SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY PRELIMS

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Social Connection

The main core of social psychology, referring to the benefits and disadvantages of having social interaction.

Cortisol

The hormone produced when we are stressed, which can cause physical pain and discomfort.

Oxytocin

Known as the "cuddle hormone," it promotes bonding and can balance out cortisol levels.

Biopsychosocial Model of Health and Disease

A model that suggests biological, psychological, and social factors are all interconnected and important in promoting health or causing disease.

Collectivism

A cultural value that emphasizes selflessness and putting the needs of the community ahead of individual needs.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A theory that categorizes human needs into physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualization.

Social Needs

The need for friendship, family bonds, emotional and physical bonds, and membership in social groups.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in a social context.

ABC of Social Psychology

Affect (how people feel), Behavior (what people do), and Cognition (what people think).

Social Influence

The impact of culture, conformity pressures, persuasion, and group dynamics on individuals.

Social Relations

The study of prejudice, aggression, attraction, intimacy, and helping behavior.

Abnormal Behavior

Behavior that deviates from societal norms or expectations.

Dysfunction

Inability to function properly or as usual.

Danger

Potential harm to oneself or others.

Distress

Negative stress that causes a person to act differently.

Anthropology

Study of human culture, including shared values, beliefs, and practices.

Sociology

Study of human societies and the groups within them, often starting with large institutions.

Political Science

Study of political organizations and institutions, including political behavior.

History

Study of past events.

Economics

Study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Clinical Psychology

Focuses on abnormal behavior, while social psychology focuses on "normal" behavior.

Personality Psychology

Focuses on individual differences and inner processes, while social psychology focuses on similarities.

Biological Psychology

Focuses on the biological underpinnings of thoughts, emotions, and behavior, similar to social psychology.

Developmental Psychology

Study of how individuals change across their lifespan, while social psychology focuses on nurture.

Lust

Initial stage of attraction, driven by hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Attraction

Stage of attraction characterized by neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Attachment

Stage of attachment characterized by hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin.

Nature

Internal factors such as genes and hereditary factors.

Genes

Genetic material that determines physical traits and can be passed down through generations.1. Personality characteristics:Inherited traits from parents, such as temperament.

Autosome

One of the 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not involved in determining sex.

Sex chromosome

The pair of chromosomes (X and Y) that determines an individual's sex.

Trisomy 21

A genetic condition where there is an extra copy of chromosome 21, resulting in Down Syndrome.

Nurture

External factors that influence development, such as childhood experiences and upbringing.

Environmental Variables

Factors in the environment that can impact behavior, such as social relationships and surrounding culture.

Reinforcement

The process of encouraging or discouraging certain behaviors through rewards or punishments.

Environmental Psychology

Focuses on the relationship between individuals and their physical surroundings.

Political Psychology

Examines politics, politicians, and political behavior from a socio-psychological perspective.

Community Psychology

Studies the context of individuals within communities and aims to enhance quality of life through research and action.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Scientific study of human behavior and mental processes under diverse cultural conditions.

Forensic Psychology

The application of psychology in criminal investigation and law.

Norman Triplett

Conducted one of the first social psychology experiments in 1897 and is considered the grandfather of Social and Sports Psychology.

Social Facilitation

The positive effects of the presence of others on an individual's behavior.

Latent Energy

Existing but not yet expressed energy, which can be released in the presence of others.

Co-action effect

When another person is present and performing the same task.

Dominant responses

Prevalent or likely responses that are strengthened in the presence of others.

Audience / spectator effect

The situation where the mere presence of other individuals in the same area or space affects performance.

Yerkes Dodson Inverted Hypothesis

The theory that states that as arousal increases, performance also increases up to an optimum point, after which further increases in arousal lead to reduced performance.

Robert Zajonc's Activation Theory

The theory that suggests that the level of arousal needed for optimal performance differs based on the difficulty of the task.

Alertness Hypothesis

The theory that states that performers are uncertain about how observers will act, leading to heightened alertness and better performance.

Monitoring Hypothesis

The theory that states that performers who are familiar with the observers or situation do not experience increased arousal because they know how the observers will act.

Max Ringelmann

A French professor of agricultural engineering who conducted experiments on group dynamics and effort exertion.

Ringelmann Effect = Social Loafing

The phenomenon where people exert less effort in groups compared to when they are working alone.

