Studied by 9 people
Social Psychology
the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
Attribution Theory
the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition
Fundamental Attribution Error
the tendency for observers, when analyzing another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
Attitude
feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events
Central Route Persuasion
attitude change path in which interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
Peripheral Route Persuasion
attitude change path in which people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness
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 position ought to behave
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when our attitudes are inconsistent with our actions
Conformity
adjusting one's 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 one's willingness to accept others' opinions about reality because they want to be right or do something correctly
Social Facilitation
when a person performs a task that is easy to them better in the presence of others
Social Loafing
the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable
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 (attitudes become more extreme after interacting with like-minded individuals)
Groupthink
the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives
Culture
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Norm
an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior; they prescribe "proper" behavior
Prejudice
an unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members; it generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action
Stereotype
a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people
Discrimination
(Social) unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members
Ingroup
"Us"âpeople with whom we share a common identity
Outgroup
"Them"âthose perceived as different or apart from our ingroup
Ingroup Bias
the tendency to favor our own group
Scapegoat Theory
the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame
Other-Race Effect
the tendency to recall faces of one's own race more accurately than faces of other races; also called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias
Just-World Phenomenon
the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get
Aggression
physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone; includes hostile and instrumental
Frustration-Aggression Principle
the principle that frustrationâthe blocking of an attempt to achieve some goalâcreates anger, which can generate aggression
Mere Exposure Effect
the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them
Passionate Love
an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a love relationship
Companionate Love
the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
Equity
a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it
Self-Disclosure
revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others
Altruism
unselfish regard for the welfare of others
Bystander Effect
the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present (due to diffusion of responsibility)
Social Exchange Theory
the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize cost
Reciprocity Norm
an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
Social-Responsibility Norm
an expectation that people will help those dependent upon them
Conflict
a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas
Social Trap
a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior
Mirror-Image Perceptions
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
Self Fulfilling Prophecy
a belief that leads to its own fulfillment
Superordinate Goals
shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation
GRIT
Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reductionâa strategy designed to decrease international tensions; "give a little to get a little"
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