Social Psychology Exam

the tendency to give a causal explanation for someone’s behavior, often by crediting oneself to a situation

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

the belief and feeling that predisposes one to respond in a particular way to objects, people, & events

This experiment demonstrated how people would adapt to certain roles pushed on to them by society. It also demonstrated the Lucifer Effect - the idea that we are susceptible to a “dark side” because of negative social influence.

We act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two or more of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent

The fundamental attribution error

Convincing someone through a quality argument

Convincing someone through a superficial, undetailed argument

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

presenting an unacceptable & large option first, so the subject will settle for a smaller option later

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group or standard

A lab experiment used to study conformity. 50 participants were asked to participate in a line judgement task, with a few confederates stating the wrong answer. Most participants conformed to the wrong answer.

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

role-playing on attitude change (E)

normative social influence (B)

influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions about reality

This experiment demonstrated how people are likely to obey an order that comes from an authority figure. Its participants “shocked” learners to a certain voltage with the pressure of the experimenters.

This law describes how people have improved performance in the presence of others, especially with simple or well-learned tasks.

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

conscious or subconscious avoidance of a situation or social interaction

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

close to; far from (C)

social facilitation (D)

The enhancement of a group’s prevailing attitudes through discussion within the group.

Idea that discussion strengthens with like-minded beliefs

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

group polarization (A)

ingroup bias (E)

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

An unjustifiable (usually negative) attitude toward a group & its members.

This is LEARNED, not innate.

the tendency for people of a particular race to gravitate toward those of the same race

“Us”- people with whom one shares a common identity with

“Them”- the others; perceived as different or apart from one’s group

the tendency to favor one’s group

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

The idea that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get.

The tendency for people to believe the world is just

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt/harm someone

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

the idea that watching violent stuff allows an outlet for aggression

this was disproven by the Bobo Doll Experiment

perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

the situation in which conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interests, become taught mutually destructive behavior

the tendency for any bystander to be less likely to help when others are present

the just-world phenomenon (C)

more; more (C)

a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when other bystanders or witnesses are present

when a person causes a prediction to come true

the unconscious mimicry of postures, mannerisms, facial expressions, & other behaviors of one’s partners, such that one’s behavior passively and unintentionally changes to match that of others in one’s current social environment

a paradox in decision-making analysis in which 2 individuals acting in their own self-interests do not produce the optimal outcome

Muzafer Sherif argued that intergroup conflict (conflict between groups) occurs when 2 groups compete for limited resources.

This confirmed Sherif’s realistic conflict theory

the idea that group conflict can result from competition over resources

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

a social trap (D)

the mere exposure effect (B)

revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others

unselfish regard for the welfare of others (selflessness)

Understood as the expectation that people will respond favorably to each other by returning benefits for benefits, & responding with either indifference or hostility to harm

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

A strategy designed to decrease international tensions.

One side announces recognition of mutual interests & initiates the small conciliatory act

Repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them

aroused state of intense positive absorption in another

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

the two-factor theory (C)

the bystander effect (C)

superordinate goals (C)