Social Psychology & Personality Flashcards
What does the term ‘groupthink’ mean?
Members of a group simultaneously modify their opinions to align with what they think the group wants/believes.
What is the main function of defense mechanisms in Freud’s theory?
To protect ego from anxiety and unwanted thoughts or feelings by unconsciously distorting reality.
What is the fundamental attribution error?
Tendency, when analyzing other’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation, and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition.
What is social facilitation, and when does it occur?
People tend to perform better on simple tasks when they are being watched or surrounded by others, compared to when they are alone.
What is the bystander effect?
Tendency for any given bystander t be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.
What are the three main components of attitudes?
Affective component (how I feel about you)
Behavioral component (how I act with you)
Cognitive component (how I think about you)
What is the definition of cognitive dissonance?
Discomfort that arises when our attitudes, thoughts, and/or behaviors are inconsistent.
What is social loafing?
Tendency for individuals to reduce effort (slack off) when tasks are shared.
Who developed the concept of obedience in his experiments involving shock delivery to participants?
Stanley Milgram
What does Albert Bandura’s concept of reciprocal determinism involve?
Situations, behaviors, and thoughts all interact to produce personality in reciprocal determinism.
What are the Big Five personality traits?
Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Argreeableness, and Neuroticism
What is the difference between an in-group and an out-group?
An in-group is a social group that a person identifies with and considers themselves a member of.
An out-group is any group that a person does not belong to and therefore views as different from themselves.
Who developed the psychodynamic theory of personality?
Sigmund Freud
What is the primary focus of trait theories of personality?
Argues that all of us can be described by our levels of certain traits, or ways of being.
