Social Psychology

Social Psychology

The study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others, societal norms, and group dynamics.

Historical Context

Events like World War I and II that influenced key theories on obedience and conformity in social psychology.

Social Facilitation

The tendency for individuals to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others.

Milgram’s Obedience Experiment

Demonstrated the influence of authority figures on individuals' actions against their morals.

Asch’s Conformity Experiment

Showed how group pressure can lead to conformity, even against personal judgment.

Sherif’s Autokinetic Effect

Highlighted how individuals conform in ambiguous situations due to informational social influence.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Explored the effects of social roles and power dynamics, raising ethical concerns.

The Robbers Cave Experiment

Studied intergroup conflict and cooperation, supporting Realistic Conflict Theory.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where the presence of others reduces the likelihood of helping behavior.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group discussions to lead to more extreme positions than those initially held by individuals.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize internal factors when explaining others' behaviors while underestimating situational factors.

Outgroup Homogeneity Effect

The perception that members of an outgroup are more similar to each other than members of one's ingroup.

Ingroup Favoritism

The preference for and prioritization of members of one's own group over those in an outgroup.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.

Learned Helplessness

A condition where individuals believe they have no control over their situation due to repeated negative experiences.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When expectations about a person or situation lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to come true.

Cognitive Dissonance

Mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to seek and interpret information that confirms pre-existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness in groups leading to impulsive actions and decreased accountability.

Attribution Theory

Explains how individuals attribute causes to behaviors, often leading to errors in judgment.

Social Cognitive Theory

Reflects cultural shifts towards individual empowerment in understanding social behavior.

Social Identity Theory

Explains how group membership influences self-concept and leads to ingroup favoritism.

Social Comparison Theory

The process of evaluating oneself by comparing to others, influencing self-perception and behavior.

Ethnocentrism

The bias of viewing one's own culture as superior, leading to a narrow understanding of social behaviors.

Ethical Guidelines

Standards developed to ensure participant welfare and informed consent in psychological research.

Social Movements

Theories that explain the dynamics of collective action, such as the Civil Rights Movement.

Social Information Processing Model

Describes how individuals process social cues and respond to social information.

Theory of Mind

The understanding that others have distinct thoughts and emotions, aiding in social interactions.

Nonverbal Communication Model

Highlights the importance of nonverbal cues in social interactions.

Implicit Personality Theory

The assumption that people group certain traits together to form judgments about others.

Stereotype Activation Model

Explains how stereotypes are automatically applied when interpreting social situations.

Social Learning Theory

Suggests that individuals learn behaviors by observing and imitating others, especially when rewarded.

Self-Presentation Theory

The management of how individuals present themselves in different social situations.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Suggests that conflict between beliefs and behaviors leads to discomfort, prompting change.