4.1-4.3 MCQ Assessment

dispositional attribution

a type of attribution in which you assign responsibility for an event or action to the person involved based on their stable, enduring traits

situational attribution

a type of attribution in which you assign responsibility for an event or action to the circumstances of the situation

optimistic explanatory style

people who tend to blame setbacks on outside forces and view them as temporary, isolated events

pessimistic explanatory style

when a person takes a situation personally, even if it has nothing to do with them

actor-observer bias

the tendency for those acting in a situation to attribute their behavior to external causes, but for observers to attribute others’ behavior to internal causes

fundamental attribution error

the tendency for observers, when analyzing other’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

self-serving bias

a cognitive bias where individuals attribute their successes to internal factors like talent or effort while blaming external factors like luck or other people for their failures

external locus of control

the perception that chance or outside forces beyond your personal control determine your fate

internal locus of control

the belief that an individual has control over their own actions and outcomes in life

mere exposure effect

the idea that people tend to prefer things that are familiar — having already encountered something creates a preference for it

self-fulfilling prophecy

when a person unknowingly causes a prediction to come true, due to the simple fact that they expect it to come true

social comparison

the tendency of individuals to evaluate their own abilities, achievements, and attributes by comparing themselves with others

relative deprivation

the belief that a person will feel deprived or entitled to something based on the comparison to someone else

stereptype

a generalized belief about a group of people

prejudice

an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members — involves negative emotions, stereotyped beliefs, and a predisposition toward discriminatory action

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members

implicit attitudes

a negative attitude, of which one is not consciously aware, against a specific social group

just-world phenomenon

the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get

out-group homogeneity bias

the tendency to assume that the members of other groups are very similar to each other, particularly in contrast to the assumed diversity of the membership of one's own group

in-group bias

the tendency to favor our own group

ethnocentrism

judging another's culture solely by the values & standards of one's own culture

belief perseverance

the tendency to maintain one's beliefs even after they have been discredited by factual information

confirmation bias

the tendency of individuals to support or search for information that aligns with their opinions and ignore information that doesn't

cognitive dissonance

tension stemming from realizing attitudes and actions don’t coincide

social norm

a society’s understood rules for accepted and expected behavior

normative social influence (influence theory)

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

informational social influence (influence theory)

influence resulting from a person’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality

elaboration likelihood model

when we actively process a message, we more often retain it

central route to persuasion

occurs when interested peoples’ thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments

peripheral route to persuasion

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues

halo effect

we may believe beautiful or famous people are especially trustworthy

foot-in-the-door technique

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

door-in-the-face effect

a persuasive technique that begins with an outrageous request in order to increase the likelihood that a second, more reasonable request is granted

conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

obedience

complying with an order or a command

individualism

prioritizing one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identification

collectivism

the tendency to view oneself as a member of a larger (family or social) group, rather than as an isolated, independent being

multiculturalism

the belief in the equal coexistence and recognition of multiple cultures within a society

group polarization

the enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group

groupthink

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

diffusion of responsibility

individuals feel less responsible for taking action or making decisions when they are part of a group because they assume someone else will take on the responsibility

social loafing

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable

deindividuation

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

social facilitation

in the presence of others, the improved performance on simple tasks or well-learned tasks, and worsened performance on difficult tasks

false consensus effect

the tendency to assume that one's own opinions, beliefs, attributes, or behaviors are more widely shared than is actually the case

superordinate goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation

social trap

a situation in which two parties, by each pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior

industrial-organizational psychology

the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and the work place

altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

social responsibility norm

an expectation that people will help those needing their help

social reciprocity norm

an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them

bystander effect

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