Ideal Group Size

3-5 members:The optimal number of members in a group to prevent social loafing.

Diffusion of responsibility

The tendency for individuals to not take action when others nearby are not acting, assuming that action is not necessary

Gordon Allport

Harvard psychologist known for his trait theory and his observations on attitudes in social psychology.

Attitude

A valenced evaluation of something, such as a person, object, concept, event, or action.

Valence

The degree of favor or disfavor in an attitude towards people, objects, events, activities, and ideas.

Kurt Lewin

Considered the Father of Social Psychology, known for his formula of field behavior which states that behavior is a function of the person and the situation.

Dispositional Roots

Attributing behavior to a person's disposition and traits, such as internal attitudes, traits, and temperaments.

Situational Roots

Attributing behavior to the environment and external forces, such as social norms, group pressure, and family upbringing.

Nurture Component

The role of the environment in nurturing and honing a person's intelligence, in addition to genetic factors inherited from parents.

Research Methods in Social Psychology

The scientific approach to understanding behavior, relying on scientific evidence and methods to gather data, note relationships, and offer explanations.

Scientific Method

The systematic way of reducing bias and error in data measurement, aiming to describe, explain, predict, and control behavior.

Social Psychology

The study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others.

Common Sense

Collective knowledge about social interactions that is based on logic and reason.

Empirical

Based on observation and evidence rather than intuition or speculation.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe that one knew the outcome of an event after it has occurred, even if they did not actually predict it beforehand.

Theory

A potential explanation for an observation or phenomenon that is subject to change as more knowledge is gained.

Hypothesis

A verifiable prediction intended to test a given theory.

Grand Theory

A theory that attempts to explain many different phenomena in the world.

Mid-Range Theory

A theory that falls between grand theories and micro theories, focusing on specific aspects of a phenomenon.

Micro Theory

A theory that is specific to particular situations and individuals.

Bystander Experiment

An experiment formulated in response to the murder of Kitty Genovese, which examines the factors that influence bystander intervention in emergencies.

Kitty Genovese

A woman who was tragically murdered in 1964

Winston Moseley

The attacker who followed and killed Genovese.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The theory that states the more bystanders there are in an emergency situation, the less likely any one of them will help.

Experimental Research

A research strategy designed to discover causal relationships between factors.

Correlational Research

A research strategy that seeks to identify whether there is an association or relationship between two factors.

Correlational Study

A study designed to determine the degree of relationship between two or more variables.

Variables

Observable behaviors, characteristics, or events that can vary or have different values.

Independent Variable

The variable that is not manipulated in correlational research.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is observed and measured in correlational research.

Causation

The relationship between variables where changes in one variable directly cause changes in another variable.

Predictor Variable

A variable used in correlational research to predict or estimate the value of another variable.

Criterion/Outcome Variable

The variable that is being predicted or estimated in correlational research.

IV (Independent Variable)

A term sometimes used in correlational research, but does not have the same meaning as in experimental research.

DV (Dependent Variable)

A term sometimes used in correlational research, but does not have the same meaning as in experimental research.

Correlational Research

A research method that examines the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them.

Advantages of Correlational Research Design

The benefits of using surveys as a data collection technique, including collecting a large amount of data in a short period, ease of creation and administration, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to gather information on a broad range of topics.

Disadvantages of Correlational Research Design

The drawbacks of using surveys as a data collection technique, including poor survey construction and administration, potential inaccuracies in answer choices, bias in response rates, and the social desirability bias.

Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient

The most commonly used procedure for calculating simple correlations.

Directions of Correlation

The three possible relationships between variables in correlation:positive (direct relationship), negative (inverse relationship), and zero correlation.

Form of a Relationship

The shape of the relationship between variables, including linear (approximating a straight line) and curvilinear (changing from positive to negative or vice versa).

Degree of a Relationship

The strength of the relationship between variables, measured by the correlation coefficient.

Scatterplot

A visual representation of correlational data, showing the relationship between variables.

Regression

A statistical procedure closely related to correlation, used to determine the strength and nature of the relationship between variables.

Regression Line/Line of Best Fit

The line drawn on a scatterplot that represents the relationship between variables in regression analysis.

Experimental Research Design

A method of data collection that tests hypotheses under controlled conditions by manipulating the independent variable.

Experimental Study

A research method that serves as the foundation for social learning theory and behavior modification, focusing on empirical inquiry and objectively-defined variables.