both play roles in social interactions and affect how we perceive and respond to people.

contrast:
- Responsibility: Internal attributions assign responsibility to the person, while external attributions assign it to the environment.
- Implications: Internal attributions can lead to judgments about character, while external attributions often evoke empathy for circumstances.
- Biases: People tend to favor internal attributions for others’ behaviors (fundamental attribution error) and external attributions for their own negative behaviors (self-serving bias)

Question 3

stereotypes

Answer 3

beliefs or assumptions about the characteristics, behaviors, or attributes of a group of people

Question 4

discrimination

Answer 4

the unfair or biased treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics like race, gender, age, religion, disability, or other factors, rather than their personal qualifications or actions

Question 5

prejudice

Answer 5

is a preconceived opinion or attitude, often negative, toward an individual or group based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or other traits, without adequate knowledge or justification

Question 6

define ABC’s of the tri-component model

Answer 6

Affective Component (A): This involves feelings or emotions associated with an attitude object.
Example: Feeling happy or angry about a particular policy.

Behavioral Component (B): This refers to the actions or intended actions influenced by the attitude.
Example: Protesting against or supporting a cause.

Cognitive Component (C): This encompasses beliefs, thoughts, or knowledge about the attitude object.
Example: Believing that a product is high quality or harmfu

Question 7

cognitive dissonance

Answer 7

the psychological discomfort experienced when a person holds conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, or when their actions contradict their values. This discomfort often motivates individuals to reduce the inconsistency by changing their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors

Question 8

explain how cognitive dissonance occurs

Answer 8

Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual experiences mental discomfort due to holding two or more conflicting thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors. This inconsistency creates tension, and people are motivated to reduce or resolve it in several ways

Question 9

what causes cognitive dissonance

Answer 9

Cognitive dissonance happens when there is a conflict between our beliefs, attitudes, or actions. It can be caused by:

Contradictory beliefs: Holding two opposite ideas at the same time.
Behavior vs. beliefs: Doing something that goes against your values (e.g., lying when you value honesty).
New information: Learning something that challenges your current beliefs.
Being forced to act against your values: Doing something under pressure that conflicts with your beliefs.

Question 10

what relieves cognitive dissonance

Answer 10

• changing behaviour
• changing beliefs or attitude
• adding beliefs
• minimizing importance

Question 11

compare and contrast availability heuristic

Answer 11

• availability heuristic is a mental shortcut people use to estimate the likelihood or frequency of an event based on how easily examples come to mind

Comparison
- The availability heuristic relies on memory to make quick decisions about how likely something is.
- It uses examples that come to mind easily, whether the events are rare or common.

Contrast
- Accuracy: It can make rare, memorable events (like plane crashes) seem more likely and common but unnoticed events (like car accidents) seem less likely.
- Recentness: Recent events influence judgments more strongly than older ones.
- Emotion: Emotional or dramatic events have a bigger impact than ordinary ones

Question 12

obedience

Answer 12

the act of following orders or instructions from someone in a position of authority, even if it goes against one’s own beliefs or preferences

Question 13

conformity

Answer 13

the act of adjusting one’s behavior, attitudes, or beliefs to match those of a group or social norms, often to fit in or gain acceptance

Question 14

compare and contrast conformity and obedience

Answer 14

Comparison
- Both involve changing behavior due to social pressure.
- Both aim to meet expectations or maintain harmony.

Contrast
- Source: Conformity comes from group pressure; obedience comes from authority.
- Voluntariness: Conformity is often voluntary; obedience follows direct commands.
- Motivation: Conformity seeks social acceptance; obedience respects authority or avoids punishment

Question 15

anti-conformity

Answer 15

the deliberate act of opposing or rejecting social norms, expectations, or group pressure, often to assert individuality or independence

Question 16

explain how anti-conformity can lead to greater feelings of independence

Answer 16

Anti-conformity fosters independence by allowing individuals to express their true beliefs, think critically, and resist group pressure. By prioritizing personal values over societal norms, people gain a stronger sense of self and control over their choices

Question 17

how can media coverage of issues influence the perception of a group of people

Answer 17

Media coverage influences the perception of a group by framing how they are portrayed, repeating certain messages, and highlighting specific traits or behaviors. It can reinforce stereotypes, evoke emotional reactions, and create biased views based on selective or frequent coverage, shaping public opinion of the group