Unit #8

Question 1

actor-observer bias

Answer 1

the tendency for actors to explain behavior based on external attributions and observers tend to blame behavior on internal attributions

Question 2

attributions

Answer 2

influences that people draw about the causes of events, others’ behavior, and their own behavior

Question 3

bystander effect

Answer 3

people are less likely to provide needed help when they are in a group than when alone

Question 4

conformity

Answer 4

when people yield to real or imagined social pressure
ex) buying a pair of popular shoes

Question 5

elaboration likelihood model or attitude change

Answer 5

attitude changes from the peripheral route (persuasion depends on nonmessage factors) will not be as strong as attitude changes from the central route (carefully pondering the content and logic of persuasive messages)

Question 6

factors that lead to initial attraction

Answer 6

favored physical attractiveness as well as certain personality characteristics
women- focus on social status of partner
men- focus on physical attractiveness of women

Question 7

fundamental attribution error

Answer 7

observers’ bias in favor of internal attributions in explaining the behavior of others while actors favor external attributions for behaviors

Question 8

group polarization

Answer 8

when group discussion strenghens a group’s dominant pov and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision

Question 9

group think

Answer 9

members of a cohesive group emphasize concurrence at the expense of critical thinking in arriving at decisions

Question 10

illusory correlation effect

Answer 10

when we see an assoc. with two variables when they are not related, underestimates the # of disconfirmations encountered
ex) I have never met an honest lawyer

Question 11

implicit attitudes

Answer 11

covert attitudes that are expressed in subtle automatic responses over which one has little conscious control over
ex) staying away from dogs because of past experiences

Question 12

explicit attitudes

Answer 12

attitudes that one holds consciously and can readily describe
ex) supporting women rights

Question 13

individualism

Answer 13

focuses on individual traits

Question 14

collectivism

Answer 14

stresses importance of the community

Question 15

in-group

Answer 15

group that one belongs in and identifies with (seen in a more positive light)
ex) a family

Question 16

out-group

Answer 16

group that one does not belong to or identify with

Question 17

4 basic elements involved in persuasion

Answer 17

source-person who sends communication
message-information transmitted by the source
channel-the medium though which the message is sent
receiver-to whom the message was sent

Question 18

Leon Festinger’s study on cognitive dissonance

Answer 18

an inconsistency among beliefs or behaviors results in uncomfortable psychological tension
-volunteers paid $1 or $20
-$20 participants suffered no cognitive dissonance because they could justify lying for payment
-$1 participants began thinking that the task was more interesting than they initially thought it was

Question 19

matching hypothesis

Answer 19

people are more likely to form a committed relationship with someone who is equally as attractive (socially or physically)

Question 20

passionate love

Answer 20

a complete absorption in another that includes tender sexual feelings and the agony and ecstasy of intense emotion

Question 21

companionate love

Answer 21

warm, trusting, tolerant affection for another whose life is deeply intertwined with one’s own

Question 22

person perception

Answer 22

the process of forming impressions of others
-physical attractiveness is correlated with more positive traits
-inferences drawn from person’s personality, social dominance, and sexual orientation

Question 23

prejudices

Answer 23

a negative attitude held toward members of a group

Question 24

social loafing

Answer 24

a reduction in effort by individuals when they work in a group, as compared to when they work by themselves
ex) group projects

Question 25

Solomon Asch’s study on conformity

Answer 25

known for the line test, as group increases, conformity increases

Question 26

Stanley Milgram’s study of obedience

Answer 26

known for his shocking experiment, humans will go against morals when given orders from an authority (obedience)

Question 27

stereotypes

Answer 27

a fixed, oversimplified, often biased belief about a group of people
ex) gender, ethnic, and occupational

Question 28

Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment

Answer 28

-power of the situation
-people conform to social roles
-when given too much power, they become sadistic tyrants