4.1-4.3

Attribution

The process of explaining the causes of behavior.

Actor/Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute our own actions to external factors but others' actions to internal ones.

Internal Locus of Control

Believing that you have control over the outcomes of your actions.

Dispositional Attribution

Attributing someone's behavior to their personality or character.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate the influence of personality and underestimate the influence of the situation when explaining others' behavior.

External Locus of Control

Believing that external factors or luck control the outcomes of your actions.

Situational Attribution

Attributing behavior to external factors or circumstances.

Self-Serving Bias

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

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When a belief or expectation leads to its own fulfillment.

Explanatory Style

The way we explain the causes of events; optimistic explains events in a positive way, while pessimistic attributes them to negative factors.

Mere Exposure Effect

The tendency to develop a preference for things simply because we are exposed to them repeatedly.

Social Comparison

Comparing yourself to others to evaluate your own abilities or situation.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling deprived or dissatisfied when comparing yourself to others who are better off.

Stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people.

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

The tendency to see members of other groups as being more similar to each other than they really are.

In-Group Bias

The tendency to favor members of your own group over those in other groups.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that people get what they deserve.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.

Cognitive Dissonance

The discomfort felt when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes.

Prejudice

A negative attitude or belief about someone based on their group membership.

Implicit Attitudes

Attitudes or stereotypes that are unconscious but still influence behavior.

Belief Perseverance

The tendency to hold onto beliefs even when confronted with evidence that contradicts them.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of people based on their group membership.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms your beliefs.

Social Norms

Expectations about how people should behave in a society.

Foot-in-the-Door

The tactic of starting with a small request to make it easier to ask for a larger one later.

Multiculturalism

The appreciation and promotion of cultural diversity within a society.

Social Influence Theory

The study of how people’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are shaped by others.

Door-in-the-Face

The technique of making a large request first, followed by a smaller request.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group discussion to make individuals' opinions more extreme.

Persuasion

The process of influencing someone’s attitudes or behavior.

Conformity

Adjusting one’s behavior to align with the group.

Groupthink

When group members suppress dissenting opinions to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.

Central Route Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs through logical reasoning and evidence.

Obedience

Following the instructions or orders of an authority figure.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible when others are present.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs through superficial cues, such as attractiveness or charisma.

Individualism

The belief in the importance of personal independence and self-reliance.

Social Loafing

The tendency to exert less effort in a group than when working alone.

Social Facilitation

The tendency to perform better on simple tasks when others are present.

Collectivism

The belief in prioritizing the group’s needs over individual needs.

Deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster anonymity.

False Consensus Effect

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

Superordinate Goals

Shared goals that override differences between groups and promote cooperation.

Social Trap

A situation where individuals or groups act in their own self-interest, leading to a negative outcome for everyone.

Altruism

Selfless concern for the well-being of others.

Social Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that people will return favors or kindness.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where people are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A theory explaining how attitudes are changed through central or peripheral routes.

Social Responsibility Norm

The expectation that individuals will help others who are in need.

Halo Effect

The tendency to let one positive trait influence our overall judgment of someone.

Industrial Organizational Psychologists

Psychologists who apply psychological principles to workplace environments to improve productivity and employee well-being.