Social Psychology (AP PSYCH)

social psychology

the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

attribution theory

the theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition

fundamental attribution error

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

self-serving bias

a readiness to perceive oneself favorably

central route persuasion

attitude change that occurs when people focus on the content of the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts

peripheral route persuasion

attitude change that occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

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

door-in-the-face phenomenon

the tendency for people who have first disagreed to a large request to comply later with a smaller, more reasonable request

role

a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

Stanford Prison Experiment

Philip Zimbardo's study that demonstrated the powerful impact of roles, perceived power, and toxic situations on attitudes and behaviors

Philip Zimbardo

social psychologist who conducted the famous Stanford Prison Experiment

cognitive dissonance theory

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent

norms

understood rules for accepted and expected behavior

conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Solomon Asch

social psychologist who conducted studies on conformity in which participants' estimates of line lengths were influenced by the presence of others giving incorrect answers

normative social influence

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

informational social influence

conformity or influence resulting from one's willingness to accept others' opinions about reality

obedience

compliance that occurs when people follow direct commands, usually from someone in a position of authority

Stanley Milgram

social psychologist who conducted studies on obedience in which participants were told by an authority figure to electrically shock another individual

social facilitation

improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others

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

group polarization

the enhancement of a group's prevailing opinions or feelings through discussion within the group

groupthink

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

prejudice

an unjustifiable attitude toward a group of people and its members

stereotype

a generalized belief about a group of people

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

ingroup bias

the tendency to favor our own group

scapegoat theory

the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

just-world phenomenon

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

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally

frustration-aggression principle

the principle that frustration (the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal) creates anger, which can generate aggression

mere exposure effect

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to new, unfamiliar stimuli increases liking of them

passionate love

an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship

companionate love

the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

bystander effect

the tendency for any given person to be less likely to give aid to someone in need of help if other people are present

social exchange theory

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs

reciprocity norm

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

social-responsibility norm

an expectation that people will help those needing their help

conflict

a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

approach-approach conflict

a conflict that involves choosing between two desirable options

approach-avoidance conflict

a conflict that arises when a single option has both positive and negative aspects

avoidance-avoidance conflict

a conflict that involves choosing between two undesirable options

social trap

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

mirror-image perceptions

mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive

self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment

superordinate goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation