Social Psychology

Social psychology

The study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by other people.

Aggression

Behavior intended to harm another person, either physically or verbally.

Frustration–aggression hypothesis

The idea that frustration can create an urge to act aggressively.

Prejudice

Negative attitudes or feelings toward people based on their membership in a particular group.

Group polarization

The tendency for group discussion to strengthen the group's initial attitudes or opinions.

Groupthink

The tendency for group members to prioritize agreement and harmony over careful evaluation of alternatives.

Deindividuation

A reduced sense of individual identity and self

Diffusion of responsibility

The tendency for people to feel less personally responsible for taking action when others are present.

Bystander intervention

When a person steps in to help someone who needs assistance, especially in an emergency.

Altruism

Helping another person without expecting something in return.

Social cognition

The way people think about, interpret, and make judgments about other people and social situations.

Stereotyping

Generalizing a set of characteristics to all members of a particular group.

Attribution

The process of explaining the causes of someone's behavior or an event.

Correspondence bias

The tendency to overestimate personality or internal factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining another person's behavior.

Social influence

The ways in which other people affect a person's thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or behavior.

Conformity

The tendency to change one's behavior or beliefs to match those of a group.

Obedience

The tendency to follow the commands or instructions of an authority figure.

Normative influence

The pressure to conform to the expectations of others in order to be accepted or avoid rejection.

Persuasion

The process of changing someone's attitudes or beliefs through communication or argument.

Cognitive dissonance

The uncomfortable feeling that occurs when a person has conflicting thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors.