Social Cognition - Week 3

Question 1

Social Cognition

Answer 1

all processes used to remember & use it in social contexts
- to explain/predict our own behaviour & the behaviour of others

Question 2

Facts about first impressions

Answer 2

1. occur within less than 0.1 second
2. lasting impact on our interactions & relationship
3. some are accurate & some are not

Question 3

Sterotypes

Answer 3

Over simplified generalization
- have influence even when we were unaware of the
- hard to avoid, often incorrect
ex. teens are bad employees

Question 4

Prejudice

Answer 4

evaluating a group or person based on generalization
ex. “it’s because they’re lazy”

Question 5

Discimination

Answer 5

Acting on prejudice
ex. not allowing someone to work somewhere

Question 6

Types of first impressions

Answer 6

1. Primary effect
   - first impression bad, but gave a second chance
2. Confirmation bias
3. overconfidence

Question 7

Should you trust your first impression?

Answer 7

comparative rarity
- we expect there to be more good than bad

Question 8

Factors that influence perception

Answer 8

1. Idealization (e.g. positive illusion)
2. explanations/attributions
   (actor/observer effect, self-serving bias)
3. memories
4. relationship beliefs
5. expectations
6. self-perceptions

Question 9

Idealization (type of perception)

Answer 9

emphasizing positives & minimizing negatives
- positive illusions (i.e. portraying people in the best way)

Question 10

Attributions (type of perception)

Answer 10

explanations we create for why something is the way it is

Question 11

What can influence/cause events? (attributions)

Answer 11

• internal (we control) or external (outside of control)
• stable (ex. personality) or unstable (ex. mood)
• controllable or uncontrollable

Question 12

Actor/observer effects - Type of Attributions (1/4)

Answer 12

give ourselves benefit of the doubt, not for others

Question 13

self-servicing biases - Type of Attribution (2/4)

Answer 13

take credit for positive things

Question 14

Relationship enhancing attributions - Type of Attribution (3/4)

Answer 14

person is purposefully doing nice things because they care about you

Question 15

Distress-maintaining attributions - type of attributions (4/4)

Answer 15

focus on negative aspects, attributing it to the other person being lazy or bad partner

Question 16

Memories - type of perception

Answer 16

current perceptions are influenced by past experiences

Question 17

Reconstructive memory

Answer 17

memories are altered as we receive new information

Question 18

Relationship beliefs - Disagreements are distructive

Answer 18

Socialized to think we shouldn’t get into disagreements

(our parents/caregivers rather avoid conflict than help child learn how to manage it)

Question 19

Relationship beliefs - Mind-reading is essential

Answer 19

“if you knew me you’d now what I’m thinking”

Question 20

Relationship beliefs - Partners cannot change

Answer 20

depends if person wants to change

Question 21

Relationship beliefs - sex should be perfect every time

Answer 21

Porn industry makes it seem like this.
- Can be shocking for people who do not communicate about sex and what they want

Question 22

Relationship beliefs - individual differences

Answer 22

gender differences, different personalities

Question 23

Relationship beliefs - Great relationships just happen

Answer 23

out of your control
- like destiny mind set

Question 24

relationship beliefs - Destiny vs. Growth

Answer 24

Destiny - they are the one, if its meant to be it should be easy
Growth - we have to put the work in to make it work

Or both together =
- I will put the work in, and if it happens it happens
- They are the one, so I’m gonna put the work in

Question 25

self-fulfilling prophesies (expectations - perceptions)

Answer 25

false predictions that become true because they lead people to behave in a type of way
ex. manifesting destruction of your relationship

Question 26

Things that influence self-fulfilling prophesies

Answer 26

1) Rejection sensitivity
- less likely to put real self out

2) Optimism
- less likely to engage in this behaviour

Question 27

Self-concept (Self-perceptions)

Answer 27

beliefs & feelings about ourself

Question 28

Self-esteem (self-perception)

Answer 28

our evaluation of ourself

Question 29

Unconscious Social Cognitions

Answer 29

Implicit attitudes
transference

Question 30

Transference

Answer 30

unconsciously bring past experiences into our reactions with current partners

Question 31

Implicit attitudes

Answer 31

unintentional & automatic judgments that are evident when our partners come to mind

Question 32

Self-promotion

Answer 32

show the things you like about yourself
“I just got a promotion… I’m good at this”

Question 33

Ingratiation

Answer 33

being kind to people by doing things for them so they think positively about you
ex. complimenting, agreeing with them

Question 34

Intimidation

Answer 34

act in ruthless way to manipulate someone
“fine don’t pick me up i’ll drive home drunk”

Question 35

Supplication

Answer 35

pretend to be incapable of something so someone else does it for you
“I’m not taking the garbage out because my toe hurts”
“Can you grab that, I can’t reach”

Question 36

Self-monitoring

Answer 36

Adjusting behaviour to match the situation

low self-monitoring (being yourself regardless of who you are with)

high self-monitoring (changing who you are to fit in_