AP PSYCH 4.1 - 4.3

actor/observer effect

the tendency of people to make external attributions regarding their own behaviors and for observers tendency to make judgements of other's behaviors; the tendency for those acting in a situation to attribute their behavior to external causes, but for observers to attribute others' behavior to internal causes.

attribution theory

the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation (situational) or the person's disposition (dispositional).

culture

Beliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.

dispositional attribution

attributing behavior to the person's disposition and traits

downward social comparison

comparing ourselves to people who are worse than we are with regard to a particular trait or ability

explanatory style

interpreting good or bad events in a pessimistic or optimistic way.

external locus of control

attribution of success or failure to outside influences and feel powerless to change their situation.

fundamental attribution error

the tendency for observers, when analyzing others' behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition.

internal locus of control

attribution of success or failure to their own actions and choices.

lateral social comparison

comparing oneself with another who is considered to be more or less equal.

mere exposure effect

the tendency for liking to increase with the frequency of exposure.

optimistic explanatory style

accounting for negative events or situations with external, temporary, and specific explanations.

pessimistic explanatory style

accounting for negative events or situations with internal, permanent, and global explanations

relative deprivation

the perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves.

self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

self-serving bias

a readiness to perceive oneself favorably.

situational attribution

attributing behavior to the environment.

social comparison

evaluating one's abilities and opinions by comparing oneself with others.

upward social comparison

comparing ourselves to people who are better than we are with regard to a particular trait or ability

belief perseverance

tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them

cognitive dissonance

an unpleasant state that arises when a person recognizes the inconsistency of his or her actions, attitudes, or beliefs; the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent.

cognitive load

Mental effort required to process information.

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

implicit attitudes

attitudes that influence a person's feelings and behavior at an unconscious level / unawareness.

ingroup

"Us"—people with whom we share a common identity.

ingroup bias

the tendency to favor one's own group.

just-world phenomenon

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

outgroup

"them" - those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup.

outgroup homogeneity bias

tendency to exaggerate similarities of members of an outgroup.

prejudice

an unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action.

stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people.

Altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

attitude strength

the durability or impact of an attitude.

Attentional focus

a person's characteristic style of monitoring bodily symptoms, emotions, and overall well-being.

Burnout

a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion created by long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lowered performance and motivation.

bystander effect

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.

central route persuasion

occurs when interested people's thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments.

collectivism

a cultural pattern that prioritizes the goals of important groups (often one's extended family or work group).

Conformity

Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

Deindividuation

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.

Diffusion of responsibility

reduction in feelings of personal responsibility in the presence of others.

door-in-the-face technique

asking for a large commitment and being refused and then asking for a smaller commitment

elaboration likelihood model

theory identifying two ways to persuade: a central route and a peripheral route.

False consensus effect

the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.

Foot-in-the-door technique

the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.

Group polarization

the enhancement of a group's prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group.

Groupthink

the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.

Halo effect

the tendency to draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic.

individualism

a cultural pattern that emphasizes people's own goals over group goals and defines identity mainly in terms of unique personal attributes.

(I/O) psychology

the application of psychological principles, theory, and research to the work setting.

Informational social influence

influence resulting from one's willingness to accept others' opinions about reality.

Multiculturalism

The practice of valuing and respecting differences in culture.

normative social influence

influence resulting from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval.

obedience

complying with an order or a command; mimic people

peripheral route persuasion

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness

Persuasion

changing people's attitudes, potentially influencing their actions.

prosocial behavior

voluntary act that benefits others and is considered a central part of morality.

role

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

situational variables

features in the environment that participants might encounter.

social debt

an emotional meta state which accumulates guilt from unpleasant social interactions.

social facilitation

in the presence of others, improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks, and worsened performance on difficult tasks.

social influence theory

theory that powerful social influences can produce a state of hypnosis.

social loafing

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable.

social norms

expected standards of conduct, which influence behavior.

social reciprocity norm

The belief that if someone does something for you then you should do something for them.

social responsibility norm

an expectation that people will help those needing their help.

social traps

a situation in which two parties, by each pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior.

superordinate goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.