Textbook Review Flashcards
In Psych, Shawn assumes that Gus is late to a case because he doesn’t care about their work together, but it turns out Gus was simply stuck in traffic.
Fundamental Attribution Error: A tendency to attribute others’ behavior to internal characteristics (e.g., personality), rather than considering external situational factors.
Shawn makes a fundamental attribution error by assuming Gus’s lateness is due to his lack of interest in the case, when in fact, it was due to external circumstances (traffic).
In Gilmore Girls, Rory’s assumptions about how poorly her school day will go cause her to act negatively, making it harder for her to make connections at school and reinforcing her bad mood.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: A psychological phenomenon where a person’s beliefs or expectations about a situation lead them to act in ways that make those beliefs come true.
Rory’s belief that her day will be bad leads her to behave in ways (e.g., being rude) that ultimately make the day go poorly.
In Burn Notice, Michael Westen often adjusts his behavior based on the situation he’s in, carefully considering how others will interpret his actions in order to achieve his goals.
Construals: The way people perceive, comprehend, and interpret the social world around them.
Michael Westen construes situations by interpreting the intentions and motivations of others to craft a strategy that will allow him to succeed, showing how construals influence behavior.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan examines the skeletal remains of a murder victim. She finds that certain patterns of injuries suggest specific behaviors that are common in humans across cultures.
Evolutionary Psychology: A theoretical approach that explains social behavior in terms of evolutionary processes, including natural selection.
Dr. Brennan’s analysis draws on evolutionary psychology, noting that certain behaviors, such as the way humans engage in conflict, have evolutionary roots that can be identified through physical evidence.
In Community, when Troy and Abed get caught up in their imaginary games, they often make irrational decisions based on their overconfidence in the game’s rules and their own abilities.
Automatic Processing: The mental process of handling information quickly and effortlessly, often without conscious awareness.
Troy and Abed’s decisions are often based on automatic processing, where they act on impulse or intuition without fully considering the consequences.
In The Mentalist, Patrick Jane uses his observation of people’s subtle facial expressions to deduce their emotions, even when they try to hide them.
Emotional Mimicry: The unconscious or conscious copying of another person’s emotional expressions.
Patrick Jane’s ability to interpret emotions by observing and mimicking facial expressions is an example of emotional mimicry, which helps him understand how others are feeling, even when they’re trying to hide it.
In Phineas and Ferb, Ferb quietly watches as Phineas leads a grand scheme, knowing that Phineas enjoys the spotlight and doesn’t need any attention himself.
Individualistic Cultures: Cultures that emphasize individual achievements and personal goals.
Ferb’s passive participation in the schemes contrasts with individualistic culture values, where Phineas thrives in the spotlight, emphasizing personal achievement over group harmony.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan considers the cultural background and history of an individual while interpreting their remains. This shows how biology and culture influence behavior.
Cross-Cultural Human Behavior: The study of behaviors that are present across different cultures and societies, often considered in the context of evolutionary psychology.
Dr. Brennan’s analysis of the remains takes into account the person’s cultural and evolutionary background, demonstrating how certain behaviors transcend cultural boundaries.
Rory is preparing for a big debate competition. She evaluates the competition as extremely challenging and believes she isn’t prepared enough to succeed, causing her to feel anxious and doubt her abilities. What concept does this demonstrate?
Cognitive Appraisal: The process by which an individual evaluates and interprets a situation, often influencing their emotional response.
Rory’s feelings of doubt about her future are the result of a cognitive appraisal, where she perceives the situation as threatening to her sense of self, causing anxiety and self-doubt.
In Community, Jeff Winger uses sarcasm and humor to hide his insecurities about his future and relationships with others.
Coping Mechanism: A strategy or behavior that helps an individual deal with stress, emotions, or difficult situations.
Jeff’s use of sarcasm serves as a coping mechanism to mask his insecurities, particularly about his academic career and relationships with others.
In New Girl, Schmidt is constantly worried about how others perceive him, and does everything he can to appear as appealing as possible.
