Studied by 5 peoplesocial psychologists
the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
attribution theory
the theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition
fundamental attribution error
the tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition
attitudes
feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events
peripheral route persuasion
occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness
central route persuasion
occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
foot-in-the-door phenomenon
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
role
a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave
cognitive dissonance theory
the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent
conformity
adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard
normative social influence
influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
informational social influence
influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality
social facilitation
improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others
social loafing
the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable
deindividuation
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity
group polarization
the enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group
echo chamber
an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect of reinforce their own
groupthink
the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives
prejudice
an unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members
stereotypes
a generalized belief about a group of people
discriminate
unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members
just-world phenomenon
the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get
ingroup
people with whom we share a common identity
outgroup
those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup
ingroup bias
the tendency to favor our own group
scapegoat theory
the theory that 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 faces of other races
aggression
any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally
frustration-aggression principle
the principle that frustration creates anger, which can generate aggression
social scripts
a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
mere exposure effect
the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them
outgroup homogeneity bias
tendency to assume that the members of other groups are similar to each other
passionate love
an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship
companionate love
the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined
equity
a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it
self-disclosure
the act of revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others
altruism
unselfish regard for the welfare of others
bystander effect
the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
social exchange theory
the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs
reciprocity norm
an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
social-responsibility norm
an expectation that people will help those needing their help
conflict
a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas
social trap
a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior
mirror-image perception
mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive
self-fulfilling prophecy
a belief that leads to its own fulfillment
superordinate goals
shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation
grit
graduated and reciprocated initiatives in tension-reduction — a strategy designed to decrease international tensions
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