AP Psych Unit 4 pt 1

Actor/Observer Effect

The tendency to attribute one's own actions to external (situational) causes while attributing others' actions to internal (dispositional) factors.

Attribution Theory

The theory that explains how people determine the causes of behavior, either attributing it to internal (dispositional) or external (situational) factors.

Dispositional Attribution

Attributing behavior to an individual’s personality or internal traits rather than external circumstances.

Downward Social Comparison

Comparing oneself to others who are worse off to feel better about one’s own situation.

Explanatory Style

A person’s way of explaining life events, often categorized as optimistic or pessimistic.

External Locus of Control

The belief that external forces, such as luck or fate, control one's life.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Internal Locus of Control

The belief that one controls their own fate and outcomes through personal actions and choices.

Mere Exposure Effect

The tendency to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar.

Optimistic Explanatory Style

A tendency to attribute negative events to external, unstable, and specific factors, leading to a positive outlook.

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

A tendency to attribute negative events to internal, stable, and global factors, leading to a more negative outlook.

Relative Deprivation

The feeling that one is worse off compared to others, which can lead to dissatisfaction.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When an expectation about a person or situation leads to behaviors that cause the expectation to come true.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors to protect self-esteem.

Situational Attribution

Attributing behavior to external circumstances rather than personality traits.

Social Comparison

Evaluating oneself in relation to others.

Upward Social Comparison

Comparing oneself to people who are better off, which can be motivating or discouraging.

Belief Perseverance

Holding onto beliefs even after being presented with contradictory evidence.

Cognitive Dissonance

The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting thoughts or behaviors, leading to a motivation to resolve the inconsistency.

Cognitive Load

The amount of mental effort being used in working memory, affecting decision-making and problem-solving.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring contradicting evidence.

Discrimination

Unjustified negative behavior toward individuals based on group membership (e.g., race, gender).

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious beliefs or biases that affect behavior.

Ingroup

A social group with which a person identifies.

Ingroup Bias

The tendency to favor one’s own group over others.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is fair and people get what they deserve.

Outgroup

A social group with which a person does not identify.

Outgroup Homogeneity Bias

The perception that members of an outgroup are more similar to each other than they actually are.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people.

Altruism

Unselfish concern for the welfare of others, often leading to helping behavior.

Attentional Variables

Factors that influence what individuals focus on in a given situation.

Burnout

Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, often in work or caregiving roles.

Bystander Effect

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help someone in need when others are present.

Central Route of Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs when people focus on the arguments and respond with logical thinking.

Collectivism

A cultural value that prioritizes group goals over individual goals, common in many Eastern societies.

Conformity

Adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to match a group standard.

Deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible for taking action when others are present.

Door-in-the-Face Technique

A persuasion strategy where a large request is made first (likely to be refused), followed by a smaller request (more likely to be accepted).

Elaboration Likelihood Model

A theory explaining how persuasion occurs through two routes: central (logical arguments) and peripheral (superficial cues).

False Consensus Effect

The tendency to overestimate how much others share our beliefs and behaviors.

Foot-in-the-Door Technique

A persuasion strategy where agreeing to a small request increases the likelihood of agreeing to a larger request later.

Group Polarization

The strengthening of a group’s prevailing opinions after discussion with like-minded individuals.

Groupthink

A desire for harmony in a decision-making group that leads to poor decision-making due to suppression of dissenting views.

Halo Effect

The tendency to let one positive trait of a person influence overall impressions of them.

Individualism

A cultural value that prioritizes personal goals and independence, common in many Western societies.

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology

The study of human behavior in workplaces to improve productivity and employee well-being.

Informational Social Influence

Conforming because one believes others have accurate information, especially in ambiguous situations.

Multiculturalism

A perspective that values and encourages the coexistence of multiple cultural traditions.

Normative Social Influence

Conforming to fit in or gain social approval, even if one privately disagrees.

Obedience

Following direct commands, usually from an authority figure.

Peripheral Route of Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs through superficial cues like attractiveness or emotions rather than logic.

Persuasion

The process of changing attitudes or behaviors through communication.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, helpful, and cooperative behavior.

Situational Variables

External factors that can influence behavior, such as environment or social context.

Social Debt

The idea that individuals owe a debt to society, often motivating prosocial behavior.

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others, but impaired performance on complex tasks.

Social Influence Theory

The theory that people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to put in less effort when working in a group compared to working alone.

Social Norms

Unwritten rules about how to behave in social situations.

Social Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

Social Responsibility Norm

The expectation that people will help others who depend on them, even with no personal gain.

Social Traps

Situations where individuals act in their own self-interest but end up harming the collective group.

Superordinate Goals

Shared goals that require cooperation between groups to achieve, reducing conflict.