Self-Presentation Theory: The idea that people manage the impressions others have of them to create a desired social image.
Schmidt’s exaggerated actions are attempts to present himself as successful and confident, despite his internal feelings of inadequacy.
In Burn Notice, Michael Westen is able to bond with his colleagues through shared emotional experiences, which brings them closer together.
Social Functional Theory: The idea that emotions help people form and maintain social bonds and navigate social environments.
Michael uses emotions to foster bonds with his colleagues, recognizing the importance of emotional connections for maintaining strong and effective partnerships.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan experiences frustration when her assumptions about a case are challenged, but ultimately she learns to adjust her thinking when presented with new evidence.
Theories of Emotion: The different perspectives on how emotions arise, such as the James-Lange Theory or Cannon-Bard Theory.
Dr. Brennan’s shift in emotion based on new information illustrates how emotional responses can change with cognitive processing, a concept central to the study of emotional theories.
In Phineas and Ferb, the boys’ happiness and excitement about their inventions often lead to creative ideas that inspire others around them, showing how emotions can shape thought processes.
Broaden-and-Build Hypothesis: The idea that positive emotions broaden our thinking and help build resources for future challenges.
Phineas and Ferb’s excitement leads them to come up with inventive ideas that inspire others, demonstrating how positive emotions can enhance creativity and problem-solving.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth often discuss the importance of scientific methods in solving crimes, contrasting their beliefs with intuitive judgments. Why is it dangerous to rely on casual observations in understanding social behavior?
Folk Theories vs. Social Psychological Theories: Folk theories are informal, everyday explanations of social behavior based on personal experience or intuition, while social psychological theories are systematically tested through research.
Dr. Brennan’s scientific approach contrasts with Booth’s more intuitive one, emphasizing the potential danger of relying on folk theories. Without rigorous testing and evidence, we can easily fall into the trap of confirmation bias or hindsight bias, which lead to inaccurate or biased conclusions about human behavior.
In Psych, Shawn Spencer frequently jumps to conclusions and then retroactively justifies his actions when solving crimes. Which bias might explain his behavior?
Hindsight Bias: The tendency to believe, after the fact, that an event was predictable, even if there was no clear way of foreseeing it at the time.
Shawn often looks back at a case and convinces himself that the solution was obvious, even though it wasn’t clear in the moment. This is an example of hindsight bias, where he retrospectively reconstructs his understanding of an event.
In New Girl, Schmidt tends to believe that his social media posts will always go viral because of his “awesome” personality. If one of his posts does not go viral, he ignores it, continually insisting that his profile is very popular. What bias does Schmidt demonstrate?
Confirmation Bias: The tendency to search for, interpret, and favor information that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs.
Schmidt’s belief in his inevitable success leads him to focus on any positive feedback, ignoring potential signs of failure, thus reinforcing his existing belief that his posts will always be successful.
In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai is always skeptical of theories she hasn’t personally tested, preferring her own observations and experiences to more formal research. What does this illustrate about the scientific method?
Scientific Method: A systematic, evidence-based process for acquiring knowledge that involves making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing results.
Lorelai’s skepticism reflects a common misunderstanding of the scientific method, where casual observations and personal experiences are often not enough to draw reliable conclusions. Scientific theories require rigorous testing and replication, not just individual perspectives.
In Burn Notice, Michael Westen has to use observational research to gather intelligence about his targets. What is the role of observational research, and why is it useful?
Observational Research: A research method in which a researcher systematically observes and records behavior without manipulating the environment.
Michael uses observational research by watching suspects to gather information. This method helps researchers understand natural behavior in real-life settings, without intervention, allowing for more authentic data.
In Community, the characters are frequently shown looking through old yearbooks to solve mysteries or reconnect with the past. What type of research does this represent?
Archival Research: A research method that involves analyzing existing records or data to investigate a research question.
In Community, the characters’ exploration of yearbooks for clues is an example of archival research, where existing documents or records are used to understand past events or behaviors.
