Unit 10: Social Psychology

AP psychology unit 10 with Miss Larochelle (HMHS)

attribution theory

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

fundamental attribution error

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

peripheral route persuasion

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

central route persuasion

occurs when interested 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 situation ought to behave.

cognitive dissonance theory

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

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 ones willingness to accept others opinions about reality.

social facilitation

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

social loafing

the tnedancy for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling thier efforts towards attaining a common goal than when held individually accontable

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 group

groupthink

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

norm

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior, these prescribe "proper" behavior

prejudice

an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its memebers. Generally this type of thinking involves stereotyped beliefs negative, negative feelings, and predisposition to discriminatory action

stereotype

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

discrimination

In social psychology, unjustibiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

just-world phenomenon

the tnedancy for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they desevre what they get

ingroup

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

outgroup

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

ingroup bias

the tendancy to favor our own group

mere exposure effect

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

equity

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

altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

bystander effect

the tendancy for any given person to be less likley to give aid if other people are present

social exchange theory

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

reciprocity norm

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

conflict

perceived incompatibility of actions, goals or ideas

social trap

A situation in which the conflicting parties become caught in mutually destructive behavior

self-fulfilling prophecy

influence makes you act so that it comes true

superordinate goals

goals that bring people together to cooperate

social comparison

The process of evaluating oneself by comparing with others, often to assess one's abilities, status, or opinions.

Downward Social Comparison

Comparing oneself to others who are perceived to be worse off or less skilled, which can boost self-esteem but may also foster complacency.

Dispositional Attributions

Assuming a person's actions are due to their personality, not their situation.

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

The habit of explaining bad things as likely to happen again and good things as one-time events

Internal Locus of Control

The belief that one's own actions and decisions directly influence the outcomes and events in their life.

Social Responsibility Norm

The societal expectation that people should help others who need assistance, without regard to future exchanges.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious beliefs or feelings that influence a person's behavior and perceptions without their awareness.

Collectivism

A cultural value that emphasizes the importance of the group or community over individual goals and desires, prioritizing group cohesion and interdependence.

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologists

Psychologists who apply psychological principles and research methods to the workplace to improve productivity, select and promote employees, and enhance organizational culture and structure.

Relative Deprivation

A feeling of dissatisfaction or injustice experienced when individuals compare themselves to others and perceive that they are worse off.

Obedience

The act of following direct commands, usually from an authority figure, even if they contradict personal beliefs or morals.

Situational Attributions

Assuming a person's actions are due to their circumstances, not their personality.

Actor-Observer Bias

The habit of blaming our own actions on the situation but blaming other people’s actions on their personality.

External Locus of Control

The belief that outcomes and events are determined by external forces or fate, rather than one's own actions.

Confirmation Bias

A tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Homogeneity Bias

The tendency to see members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than they really are, often perceiving them as less varied than members of one's own group.

Multiculturalism

The view that promotes the acknowledgment and respect of diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions, encouraging the coexistence and value of various cultural identities within a society.

Door-in-the-Face Technique

A persuasion strategy where a large, initial request is made knowing it will be refused, followed by a smaller, more reasonable request that is more likely to be accepted.

Upward Social Comparison

Comparing oneself to others who are perceived to be better off or more skilled, which can motivate self-improvement but may also decrease self-esteem.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible for taking action or helping in a situation when others are present, leading to a decrease in the likelihood of intervention.

Explanatory Style

How a person usually explains the reasons behind events—whether they blame themselves or outside factors.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute one’s successes to personal characteristics and failures to external factors, enhancing one's self-esteem.

Belief Perseverance

The tendency to hold on to one's initial beliefs even after they have been shown to be false, often ignoring contradictory evidence presented.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture, often accompanied by a feeling of contempt for other groups.

Halo Effect

The cognitive bias where a positive impression in one area (like attractiveness) leads to positive evaluations in other areas, influencing overall judgments about a person.

False Consensus Effect

A cognitive bias where people overestimate how much others agree with their own beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes.