Social Psychology Flashcards
Social context
The combination of (a) people, (b) the activities and interactions among people, (c) the setting in which behavior occurs, and (d), the expectations and social norms governing behavior in that setting
Social psychology
The branch of psychology that studies the effects of social variables and cognitions on individual behavior and social interactions
How does the social situation affect our behavior?
We usually adapt our behavior to the demands of the social situation, and in ambiguous situations we take our cues from the behavior of others in that setting.
Situationism
The view that environmental conditions influence people’s behavior as much as or more than their personal dispositions do
Social role
One of several socially defined patterns of behavior that are expected of persons in a given setting or group
Script
A cluster of knowledge about the sequence of events and actions expected to occur in a particular setting
Social norms
A group’s expectations regarding what is appropriate and acceptable for its members’ attitudes and behaviors
Asch effect
A form of conformity in which a group majority influences individual judgements
Conformity
The tendency for people to adopt the behaviors, attitudes, and opinions of other members of the group
Diffusion of responsibility
Dilution or weakening of each group member’s obligation to act when responsibility is perceived to be shared with all group members
Constructing social reality: what influences our judgements of others?
The judgements we make about others depend not only on their behavior but also on our interpretation of their actions within a social context.
Social reality
An individual’s subjective interpretation of other people and of relationships with them
Reward theory of attraction
A social-learning view that says we like best those who give us maximum rewards at minimum cost
Principle of proximity
The notion that people at work will make more friends among those who are nearby- with whom they have the most contact. Proximity means “nearness”
Similarity principle
The notion that people are attracted to those who are most similar to themselves
Matching hypothesis
The prediction that most people will find friends and mates that are perceived to be of about their same level of attractiveness
Expectancy-value theory
A theory in social psychology that people decide whether to pursue a relationship by weighing the potential value of the relationship against their expectation of success in establishing the relationship
Cognitive dissonance
A highly motivating state in which people have conflicting cognitions, especially when their voluntary actions conflict with their attitudes
Attribution theory
Explain how and why we make attributions about others based on their behavior
-applied cognitive
Dispositional (internal) attribution
Person naturally acts this way because of personality
Situational (external) attribution
Person only acts this way because of environment
Fundamental attribution error (FAE)
The tendency to emphasize internal causes and ignore external pressures. The FAE is more common in individualist cultures than in collectivist cultures
Self-serving bias
An attributional pattern in which one takes credit for success but denies responsibility for failure. (Compare with the fundamental attribution error.)
Prejudice
A negative attitude toward an individual based solely on his or her membership in a particular group
Discrimination
A negative action taken against an individual as a result of his or her group membership
In-group
The group with which an individual identifies
Social distance
The perceived difference or similarity between oneself and another person
Out-group
Those outside the group with which an individual identifies
Scapegoating
Blaming an innocent person or group for one’s own troubles
Social facilitation
An increase in an individual’s performance because of being in a group
Social loafing
A decrease in performance because of being in a group
Deindividuation
Occurs when group members lost their sense of personal identity and responsibility and the group “assumes” responsibility for the behavior
Group polarization
When individuals in a group have similar, though not identical, views, their opinions become more extreme
Groupthink
An excessive tendency to seek concurrence among group members
Romantic love
A temporary and highly emotional condition based on infatuation and sexual desire
Triangular theory of love
A theory that describes various kinds of love in terms of three components: passion (erotic attraction), intimacy (sharing feelings and confidences), and commitment (dedication to putting this relationship first in one’s life)
Exchange theory of helping
Rational grounds- costs of helping vs. rewards
Arousal: cost-reward mode of helping
Different kinds of helping situation cause different motives
- triggered by quick, non-rational emotional arousal (emergency)
- Influenced by helper’s analysis of costs and benefits
Pluralistic ignorance
Nobody shows signs of concern –> situation defined as in need of no action
What are the roots of violence and terrorism?
The power of the situation can help us understand violence and terrorism, but a broader understanding requires multiple perspectives that go beyond the boundaries of psychology
Violence and aggression
Terms that refer to behavior that is intended to cause harm
Cohesiveness
Solidarity, loyalty, and a sense of group membership
Mutual interdependence
A shared sense that individuals or groups need each other in order to achieve common goals
Terrorism
The use of violent, unpredictable acts by a small group against a larger group for political, economic, or religious goals
Solomon Asch
Conformity experiment (1951)
Leon Festinger
Cognitive dissonance experiment (late 1950s)
Stanley Milgram
Obedience experiment (1974)
Philip Zimbardo
Prison experiment @ Stanford
Stereotypes
Mental representations of particular shared beliefs about the characteristics of a group and its members
Illusory correlation
A false impression due to an unusual and thus distinctive association between group members and a characteristic
Social representations
Set of concepts, statements, and explanations originating in daily life
-consensual understandings shared by group members
•constantly change
•equivalent of myths/belief systems
Objectifying
Simplifying representation of ideas by making them even more concrete
Personification
Using the inventor to stand for the invention (Freudian)
Figuration
Using images to illustrate concepts (world-wide web)
Process of stereotyping
A) categorizing people into groups based on visual cues
B) assuming all members of group share same characteristics
C) assigning individuals to the groups, presuming they possess the same characteristics
Minimal group theory
Merely dividing people into groups
–> prejudice
Social identity theory
A) people gain identity from groups
B) people seek positive self-esteem
C) people will want to feel like they are in the best group
Intergroup conflict theory
Prejudice in society caused by
A) existence of groups
B) competition between the groups
•limited resources
Stereotypes
Mental representations of particular shared beliefs about the characteristics of a group and its members
Illusory correlation
A false impression due to an unusual and thus distinctive association between group members and a characteristic
Social representations
Set of concepts, statements, and explanations originating in daily life
-consensual understandings shared by group members
•constantly change
•equivalent of myths/belief systems
Objectifying
Simplifying representation of ideas by making them even more concrete
Personification
Using the inventor to stand for the invention (Freudian)
Figuration
Using images to illustrate concepts (world-wide web)
Process of stereotyping
A) categorizing people into groups based on visual cues
B) assuming all members of group share same characteristics
C) assigning individuals to the groups, presuming they possess the same characteristics
