Unit 4 Flashcards
attribution Theory
how individuals perceive events
dispositional attribution
one’s behavior is due to internal feelings, thoughts and conflicts
situational attribution
explains behavior through external factors
fundamental attribution error
judging others
- tendency to judge people’s behavior and base it on their character and personality
(Ex: assuming someone speeding is a jerk)
actor-observer bias
attributing our behavior to situations vs. others to internal factors
self-serving bias
judging ourselves
- attributing failures to external factors but successes to internal ones
Ex: we lost the game cuz of the ref
locus of control
a person’s belief about how much control they have over the events in their lives
internal locus of control
belief that you have the power to shape your future through your actions
external locus of control
belief that outside forces are in control; luck and fate
mere exposire effect
we develop a preference for things we are familiar with and exposed to frequently
self-fulfilling prophecy
expectation leads to fulfillment
- expectation becomes reality
Ex: student doesn’t think they will do well on test, so they don’t study, so they don’t do well
social comparison
naturally we compare ourselves and our situation to others
relative deprivation
feeling that you are worse off that the people you associate with and compare yourself to
stereotype
widely held, simplified belief about a group
prejudice
negative attitude/emotional reaction towards a person based on their membership on a group
discrimination
unjustifiable behavior that is harmful to a person
just world phenomenon
cognitive bias that people tend to believe the world is fair and just
- leads to victim blaming
Ex: reckless driver gets pulled over one mile later
outgrip
a person that does not belong to a specific group
in-group
a group who share common characteristics
out-group homogeneity bias
people tend to see members of outgrips more similar to each other than members of their own in-group
in-group bias
tendency to favor people within the in-group
ethnocentrism
belie that ones own cultural/ethnic group is superior
cognitive dissonance
mental discomfort when someone holds conflicting, beliefs, values and attitudes
scapegoat theory
two differing group unite against a common threat or enemy
informational social influence
willingness to accept others opinions since they assume that they must know more than oneself
normative social influence
agreeing to gain approval
conformity
the act of changing ones behavior and beliefs to align with norms of a group
central route to persuasion (high elaboration)
uses face and data to convince people of an arguments worthiness
peripheral route to persuasion (low elaboration)
uses cues associated with positive messages
Ex: a celebrity name attached to an brand or a funny song in an ad
halo effect
occurs when a person’s overall impression of someone is based on one characteristic
Ex: she’s pretty so she must be smart and outgoing
foot in the door technique
asking for something small and then asking for something larger upon agreement
door in the face technique
asking for something large and then asking for something smaller to still get what you want
obedience
performing an action under the orders of a perceived authority figure
individualism
focusses on self expression, promotes privacy, business is competitive, leadership
collectivism
group is important, teamwork and respect, focus on membership
multiculturalism
acceptance of different cultures in a society by both majority and minority
group polarization
like-minded people reinforce their opinions resulting in even more extreme opinions
groupthink
when the desire for harmony or conformity results in a irrational or dysfunctional decision making outcome
bystander effect
leads to
- diffusion of responsibility
- fear of judgement
diffusion of responsibility
when people feel less responsible for their actions since others are present
social loafing
people exert less effort to achieve a goal when they work in a group
deindividuation
loss of self-awareness and identity in groups
- can lead people to say and do things they might not otherwise do
social facilitation
improved performance in front of a group
Ex: playing better when you have friends in the crowd of a soccer game
social inhibition
worsened performance in front of a group
Ex: stage fright
false consensus effect
overestimating the agreement from others
- assuming others see the world the same way you do
superordinate goals
shared goals that require cooperation between multiple groups
- reduces conflict
social trap
self-interest over unity
- actions are done for immediate reqards
altruism
selfless concern for the wellbeing of others
social reciprocity norm
expectation that people will help, not hurt others who have helped them in the past
social responsibility norm
societal expectation that we will assist others in need with expecting anything in return
psychodynamic theory
development by Freud
- unconscious processes guide behavior
- ex: defense mechanisms
id
unconscious mind
- the devil on your shoulder
- impulsive part of brain that responds immediately to desires
- driven by pleasure
superego
preconscious mind
- angel on your shoulder
- incorporates values and morals
- controls id impulses
ego
conscious mind
- helps mediate id’s desires and superego
s morality
ego defense mechanisms
unconscious psychological processes that help people cope with anxiety and stress
repression
blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feeling and impulses from conscious memory
regression
reverting to child like tendencies and behaviors
projection
accuse someone else of having your feeling or behaving the way you do
displacement
an emotion is redirected to a more accessible outlet
Ex: getting mad and becoming violent
reaction formation
acting in a way opposite of an unacceptable emotion/feeling
Ex: being fake to someone, hating on a college after they reject you
rationalization
devising a social excuse or explanation to justify an uncomfortable feeling
Ex: we lost due to the ref
denial
refusal to accept reality or fact
sublimation
channeling unacceptable impulses, thought, emotions into more acceptable ones
Ex: using humor when your nervous
projective tests
personality assessment that ask people to interpret random stimuli
rorschach inkblot test
asked people what random blobs of ink remind them of the access unconscious thoughts
thematic apperception test
asked to tell a story
- anxieties, impulses and inner thoughts will come out in the character or nature of the story
humanistic theory
emphasizes the potential for healthy people to grow and change
FREE WILL
unconditional positive regard
accepting and supporting someone without judgement
Ex: parent picking up a kid from a party no matter what with no questions asked
self actualizing tendency
inherent human drive to reach one’s full potential
- natural drive to be better
heirarchy of needs
needs need to be met to be motivated for higher levels
Ex: you need food and shelter in order to even begin to be motivated to try for a higher job or sports team
ideal self
this version of oneself that a person aspires to be
real self
a person’s current self-concept
social-cognitive theory
explains how a person’s personality is shaped by their thoughts, behaviors and environment
reciprocal determinism
beliefs lead to behaviors that are adapted to social environment
- rewards and punish for environments
Ex: college student is shy and believes no one will like them
self-efficacy
task-specific, self-confidence, perception of capabilities
self-esteem
degree to which self-concept is perceived to be positive
trait theory
theory that we are more interested n describing our own personality rather that explain
big five theory of personality
describes a person’s personality using 5 traits
openness to experience vs. close minded
willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone and embrace novelty or not
conscientiousness vs. lack of direction
able regulate, control and direct impulses vs. unable to resist urges
extraversion vs. introversion
energy comes from social interactions vs. taking a break from social things
agreeableness vs. antagonistic
gets along with others vs. difficult making and keeping
emotional stability vs. neuroticism
tendency to experience negative emotions vs. able to handle stress adapt to change and regulate emotions