In Psych, Shawn often surveys people around town to get information about a case. How does a survey function in research?
Surveys: A method of gathering data through questionnaires or interviews to assess attitudes, opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of a group.
Shawn uses surveys by interviewing townspeople to collect information about a case, which is similar to how researchers use surveys to gather data from a sample population to make generalizations about a larger group.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan uses a correlation between the victim’s age and the type of injury to make a hypothesis about the crime. How does correlational research work, and why can it not establish causation?
Correlational Research: A research design used to examine the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them.
Dr. Brennan finds a relationship between the victim’s age and injury type, but she cannot conclude that age causes the injury. Correlation shows a relationship, but not causation, because there may be other underlying factors at play.
In The Mentalist, Patrick Jane sets up an experiment to see if his manipulation of a suspect’s behavior can influence their actions. What type of research design is Jane using?
Experimental Design: A research method in which researchers manipulate one or more independent variables to observe their effect on a dependent variable.
Jane is using an experimental design, where he manipulates the suspect’s actions (independent variable) to see how it affects their behavior (dependent variable), which allows for causal conclusions to be drawn.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan often measures the impact of different variables like location or victim background on crime outcomes. What are manipulated and measured variables in an experiment?
Manipulated vs. Measured Variables: In an experiment, manipulated variables (independent variables) are purposely changed by the researcher, while measured variables (dependent variables) are observed and measured to see how they are affected by the manipulation.
Dr. Brennan might manipulate a variable, such as the type of injury (independent), and measure its impact on solving the case (dependent).
In Psych, Shawn often uses a control group to see how a new technique works. Why is a control condition important in an experiment?
Control Condition: A condition in an experiment where participants are not exposed to the experimental treatment, allowing researchers to compare the experimental results with baseline behavior.
In Psych, Shawn’s use of a control group helps him measure whether the new technique actually improves outcomes or if the results were due to other factors.
In Phineas and Ferb, the characters conduct experiments to test their wild inventions. What are the advantages of using experiments in research?
Advantages of Experiments: Experiments allow researchers to control variables, manipulate independent variables, and establish cause-and-effect relationships.
Phineas and Ferb use experiments to test their inventions and determine if they will work as expected. This allows them to identify cause-and-effect relationships between the variables they manipulate, ensuring their inventions function as intended.
In Community, Abed often conducts research on cultural phenomena by observing people in their natural environment. What is a natural experiment?
Natural Experiment: A type of experiment in which natural events or conditions are used to study the impact of variables without the researcher’s direct manipulation.
Abed’s research is an example of a natural experiment, where he observes natural phenomena or behaviors without intervening, allowing him to explore how real-world conditions influence outcomes.
In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai’s spontaneous decisions often lead her to wonder if her choices are being influenced by her social group. How can a minority opinion affect a majority decision?
Minority Influence: A situation where a smaller group or individual can influence the majority opinion, often by presenting strong, consistent arguments.
In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai’s independent decisions, like her unconventional career path, influence the community around her, showing how minority views can shape or challenge the majority’s choices.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan uses a “foot-in-the-door” approach when she encourages the police to accept a small request before asking for a larger one. What is this technique?
Foot-in-the-Door Technique: A compliance method in which a small request is made first, followed by a larger request.
Dr. Brennan uses this technique by first asking for a small favor (such as a piece of evidence) before requesting something larger (such as the full cooperation of the police). This technique works because the person has already agreed to a small request and is more likely to agree to a larger one.
In Bones, Dr. Brennan constantly relies on her logical and scientific expertise to form conclusions, but she sometimes disregards emotional or social aspects that others take into account. How does this illustrate the concept of self-schemas?
Self-Schemas: A mental structure that organizes information about the self, based on past experiences and knowledge, and guides how we perceive ourselves and react to new situations.
Dr. Brennan’s self-schema revolves around her identity as a scientist, which leads her to focus solely on logical evidence, sometimes ignoring social and emotional factors. This impacts her interactions with others, as she views herself primarily through the lens of reason and often struggles with more subjective, social aspects of her life.
