Social

Question 1

Social comparison theory (Festinger)

Answer 1

In uncertain situations, people compare themselves to others for information about their own feelings/attributes

Question 2

mere exposure effect (Baumeister)

Answer 2

People like things they encounter repeatedly, unless the initial response is strongly negative

Question 3

Byrne’s law of attraction

Answer 3

Similarity breeds attraction because validation of views is reinforcing

Question 4

Pratfall effect

Answer 4

Making a mistake increases the attractiveness of competent people, but decreases attractiveness of mediocre people

Question 5

Gain-loss effect

Answer 5

In the reciprocity effect, attitude change increases valence (ie, someone didn’t like me and now they do, I like them more than if they’d liked me all along. Also reverse: Used to like me and now doesn’t, I dislike them more than if they always disliked me)

Question 6

Generalized vs dyadic reciprocity

Answer 6

Generalized – “likers are more likable” (people who like everyone)
Dyadic – specific pairs of people who like each other

Question 7

Berscheid’s emotion in relationships model

Answer 7

Strong emotions occur when one partner interrupts the couple’s usual routine through unexpected behavior. This occurs less often in long-established relationships

Question 8

What determines behavioral intention in the theory of planned behavior?

Answer 8

the person’s attitude, subjective norms (what others think), and confidence in ability (perceived behavioral control)

Question 9

Prototype/Willingness model of behavior

Answer 9

People have a prototype (social image) of those who engage in a behavior, and when it’s positive, the person is more willing to engage in the behavior in social situations.

Question 10

Central Route Persuasion (Elaboration Likelihood model)

Answer 10

Direct evaluation of material. More likely used if it’s relevant and the person is in a neutral or bad mood. Resulting attitude change is more enduring

Question 11

Peripheral route persuasion

Answer 11

Automatic evaluation of material, occurs when it’s not perceived as important or is in a good mood. Attitude change is weak and temporary.

Question 12

Social Judgement Theory

Answer 12

Persuasiveness is based on similarity to a person’s existing attitude. The higher ‘ego-involvement’ with the issue, the threshold for rejection becomes lower (expressed as latitutes of acceptance, rejection, and non-commitment)

Question 13

Balance theory

Answer 13

People are motivated for consistency in attitudes (eg, attitude toward a person based on having the same attitudes toward a topic). Sometimes called P O X theory (person, other person, object/event.

Question 14

Festingers justification effect is associated with what theory/phenomenon

Answer 14

Cognitive dissonance

Question 15

Self-perception theory (Bem)

Answer 15

People learn about themselves by observing their own behavior. Eg in the overjustification effect.

Question 16

Actor Observer effect

Answer 16

Tendency to make situational attributions of our own behavior and dispositional attributions to others’ behavior

Question 17

Ultimate Attribution Error

Answer 17

Factor in prejudice: behavioral attribution (situational v dispositional) by ingroup/outgroup interaction. (Negative – outgroup – dispositional, Positive-outgroup-situational)

Question 18

Group attribution error

Answer 18

Assumption of group homogeneity in attributes or views.

Question 19

Kelly’s Covariation Model (Consensus, Consistency, Distinctiveness)

Answer 19

People make external vs internal attributions based on whether others would do the same, the person has acted this way before, and whether they act differently in other situations.
when consensus is low, consistency is high, and distinctiveness is low, people are likely to make an internal attribution.

Question 20

Self-verification theory (Swann)

Answer 20

Confirmation bias applied to self-concept (seek out information that confirms it, positive or negative)

Question 21

Counterfactual thinking

Answer 21

Tendency to imagine alternative outcomes which did not occur

Question 22

Representativeness heuristic

Answer 22

Making judgements based on similarity to a prototype (mental image of a category) ignoring base rate information.

Question 23

Availability heuristic

Answer 23

Judging frequency of an event by how easy it is to recall examples (eg plane crashes are uncommon but memorable)

Question 24

Anchoring and adjustment heuristic

Answer 24

Estimate value based on a set comparison, eg an item that’s discounted in price seems cheap even if it’s still not a good deal.

Question 25

Social facilitation/inhibition

Answer 25

The presence of others improves our performance on well learned tasks and impairs performance on newer/harder tasks due to physiological arousal

Question 26

Minority influence on group (effectiveness and results)

Answer 26

Most effective when the minority is consistent without seeming rigid/dogmatic. It’s more likely than majority influence to result in legitimate conversion (vs compliance – public acceptance)

Question 27

Disjunctive group tasks

Answer 27

Members choose the best solution based on propositions from each member (typically proposed by the most competent member)

Question 28

Conjunctive group tasks

Answer 28

Everyone contributes a part, so group performance is limited by least capable member (eg relay race)

Question 29

Alpha and Omega persuasion strategies

Answer 29

Alpha: Overcome resistance through approach factors (change is positive). Omega: Overcome resistance by decreasing avoidance (eg counterarguments to concerns)

Question 30

Sleeper effect

Answer 30

Over time, people tend to remember information but forget it’s source (therefore credibility of the source becomes less influential)

Question 31

When is fear an effective means of persuasion

Answer 31

When fear is high, includes an efficacy message (this change is possible and effective), and describe the risk of consequences is change is not made.

Question 32

What is the difference between informational and normative influence, and how do they affect acceptance of the proposition?

Answer 32

Informational: Believe they know more. Genuine acceptance.
Normative: Believe they will judge you. Conformity without acceptance.

Question 33

Pluralistic Ignorance

Answer 33

Mistaken belief that your attitude/knowledge is different from the majority, so you defer to others (eg others aren’t doing anything so its not an emergency)

Question 34

Realistic Conflict Theory (of prejudice)

Answer 34

Prejudice arises from competition for resources

Question 35

Social Identity Theory (of prejudice)

Answer 35

In-group liking boosts self esteem, but can also breed outgroup hate

Question 36

4 Criteria for effectiveness of contact hypothesis (Allport) for reducing group tension

Answer 36

Contact between groups must include: equal status, superordinant goals, no competition, contact is sanctioned by authority

Question 37

Symbollic Racism

Answer 37

Denial of inequity/racism, attribution of lower status to lack of work, view that affirmative action is unfair.

Question 38

Aversive Racism

Answer 38

Denial of inequity/racism, negative attitudes (often acquired in early life), avoid contact, only discriminatory when there’s a more acceptable excuse

Question 39

Ambivalent Racism

Answer 39

Conflicting attitudes within individual lead to tension, seek to reduce tension by amplifying one of the attitudes