Unit 14: Social Psychology Flashcards
Attribution Theory
The theory that we can explain someone’s behavior by crediting the situation or the person’s disposition
Social Psychology
The scientific study oh how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
Fundamental Attribution Error
The tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of situation and overestimate the impact of personal disposition
Attitude
Feeling; often influenced by our beliefs, that prejudice our response in a particular way to objects, people, and events
Central Route Persuasion
Attitude change path in which interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
(often influenced by facts or reliable statistics)
Peripheral Route Persuasion
Attitude change where people are influenced by incidental or non relevant cues (ex.attractiveness)
Role
A set of norms or expectations about a social position, defining how those in that position should behave
Conformity
Adjusting ones behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
Normative Social Conformity
Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or advice disapproval
Informational Social Conformity
Influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions as reality; believe that others know something we do not
Social Facilitation
Stronger responses on simple well-learned task when in the presence of others (ex. Bicyclists)
Social Loafing
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)
Deindividuation
The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal (social not sexual) and anonymity (lack of individual identity)
Group Polarization
The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion with the group
Norm
An understood rule for accepted and expected behavior (proper)
Personal Space
A buffer zone people generally like to maintain around their bodies
Prejudice
An unjustifiable (and often negative) attitude towards a group and its members; generally involves stereotypes, negative feelings, and predisposition to discriminatory acts
Stereotype
A generalized (but not always accurate) belief about a group of people
Discrimination
Unjustifiable negative behavior towards a group and its members
Groupthink
The mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
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
Culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon
The tendency for people who first agree to a small request to comply with a large request
Other-race effect
The tendency to recall faces on your own race better than that of others
“Cross-race effect” or “own-race effect”
Reciprocity norm
Expectation that one will help, not hurt, those that help them
Social Responsibility Norm
Expectation that people will help those dependent on them
Conflict
A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas
Just-World Phenomenon
Belief you get what you deserve and deserve what you get
Aggression
Any behavior intended to hurt or destroy
Frustration-Aggression principle
Frustration causes anger which can lead to aggression
Social trap
When each person is pursuing their own interest, it can lead to mutually destructive behaviors and consequences
Mirror-Image effect
Sides with mirror views see themselves as good and right and others as bad or wrong
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Belief that leads to its own fulfillment
Superordinate goal
A common goal that requires the groups or individuals to be put aside differences to achieve
Mere exposure effect
Repetition of stimuli increases positive feelings towards them
Passionate love
Aroused state; intense positive emotions that are usually only present at the beginning of a relationship
GRIT
Graduated and Reciprocated Initiative in Tension Reduction
Companionate love
Deep affectionate attachment, long lasting
Equity
A person receives from a relationship in proportion to what they give
Ingroup
Us; a group of people who share a common identity
Outgroup
Them; anyone who doesn’t share the ingroup’s opinion
Ingroup bias
The tendency to side with ones own group
Scapegoat theory
Theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame
Self-disclosure
Revealing intimate details
Altruism
Unselfish regard for others
Social exchange theory
Aim to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks based on one’s behavior
