SocialPsychology

Attribution/attribution theory

how we explain the causes of behavior Illiterate ICE CREAM

Dispositional

You view whatever happened as a result of the person’s disposition, and internal characteristics (intelligence or personality) “he’s stupid”

Situational

You view whatever happened as the result of the situation the person is in. “he had a hard life”

Explanatory Styles

A predictable way of explaining events to ourselves. LADY WHO GOT RAN OVER

Optimistic Style

Attribute negative events to external specific (isolated) causes and positive events to internal global (affecting many areas) causes

Pessimistic Style

Attribute negative events to internal, global causes and positive events to external specific causes.

Actor/observer Bias

We tend to explain other’s bad or negative actions with dispositional attributions and our own with situational ones. (She fell because she’s clumsy. I fell because there was a rock in my shoe)

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to use dispositional attributes to explain the behavior of others, and ignore situational factors. (She got the question right because she’s smart and not because she may have studied hard.) Dispositional Attribution “IGNORING”

Self-serving bias

We tend to see ourselves as good. Since we overestimate positive qualities when attributing behavior, when we succeed, it is for dispositional reasons and when we fail, it is situational. (I got a good grade because I’m so smart. I didn’t get a good grade because my pencil broke) - OPTIMISTIC STYLE

Locus of Control

our perception of where control over life events resides.

External Locus of Control

I blame the outside forces for my circumstances, If something happens, it is just luck, nothing I can do to change my life. I have no power or hope for getting a better life. NEGATIVES

Internal Locus of Control

I’m responsible for what I do. Other people’s opinions don’t worry me. I work hard and get what I want. I’m mainly happy and independent. I can handle most challenges. POSITIVE - IT-GIRL

Pros

high motivation levels, goal-oriented, actively trying to improve, curious

Cons

Can blame themselves for circumstances beyond their control. Difficult to accept when you cannot a situation.

Person Perception

Our brain’s ability to form impressions and make judgments about others based on limited info

Mere-exposure effect

Your preference for something increases the more you are exposed to it. (songs)

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

A phenomenon in which an individual’s beliefs or expectations about a situation or person, positive or negative, influences their behavior in a way that causes these expectations to come true

Social comparison

comparing ourselves to others, which can impact our motivation and self-esteem.

Upward Social comparison

Comparing yourself to someone you believe has something better than you. Lowered self esteem or raised motivation.

Downward Social Comparison

Looking down on someone who has less than you. Increased self esteem or lowered motivation.

Relative deprivation

a feeling of resentment or dissatisfaction that occurs when people perceive themselves as having less than they deserve compared to others.

Stereotypes

Generalized ATTITUDES about a group of people based only on their membership in a group, not on any individual characteristics. “Sorting Strategy”

Implicit Attitudes/Bias

Unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that influence actions, decisions, and understanding (when you don’t realize you’re discriminating, but you are) CAN BE TOWARD AN OBJECT

Just-world phenomenon

the tendency to see the world as fundamentally fair and to believe that people get what they deserve for their actions and beliefs.

Out-group homogeneity bias

(Out-group

In-group bias

(In-group

Ethnocentrism

bias toward your ethnic group and against other ethnic groups. “My group is better.”

Confirmation Bias

the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories and ignore contradicting evidence.

Cognitive Dissonance

the feeling of discomfort experienced when our beliefs and actions do not match.

Altruism

Helping someone, but hurting yourself while helping them in some way.

Social Reciprocity Norm

A norm in which people have an expectation that if they help someone, then that favor will be reciprocated.

Social Responsibility Norm

A societal expectation that people should act in a way that helps society.

Bystander Effect

A phenomenon where people are less likely to help someone when others are present.