AP Psych: Unit 9 Social Psychology Notes

Attribution Theory

Fritz Heider's theory that explains how individuals interpret events and behaviors to understand their social environment.

Dispositional Attribution

Attributing behavior to a person's internal stable traits.

Situational Attribution

Attributing behavior to external factors or the context of a situation.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to underestimate situational factors and overestimate dispositional factors when analyzing others' behaviors.

Attitudes

Feelings influenced by beliefs that can affect actions.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that relies on incidental cues rather than a logical argument.

Central Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that involves logical arguments and thoughtful consideration.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with group standards due to real or perceived pressure.

Norms

Understood rules for accepted and expected behavior.

Prejudice

An unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members, often supported by stereotypes.

Discrimination

Negative behavior directed against individuals based on their group membership.

Aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone, whether from hostility or as a calculated action.

Altruism

Acting to help someone else at a cost to oneself without expecting a reward.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The phenomenon where individuals feel less responsible to act when others are present in a group.

Bystander Effect

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help a victim when other people are present.

Social Exchange Theory

Theory that suggests social behavior is an exchange process aimed at maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.

Social Trap

A situation where conflicting parties become trapped in mutually destructive behavior.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

Normative Social Influence

The influence resulting from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval.

Informational Social Influence

The influence from accepting others' opinions about reality.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's ethnic group.

Just World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is just and people get what they deserve.