Social Psychology (Modules 56-59) Flashcards
Social Psychologists
Studies how we think about, influence and relate to one another
Attribution Theory
We explain someone’ behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition
Fundamental Attribution Error
Overestimating the influence of personality and underestimating the influence of the sitaution
Self-serving bias
A readiness to perceive oneself favorably
Attitudes
Feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond tin a particular way to objects, people and events
Peripheral route to persuasion
Occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness
Central route to persuasion
Occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable routes
Foot-in-the-door phenomenon
The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
Role
A set of explanations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
Summarize Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment.
Zimbardo organized a prison simulation in which some assumed the role of the prisoner and others the role of prison guard. The guards became increasingly hostile and aggressive to the prisoners to the point where prisoners were no longer safe and the experiment had to end early.
Festinger’s Cognitive Dissonance Theory
We act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent.
Ex. The US invasion of Iraq was justified by the perceived threat of weapons of mass destruction. When weapons of mass destruction weren’t found, many revised their purpose – to spread democracy throughout the Middle East and liberate oppressed people.
What is the chameleon effect?
The tendency to unconsciously mimic others’ expressions, postures and voice tones to feel what others are feeling
Conformity
Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
Summarize Asch’s Conformity Experiments.
Asch presented a standard line and a set of comparison lines to a group. People were supposed to identify the comparison line that was identical to the standard line. Though the answer was fairly obvious, then confederates gave the same wrong answer, the participant showed discomfort for not agreeing and was more likely to provide the wrong answer.
Normative Social Influence
Influence resulting form a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
Informational Social Influence
Influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
Summarize Milgrim’s Obedience Experiments.
Milgrim seemingly randomly assigned teacher and learner roles, when in actuality, learners were taking up by confederates. “Teachers” were supposed to “teach” by shocking learners at higher and higher voltages. Shocks weren’t actually administered; the learners only pretended. When learners showed distress and the experimenter asked teachers to continue, they did.
Explain how the foot-in-the-door effect explains Milgrim’s experiment results.
Teachers, having administering lower voltage shocks, figured they could comply to the experimenter’s commands – what’s a little more shock?
Social Facilitation
Stronger response on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others
Social Loafing
The tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable
What two things cause social loafing?
People feel less accountable and view their contributions as dispensable.
Deindividuation
The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity – abandon normal restraints to power of the group
Ex. Cyberbullying
Group Polarization
The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group
