AP Psych Unit 4 Part 1 (4.1-4.3)

person perception

how we form impressions of ourselves and others, including attributions of behavior

attribution theory

explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or person’s state, enduring traits

fundamental attribution error

tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behaviors, to underestimate impact of situation and overestimate personal disposition

actor-observer bias

those acting attribute behavior to external causes, observers attribute to internal

prejudice

unjustifiable and negative attitude toward group; predisposition to discriminatory action

stereotype

generalized belief about a group of people

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward group or its members

just-world phenomenon

tendency to believe world is fair and people get what they deserve

social identity

“we” aspect of self concept; group form of who am i

ingroup

people with whom we share common identity

outgroup

those perceived as different from ingroup

in-group bias

tendency to favor our own group

scapegoat theory

prejudice offers outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

other-race effect

recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races

attitudes

feelings influenced by beliefs that predispose us to respond in certain way

foot in door phenomenon

people who first agreed to small request will comply to larger request

role

set of expectations about social position defining how those in position ought to behave

cognitive dissonance theory

reduce discomfort we feel when 2 thoughts are inconsistent

persuasion

changing people’s attitudes, potentially influencing actions

peripheral route persuasion

influenced by incidental cues like speaker’s attractiveness

central route persuasion

interested people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments

norms

society’s understood rules for accepted and expected behavior

conformity

adjusting behavior to coincide with group standard

normative social influence

desire to gain approval and avoid disapproval

informative social influence

willingness to accept others’ opinions of reality

obedience

complying with order/command

social facilitation

improved performance on simple/well-learned tasks and worse on hard ones in presence of others

social loafing

people in group exert less effort when pooling efforts toward common goal vs individual accountability

deindividuation

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

group polarization

enhancement of group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group

groupthink

desire for harmony in decision-making group overrides realistic appraisals of alternatives

culture

enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, traditions shared by group and transmitted from 1 generator to the next

tight culture

place with clearly defined and reliably imposed norms

loose culture

flexible and informal norms

aggression

physical/verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally

frustration-aggression principle

frustration creates anger which generates aggression

social script

culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations

mere exposure effect

repeated exposure to novel stimuli increasing our liking

passionate love

aroused state of intense positive absorption in another; beginning of romantic relationship

compassionate love

deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

equity

people get what they give in a relationship

self disclosure

act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others