Psych 4.1-4.3

Attribution Theory

A theory that explains how individuals determine the causes of behavior and events.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

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

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When a belief or expectation about a person leads to behavior that causes the expectation to come true.

Actor-Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute our own actions to situational factors while attributing others' actions to their character.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs or expectations about a group of people.

Discrimination

Unjust treatment of different categories of people, often based on prejudice.

Just World Phenomenon

The cognitive bias that assumes that a person's actions always lead to morally fair consequences.

Social Identity

The part of an individual's self-concept derived from their membership in social groups.

Ingroup

A group that an individual identifies with or feels a sense of belonging to.

Outgroup

A group that an individual does not identify with and may feel antagonistic toward.

Ingroup Bias

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

Scapegoat Theory

The theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame.

Other-Race Effect

The tendency to recognize faces of one's own race more accurately than those of other races.

Foot in the Door Phenomenon

The tendency for people to agree to a large request after agreeing to a small one.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that suggests inconsistency among beliefs and behaviors causes discomfort, leading people to change their beliefs or behaviors.

Central Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that relies on logical arguments and factual evidence.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that relies on superficial cues rather than the content of the message.

Norms

Rules or expectations for behavior in a group.

Conformity

The tendency to change one's beliefs or behaviors in response to real or imagined group pressure.

Stanley Milgram

A psychologist known for his famous experiments on obedience and authority.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to put forth less effort when working in a group than when working alone.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where the desire for harmony in a decision-making group leads to irrational or dysfunctional outcomes.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group members to adopt more extreme positions than they held individually.

Mere Exposure Effect

The phenomenon where repeated exposure to a stimulus increases an individual's liking for it.

Companionate Love

A deep, affectionate attachment characterized by feelings of mutual respect, trust, and care.

Altruism

The selfless concern for the well-being of others.

Bystander Effect

The social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present.

Social Exchange Theory

The theory that human relationships are formed by the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis.

Reciprocity Norm

The social expectation that favors are reciprocated.

Social-Responsibility Norm

The expectation that people will help those needing help.

Superordinate Goals

Goals that require the cooperation of two or more individuals or groups to achieve.

GRIT (Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction)

A strategy for conflict resolution that involves making small, conciliatory moves to establish trust and encourage cooperation.