Social Psychology - Exam 1

What are the core social motives?

Belonging, understanding, controlling, enhancing self, and trusting

What is belonging?

People benefit and need strong, stable relationships with others. Beneficial to the group; larger group = larger goals

What is understanding?

The need to predict what is going to happen in case of uncertainties, and to make sense of what does happen.

What is controlling?

The need for perceived contingency between behavior and outcomes. Need to feel in control of your behavior and the outcomes of that behavior.

What is enhancing self?

Either maintaining self-esteem or being motivated by the possibility of self-improvement.

What is trusting?

Seeing others and the social world as a good place. The need to believe we can depend on others and that others will not hurt us.

What is social psychology according to Allport?

The scientific attempt to explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of other human beings.

What is the person-situation debate?

A debate that began in 1968 due to the book by Walter Mischel: Personality and Assessment. He argued that behavior is too inconsistent due to varying situations.

What is an individualistic culture?

Emphasized individuals; the autonomous person

What is a collectivist culture?

Emphasized groups (family, community, organization, and country)

Are individualistic and collectivist cultures a single spectrum?

No, its 2 seperate sprectums

What are the three components of self?

The self and cognition (self-concept), the self and emotion (self-esteem), and the self and behavior (self-presentation

What is self-concept?

Our representation of ourselves; core motive: understanding promotes group membership

What is self-esteem?

Feelings about the self; two types: trait self-esteem and state self-esteem; core motive: self-enhancement facilitates group interaction and action

What is self-presentation?

Goals and process of attempting to convey one’s identity to others; core motive: belonging through self-regulation of behavior

What are the three aspects of self-concept?

Self-schemas, self complexity, and identites W

What are self-schemas?

Framework of who one is; predominantly involves personality traits one views as important

What is self-complexity?

People vary in complexity; possible selves: who I want to become, who I’m afraid of becoming, who I might become

What are identities?

Emphasis on roles and group membership; socially created: involves ethnic identity, political affiliations, vocation, etc.

What is sociometer theory?

Self-esteem is a measure of one’s social standing/sucessful relationships; a social barometer

What is self-monitoring?

The degree to which people monitor themselves and adjust thier behavior in social situations.

How do low-self monitors behave differently in social situations?

Attend to the self. See self as principled. Attitudes gude behavior. Always true to self. H

How do high-self monitors behave differently in social situations?

Attend to the social situation. The social situaton guies their behavior. See self as flexible, social butterfly. Risk contadicting self.

What is self-discrepancy theory?

Peopole compare themselves to internalized standards that aid in regulating behavior.

What are the two types of self-discrepancies?

Actual-ideal discrepancy: can lead to disappointment; Actual-ought discrepancy: can lead to guilt

What is self-evaluation maintenance theory?

Each person has a sense of self with several central areas that are the basis of the self concept.

What are the self-presentation strategies?

Ingratiation, self-promotion, intimidation, supplication and exemplification

What is ingratiation?

Flattery, complimenting, conforming to the other’s opinion: purpose: to be liked

What is self-promotion?

To be seen as effective or competent; purpose: to be seen as effective or competent

What is exemplification?

Purpose: wants to be seen as worthy, moral, or saintly

What is supplication?

Self-deprecation and helplessness; purpose: to be seen as helpless or unfortunate

What are the nonverbal behaviors associated with deception?

High pitched voice, longer latency period between question and answer, longer pause durations, shorter answers, fewer illustrator gestures, fewer hand/finger movements, more negative statements, less immediacy, and less plausible answers.

What are situational attributions?

External causes such as situation, rules, norms, or laws

What are dispositional attributions?

Internal causes such as personality traits, values, mood, and intentions.