Exam Review and Group Decision Making

These flashcards cover key concepts related to cognitive theories, group dynamics, and decision-making processes discussed in the lecture.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

A theory that suggests we experience discomfort when our attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent, leading to a motivation to change either our attitudes or our behaviors.

Self-Perception Theory

A theory that posits we learn about our own attitudes by observing our behaviors rather than experiencing emotional arousal.

Hostile Media Phenomenon

The tendency of individuals to perceive media coverage as biased against their own views.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A model that describes the two routes to persuasion: the central route (which involves careful and thoughtful consideration) and the peripheral route (which relies on superficial cues).

Attitude Inoculation

A technique for strengthening attitudes by exposing individuals to weak counterarguments, making them more resistant to persuasion.

Group Polarization

The tendency for a group to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of its members.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon where the desire for group harmony leads to dysfunctional decision-making processes.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

The phenomenon in which individuals continue investing in a losing proposition due to the cumulative prior investment.

Normative Social Influence

Influence that stems from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval from others.

Pluralistic Ignorance

A situation in which a majority of group members privately reject a norm, but incorrectly assume that others accept it.

Persuasive Arguments Theory

The idea that group discussions expose individuals to new arguments that strengthen their pre-existing beliefs.

Social Validation

The reinforcement of beliefs or attitudes based on feedback from others who share the same views.

Devil's Advocate

A person assigned to argue against the group's prevailing viewpoint in order to foster a more thorough examination of the decision.

Availability Heuristic

A mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to a person's mind when evaluating a specific topic.