2.1.5 - Social Groups and Culture

Attribution

The process of explaining the causes of behavior and events.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological discomfort arising from inconsistencies in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts that ease the cognitive load of making decisions.

Social Identity Theory

The theory that people favor their own group (in-group) over others (out-group) to enhance self-esteem.

Social Loafing

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

Collectivist Culture

A culture that emphasizes the needs and goals of the group over that of the individual.

Individualist Culture

A culture that prioritizes individual needs and goals over those of the group.

Power

The ability of an individual or group to influence or control others.

Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment

A psychological experiment that studied the effects of perceived power and assigned roles on behavior.

Group Norms

Standards or rules that dictate appropriate behavior within a group.