Unit 14 - Social Psychology Flashcards
the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another
social psychology
the theory that we explain someones behavior by crediting either the situation or the persons disposition
- fritz heider
attribution theory
the tendency for observers, when analyzing other behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
fundamental attribution error
feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events
attitudes
occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
central route persuasion
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
- illustrates the impact of our actions on our attitudes
foot-in-door-phenomenon
role-playing on attitudes
role-playing most directly highlights the effects of actions on attitudes
Philip zimbardo’s stanford prison simulation
a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
role
the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent
when we become aware that out attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes
cognitive dissonance theory
mimicking those around us
chameleon effect
adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
stronger when the group is unanimous
Solomon Asch experiment - comparison lines
conformity
influence resulting from a persons desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
normative social influence
influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
informational social influence
even ordinary people, who are not usually hostile, can become agents of destruction
the “teachers” were more obedient that most people would have predicted
PP. 766-767
milgrams obedience experiments
improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others
social facilitation
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity
deindividuation
the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal that when individually accountable
social loafing
the enhancement of a groups prevailing attitudes through group discussion
group polarization
the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realist appraisal of alternatives
JFK - decision to invade Cuba
groupthink
the enduring behaviors, idead, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
culture
an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior
prescribe “proper” behavior
norms
unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members
discrimination
an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members. generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action
has decreased in the last half-century
prejudice
a generalized (sometimes accurate by often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people
stereotype
the tendency to favor our own group
ingroup bias
the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame
9/11 - hostility toward arab-americans
scapegoat theory
the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get
just-world phenomenon
any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy
aggression
the principle that frustration - the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal - creates anger, which can generate aggression
frustration-aggression principle
the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking them
positive relationship between proximity and liking
mere exposure effect
an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a love relationship
passionate love
the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
companionate love
the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
companionate love
a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it
equity
unselfish regard for the welfare of others
altruism
the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
bystander effect
the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs
social exchange theory
an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
an organization sends you something in the main and them expects a donation
reciprocity norm
an expectation that people will help those needing their help
social-responsibility norm
a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas
conflicts
a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest rather that the good of the group, become caughts in mutually destructive behavior
social trap
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
mirror-image perspectives
