AP Psych Social Psych

Person Perception

How we form impressions of people.

Attribution Theory

How we explain our own and others’ behaviors.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency for observers to underestimate situational impacts and overestimate personal disposition.

Actor-Observer Bias

The tendency for actors to attribute their behavior to external causes while observers attribute others' behavior to internal causes.

Prejudice

An unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Stereotype

Generalized beliefs about a group of people.

Discrimination

To act in negative and unjustifiable ways toward members of a group.

Just-World Phenomenon

The tendency to believe the world is just and that people get what they deserve.

Social Identity

The 'we' aspect of our self-concept from our group memberships.

Ingroup

'Us' – people with a common identity.

Outgroup

'Them' – those perceived as different from our ingroup.

Ingroup Bias

The tendency to favor our own group.

Scapegoat Theory

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 other races.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts that enable snap judgments.

Availability Heuristic

Estimating event frequency by how readily it comes to mind.

Representativeness Heuristic

A mental shortcut based on how similar something is to a prototype.

Attitudes

Feelings influenced by beliefs that predispose responses to objects, people, and events.

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

The tendency to comply with a larger request after agreeing to a small request.

Door-in-the-Face Phenomenon

Making a follow-up moderate request after being turned down.

Role

Expectations about a social position defining how one should behave.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

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

Persuasion

Changing people’s attitudes to potentially influence their actions.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Influence through incidental cues, such as speaker attractiveness.

Halo Effect

Believing beautiful or famous people are particularly smart or trustworthy.

Central Route Persuasion

Influence through careful consideration of evidence in arguments.

Norms

Society's understood rules for accepted and expected behavior.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with group standards.

Normative Social Influence

Influence resulting from a desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval.

Informational Social Influence

Influence from a willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality.

Obedience

Complying with an order or command.

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others.

Social Loafing

People in a group exerting less effort towards a common goal.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations.

Group Polarization

Enhancement of a group's prevailing inclinations through discussion.

Groupthink

Desire for harmony in decision-making that overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives.

Culture

Enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and values shared by a group.

Collectivism

Focus on 'we', meeting group standards and accommodating others.

Individualism

Focus on 'me', as an independent, separate self.

Multiculturalism

Values maintenance of diverse cultural and ethnic identities.

Tight Cultures

Places with clearly defined imposed norms.

Loose Cultures

Places characterized by flexible and informal norms.

Aggression

Physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone.

Frustration-Aggression Principle

Frustration creates anger, which can lead to aggression.

Social Script

A culturally modeled guide for behavior in various situations.

Mere Exposure Effect

Repeated exposure to stimuli increases liking.

Passionate Love

Intense positive absorption in another at the start of a romantic relationship.

Companionate Love

Deep affectionate attachment shared with intertwined lives.

Equity

Condition of receiving in proportion to what is given in a relationship.

Self-Disclosure

Revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others.

Altruism

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

Diffusion of Responsibility

Less likelihood to take responsibility in the presence of others.

Bystander Effect

Less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.

Social Exchange Theory

Social behavior as an exchange process aimed at maximizing benefits.

Reciprocity Norm

Expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

Social-Responsibility Norm

Expectation that people will help those needing assistance.

Conflict

Perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.

Social Trap

Mutually destructive behavior from pursuing self-interest over the group's good.

Mirror-Image Perception

Mutual views held by conflicting parties perceiving themselves as ethical.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

Superordinate Goals

Shared goals that require cooperation and override differences.

GRIT

A strategy designed to decrease international tensions.