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
