Psych Chapter 16.1 Vocab - sophomore year

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how individuals behave, think and feel in social situations

Culture

An ongoing pattern of life, characterizing a society at a given point in history.

Social Role

Expected behavior patterns associated with particular social positions (such as daughter, worker, student)

Role Conflict

Trying to occupy two or more roles that make conflicting demands on behavior

Group Structure

The network of roles communication pathways, and power in a group

ex: 1 leader and the others follow

Group Cohesiveness

The degree of attraction among group members or their commitment to remaining in the group

In-Group

A group with which a person identifies

ex: friend groups

Out-Group

A group with which a person does not identify

ex: the table of misfit people at lunch

Social Status

An individual’s position in a social structure, especially with respect to power, privilege, or importance

Norm

A widely accepted (but often unspoken) standard of conduct for appropriate behavior

BONUS: Social Influence

When a person’s behavior is changed by the action of others

Autokinetic Effect

The apparent movement of a stationary pinpoint of light displayed in a darkened room

Social Cognition

The process of thinking about ourselves and others in a social context

Social Comparison

Making judgements about ourselves through comparison with others

Downward Comparison

Comparing yourself with a person who ranks lower than you on some dimension

ex: looking down on someone

Upward Comparison

Comparing yourself with a person who ranks higher than you on some dimension

ex: looking up to someone

Attribution

The process of making inferences about the causes of one’s own behavior, and that of others

External Cause

A cause of behavior that is assumed to lie outside a person

Internal Cause

A cause of behavior assumed to lie within a person - for instance, a need, preference, or personality trait

Situational Demands

Unstated expectations that define desirable or appropriate behavior in various settings and social situations

ex: acting different because of a different place

ex: no laughing at a funeral

Self-Handicapping

Arranging to perform under conditions that usually impair performance, so as to have an excuse for poor showing

ex: “Oh no I’ll never be able to do that”

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to attribute the behavior of others to internal causes (personality, likes, and so forth)

ex: “I want to go out with him, but he probably doesn’t like me”