Unit 14: Social Psychology

Question 1

Attribution Theory

Answer 1

The theory that we can explain someone’s behavior by crediting the situation or the person’s disposition

Question 2

Social Psychology

Answer 2

The scientific study oh how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Question 3

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 3

The tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of situation and overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Question 4

Attitude

Answer 4

Feeling; often influenced by our beliefs, that prejudice our response in a particular way to objects, people, and events

Question 5

Central Route Persuasion

Answer 5

Attitude change path in which interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
(often influenced by facts or reliable statistics)

Question 6

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Answer 6

Attitude change where people are influenced by incidental or non relevant cues (ex.attractiveness)

Question 7

Role

Answer 7

A set of norms or expectations about a social position, defining how those in that position should behave

Question 8

Conformity

Answer 8

Adjusting ones behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Question 9

Normative Social Conformity

Answer 9

Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or advice disapproval

Question 10

Informational Social Conformity

Answer 10

Influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions as reality; believe that others know something we do not

Question 11

Social Facilitation

Answer 11

Stronger responses on simple well-learned task when in the presence of others (ex. Bicyclists)

Question 12

Social Loafing

Answer 12

Tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts towards attaining a common goal
(as opposed to when individually accountable)

Question 13

Deindividuation

Answer 13

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal (social not sexual) and anonymity (lack of individual identity)

Question 14

Group Polarization

Answer 14

The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion with the group

Question 15

Norm

Answer 15

An understood rule for accepted and expected behavior (proper)

Question 16

Personal Space

Answer 16

A buffer zone people generally like to maintain around their bodies

Question 17

Prejudice

Answer 17

An unjustifiable (and often negative) attitude towards a group and its members; generally involves stereotypes, negative feelings, and predisposition to discriminatory acts

Question 18

Stereotype

Answer 18

A generalized (but not always accurate) belief about a group of people

Question 19

Discrimination

Answer 19

Unjustifiable negative behavior towards a group and its members

Question 20

Groupthink

Answer 20

The mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives

Question 21

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Answer 21

The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent

Ex. An animal-lover that also eats meat

Question 22

Culture

Answer 22

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Question 23

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

Answer 23

The tendency for people who first agree to a small request to comply with a large request

Question 24

Other-race effect

Answer 24

The tendency to recall faces on your own race better than that of others

“Cross-race effect” or “own-race effect”

Question 25

Reciprocity norm

Answer 25

Expectation that one will help, not hurt, those that help them

Question 26

Social Responsibility Norm

Answer 26

Expectation that people will help those dependent on them

Question 27

Conflict

Answer 27

A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

Question 28

Just-World Phenomenon

Answer 28

Belief you get what you deserve and deserve what you get

Question 29

Aggression

Answer 29

Any behavior intended to hurt or destroy

Question 30

Frustration-Aggression principle

Answer 30

Frustration causes anger which can lead to aggression

Question 31

Social trap

Answer 31

When each person is pursuing their own interest, it can lead to mutually destructive behaviors and consequences

Question 32

Mirror-Image effect

Answer 32

Sides with mirror views see themselves as good and right and others as bad or wrong

Question 33

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 33

Belief that leads to its own fulfillment

Question 34

Superordinate goal

Answer 34

A common goal that requires the groups or individuals to be put aside differences to achieve

Question 35

Mere exposure effect

Answer 35

Repetition of stimuli increases positive feelings towards them

Question 36

Passionate love

Answer 36

Aroused state; intense positive emotions that are usually only present at the beginning of a relationship

Question 37

GRIT

Answer 37

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiative in Tension Reduction

Question 38

Companionate love

Answer 38

Deep affectionate attachment, long lasting

Question 39

Equity

Answer 39

A person receives from a relationship in proportion to what they give

Question 40

Ingroup

Answer 40

Us; a group of people who share a common identity

Question 41

Outgroup

Answer 41

Them; anyone who doesn’t share the ingroup’s opinion

Question 42

Ingroup bias

Answer 42

The tendency to side with ones own group

Question 43

Scapegoat theory

Answer 43

Theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

Question 44

Self-disclosure

Answer 44

Revealing intimate details

Question 45

Altruism

Answer 45

Unselfish regard for others

Question 46

Social exchange theory

Answer 46

Aim to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks based on one’s behavior