Chapter 12: Social Psychology Overview

Social psychology

Studies shown of how we affect one another

Situationism (state theory)

Actions and behaviour are determined by our environment and surroundings

Dispositionism (Trait theory)

Actions and behaviors determined by internal factors

Fundamental Attribution error

In explaining persons behaviour we overemphasize internal factors and underemphasize external factors

Quizmaster study

Contestants answered correctly 4/10 times; an example of internal attribution

Situational attribution

Explaining behaviour based on external factors

Dispositional attribution

Explaining behaviour based on internal factors

Self-serving bias

To protect our self-esteem we explain our successes as due to dispositional factors and our failures as situational factors

Just world hypothesis

The belief that people get the outcomes they deserve

Social roles

A pattern that is expected of a person in a given setting or group

Social norms

A groups expectation of what is appropriate and acceptable behavior for its members

Scripts

A persons knowledge about the sequence of events expected in a specific setting

Attitudes

Our evaluation of a person, idea or object, consisting of affect, behavior, and cognition

Cognitive dissonance

Psychological discomfort arising from holding two or more inconsistent attitudes, behaviors, or cognitions

Justification of effort

We value goals and achievements more than we put a lot of effort into

Persuasion

Process of changing our attitude toward something based on some kind of communication

Yale attitude approach

Describes conditions which people tend to change their attitude based on message source, content, and audience characteristics

Central route direct

Logic-driven approach using data and facts for lasting attitude change

Peripheral route- indirect

Uses peripheral cues and relies on positive associations for less permanent attitude change

Foot-in-the-door technique

Persuader gets someone to comply to a small request then goes back and makes it a larger request

Conformity

Change in person's behavior to go along with the group even if they do not agree

Asch Effect

Influence of the group majority on an individual's judgment

Normative social influence

Conform to fit in, feel good and be accepted by the group

Informational social influence

Conform because they think the group is competent in the task and has correct information

Obedience

Changing your behavior to comply with a demand from an authority figure

Groupthink

Modification of the opinions of group members to align with what they think is the group consensus

Group polarization

Strengthening of an original group attitude after the discussion of views within a group

Deindividuation

The person feels a sense of anonymity which creates a reduction in accountability and sense of self when among others

Social loafing

Reduction of individual effort to achieve a goal when working in a group

Social facilitation

When an individual performs better in front of an audience compared to in private

Prejudice

Negative attitudes and feelings toward an individual based solely on one membership in a particular social group

Stereotypes

Specific belief or assumption about individuals based solely on their membership in a group

Discrimination

Negative action toward an individual because of their membership in a particular group

Confirmation bias

Seeking for info that supports our stereotypes and ignoring info that does not

In group

A group that we identify with or see ourselves belonging to

Out-group

The group that we don't belong to and view as fundamentally different from us

Robbers cave experiment

Found that working together toward a common goal decreased prejudicial attitudes between two groups

Aggression

Seeking to cause harm or pain to another person

Hostile aggression

Motivated by feelings of anger with the intent to cause pain

Instrumental aggression

Motivated by achieving a goal; does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain

Bullying

Repeated negative treatment of another person over time

Cyberbullying

Repeated behavior intended to cause psychological or emotional harm to another person

The bystander effect

When a witness or bystander does not volunteer to help a person in distress

Diffusion of responsibility

The tendency for no one in a group to help because the responsibility to help is spread throughout the group

Altruism

Peoples desire to help others even if the costs outweigh the benefits of helping

Proximity

We are more likely to be friends with people we have regular contact with

Similarity

We are more likely to be friends with people who are similar to us

Homophily

Tendency for people to form relationships with others who are similar

Reciprocity

The give and take in relationships

Self-disclosure

The sharing of personal information about ourselves

Physical traits

Men: tall, broad shoulders, narrow waist; Woman: large eyes, high cheekbones, slender build; Both: high levels of facial and body symmetry

Social traits

Men: achievement, leadership qualities, job skills; woman: affection, warmth, social skills

Matching hypothesis

People tend to pick someone they view as their equal in physical attractiveness and social desirability

Three components of love

Intimacy- sharing details and intimate thoughts and emotions; Passion- physical attraction; Commitment- standing by the person 'in sickness and health'

Social exchange theory

We are motivated to maximize the benefits of social exchanges or relationships and minimize the costs