AP Psych Vocab Unit 9

aggression

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

altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

attitude

feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events.

attribution theory

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

bystander effect

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

central route persuasion

occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts.

peripheral route persuasion

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

role

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

discrimination

in social psychology, unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members.

other-race effect

the tendency to recall faces of one's own race more accurately than faces of other races. Also called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias.

cognitive dissonance theory

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, when we become aware that our attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.

companionate love

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

conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

deindividuation

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

equity

a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it.

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

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

frustration-aggression principle

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

fundamental attribution error

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

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.

GRIT

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension- Reduction—a strategy designed to decrease international tensions.

ingroup

"us"—people with whom we share a common identity.

informational social influence

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

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.

normative social influence

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

outgroup

"them"—those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup.

passionate love

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

Personal space

the perceived and maintained distance an individual requires between themselves and others to feel comfortable and safe, which can vary based on cultural norms and individual preferences.

prejudice

an unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action.

reciprocity norm

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

scapegoat theory

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

self-disclosure

the act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others.

self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

social exchange theory

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

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.

social psychology

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

social trap

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

stereotype

a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.

superordinate goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.