AP Psychology Terms

Psychology Terms Unit 1

Psychodynamic Approach

focuses on the unconscious desires, hidden messages, dream analysis, hypnosis

Behavioralism Approach

tangible, observable behaviors

Cognitive Approach

focuses on thoughts and mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Biological Approach

examines the physiological and genetic influences on behavior, including brain structures and neurotransmitters; very reliable! It emphasizes the role of biology in psychological functioning, linking mental processes to physical states.

Attribution Theory

inferences that people draw about the causes of events, other’s behavior, and their own behavior based on internal or external factors

Dispositional Attributions

explanations for behavior that focus on internal characteristics, such as personality traits or motives, rather than situational factors.

Situational Attributions

explanations for behavior that emphasize external factors, such as environmental influences or social context, rather than individual traits.

Explanatory Style

the manner in which individuals interpret events and experiences, often influencing their emotional responses and behavior. It typically involves a pattern of beliefs regarding the causes of positive and negative outcomes.

Optimistic Explanatory Style

explaining good things as likely to happen again, and bad things as one-time events

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

explaining bad things as likely to happen again , good things as one-time events

Fundamental Attribution Error

tendency to underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the characteristics of the individual

Actor-Observor Bias

Habit of blaming our own actions on the situation

Self-Serving Bias

attribute causes of behavior to external causes if we fail, and external causes of we succeed

Internal Locus of Control

belief that one’s own actions and decisions directly influence the outcomes and events in their life

External Locus of Control

belief that outcomes and events are determined by external forces/fate rather than one’s own actions

Altruism

selfless concern for the well-being of others, leading to behavior that benefits others

Social Responsibility Norm

the expectation that people will help those dependent on them, especially in emergencies, without regard to future exchanges

Conformity

matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms

Normative Social Influence

influence to conform to the positive expectations of others, driven by desire to be liked by the group

Social Norms

rules or expectations for behavior in a group or society

Relative Deprivation

the perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself.

Upward Social Comparison

comparing oneself to others who are perceived to be better off, motivates self-improvement by also decreases self-esteem

Downward Social Comparison

comparing oneself to those who are perceived to be worse off, boosts self-esteem but fosters complacency

Informational Social Influence

influence to accept info from others as evidence about reality

Obedience

following direct commands even if they contradict personal beliefs or morals

Social Facilitation

people perform differently in the presence of others which strengthens the more likely response

Group Polarization

people in a group end up agreeing stronger with each other, the group opinion becomes more extreme

Groupthink

desire for harmony/conformity leads to irrational decision making

Bystander Effect

individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present

Diffusion of Responsibility

individuals feel less responsible for taking action or helping when others are present

Social Loafing

people in a group use less effort when pooling efforts rather than individual responsibility

Deindividuation

loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in groups that have arousal and anonymity

Stereotype

generalized belief about a particular category of people; oversimplified

conformation bias

tendency for a person to search for info that confirms one’s perceptions

Belief Perseverance

hold onto one’s initial beliefs even after proven false'; ignores contradictory evidence

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment

Prejudice

an unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members, usually negative

Discrimination

unjustifiable, negative behavior toward a group/its members

Implicit Attitudes

unconscious beliefs that influence a persons behavior without awareness

Just-World Phenomenon

people believe the world is fair and people get what they deserve

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

tendency to favor and extend loyalty to members of one’s own group over others

In-Group Bias

favoring of our own group once “us” and “them” is established

Mere Exposure Effect

repeated exposure to a stimulus increases preference for that stimulus

Ethocentrism

believing that one’s own culture is superior

Central Route of Persuasion

person thinks carefully about a communication and is influenced bu the strengths of its arguements

Peripheral Route of Persuasion

a person does not think carefully about a communication and is influenced instead by superficial cues

Halo Effect

people believe that people with one positive characteristics also have other positive traits even if there’s no evidence of it

Foot-in-the-Door Technique

people who first agree to a small request are more likely to later agree to large requests

Door-in-the-Face Technique

large requests to agree to small requests

Cognitive Dissonance

psychological discomfort when holding conflicting beliefs leading to altered beliefs

James-Lange Theory

Arousal comes before emotion

Cannon-Bard Theory/Arousal and Emotion Occur Simultaneously

emotion triggering stimulus can cause both bodily arousal and emotional experience at the same time

Schachter-Singer Theory

Arousal + Label = Emotion; emotion is result of physiological arousal; our interpretation of arousal determines specific emotion we experience

Broaden-and-Build Theory of Emotion

positive emotions help us think more openly, negative emotions do the opposite

Universal Emotions

certain emotional expressions are recognized and experienced similarly across different cultures

Display Rules

a social group or cultures informal norms about how to properly express emotions

Superordinate Goals

goals that require collaboration among individuals or groups to achieve, helps reduce conflict

Social Traps

situations where people or groups act in their own self-interests, leading to negative outcomes for the group as a whole

Collectivism

a cultural value that emphasizes the importance of the group over the individual, prioritizes social cohesion and group coals

Multiculturalism

the coexistence of diverse cultures, where each culture retains its own identity and contributes to the overall social fabric

Persuasion

the process of influencing someone’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors through communication

Elaboration Likelihood Method

how individuals can be influenced by persuasive messages when they are motivated and able to process the information

False Consensus Effect

people overestimate the extent to which their beliefs, opinions, and behaviors are shared by others

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

a professional who applies principles of psychology to understand human behavior in the workplace