Unit 14 (social psychology) Flashcards
Social psychology
The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
Attribution theory
The theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition
fundamental attribution error
the tendency for observance, when analyzing another’s behavior, to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
attitude
feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events
central route persuasion
attitude changes path in which interested people form on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
peripheral route persuasion
attitude change path in which people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness
foot in the door
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
roles
a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
cognitive dissonance theory
theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent
chameleon effect
unconsciously mimicking others expressions, postures, and voice tones to help us feel what they are feeling
mood linkage
sharing ups and downs with the type of people around them
conformity
adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
normative social influence
influences resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
information social influence
influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others opinions about reality
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 effort toward attaining a common goal then when individually accountable (doing less in group projects)
deindividuation
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity
group polarization
the enhancement of group’s prevailing inclinations through discussions within the group (prejudice people are put together and their attitudes increase and vise versa)
groupthink
the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives
culture
the enduring behavior, idea,s attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
norm
an understood rule for accepted and ejected behaviors
personal space
the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies
social control
the power of the situation
personal control
the power of the individual
minority influence
the power of one or two individuals to many majorities
prejudice
an unjustifiable attitude towards a group and its members
stereotypes
a generalized belief about a group of people
discrimination
unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members
blame the victim
holding the victim of a crime, accident, or any type of maltreatment to be entirely or partially responsible for the transgressions committed against them
social identities
we associate ourselves with certain groups and contrast ourselves with others
ingroup
“us” people with whom we share a common identity
outgroup
“them” those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup
just-world phenomenon
the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve
scapegoat theory
the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame
outgroup homogeneity
overestimating the similarity of those within our groups
other race effect
the tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races
frustration aggression principle
the principle that frustration; the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal creates anger, which can generate aggression
social scripts
mental tapes for how to act, provided by ones culture
mere exposure effect
the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them
passionate love
an arousal state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a love relationship
compassionate love
the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
equity
a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it
self disclosure
revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others
altruism
unselfish regard for the welfare of others
bystander effect
the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
social exchange theory
the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs
reciprocity norm
an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
social responsibility norm
an expectation that people will help those dependent upon them
conflict
a perceived incompatibility of action, goals, or ideas
social trap
a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior
mirror image perception
mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive
self fulfilling prophecy
a belief that leads to its own fulfillment
superordinate goals
a shared goal that override differences among people and require their cooperation
GRIT (Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction)
a strategy designed to decrease international tensions
