Section 1 Flashcards
Social Psychology
Scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.
Attribution
Explaining people’s behavior in terms of their personality (disposition) OR the situation.
Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)
The tendency to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition when analyzing other’s behaviors.
Attitudes
Feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people and events.
Foot-in-the-door
Tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply with a later larger one.
Door-in-the-face
Ask for something BIG, after which something small seems more reasonable.
Conformity
Adjusting our behavior and/or thinking to coincide with others/group.
Normative
Going along with others in order to gain social approval or to belong (and avoid rejection/disapproval).
Informational
Going along with others because their ideas/behaviors make sense.
Social Facilitation
Stronger responses on simple/well-learned tasks in the presence of others.
Social loafing
People, when in a group, will exert less effort on a task compared to when they are alone.
Deindividuation
Loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in a group situations that foster arousal and anonymity-“mob mentality”
Group Polarization
Enhancement of a group’s dominant inclinations through discussion within the group.
Groupthink
Desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.
Prejudice
An unjustifiable, and usually negative, attitude toward a group and its members.
Just-world Phenomenon
People’s belief that the world is more-or-less fair, and thus people get what they deserve.
Ingroup and Outgroups
“Us” vs “Them;” people with whom we share an identity vs. those we perceive as different.
Scapegoat Theory
The observation that, when bad things happen, prejudice offers an outlet for anger by finding someone to blame.
Stereotype threat
A self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype.
Prosocial behavior
Behavior that helps or benefits others.
Passionate love
Intense positive absorption in another
Companionate love
Deep affectionate attachment
Altruism
Unselfish regard for the welfare of others
Social exchange theory
Social behavior involves weighing the benefits and the costs.
Reciprocity norm
We should help those who helped us/others.
Social-Responsibility
People should help those who are dependent on them or who need our help
Social Traps
By pursing self-interest, two different parties get caught in mutual self-destruction.
Mirror-image perceptions
Mutual views held by conflicting groups; each side see’s itself as ethical/peaceful, the other side as evil/aggressive.
Conciliation
Establish good will through gestures/acts (such as acts of kindness).
