Unit 4 study guide

Person perception

How we form impression of people

Attribution theory

A theory that explains someone’s behavior from a situation or the person’s internal dispositional traits

Fundamental attribution error

Overestimating or underestimating the influence of personality traits or situation

Explanatory style

the way people habitually explain the causes of events in their lives—especially negative ones

Actor-observer bias

people explain their own behavior differently from others explaining their behavior

Self-serving bias

People’s attribute their success to internal and external factors

prejudice

An unjustifiable and negative attitude towards a group of people

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs about a group of people

Discriminate

An unjustifiable and negative action towards a group and it’s members

implicit prejudice

unconscious negative attitude or stereotype that affect out understanding and behavior towards a group of people

“Just world phenomenon”

A tendency that people think the word is justified and get what they deserve

Social identity

your sense of self as a member in a social group

Ingroup

Group you belong to

out group

perceived by others

In group bias

We have a tendency to favor our own group

Out group homogeneity bias

we assume members of other groups have the same attitudes, personality, and appearance

scapegoat theory

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

Other-race effect

We are better able to recognize faces of our own race

Internal locus of control

Belief that outcomes in one’s life are primarily the result of someone else actions or decisions

External locus of control

Belief that life events and outcomes are determined by forces outside one’s personal control

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

people who agree to a small request find it easier to comply later with larger ones

Role

Expectations of social position

Cognitive dissonance theory

The idea that people feel psychological discomfort when conflicting with beliefs

Central route persuasion

When people are influenced by accidental cues

Peripheral route persuasion

When interested people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments

Halo effect

A cognitive bias where out overall impression of a person influenced how we judge their specific traits

conformity

Adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group or standard

Solomon Asch’s study in conformity

Experiment to understand how and why people conform in group pressure

Normative social influence

Being influenced to gain approval or avoid disapproval

Informational social influence

Wanting to be accurate, so we listen to what people say and assume they are right

Social facilitation

To preform better tasks when people are watching, and preform worse on difficult tasks that haven’t been practiced

Social loafing

Refers to the tendency for individuals to do less work in a group

Deindividuation

Losing self-restraint in large group because you are anonymous and less likely to be caught

Group polarization

An existing attitude or belief intensifying when discussing the issue within your group

Group think

Refers to being more concerned with reaching a group consensus than solving the problem

Obedience

The act of complying with an order or command

Individual

Focus on self

Collectivism

Focus on group

Multiculturalism

Valuing many cultures