Social Psychology

Question 1

Norman Triplett

Answer 1

First study of social psychology; the effect of competition on performance (you perform better when around other people)

Question 2

William McDougall and E.H. Ross

Answer 2

Independently published first textbooks on social psychology

Question 3

William Verplank

Answer 3

Study showed the course of a conversation changes dramatically based upon feedback (approval) from others

Question 4

Pavlov, Thorndike, Hull, Skinner

Answer 4

Creators of reinforcement theory, or the idea that behavior is motivated by anticipated rewards. (Challenged by social learning theorists)

Question 5

Role Theory

Answer 5

People are aware of the social roles they are expected to fill, and much observable behavior can be attributed to adopting those roles

Question 6

Consistency theories

Answer 6

People prefer consistency and will change or resist changing attitudes based upon this preference. Inconsistencies are irritating and are often resolved by changing attitudes.

Question 7

Fritz Heider

Answer 7

Creator of balance theory

Question 8

Balance theory

Answer 8

3 elements in a triangle:
1. P = person we speak about
2. O = another person
3. X = a thing, idea, or some other person
Balance exists when all three fit tighter harmoniously; stress will exist when there isn’t balance.
Balance exists if there are one or three positives
(Theory is pretty simplistic!)

Question 9

Leon Festinger

Answer 9

Creator of cognitive dissonance theory

Question 10

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Answer 10

When your attitudes are not in line with your behavior. The theory states that we will often change our attitudes to fit our behaviors.

Question 11

Free-choice dissonance

Answer 11

Making a choice between several desirable alternatives (e.g., picking only one person to date when you like several).

Question 12

Forced-compliance dissonance

Answer 12

When an individual is forced into behaving in a manner that is inconsistent with his or her beliefs or attitudes. (e.g., a child is told they can have ice cream only if they eat spinach).

Question 13

Post-decisional dissonance

Answer 13

Dissonance that comes up after making a choice.

Question 14

Spreading of alternatives

Answer 14

The relative worth of two alternatives is spread apart to reduce cognitive dissonance

Question 15

Festinger & Carlsmith

Answer 15

Study were participants do boring things and have to mislead the next participant for $1 - $20 dollars. $1 people reported enjoying the task more than $20 people- more cognitive dissonance when lying to only receive 1 dollar.

Question 16

Minimal justification effect

Answer 16

People are more motivated to reduce dissonance by changing internal cognitions when the external justification is minimal (e.g., more likely to lie for $1 than $20 b/c you end up believing the lie when it’s only a 1$ reward). Attitude change will generally occur when the behavior is induced with minimum pressure.

Question 17

Daryl Bem

Answer 17

Creator of self-perception theory, or the idea that people infer what their attitudes are based upon observation of their own behavior. Different from cognitive dissonance because no distress/discomfort.

Question 18

Over-justification effect

Answer 18

If you reward people for something they already like doing, they may stop liking it. (e.g., doing your passion for work)