AP Psych - TEST #2

Social Psychology

the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Attribution Theory

the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition

Fundamental Attribution Error

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

Attitude

feelings, often influenced by our beliefs that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events

Peripheral Route Persuasion

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness

Central Route Persuasion

occurs when influenced people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request

Role

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, when we become aware that our attitudes and actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.

Conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Normative Social Influence

influence resulting from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval

Informational Social Influence

influence resulting from one's willingness to accept others' opinions about reality

Social Facilitation

stronger responses on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others

Social Loafing

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their effort toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable

Deindividuation

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity

Group Polarization

the enhancement of a group's prevailing inclinations through discussion within the groups

Groupthink

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

Culture

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

Norm

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe "proper" behavior

Prejudice

an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action.

Stereotype

a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people

Discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

Just-World Phenomenon

the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get.

Ingroup

"Us"- people with whom we share a common identity

Outgroup

"Them"- those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup

Ingroup Bias

the tendency to favor our own group

Scapegoat Theory

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

Other-Race Effect

the tendency to recall faces of one's own race more accurately than faces of other races. Also called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias

Aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

Frustration-Aggression Principle

the principle that frustration- the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal- creates anger, which can generate aggression.

Automatic Mimicry

Chameleon effect (appearance). Hanging out with people you starting looking, feeling, acting like them. Subconsious, MOOD LINKAGE

Obedience

follows orders, Milgram's study of obedience, teaches us why ordinary people may do bad things. harder to challenge authority.

Altruism

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others

Bystander Effect

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present. group size also matters

Social exchange theory

The theory that our social behavior is an echange process, the aim of which is to max. benefits & min. costs

Reciprocity Norm

an expectation that people will help, not hurt those who have helped them

Social-responsibility Norm

an expectation that people will help those needing their help

Conflict

a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

Social Trap

a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior

Mirror-Image perceptions

mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each sides sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive

Self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment