unit 4: social psychology and personality

attributions

how we explain the cause of events

dispositional attribution

assign the cause of behavior to inherent qualities, traits, or characteristics of the individual

situational attribution

assign the cause of behavior to external factors or circumstances beyond the individual's control

fundamental attribution error

underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the impact of personal dispositions

internal locus of control

individuals believe that they have significant control over the outcomes of their actions

external locus of control

individuals believe that external forces influence the outcomes of their actions

relative deprivation

feeling of dissatisfaction or resentment toward others who are perceived as having more favorable circumstances

implicit attitudes

Attitudes that individuals hold but may be unaware of or may not acknowledge

just-world phenomenon

people get what they deserve

ethnocentrism

the belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture

cognitive dissonance

uncomfortable feeling when a person experiences contradictory or conflicting thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, or feelings

social influence theory

Examines how individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by the presence, opinions, and actions of others

central route to persuasion

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

peripheral route to persuasion

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

group polarization

The enhancements of a group's prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group

groupthink

The desire for group cohesion and consensus overrides a realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action

diffusion of responsibility

individuals in a group feel less personally accountable for their actions because responsibility

social loafing

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone

social facilitation

the presence of others can improve performance

superordinate goals

a common objective that two or more groups must work together to achieve, often in situations of conflict

altruism

selfless behavior where individuals act to help others, even at some cost to themselves, with no expectation of personal gain or reward

denial

refusing to accept reality or facts, blocking external events from awareness

displacement

shifting emotional impulses from a threatening target to a safer or more acceptable one

projection

attributing one’s unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others

rationalization

creating logical but false explanations for behaviors or feelings that are driven by unconscious motives

reaction formation

converting unacceptable impulses into their opposites, acting in a way that is opposed to one’s true feelings

regression

reverting to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development

repression

unconsciously blocked unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or desires from conscious awareness

sublimation

channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or constructive activities

projective tests

psychological assessment tools that present ambiguous stimuli to individuals

humanism

focus on the potential for healthy personal growth

unconditional positive regard

the complete acceptance and support of a person regardless of their thoughts, feelings, or actions

reciprocal determinism

shapes our personality and self-concept

self-efficacy

sense of competence on a task

Big Five (OCEAN)

openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism

personality inventory

a questionnaire used to assess an individual's personality traits and characteristics

drive-reduction theory

Needs lead to drives

arousal theory

People are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal

yerkes-dodson law

performance increases with arousal only up to a point, beyond which performance decreases

self-determination theory

Humans are motivated to satisfy our needs for competence, autonomy (feeling of control), and relatedness

display rules

Cultural norms and social expectations that govern how emotions are expressed and regulated in different contexts

cognitive appraisal

an individual's subjective interpretation and evaluation of a situation that influences their emotional response