Psychology In Your Life: Chapter 12

personal attributions

People's explanations for why events or actions occur that refer to people's internal characteristics, such as abilities, traits, moods, or efforts.

situational atribution

People's explanations for why events or actions occur that refer to external events, such as the weather, luck, accidents, or other people's actions.

fundamental attribution error

In explaining other people's behavior, the tendency to overemphasize personality traits and underestimate situational factors.

actor/observer bias

When interpreting our own behavior, we tend to focus on situations. When interpreting other people's behavior, we tend to focus on personal attributes.

self-fulfilling prophecy

People's tendency to behave in ways that confirm their own expectations or other people's expectations.

prejudice

Negative feelings, opinions, and beliefs associated with a stereotype.

discrimination

The inappropriate and unjustified treatment of people based on the groups they belong to.

Ingroup/Outgroup Bias

People tend to identify strongly with the groups they are a part of.

modern racism

Subtle forms of prejudice that coexist with the rejection of racist beliefs.

Stereotypes

for fast, easy processing of social information.

attitudes

People's evaluations of objects, of events, or of ideas.

attitude accessibility

Ease of retrieving an attitude from memory.

explicit attitude

An attitude that a person is consciously aware of and can report.

implicit attitude

An attitude that influences a person's feelings and behavior at an unconscious level.

cognitive dissonance

An uncomfortable mental state due to a contradiction between two attitudes or between an attitude and a behavior.

persuasion

The active and conscious effort to change an attitude through the transmission of a message.

central route

A method of persuasion that uses high elaboration—where people pay attention to the arguments and consider all the information in the message. This method usually results in development of stronger attitudes.

peripheral route

A method of persuasion that uses low elaboration—where people minimally process the message. This method usually results in development of weaker attitudes.

social facilitation

When the mere presence of others enhances performance.

social loafing

The tendency for people to work less hard in a group than when working alone.

deindividuation

A state of reduced individuality, reduced self-awareness, and reduced attention to personal standards; this phenomenon may occur when people are part of a group.

conformity

The altering of your own behaviors and opinions to match those of other people or to match other people's expectations.

social norms

Expected standards of conduct, which influence behavior.

compliance

The tendency to agree to do things requested by others.

Foot in the door

If you agree to a small request, you are more likely to comply with a large request.

Door in the face

If you refuse a large request, you are more likely to comply with a smaller request.

Lowballing

When you agree to buy a product for a certain price, you are likely to comply with a request to pay more for the product.

obedience

Factors that influence people to follow the orders given by an authority.

aggression

Any behavior that involves the intention to harm someone else.

frustration-aggression hypothesis

The more frustrated we feel, the more likely we are to act aggressively.

prosocial

Acting in ways that tend to benefit others.

altruism

The act of providing help when it is needed, with no apparent reward for doing so.

bystander apathy

The failure to offer help to people in need.

passionate love

A type of romantic relationship that includes intense longing and sexual desire.

companionate love

A type of romantic relationship that includes strong commitment to supporting and caring for a partner.