Topic 3: Chapter 12 Social Psychology

Question 1

Define:

Diffusion of Responsibility

Answer 1

Lowered feelings of personal obligation to respond to somone in need, because others might respond instead

Question 2

Define:

Social Cognition

Answer 2

People’s beliefs, opinions, and feelings about the individuals and groups with whom they interact with

Question 3

What are the 3 main topics of social cognition

Answer 3

Attributions, attitudes, and sterotypes

Question 4

Define:

Attributions

Answer 4

Beliefs about the causes of social behavior

Question 5

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 5

Pattern of thinking in which people underestimate the causal influence of situational factors on people’s behavior and overestimate the causal influence of personal factors.

Question 6

Explanation of unintentional behavior

Answer 6

Causes lead to behavior

Question 7

Explanation of intentional behavior

Answer 7

Reasons lead to intention which leads to behavior

Question 8

Define:

Attitudes

Answer 8

A combined thought and feeling directed towards some person, object, or idea

Question 9

Systematic information processing

Answer 9

Careful, detailed step-by-step thinking

Question 10

Heuristic information processing

Answer 10

Thinking that uses mental shortcuts or rules of thumb.

Question 11

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 11

An uncomfortable state that exists when people recognize two contrary ideas or actions that are not sensibly put together

Question 12

Mere exposure affect

Answer 12

The phenomenon where a person’s attitude towards an object becomes positive due to being repeatedly exposed to it.

Question 13

Close relationships

Answer 13

One-on-one interactions in which a person is in frequent contact with, and feels a strong connection to, another person. 

Question 14

Collectivistic

Answer 14

In the study of cultural variations, a pattern of cultural beliefs and values that emphasizes individuals’ ties to larger groups such as family, community, and nation. 

Question 15

Compliance

Answer 15

Agreement to an explicit request

Question 16

Confederate

Answer 16

A person that works with a research experience and poses as a participant

Question 17

Conformity

Answer 17

Altering person’s behavior to fit social norms

Question 18

Cross-cultural study

Answer 18

Research procedures carried out in different countries

Question 19

Crowds

Answer 19

Large gatherings of people who do not necessarily know one another. 

Question 20

Culture

Answer 20

People’s shared beliefs and the social practices that reflect those beliefs. 

Question 21

Discrimination

Answer 21

(1) In the study of learning, a process in which organisms distinguish between stimuli, responding to one stimulus but not another.  (2) In social psychology, unjust treatment of people based on their group membership. 

Question 22

Disrupt-then-reframe technique

Answer 22

A compliance strategy in which targets of compliance efforts are distracted, so they cannot formulate negative thoughts about a compliance request. 

Question 23

Foot-in-the-door technique

Answer 23

A compliance strategy in which someone first makes a small request, in order to later convince people to comply with a larger request. 

Question 24

Group dynamics

Answer 24

Psychological processes involving communication, conflict, and pressure among group members. 

Question 25

Groups

Answer 25

Collections of people who know and communicate with each other, have distinctive roles (e.g., a group leader), and may work together toward a common goal. 

Question 26

Groupthink

Answer 26

A decision-making phenomenon in which group members are so motivated to avoid disagreement, and to reach a shared decision, that they do not properly evaluate the quality of the decision they are reaching. 

Question 27

Individualistic

Answer 27

In the study of cultural variations, a pattern of cultural beliefs and values that emphasizes individual rights to pursue happiness, speak freely, and “be yourself.” 

Question 28

Obedience

Answer 28

Adherence to the instructions and commands of an authority figure. 

Question 29

Prejudice

Answer 29

A negative attitude toward individuals based on their group membership, involving disparaging thoughts and feelings about individuals in a group. 

Question 30

Role

Answer 30

A set of behaviors that is expected of a person in a given situation. 

Question 31

Scapegoating

Answer 31

Blaming members of another group when frustrated with one’s own circumstances. 

Question 32

Social behavior

Answer 32

Behavior that occurs in interaction with other people. 

Question 33

Social neuroscience

Answer 33

A field of study that explores biological systems in the brain that underlie social cognition and behavior. 

Question 34

Social norm

Answer 34

A socially shared belief about the type of behavior that is acceptable in any given setting. 

Question 35

Stereotype threat

Answer 35

A negative emotional reaction that occurs when people recognize the possibility of their confirming a negative stereotype about their group.