In Gilmore Girls, Rory sometimes feels differently about herself when she’s with different people. For instance, when she’s around her mother, she may feel more confident, but in the presence of her peers at Yale, she feels insecure. How does this illustrate the concept of the working self-concept?
Working Self-Concept: The self-concept that is activated in a given context, which may change depending on the social situation or environment.
Rory’s sense of self changes depending on her context. When she is with her mother, she feels supported and more confident. However, in the competitive environment of Yale, her self-concept shifts, and she feels more insecure due to the pressure and comparison with her peers.
In Psych, Shawn constantly identifies as a “psychic” to get himself out of tricky situations, even though he’s aware he’s just using observational skills. How does this behavior relate to the concept of the spontaneous self-concept, and how does McGuire and Padawer-Singer’s (1976) study support this?
Spontaneous Self-Concept: The self-concept that emerges in response to immediate, unplanned situations, highlighting aspects of the self that are relevant to the moment.
Shawn’s spontaneous self-concept shifts based on the situation. In the heat of the moment, when he needs to impress or deceive others, he calls himself a “psychic” to play into the immediate role he thinks is needed. McGuire and Padawer-Singer’s (1976) study showed that people’s self-concept can change depending on what is most relevant to their current environment, similar to how Shawn’s self-concept adapts to different situations.
In Community, Abed is constantly self-aware and analyzes how he fits into various social scenarios. How does this illustrate how well we know ourselves versus how well others know us?
Self-Knowledge vs. Other-Knowledge: Research suggests that we often know ourselves better in some ways (such as our internal thoughts) but are sometimes unaware of how others perceive us, which can lead to differing perceptions of the self.
Abed is very aware of his behaviors and how they align with his unique personality, but the other members of the study group have a more limited understanding of him. While they may see him as quirky or strange, Abed has a deeper self-awareness of why he acts the way he does, demonstrating how others’ perceptions of us can differ from our own self-knowledge.
In New Girl, Jess has a high self-esteem, even when her relationships are not going well. How does this illustrate the concept of self-esteem?
Self-Esteem: The overall evaluation of oneself, including feelings of self-worth and self-respect.
Jess’s high self-esteem allows her to maintain a positive outlook on herself, even in difficult circumstances like troubled relationships. Her ability to see her value, regardless of external situations, shows how self-esteem is a reflection of how we view ourselves, independent of the validation or approval from others.
In Burn Notice, Michael tries to avoid situations that could hurt his pride, like taking on missions that could end in failure. How does this demonstrate the contingencies of self-worth model?
Contingencies of Self-Worth: The idea that people’s self-esteem is influenced by how well they perform in certain domains, such as social approval or academic success.
Michael’s self-worth is closely tied to his success in completing missions and maintaining control over his life. He avoids failure because his self-esteem is contingent on his ability to succeed, particularly in situations where his professional identity is at stake.
In Bones, Angela always strives to be seen as a kind and compassionate person. She often takes on cases that require emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. How does this illustrate the motivation of self-enhancement?
Self-Enhancement Motive: The drive to maintain and increase one’s self-esteem by portraying oneself in a positive light.
Angela’s self-enhancement motivation is reflected in her efforts to be perceived as compassionate and understanding. She works hard to ensure that others see her as a caring person, which bolsters her self-esteem and supports her identity.
In Phineas and Ferb, Phineas often asserts that he’s good at everything, from building roller coasters to solving problems. How does this demonstrate the better-than-average effect?
Better-Than-Average Effect: The tendency for people to perceive themselves as above average in many areas, even in comparison to others.
Phineas consistently believes that he is exceptional at everything, from inventing to problem-solving. His tendency to view himself as better than average, regardless of the actual difficulty or skill required, reflects the better-than-average effect, where individuals overestimate their abilities compared to others.
In The Mentalist, Patrick Jane constantly seeks validation of his ability to solve crimes through his unique observation skills. How does this relate to the concept of self-verification?
Self-Verification: The motivation to confirm and maintain one’s self-concept by seeking feedback that is consistent with one’s established identity.
