Social Psychology Mod 74-79

social psychologist

focus on the situation

social psychology studies

social influence that explains why the same person will act differently in different situations

attribution

inferring the cause of someones behavior (explanation)

antecedent

info about the person/situation prior to the current circumstance

attribution theory

can attribute behavior to persons stable enduring traits or to the situation

fundamental attribution error

overestimate the influence of personality & underestimate the influence of situations

actor observer discrepancy

exception to fundamental attribution error

if we are actor

attribute behavior to situation

if observer

attribute behavior to internal causes

main idea of social psych

attributions have consequences

just world hypothesis

world is fair and victim must of deserved it (blaming victim)

self serving bias

using explanations that meet our needs (take credit for success, blame others for failures) \*individual

self effacing bias

modesty bias (collective culture) blame selves for failures downplay success

attitudes

feelings that predispose our reactions to people objects & events

3 components of attitudes

cognitive: thoughts/beliefs

behavioral: actions

emotional: feelings

cognitive dissonance

leon festinger when behavior/attitudes and beliefs dont line up

how do people fix cognitive dissonance

by rationalizing behavior, change attitude, radical acceptance

peripheral persuasion

doesnt engage systematic thinking but produces fast results (insta adds from celebs, direct approach)

central

other evidence & arguements aim to trigger favorable thoughts (indirect approach, analytical, involved issues)

foot in the door phenomenon

agree to small request comply later w/ larger request

rule of reciprocity

if i scratch your back you scratch mine

role

set expectations about social position & how you behave

automatic mimicry

unconsciously mimic others

chameleon effect

study done by Tanya Chartrard & John Bargh if people copy our behavior we tend empathize with them more

conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking toward some group standard

reasons we conform

insecure, group of 3’s, everyone agrees, status & attractiveness, no prior commitment to response, people watching us, cultural expectations

normative social influence

sensitive to social norms (avoiding rejection & gain social approval)

informational social influence

conform because we want to be accurate

social influence

how others affect our behavior

groups

collection of people who interact, share a common goal, & influence members thinking & action

primary groups

people who you interact w/ daily

secondary

larger groups whom you have more impersonal relationship

social facilitation

improved performance of task in presence of others

law of readiness

someone isn’t ready to perform then they will avoid it if theyre ready they will be ready

social inhibition

being in front of people decreases performance

social loafing

tendency for members in large group to work less

variables in loafing

size more people less work, some people may be better at task, & sharing equally in benefits

group think

tight cohesive group makes a bad decision

group polarization

beliefs grow stronger in a group w/ likeminded people (echo chamber)

deindividuation

group participation makes people feel aroused & anonymous (we did it)

social control

power of situation

minority influence

power of one or two individuals

culture

behaviors, values, & traditions that have been passed down through generations

relative affluence

relative wealth of people helps distinguish them form others (population, technology, climate)

social relations

how we relate to one another

first impressions

influence future of relationship & based on physical appearance

primacy effect

form opinions of others based on first impressions

person perception

active & subjective process that occurs when we are looking at an individual

4 principles of perception

reaction to them, your goals, evaluation of social norms, your self perception & act on perception

social categorization

mental shortcuts when no time form an impression (classify them)

implicit personality theory

beliefs/assumptions we have about certain traits that are linked to other characteristics/type of people

prejudice

negative judgement

stereotype

cluster of characteristics given to people

discrimination

actions based on stereotypes & prejudice

ethnocentrinism

belief that ones culture is better than the others

automatic prejudice

attitude that is an unthinking response

in group

group you belong to (see as diverse/biased)

out group

not a member of (homogeneity effect)

other race effect/ cross race

own race bias (starts 3-9 months recognition of faces)

elliot aronson jigsaw classroom technique

students become experts & teach other group memebers

3 ingredients of liking a person

proximity, attractiveness, similarity

mere exposure effect

exposure to novel stimuli creates liking for them

passionate love

physical arousal & cognitive appraisal

companion love

deep affectionate attachment oxytocin releases

3 ingredients to love

equity (give take =), self disclosure (revealing intimate details), positive support (communication)

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt/destroy

frustration-aggression principle

frustration (blocking an attempt to achieve a goal) creates anger

social script

culturally modeled guide for how to act in certain situation

altruism

unselfish concern for the welfare of others

prosocial behavior

any behavior that helps another person no matter motive

why we help people?

cost benefit analysis (do pros out weigh cons)

social exchange theory

max rewards minimize cost

reciprocity norms

expectations that we should return help not harm those who have helped us

social responsibility norm

help those who need help (kids)

uninvolved bystander

diffusion of responsibility the more bystanders less people feel responsible

factors decreasing bystander affect

feel good doing things for others, guilt, see others helping, woman is in trouble, person deserves help, know how to help, not in a hurry/preoccupied

social traps

harm our collective well being for pursuing our personal interest

mirror image perception

see enemy as untrustworthy they see us the same

promoting peace

close contact. cooperation, communication, conciliation