AP Psychology Unit 4

Person Perception

How we form impression of ourselves and others, including attributions of behaviors.

Attribution Theory

Theory describing how we explain people’s behavior by crediting either the situation or their traits.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of situational factors and overestimate dispositional factors.

Actor-Observer Bias

Bias where those in a situation attribute their behavior to external causes, while observers attribute behavior to internal causes.

Dispositional Attribution

Attributing people’s behavior to their stable/enduring traits.

Situational Attribution

Attributing people’s behavior to their environment.

Prejudice

Unjustifiable and mostly negative attitude towards a group and its members.

Stereotype

A generalized (often overgeneralized) belief about a group.

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior towards a group.

Just World Phenomenon

Tendency to believe that the world is just and that therefore people get what they deserve.

Ingroup

People with whom we share a common identity.

Outgroup

Those percieved as different or apart from the ingroup.

Ingroup Bias

Tendency to favor our group over others.

Scapegoat Theory

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

Ethnocentrism

Tendency to view our racial/ethnic group as superior.

Other Race Effect

Effect where people tend to recall faces of one’s own race better than others.