psych unit 9 vocab. (copy)

social psychology

social psychology

study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

attribution theory

theory by Fritz Heider, theory that we have a tendency to give causal explanations for someone’s behavior by crediting their situation or disposition

fundamental attribution error

the tendency to overestimate the impact of disposition and underestimate situations when analyzing a person’s behavior

attitude

the belief and feeling that predisposes a person to respond in a particular way

foot-in-door phenomenon

the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request

cognitive dissonance theory

when our attitudes and actions are opposed and we experience tension as a result

conformity

adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

normative social influence

influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid rejection

informative social influence

when the group provides valuable information, but stubborn people don’t listen to them

social facilitation

the improved performance on tasks in the presence of others

social loafing

The tendency of an individual in a group to exert less effort toward attaining a common goal than when tested individually

deindividuation

the loss of self-­awareness and self­-restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity

group polarization

enhancing a group’s prevailing attitudes through a discussion

groupthink

a mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-­making group overrides the realistic appraisal of alternatives

prejudice

an unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members

stereotype

generalizations about the qualities and characteristics of the members of a group or social category

discrimination

unjust and differential treatment of the members of different groups or social categories

ingroup

people with whom one shares a common identity

outgroup

those perceived as different from one’s ingroup

ingroup bias

the tendency to favor one’s own group

scapegoat theory

when individuals undergoing negative experiences blame an innocent individual or group for causing the experience

just-world phenomenon

the tendency of people to believe the world is just, and people get what they deserve and deserve what they get

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

frustration-agression principle

principle that frustration creates anger, thus generating aggression

conflict

an incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

social trap

a situation in which the conflicting parties become caught in mutually destructive behavior

mere exposure effect

effect that says that individuals show an increased preference for a stimulus because of repeated exposure to it

passionate love

an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually at the beginning of a love relationship

companionate love

a deep, affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

equity

a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give

self-disclosure

revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others

altruism

an apparently unselfish behavior that provides benefit to others at a cost to the individual; ex: martyrdom

bystander effect

the tendency of any bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present

social exchange theory

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process

reciprocity norm

the expectation that we should return help and not harm those who have helped us

social-responsibility norm

the norm that tells us to help others when they need us even though they may not repay us

superordinate goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation

GRIT

strategy designed to decrease international tensions by one side recognizing mutual interests and doing a small conciliatory act with a goal for reciprocation from the other party

behavioral medicine

scientific field that integrates behavioral knowledge with medical knowledge

health psychology

field of psychology that studies stress-­related aspects of disease

stress

any circumstance (real or perceived) that threatens a person’s well­being

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

the physiological consequences of severe stress

coronary heart disease

a clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle

type A

competitive, hard­ driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-­prone people

type B

easygoing, relaxed people

psychophysiological illness

any stress-­related physical illness such as hypertension or headaches

lymphocytes

a type of blood cell that plays a key role in specific immune responses

coping

the use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to manage the demands of a stressful situation

problem-focused coping

reducing stress by changing events that cause stress or by changing how we react to stress

emotion-focused coping

when we cannot change a stressful situation and respond by attending to our own emotional needs

aerobic exercise

exercise that raises energy, increases self­ confidence, and lowers tension, depression, and anxiety

biofeedback

electronic devices that inform people about their physiological responses and gives them the chance to bring their response to a healthier range

complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

a group of therapies and health care systems that fall outside the realm of conventional Western medical practic