Chapter 12: Social Psychology

What does social psychology study?

Social psychology studies how people interact with one another and how situations influence behavior.

What are the two main types of topics social psychologists explore?

Intrapersonal topics (individual aspects) and interpersonal topics (interactions between people).

What is the difference between situational and dispositional influences on behavior?

Situational influences are external factors like culture and social roles, while dispositional influences are internal traits like personality.

What does situationism suggest about behavior?

Behavior is mainly determined by environmental factors.

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The error of overemphasizing internal factors for others' behaviors while ignoring situational causes.

What key study illustrated the fundamental attribution error?

The Quizmaster Study, where participants rated questioners as smarter due to not recognizing situational advantages.

What is the halo effect in social psychology?

The halo effect is when we assume someone with one good trait (like attractiveness) also has other good traits.

How do individualistic and collectivistic cultures differ in attribution?

Individualistic cultures focus on personal traits, while collectivistic cultures consider group dynamics and context.

What is actor-observer bias?

The tendency to attribute others' behaviors to their character but explain our own based on situational factors.

What is self-serving bias?

The tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.

What does the just-world hypothesis suggest?

The belief that everyone gets what they deserve, often leading to victim blaming.

What study demonstrated how social roles influence behavior?

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment, where participants assigned as guards became abusive.

What are social roles?

Patterns of behavior expected in certain situations, like being a student or a friend.

What are social norms?

Rules or expectations about how to behave in a group.

What are scripts in social interactions?

Guidelines for expected behavior in certain situations.

What is cognitive dissonance?

An uncomfortable feeling when our beliefs and behaviors don't align.

What is the justification of effort?

The tendency to value something more highly when we've worked hard for it.

What is the central route to persuasion?

A method of persuasion that focuses on logical arguments and evidence.

What is the peripheral route to persuasion?

Persuasion based on superficial cues, like attractiveness or celebrity endorsements.

What is the foot-in-the-door technique?

A persuasion strategy where someone agrees to a small request before a larger one.

What is conformity?

Changing behavior to fit in with the group.

What did Solomon Asch's experiment study?

The influence of group pressure on individual judgment.

What is the bystander effect?

The phenomenon where individuals do not help a victim when others are present.

What does groupthink lead to?

Prioritizing group cohesion over critical thinking, often resulting in poor decisions.

What is group polarization?

The tendency of group discussions to enhance the group's prevailing attitudes.

What is social loafing?

The tendency for individuals to put in less effort in a group task than when working alone.

What causes deindividuation?

A sense of anonymity and reduced accountability in a group.

What are the main components of an attitude?

Affective, behavioral, and cognitive components.

What can lead to prejudice reduction?

Education and interactions with diverse groups.

What is discrimination?

Acting negatively toward someone because of their group membership.

What are stereotypes?

Simplified beliefs about a group that may not apply to all individuals.

What is the example of gender discrimination associated with Mary Whiton Calkins?

She was denied her PhD from Harvard simply because she was a woman.

What is the relationship between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination?

Stereotypes lead to prejudice, which may result in discriminatory behavior.

What is empathy?

Understanding how someone else feels, which can motivate prosocial behavior.

What does the matching hypothesis propose?

People choose partners who are similar to themselves in attractiveness.

What are the three components of Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love?

Intimacy, passion, and commitment.

What is the key factor in forming friendships?

Proximity and similarity.

What happens during the process of self-disclosure in relationships?

Sharing personal information helps create closer connections.

What is altruism?

Helping others even when there's no direct benefit to oneself.

What are common characteristics of attractive individuals in different cultures?

Varies by culture but often includes symmetrical features and traits indicating kindness.

What is an example of a negative consequence of bullying?

Victims can suffer from anxiety and depression.

How does cyberbullying differ from traditional bullying?

Cyberbullying occurs online and can involve harassment without physical presence.

What is the primary psychological phenomenon demonstrated by Kitty Genovese’s case?

The bystander effect.

What term describes behavior modification in response to authority commands?

Obedience.

What was the shocking statistic from Milgram's Experiment?

65% of participants administered the highest shock level despite the learner's distress.

How can group size affect conformity?

The more people in the majority, the more likely someone will conform.

What effect does having dissenters in a group have on conformity?

It significantly decreases the likelihood of conformity.

What is normative social influence?

Conformity to feel accepted by the group, even knowing the answer is wrong.

What is informational social influence?

Conformity based on the belief that the group has more accurate information.

What is the role of authority presence in obedience?

Closer authority figures increase compliance to obey.

What phenomenon occurs when individuals feel less responsibility in a group?

Diffusion of responsibility.

What does social psychology reveal about human behavior?

It shows the complexity of human behavior influenced by both internal and situational factors.