2.1.1- Judging and perceiving others

Social Cognition

The process of perceiving, thinking about, and using information to understand and make judgments about ourselves and others in social situations.

Person Perception

The mental processes used to understand and form impressions of other people.

Attribution

The process of explaining the causes of our own or others' behavior, focusing on internal or external factors.

Internal Attribution

An explanation of behavior based on the characteristics or disposition of the person involved.

External Attribution

An explanation of behavior based on situational factors rather than personal characteristics.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs or when behavior does not align with one's beliefs.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts that simplify decision-making processes, which can have both positive and negative influences on problem-solving.

Prejudice

A judgement about the members of a group due to their group membership

Stereotype

A widely held generalization about the personal characteristics of members of a social group.

Tri-component Model of Attitudes

A model illustrating the relationship between affective, behavioral, and cognitive components of attitudes.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate the impact of personal factors while underestimating situational factors on others' behaviors.

Cognitive Bias

A systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, affecting how people perceive and interpret information.

Judgment

The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions about people and situations.

Social Categorization

The process of classifying people into groups based on shared characteristics, influencing how we perceive and interact with them.

First Impressions

Initial perceptions that form based on physical cues and behavior, which can significantly influence relationships.