Social Processes, Attitudes, and Behavior Flashcards
Social action
Actions and behaviors that individuals are conscious of and performing because others are around
Social facilitation
The tendency of people to perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others.
Yerkes-Dodson Law of Social Facilitation
States that being in the presence of others will significantly increase arousal, enhancing the ability to perform tasks one is already good at (simple tasks), and hinders the performance of less familiar tasks (complex tasks)
Deindividuation
A social phenomenon that takes place when individuals are in large group settings. Individual behavior can be dramatically different in social environments, due to a large group providing anonymity and causing a loss of individual identity.
Antinormative behavior
Behavior against the norm
Bystander effect
A phenomenon that occurs in social groups wherein individuals do not intervene to help victims when others are present
Social loafing
The tendency of individuals to put in less effort when in a group setting than when individually
Peer pressure
The social influence placed on an individual by a group of people or another individual
Peers
Individuals who are equal within a social group
Identity shift effect
When an individual’s state of harmony is disrupted by a threat of social rejection, the individual will often conform to the norms of the group. Mechanism of peer pressure. Cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance
The simultaneous presence of two opposing thoughts/opinions/behavior. Results in discomfort that is received by changing, adding to, or minimizing one of these dissonant thoughts.
Social interaction
Explores the ways in which two or more individuals can both shape each other’s behavior
Group polarization
Describes the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the individual ideas and inclinations of the members within the group
Choice shift and polarization
Tendency for groups to make decisions that appear more extreme than the decisions group members would have made on their own. Polarization is the individual level, choice shift is the group
Groupthink
A social phenomenon in which desire for harmony or conformity results in a group of people coming to an incorrect or poor decision. Members begin to solely focus on ideas generated within the group.
Illusion of invulnerability
Creation of optimism and encouragement of risk-taking. Groupthink indicator
Collective rationalization
Ignoring warning against the ideas of the group. Groupthink indicator
Illusion of morality
The belief that the group’s decisions are morally correct. Groupthink indicator
Excessive stereotyping
The construction of stereotypes against outside opinions. Groupthink indicator
Pressure for conformity
The pressure put on anyone in the group who expresses opinions against the group, viewing opposition as disloyal. Groupthink indicator
Self-censorship
The withholding of opposing views. Groupthink indicator
Illusion of unanimity
The false sense of agreement within the group. Groupthink indicator
Mindguards
The appointment of members to the role of protecting against opposing views. Groupthink indicator
Fad
A behavior that is transiently viewed as popular and desirable by a large community. Example of groupthink
Mass hysteria
Refers to a shared, intense concern about the threats to society. Many features of groupthink-collective rationalization, illusions of morality, excessive stereotyping, and pressure for conformity in particular-lead to a shared delusion that is augmented by distrust, rumors, propaganda, and fear mongering
Culture
The beliefs, behaviors, actions, and characteristics of a group or society of people
Culture shock
When traveling outside one’s own society, and the cultural difference seems dramatic
Cultural assimilation
The process by which an individual group’s behavior and culture begin to resemble that of another group. Usually uneven merging of cultures into homogeneity; a melting pot
Ethnic enclaves
Locations (usually neighborhoods) with a high concentration of one ethnicity (e.g. Little Italy, Chinatown)
Multiculturalism
Refers to communities or societies containing multiple cultures. It encourages, respects, and celebrates cultural differences (Mosaic)
Subcultures
Groups of people within a culture that distinguish themselves from the primary culture to which they belong
Counterculture
The subculture group gravitates toward an identity at odds with majority culture and deliberately opposed to the prevailing social mores
Socialization
The developing, inheriting, and spreading of norms, customs, and beliefs
Cultural transmission/learning
The spread of norms, customs, and beliefs (especially new ones) throughout the culture
Cultural diffusion
The spread of norms, customs, and beliefs (especially new ones) throughout the culture
Primary socialization
In childhood when we initially learn acceptable actions and attitudes in our society, primarily through observation of our parents and other adults in close proximity
Secondary socialization
The process of learning appropriate behavior within smaller sections of the larger society. Occurs outside the home and is based on learning the rules of specific social environments
Anticipatory socialization
The process by which a person prepares for future changes in occupations, living situations, or relationships (e.g. a couple living together before marriage)
Resocialization
A process by one discards old behaviors in favor of new ones to make a life change, and can have positive or negative connotations
Norms
Social rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior
Ciliary Body
Produces aqueous humor in the eye
Social control
Regulation of the behavior of individuals and groups
Sanctions
Penalties for misconduct or rewards for appropriate behavior. Can be formal or informal
Taboo
Something that is socially unacceptable, disgusting, or reprehensible
Folkways
Norms that refer to behavior that is considered polite, in particular social interactions, such as shaking hands after a sports match
Deviance
Any violation of norms, rules, or expectations within a society
Social stigma
The extreme disapproval or dislike of a person or group base don perceived differences from the rest of society
Labeling theory
Posits that labels given to people affect not only how others respond to that person, but also the person’s self-image
Differential association theory
Proposes that deviance an be learned through interactions with others
Strain theory
Proposes that deviance is a normal reaction to the disconnect between social goals and social structure. Deviance may arise as a an attempt to achieve the social goal outside of the limiting social structure. Anomic conditions can lead to deviance.
Conformity aka majority influence
Matching one’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to societal norms
Internalization
Changing one’s behavior to fit with a group while also privately agreeing with the ideas of the group (e.g. Zimbardo)
Identification
The outward acceptance of others’ ideas without personally taking on these ideas
Compliance
A change in behavior based on a direct request
Foot-in-the-door technique
A small request is made, and after gaining compliance, a larger request is made
Door-in-the-face technique
A large request is made at first and if, refused, a second, smaller request is made
Lowball technique
When the requestor will get an initial commitment from an individual and then raise the cost of the commitment
That’s-not-all technique
When an individual is made an offer, but before making a decision is told the deal is even better than she expected
Obedience
Changing one’s behavior in response to a direct order from an authority figure
Social cognition
Focuses on the ways in which people think about others and how these ideas impact behavior
Attitude
The expression of positive or negative feelings toward a person, place, thing, or scenario
Affective component of attitude
Refers to the way a person feels toward something, and is the emotion component of attitude
Behavioral component of attitude
Refers to the way a person acts with respect to something
Cognitive component of attitude
The way an individual thinks about something, usually justification for the other two parts of attitude
Functional attitude theory
States that attitudes serve four functions: knowledge, ego expression, adaptation, and ego defense
Knowledge function of attitude
Attitude helps to provide organization to thoughts and experiences, and knowing the attitudes of others helps to predict their behavior
Ego expression function of attitude
Attitude allows us to communicate our self-identity
Adaptive attitude function of attitude
The idea that one will be accepted if they express socially acceptable attitudes
Ego defense function of attitude
Attitude protects one’s self esteem or justifies actions that we know are wrong (e.g. a kid who has trouble with math developing a negative attitude towards math)
Learning theory of attitude
Posits that attitudes are developed through different forms of learning
Elaboration likelihood model
Separates individuals on a continuum based on their processing of persuasive information with one end being central route processing and the other being peripheral route processing
Central route processign
Describes people who elaborate extensively, think deeply about information, scrutinize meaning and purpose, and draw conclusions or make decisions based on their thought
Peripheral route processign
Those who do not elaborate, instead, focusing on superficial details such as appearances, catchphrases, slogans, and credibility
Signal cognitive theory
Postulates that people learn how to behave and shape attitudes by observing the behaviors of others
