Unit 4 Psych

Attribution Theory

Explains how people interpret the causes of behavior as dispositional (internal) or situational (external).

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

Tendency to overestimate personality factors and underestimate situational factors when judging others’ behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

Attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.

Actor-Observer Bias

Explaining our own behavior as situational but others’ behavior as dispositional.

Cultural Influence on Attribution

Individualistic cultures emphasize personal traits; collectivist cultures emphasize situational factors.

Attitude

A learned tendency to evaluate people, objects, or ideas positively or negatively.

Central Route Persuasion

Attitude change through careful consideration of strong arguments; more durable.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Attitude change based on superficial cues (attractiveness, emotions); temporary.

Cognitive Dissonance

Psychological discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors, leading to attitude change.

Social Norms

Expected rules of behavior in a group or culture.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior or beliefs to match group norms.

Obedience

Following direct orders from an authority figure.

Bystander Effect

Reduced likelihood of helping when others are present.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations.

Psychodynamic Theory

Personality shaped by unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.

Id / Ego / Superego

Id = impulses, Ego = reality, Superego = morals.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious strategies used to reduce anxiety (e.g., repression, projection).

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and self-concept.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Accepting and valuing a person without judgment.

Self-Actualization

Achieving one’s full potential (Maslow).

Social-Cognitive Theory

Personality results from interaction between traits, environment, and behavior.

Reciprocal Determinism

Behavior, personal factors, and environment influence each other.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations.

Trait Theory

Personality defined by stable characteristics.

Big Five Traits (OCEAN)

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

Motivation

Forces that drive behavior toward goals.

Drive-Reduction Theory

Behavior motivated by reducing physiological needs.

Incentive Theory

Behavior motivated by external rewards.

Arousal Theory

People seek optimal levels of excitement or alertness.

Emotion

A response involving physiological arousal, expressive behavior, and conscious experience.

James-Lange Theory

Arousal comes before emotion.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Arousal and emotion occur simultaneously.

Two-Factor Theory (Schachter-Singer)

Emotion = physical arousal + cognitive label.