Unit 4a: Social Psychology Flashcards
Social Psychology
how we think about, influence, and relaton one another
- how do humans function together
Attribution Theory
we will typically explain someon’e behavior by crediting their disposition and situation.
Disposition
internal factors
Situation
External Factors
Actor/Observer Bias
tendency to make situational attributions for our own behaviors while making dispostional attributions
Fundamental Attribution Error
When explaining the behavior of others, our tendency to :
- overemphasize dispostional factors
- underestimate situational factors.
Self-Serving Bias
tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors
ex. I got an A+ because I’m smart, but last year, I got a B because the teacher was mean.
Explanatory Styles
a perosn’a habitual way of explaining the events of their lives.
- pessimistic or optimistic
Pessimistic Style
associated with depression and helplessness.
Optimistic Style
associated with better mental health and resilience.
Mere Exposure Effect
People tend to devlop a preference for things solely because they are familiar with them.
Halo Effect
Cognitive Bias that occurs when an initial positive judgement about a person unconsciously colors the perception of the individual as a whole .
ex. assuming pretty people are more competent.
Internal Locus of Control
belief that one has control over their own life and outcomes are a result of of their own actions and decisions.
associated w/ better life success and self-perception
External Locus of Control
belief that external forces such as fate, luck, or other people have control over one’s life and outcomes.
associated w/ negative self-perception and helplessness
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
belief/expection that influences behavior in a way that causes the belieif to become true.
aka Pygamalion Effect
can apply to others or self
Social Comparison
process of comparing oneself to others to evaluate one’s won abilities, opinions, an overall self-worth.
- upward: compare to the better
-downward: compare to the worse
Relative Deprivation
Perception that someone is worse off compared to others, leading to feelings of discontent and resentment.
expectations are a result of observing other people.
Attitude
beliefs, feelings, and behaviors toward a particular object, person, or event.
Cognitive Load
total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory
high cognitive Load can make it difficult to process info and impacts performance
Implicit Attitudes
attitudes that are automatic, unconscious, and not easily controlled.
to avoid cognitive load, our minds rely on implicit attitudes
Stereotype
widely held, oversimplified beliefs or ideas about a particular group of people.
Prejudice
preconcieved opinion/feeling that is negative toward a group.
Discrimination
unfair/unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a particular group.
Just-World Phenomenon
belief that the world is fair and people get what they deserve
In- Group Bias
tendency to favor members of one’s own groups over thos in other groups
Out-Group Homogenity Bias
tendency to view members of another group as more similr to each other than members of one’s in group
can lead to stereotyping
Ethnocentrism
belief in the inherent superioty of one’s own ethnic group or culture.
Belief Preserverance
tendency to hold on to one’s beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence.
Cognitive Disonance
psychological discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes.
Social Norms
implicit/explicit rules that a group has for the acceptable behaviors, values, and beliefs of its members.
Social Influence theory
one’s thoughts,feelings, and behvaiors are influnced by others compliance, conformity, and/or obedience
Compliance
behavior change based on a request
conformity
behavior change based on social pressure
obedience
behavior change based on instruction from an authority.
Normative Social Influence
we conform because we want to liked and accepted by ohers
Informational Social Influence
we conform because we see others as a source of infor
Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuassion
we use motivation, ability, and opportunity to elaborate using central or peripheral route
Central Route
high level elaboration
deep processing of info and individuals are motivated
Peripheral Route
low level elaboration
aspects such as presentation of message and the presenter are more important than the message
Foot-in-the-Door Technique
persuasion strategy in which a person makes a small request that is likely to be accepted, followed by a larger request.
Door-in-the-Face Technique
persuasion strategy in which a person makes a large request that is expected to be refused, followed by a small request.
Cultural Dimensions
some countries are individualistic and some are collectivistic
Individualism
- individual takes care of themselves and immediate family only.
- “I”
- personal opinion viewed
- Work to benefit self
Collectivism
- individual takes care of community
- “we”
- shared values, ideas, opinions
-working for groups benefit
Group Polarization
tendency for group discussion to intensify the initial learnings of the members.
Group Think
phenomenon that occurs when a group values harmony and coherence over accurate analysis and critical evaluation.
leads to poor decision
Cultural Dimension
Some countries are individualistic while some are more collectivistic
Group Polarization
tendency for group discussion to intensify the initial leanings of the members.
Group Think
phenomenon that occurs when a group values harmony and coherence over accurate analysis and critical evaluation.
leads to poor decision making
Diffusion of Responsiblity
phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to take action or feel responsible when others are present.
can lead to inaction
Bystander Effect
phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present.
probability of help is inversely related to the number of bystanders.
due to a perceived diffusion of responsibility.
Social Loafing
tendency for individuals to put in less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone.
due to a perceived diffusion of responsibility.
Deindividuation
psychological state characterized by loss of self-awareness and a diminished sense of personal responsibility
likely in situations that:
foster anonymity
increase arousal
Social Facilitation
tendency for people to perform better on tasks when in the presence of others.
differs from social loafing because the individual is evaluated
False Consensus Effect
tendency to overestimate how much others share our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.
Superordinate Goals
shared goals that require the cooperation of two or more groups to achieve.
can reduce intergroup conflict by encouraging collaboration
Social Traps
conflict of interest where people act to obtain short-term individual gains, which in the long run leads to a loss for the larger group as a whole.
can impede cooperation
Altruism
selfless concern for the well-being of others.
motivated by desire to help without expectation of any reward
Prosocial Behavior
voluntary behavior intended to benefit others, such as helping, sharing, and comforting.
Social Debt
obligation to repay others for the help and support they have provided.
some researchers claim that this is the actual motivation for prosocial behavior
Social Reciprocity Norm
expectation that one will respond to a positive action with another positive action, thus rewarding kind actions.
promotes mutual help and cooperation
Social Responsibility Norm
societal rule that people should help those who need assistance, even if they will not receive anything in return.
emphasizes the duty to help others based on moral principles.
