AP Psych - 19. Social Pyschology

Attribution Theory

explain other's behavior by crediting the situation or their disposition

Situational Attributes

• external

• caused by something outside the person we observe (ex: their situation)

Dispositional Attributes

• internal

• attributes person's behavior to their personal character

Explanatory Style

• aka attributional style

• a way to explain life events

Optimistic Explanatory Style

• positive thinking

• feels in control

• problems are temporary

• positive and negative events

Positive Events (Optimistic)

caused by disposition attributes that are lasting and apply across many situations

Negative Events (Optimistic)

caused by situations that are temporary and can be changed

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

• negative thinking

• feels out of control

• problems are permanent

• contributes to depression and learned helplessness

Positive Events (Pessimistic)

caused by luck and are temporary

Negative Events (Pessimistic)

caused by disposition factors and are personal

Actor/Observer Bias

tendency to explain our own behavior to situational (external) causes and others behavior to situational (internal) factors

Actor

we know why we are completing an act

Observer

we can only guess as to why someone is doing something

Fundamental Attribution Error

• attribute their actions to their disposition and fail to recognize the situation

• judging someone else's behavior

Self-Serving Bias

• attribute our own achievements to our personal disposition and failures to the situation

• judging our own behavior

• take personal credit for success, but blame others for problems

Locus of Control

refers to the extent that people feel they have control over events

Internal Locus of Control

• people believe they can influence the outcome of events

• attribute their success to their own abilities (disposition)

External Locus of Control

• people believe luck or fate determines the outcome of events

• attribute their success to the situation

Mere Exposure Effect

repeated expose to something leads to greater liking

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

• a belief or expectation influences behavior in a way that makes a prediction come true

• can be true or untrue

Social Comparison Theory

• the evaluate ourselves by comparing our abilities, opinions, and achievements to others

• reduces uncertainty and helps understand social norms and where we fit in society

Downward Comparison

• comparing yourself to someone perceived as less fortunate

• can boost self- esteem, lead to a sense of superiority or complacency and hinder personal growth

Upward Comparison

• comparing yourself to someone perceived as superior

• can be motivational, or lead to low self esteem or envy

• may lead to relative deprivation

Relative Deprivation

feeling of being disadvantaged in comparison to others

Stereotype

• generalized belief about an outgroup

• rely on these to reduce the cognitive load (representative heuristic)

Outgroup

group he don't belong to

Prejudice

• develop a negative belief/attitude of a person or group

• could cause discrimination

Discrimination

• act of behaving differently towards a person or group based upon out belief about that outgroup

• our attitudes may be implicit

Implicit Attitudes

unaware of our attitudes

Just World Phenomena

blaming the victim - conclusion the person got what they deserved (hindsight biased)

In-Group

group(s) we belong to

In-Group Bias

we favor the groups we belong to

Out-Group

groups we don't belong to

Out-group Bias

we are suspicious of them and often dislike them

Outgroup Homogeneity

belief that all members of another group are more alike than is true (stereotyping)

Ethnocentrism

beleif that our culture (or group) is superior to others

Scapegoat Theory

• we look for some to blame for problems base on

• outgroup homogeneity and stereotyping

• self-serving biased

Belief Perserverance

• occurs when a belief persists even when there is evidence to the contrary

• influenced by confirmation bias

Confirmation Bias

looking for info that only supports the theory you believe and ignore contrary info

Cognitive Dissonance

• an uncomfortable tension experienced when our behaviors and attitudes don't match

• mental tension over your actions

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

• we change our attitudes to match our behaviors to reduce the feel of tension

• Freud called it self-serving bias

• rationalization

Rationalization

a defense mechanism

Social Norms

perceived rules that identify acceptable behavior

Social Influence Theory

an individuals attitude and behaviors are influenced by the presence or actions of others

Normative Social Influence

we follow others to gain acceptance or avoid disapproval from society

Informational Social Influence

we look for evidence around us to determine what behavior is expected of us

Conformity

process by which people change their attitudes or behaviors to match those of society

Persuasion

can be used to change attitudes and therefore our behaviors

Elaboration Likelihood Model

• the likelihood we change our attitudes

• two ways: central and peripheral

Central Route to Persuasion

• speaker uses facts, figures, and other info to persuade

• slower to cause change

• lasts longer

• mere exposure effect

Peripheral Route to Persuasion

• judgements made on someone's/something's appearance or endorsements by celebrity

• very fast attitude change

• not long lasting

• halo effect

Halo Effect

perception is positively influenced by our opinions of a person other than related traits

Foot in the Door Phenomena

• agree to a small request, only to be presented with a larger request

• often go along with larger request

Door in the Face Phenomena

make an outrageous request that will be refused and follow it up with a smaller request

Solomon Asch and the Line Study

• studied conditions that lead to conformity

• hypothesis - people in groups more likely to conform

• experimental group - 1 participant 8 confederates

• control group - just participant

Conditions that Strengthen Conformity

• informational social influence

• group size (3 or more)

• unanimity

• admiration

• normative social influence

• no prior commitments

• others observe

• culture encourages

Informational Social Influence

when we're unsure now to act, we look for info from others

Normative Social Influence

we want to gain approval and avoid disapproval of society, we follow norms

Spotlight Effect

we believe people are looking at us

Collectivist Society

• often communist nations

• strive for group harmony

• put the group before the individual

Individualistic Society

emphasizes individual achievement

Compliance

• giving in to a request that you don't agree with

• adapting your actions to another person's wishes

• differs from conformity - done to achieve a task

Stanley Milgrim Shock Study (Obedience and Compliance)

• hypothesis - 2% of would deliver maximum shock, 66% delivered maximum shock

• no teacher wanted to, but they complied with orders

Conditions That Promote Obedience

• close proximity

• authority figure

• prestigious organization

• depersonalization - victim is far away

• no role models for defiance

Individualism

• focuses on a persons unique characteristics, autonomy and personal goals

• emphasize self - reliance and independence over group affiliation

Collectivism

• people prioritize group goals and needs over personal ones

• emphasize unity, interdependence and social harmony

Multiculturalism

recognizes impact of cultural identity, including race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status on an individuals world-view, behavior and mental health

Group Polarization

beliefs grow stronger when we join groups with similar beliefs (confirmation bias, overconfidence phenomena)

Group Think

• group is excited to reach a decision, and overlooks potential problems to finish

• often done to achcine group consensus

Diffusion of Responsibility

• we assume that someone else will step up and help

• leads to bystander effect

Bystander Effect

we are less likely to help someone in distress when others are present

Social Loafing

• slacking off when working in a group and allowing others to complete the work for us

• larger the group the more likely this is to occur

Deindividuation

• loss of individually and self-awareness in a large group so we behave in atypical ways

• we feel anonymous

Social Facilitation

• performing better in front of others

• only works if it is something we are good at

False Consensus Effect

• assumption that your beliefs or behaviors are accepted by most

• aka consensus bias

• we want to be right (overconfidence phenomena, confirmation bias)