Unit 4 Psych

Attributions

How we attribute the blame. Dispositional (blame on inner characteristics) or situational (blame on the environment)

Self serving bias

When we attribute the good things on us and the bad things on the environment, regardless of cause

Actor observer bias

When we assume someone elses flaws are dispositional but assume the same thing to be situational for ourselves

Fundamental attribution error

Attributing others actions to disposition and forgetting situational

Explanatory styles

How someone internalizes and explains events in their life

Optimistic - attributes bad to situation and good to disposition, sees events as temporary

Pessimistic - attributes good to situation and bad to disposition, sees events as permanent or for a long time

Internal locus of control

sees events as opportunities for growth, sees oneself as in control

External locus of control

Sees other things as in control, fixed mindset

Self fulfilling prophecy

When someone influences a situation to fulfill their expectations

Social comparison

When we compare ourselves to others, can either discourage us or encourage us

Upward - comparison to someone better off

Downward - comparison to someone worse off

Explicit vs implicit attitudes

Conscious vs unconscious attitudes

Just world phenomenon

The idea that the world is perfectly just, sometimes leads to victim blaming

Outgroup homogenity

belief that people in the outgroup are more similar to eachother than they really are, leads to stereotypes and generalizations

In group bias

Favorability towards our own groups

Ethnocentrism vs cultural relativism

Belief our culture is best vs judging a culture on its own standards

Belief perseverance

Continuing a belief even after its debunked

What reinforces conformity?

Group size, unanimity, and cohesion, as well as the presence of authority, and whether or not their culture is collectivist or individualistic

Social influence theory

How and why we are socially influenced

Normative - out of the want to be liked

Informative - out of the belief the group is right

Elaboration likelihood model

People either take a direct pathway (slow and logical) or an indirect pathway (fast and emotional) to being persuaded

Halo effect

Cognitive bias based on our impression of a person

Foot in the door technique

Persuading someone by starting with small demands that increase

Door in the face technqiue

Persuading someone by starting with large demands and lowering them

Group polarization

When your opinions become more extreme while you’re in a group

Groupthink

Group prioritizes the consensus

Deindividuation

Individuals ina group lose their sense of self awareness and personal responsibility

Diffusion of responsibility

When we feel less responsible while in a group, causes the bystander effect where we don’t do anything to help

Social loafing

Trying less in a group

Social facilitation

Trying more in a group

False consensus effect

Falsely believing others share your beliefs more than they actually do

Superordinate goals

Goals that need cooperation to accomplish

Social traps

When individuals or groups act in their own self interest

Altruism

Acting good without expectation of a reward

Social responsibility norms

The norms that dictate that we have a responsibility to help and take care of others

Social reciprocity norm

An expectation of what happens after we do something for someone else

Psychodynamic personality traits

Sigmund Freud’s theory that personality is shaped by conscious and unconscious mind

Denial

Mental self defense method where the person refuses to accept reality

Displacement

Mental self defense method where the person redirects the emotions to something else

Projection

Mental self defense method where the person attributes their thoughts and emotions to someone else

Rationalization

Mental self defense method where the person tries to justify a thought

Reaction formation

Mental self defense method where the person acts opposite to how they feel

Regression

Mental self defense method where the person regresses to previous developmental stages

Sublimation

Mental self defense method where the person channels unacceptable impulses into acceptable behaviors

Repression

Mental self defense method where the person pushes upsetting or traumatic thoughts back

Humanistic theory

Focuses on the innate good in humans

Positive regard

Supports love and acceptance from other. There is unconditional and conditional love, the former helping to build self-concept and self-esteem

Self concept vs self esteem

What we think of ourselves vs how we feel about it

Self actualizing tendency

The tendency to strive to reach our full potential

Self transcendence tendency

The tendency to try and be something bigger than ourselves

Q sort

Has participants categorize statements about themselves to judge congruence

Congruence

The gap between our ideal and actual self