Social Thinking Flashcards
Attribution
Conclusion about the cause of an observed behavior / event
Theory includes situational and dispositional aspects
Situational Attribution
Attributing the cause of an event to factors outside of the person doing the action
eg. peer pressure
Dispositional Attribution
Attributing the cause of an event to the person’s stable, enduring traits, personality, ability, emotions
Fundamental Attribution Error [Towards Others]
Common in western, individualistic cultures
Assuming that an event / person’s behavior is caused by dispositional factors such as personality; overemphasizes dispositional attribution and underemphasizes situational
Eg. Williams College study: un/friendly woman
Fundamental Attribution Error [Towards Self]
When we explain our own behavior, we tend emphasize situational factors instead of dispositional; although we take personal credits for success
Applies to self and ppl we relate to
Collective Cultures and Implications on Attribution
Those that emphasize group unity / purpose over individual wishes
- behavior of others is attributed to situational factors
- credit for success is given more to others
- blame for failures is taken on self
Attitudes
Feelings, ideas, and beliefs that affect how we approach and react to other ppl, objects, and events
Affects / affected by actions
Central Route Persuasion
Going directly thru the rational mind, influencing attitudes w/ evidence / logic
“My product has been proven more effective”
Peripheral Route Persuasion
Changing attitudes by going around the rational mind, appealing to fears, desires, and associations
“Jennifer Aniston uses my product! So does Ryan Gosling!”
When does attitude affect our actions?
- External influences are minimal
- The attitude is stable
- The attitude is spec to the behavior
- The attitude is easily recalled
eg. eating at McDonald’s
Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon
A mechanism in which an action directs our attitude
The tendency to be more likely to agree to a large request after agreeing to a small one; this happens b/c ppl adjust their attitudes along w/ their actions
eg. agreeing to sign a petition and then donate
Role Play
A mechanism in which a series of actions direct our attitude
Playing / adopting a role may eventually lead us into becoming the role we play even though we consciously know that we’re pretending
eg. Standford Prison Study
Cognitive Dissonance
A mechanism in
Event in which our actions are not in harmony w/ our attitudes
Theory: we tend to resolve this dissonance by changing our attitudes to fit our actions
eg. Festinger’s Study: paying students to say activity is fun; less pay yielded action-attitude consistency
