AP psych unit 4

Social Influence

The impact that others have on an individual's behavior, attitudes, or thoughts, often observed in group settings.

Deindividuation

A psychological state characterized by the loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in group situations.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A phenomenon where a person's expectations about another individual lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to come true.

Attribution Theory

The theory that explains how individuals interpret and determine the causes of behavior and events.

Dispositional Attribution

Attributing behavior to internal factors like personality traits or character.

Situational Attribution

Attributing behavior to external factors, such as environmental influences or circumstances.

Observer Bias

The tendency to interpret others' actions through the lens of one's own beliefs or expectations.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute positive events to one's own abilities while attributing negative events to external factors.

Internal Locus of Control

The belief that one has control over their life outcomes due to their own decisions and actions.

External Locus of Control

The belief that outcomes are determined by external factors or fate.

Mere Exposure Effect

The psychological phenomenon whereby people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them.

Stereotypes

Overgeneralized beliefs about a group of people which may lead to inaccurate or unfair judgments.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious beliefs or associations that can influence judgments and behaviors toward others.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is fundamentally fair, leading individuals to rationalize injustices or blame victims.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological conflict that occurs when a person holds contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, often leading to discomfort.

Social Norms

Unwritten rules and expectations about how individuals are expected to behave in a society or group context.

Conformity

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms or pressures.

Obedience

The act of following commands or instructions from an authority figure.

Individualism

A cultural orientation that emphasizes personal goals and individual rights over group goals.

Collectivism

A cultural orientation that prioritizes group goals and interdependence among individuals.

Altruism

Selfless concern for the well-being of others, often resulting in helping behaviors without expectation of reward.

Drive Reduction Theory

A theory that proposes that motivation is driven by the desire to reduce internal tension caused by unmet needs.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

The theory that suggests there is an optimal level of arousal for peak performance, with too little or too much arousal impairing performance.

Facial-Feedback Hypothesis

The theory that facial expressions can influence emotional experiences.

Big Five Personality Traits

A model categorizing personality into five traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Trait Theory

A psychological framework that focuses on the identification and measurement of individual personality characteristics.