Unit 9 - Social Psychology Vocab

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent

Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

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

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

improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others

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

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

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

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

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

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

preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience

A generalized belief about a group of people

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

"Us"—people with whom we share a common identity.

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

the tendency to favor our own group

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

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

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

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them

an experience involving feelings of euphoria, intimacy, and intense sexual attraction

the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it

revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs

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

an expectation that people will help those dependent upon them

a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior

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

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation

a strategy designed to decrease international tensions.