Patrick Jane’s actions reflect his self-verification motivation—he seeks validation that aligns with his self-concept as a skilled investigator. By solving crimes, he confirms his belief that he is a uniquely gifted individual, and this feedback reinforces his identity.
In Community, Jeff Winger often engages in self-handicapping by making excuses or acting as though he’s not fully committed to challenges. How does this illustrate a strategy for self-enhancement?
Self-Handicapping: A strategy in which individuals create obstacles or make excuses in advance to protect their self-esteem in case of failure.
Jeff Winger often uses self-handicapping to protect his image. By acting nonchalant or making excuses for his lack of effort, he ensures that if he fails, he can attribute it to external factors rather than a lack of ability, thereby protecting his self-esteem.
In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai constantly works hard to maintain her independence and avoid being seen as dependent on others. How does this illustrate self-presentation and the concept of face?
Self-Presentation: The process of controlling how others perceive us through behaviors and actions.
Face: The image of the self that people present to others in social interactions, which can be managed or threatened by external feedback.
Lorelai is focused on maintaining a “face” of independence, especially when interacting with her parents or other authority figures. She is careful not to appear dependent or needy, even when she may struggle privately, reflecting her self-presentation efforts to maintain a specific image in the eyes of others.
In Psych, Shawn often changes his behavior based on the person he is talking to, adapting his mannerisms and speech to suit different social situations. How does this relate to self-regulation?
Self-Regulation: The ability to control one’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts in pursuit of long-term goals or in response to immediate social demands.
Shawn’s ability to change his behavior based on the social context is an example of self-regulation. He adjusts his actions and speech to fit in with different social environments, such as when he acts more serious with law enforcement or more humorous with his friends, depending on the situation.
In The Mentalist, Jane uses his charm and wit to manipulate people into revealing information. How does this show how culture contributes to one’s sense of self?
Culture and Self: Culture plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s self-concept by influencing values, behaviors, and expectations.
Patrick Jane’s self-concept is influenced by his upbringing in a culture that values cleverness, manipulation, and social finesse. His ability to use charm and wit is a direct result of his cultural influences, which shaped his sense of self as someone who can control social interactions.
A student at Greendale Community College, who’s a part of the “Human Beings” study group, assumes that all jocks are unintelligent based on stereotypes of popular college athletes.
Stereotyping: A cognitive process in which people make assumptions about others based on group membership, often oversimplifying complex individual traits.
This student is stereotyping the jocks by assuming they are all unintelligent based on a broader cultural stereotype, which does not take into account the individuality of the people involved. Stereotypes can be positive, negative, or neutral, but they often lead to prejudice and discrimination.
In Bones, the team is solving a case where the victim is part of a religious minority. Angela and Brennan have differing reactions. Brennan has a bias due to her personal scientific values, while Angela feels empathy because she shares some cultural aspects with the victim’s community.
Prejudice: An attitudinal response toward a group or its members, which may manifest as positive or negative emotions.
In this case, Brennan may have negative feelings toward the victim’s group based on her own beliefs, whereas Angela’s empathy could be seen as a positive prejudice. Prejudice may be based on group affiliation rather than individual characteristics.
In Community, during a heated debate, Troy makes a derogatory comment about the Greendale mascot, unintentionally revealing his bias against students of a particular ethnic background.
Discrimination: Actions or behaviors that favor one group over another, based on group membership rather than individual qualities.
Troy’s actions toward the mascot can be considered discriminatory if he treats members of a group unfairly because of stereotypes or prejudices against them, even if the discrimination is unintentional.
Phineas and Ferb design an invention to address a problem in Danville, but a group of scientists in another town refuses to consider their idea, believing the kids are too young to have valuable insights.
Ingroup Favoritism: The tendency to favor members of one’s own group over those from other groups.
In this case, the scientists are showing ingroup favoritism by dismissing Phineas and Ferb’s idea because they belong to a different group (young inventors) and favor their own group’s expertise.
