Unit 4 Psych

Dispositional attributions

The explanation of someone's behaviors based on internal factors, such as personality and character rather than external factors

Situational attributions

The explanation of somebody's behaviors based on external situations instead of internal factors.

Explanatory style

A tendency of how people explain the good or bad causes of events/actions.

Optimistic explanatory style

A cognitive pattern where someone credits good events towards their internal and stable factors, while blaming bad events on external and temporary factors.

Pessimistic explanatory style

A cognitive tendency to blame bad things on internal factors and blame good things on external and temporary factors.

Actor/observer bias

The tendency to explain our own actions with external factors (the actor), while crediting others' actions to their internal traits (the observer).

Fundamental attribution error

The tendency to overemphasize internal factors and underestimate external factors.

Self-serving bias

A tendency to credit success to our own internal factors and blame external factors for failures

Internal locus of control

The belief that individuals control their own lives rather than crediting external factors or luck

External locus of control

The belief that outcomes occur because of external factors rather than “luck” or fate

Mere exposure effect

When people develop a preference for something because they’re familiar with it

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A prediction that directly or indirectly comes true because of positively striving towards it

Upward social comparison

When you compare yourself to someone or something as a way to motivate yourself and help reach your own goals

Downward social comparison

When you compare yourself to someone lower than you as a way to raise your own self-esteem or feel better about yourself

Relative deprivation

The perception that one is worse off compared with others, even if one’s actual circumstances have not changed.

Cognitive load

The total amount of mental effort being used in working memory at one time.

Prejudice

An unjustified negative attitude toward a group and its members, often involving stereotypes.

Discrimination

Unjustified negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Implicit attitudes

Automatic, unconscious beliefs or feelings that can influence behavior without conscious awareness.

Just-world phenomenon

The tendency to believe that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get.

Out-group homogeneity bias

The perception that members of an out-group are more similar to each other than members of one’s in-group.

In-group bias

The tendency to favor one’s own group over others.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior and the standard by which other cultures should be judged.

Belief perseverance

The tendency to cling to one’s initial beliefs even after the evidence that supported them is discredited.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms existing beliefs.

Cognitive dissonance

Psychological discomfort caused by holding two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or behaviors.

Normative social influence

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

Informational social influence

Influence based on accepting others’ opinions as correct when unsure of what to do.

Elaboration likelihood model

A theory explaining two routes to persuasion: central and peripheral.

Central route

Persuasion that occurs when people carefully analyze arguments and evidence.

Peripheral route

Persuasion that relies on superficial cues rather than strong arguments.

Halo effect

The tendency to assume positive traits about a person based on one positive characteristic.

Foot-in-the-door technique

A persuasion strategy in which a small request is made first to increase compliance with a larger request later.

Door-in-the-face technique

A persuasion strategy where a large request is made first and refused, followed by a smaller request.

Group polarization

The strengthening of group members’ initial attitudes after group discussion.

Groupthink

A mode of thinking in which the desire for harmony overrides realistic decision-making.

Diffusion of responsibility

The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible to act when others are present.

Social loafing

The tendency for people to exert less effort when working in a group than alone.

Deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint that occurs in group situations

Social facilitation

The tendency for people to perform simple tasks better when others are present, but complex tasks worse because of pressure

False consensus effect

Bias where people overestimate how much others share their own beliefs and opinions because they believe their perspective is “normal”

Superordinate goals

Overarching goals requiring cooperation between different groups to achieve, reduce conflict, and promote teamwork

Social traps

A situation in which a group intentionally works for short-term gains at the expense of long-term, widespread negative consequences

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologists

The application of psychological principles to the workplace to improve productivity, employee well-being, and organizational effectiveness

Altruism

An unselfish concern for the welfare of others, motivating behavior to help someone else without expecting personal reward or gain

Prosocial behavior

Voluntary actions intended to benefit others or society, often motivated by empathy or moral values

Social reciprocity norm

A social rule that maintains, among other things, that people should return favors and other acts of kindness

Social responsibility norm

The unwritten social rule or expectation that people should help those who depend on them or are in need, even without direct benefit

Bystander effect

The phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to intervene during an emergency if others are witnessing the same situation

Situational variables

External environmental or contextual elements that influence an individual's behavior

Attentional variables

Factors influencing how we process information, affecting our awareness, focus (selective attention), and ability to notice things