Social Thinking and Social Influence

Flashcards covering key concepts related to social thinking and social influence, including theories, phenomena, and experiments.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate personal traits and underestimate situational influences when analyzing others' behavior.

Attribution Theory

A theory by Fritz Heider that explains how we attribute behaviors to either situational or dispositional factors.

Cultural Factors

Differences in behavior attribution between individuals from individualist cultures (mostly personal traits) and collectivist cultures (mostly situational factors).

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

A compliance technique where a person agrees to a small request and is later more likely to agree to a larger one.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that we reduce discomfort when our thoughts are inconsistent by changing our attitudes or behaviors.

Automatic Mimicry

The unconscious imitation of another person's behavior or actions, which can enhance empathy and social bonding.

Conformity

The adjustment of one's behavior or thinking to align with a group standard.

Stanley Milgram's Experiments

Studies that demonstrated the extent to which people will obey authority figures, often leading to shocking results in compliance.

Role Playing

Acting out a function or part in a social context, which can significantly influence attitudes and behaviors.