PSYC 100 Chapter 13 Social Psychlogy

What is social psychology?

The study of how people influence our thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes.

What is attribution?

The process of assigning causes to behavior.

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The tendency to overestimate dispositional influences and underestimate situational ones when judging others.

What did the Jones & Harris (1967) Castro study show?

Raters still believed pro-Castro debaters were personally pro-Castro, despite knowing positions were assigned.

How do we typically explain our own behavior?

We overestimate situational factors and underestimate dispositional ones.

What is cognitive dissonance?

A feeling of discomfort from holding conflicting thoughts or beliefs.

Name a strategy to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Avoid dissonant info, justify actions with firm beliefs, or change beliefs.

What did Festinger & Carlsmith (1959) find?

$1 group rated a boring task as more enjoyable than $20 group—showing attitude change due to insufficient justification.

What is conformity?

The tendency to alter behavior due to group pressure.

What are two reasons people conform?

Informational influence (others may know better) and normative influence (desire to fit in).

What did Asch's line experiment find?

75% conformed at least once; average conformity rate was 40%.

What reduced conformity in the Asch experiment?

Written answers, another person giving the correct answer, group size <6, varied wrong answers.

What is the bystander effect?

People are less likely to help in emergencies when others are present.

What is pluralistic ignorance?

Assuming no one else sees a problem because no one is acting.

What is diffusion of responsibility?

Belief that others will take action, reducing personal responsibility.

What was the Milgram Experiment about?

Testing obedience by instructing participants to administer shocks.

What were the results of the Milgram study?

About 2/3 administered the maximum 450-volt shock.

What increased or decreased obedience?

Closer experimenter and lab coat increased obedience; closer learner or dissenting peers decreased it.

What is deindividuation?

When individuals lose self-awareness and feel less personal responsibility in a group.

What are signs of deindividuation?

Anonymity, loss of identity, uncharacteristic behavior.

Who conducted the Stanford Prison Study?

Philip Zimbardo.

What was the main finding of the Stanford Prison Study?

Subjects internalized roles; guards became abusive, prisoners distressed.

How long did the Stanford Prison Study last?

Terminated after 6 days due to psychological harm.

What did the Stanford Prison Study demonstrate?

Power of roles and situation in shaping behavior.