Introduction to Social Psychology Review Sheet

These flashcards cover key concepts and ideas from the Introduction to Social Psychology lecture notes, including definitions, theories, methodologies, and cultural comparisons.

What is the core definition of social psychology?

The study of how thoughts, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of others.

What does the bystander effect illustrate?

It demonstrates that the presence of others reduces the likelihood of helping behavior, showcasing the power of the situation.

What is the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)?

The tendency to overestimate internal factors and underestimate situational factors when judging others.

What are the two types of processing in social psychology?

Automatic processing (quick, heuristic-based) and controlled processing (deliberate, effortful thinking).

What does WEIRD stand for, and why is it significant?

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic; it highlights the limited generalizability of many psychological findings.

What are the six steps of the scientific method in social psychology?

1. Form a question 2. Literature search 3. Form a hypothesis 4. Operational definition 5. Collect and analyze data 6. Propose/revise theory.

What type of research design involves direct observation?

Observational research, which can provide real-world data but may suffer from observer bias.

What is the difference between internal and external validity?

Internal validity refers to confidence that X caused Y, while external validity refers to generalizability to other people/settings.

What key ethical considerations must be addressed in social psychology research?

IRB approval, informed consent, debriefing, confidentiality, and evaluation of deception.

What is self-knowledge in the context of social psychology?

Understanding of who we are, including self-concept, self-schemas, and working self-concept.

How do individualistic and collectivist cultures differ in their view of self-esteem?

Individualistic cultures emphasize personal goals and higher self-esteem, while collectivist cultures focus on self-improvement.

What is social cognition in social psychology?

The way we think about the social world, including how we encode, interpret, store, and retrieve social information.

What is the significance of schemas in social cognition?

Schemas are generalized knowledge structures that help us process social information but can lead to stereotypes.

What is the self-serving bias?

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

What is the difference between internal and external attribution?

Internal attribution assigns behavior to dispositional factors, while external attribution assigns behavior to situational factors.

What is an example of perceptual salience?

If you only see a colleague's outward confidence in a meeting, you might incorrectly attribute their high competence to personality factors, ignoring situational influences.