Social Psychology Lecture Notes Review

A set of 100 flashcards for reviewing key concepts in social psychology based on lecture notes.

What is social psychology?

The systematic study of the nature and causes of human social behavior.

What focuses does social psychology balance?

Psychology focuses on the individual and sociology focuses on social structure.

What is a major concern in social psychology?

How one individual impacts another (person-to-person influence).

What are norms in social psychology?

Informal rules that govern behavior without being formally enforced.

How do individuals impact groups?

Individuals shape the groups they belong to, influencing group culture and direction.

What is Symbolic Interactionism (SI)?

A theoretical lens emphasizing meaning-making through interaction and shared symbols.

What is the ‘looking-glass self’?

A concept describing self-concept formed through imagined others’ perceptions.

What are the steps in the ‘looking-glass self’?

1. Imagine how we appear to others. 2. Imagine their reaction. 3. Respond with a feeling.

What does Social Exchange Theory frame interactions as?

Cost-benefit calculations.

What are social structures in social psychology?

Patterned relationships between groups of individuals.

What is a schema?

A mental framework that organizes expectations and interpretations.

What is a common method in social psychology research?

Surveys.

What is a strength of surveys in research?

They are generally inexpensive and can provide a clear picture of the phenomenon being studied.

What is a weakness of surveys?

Self-report problems such as biases and memory errors.

What is a field study?

An observation of everyday life in action.

What is participant observation?

A field method where the researcher participates while observing.

What is ethnography?

An in-depth approach to studying a group/culture in context.

What is a strength of ethnographic research?

It captures real-world behavior and provides rich detail.

What is archival research?

Analysis of data that has already been collected by others.

What is content analysis?

A systematic study of documents to identify themes and draw inferences.

What is a limitation of archival research?

Limited control over the quality of information.

What are lab experiments focused on?

Providing more control over variables and physical space.

What is a significant ethical concern in social psychology?

Protecting participants from harm.

What was the Stanford Prison Experiment?

A study conducted in 1971 highlighting ethical issues in psychological research.

What does self-esteem relate to in social psychology?

How positively or negatively someone evaluates themselves.

What are identities in social psychology?

Meanings attached to the self by oneself and others.

What is identity salience?

The idea that certain identities become more prominent in different situations.

What does the generalized other represent?

An internalized sense of what people in general expect from an individual.

What is self-presentation?

How people try to present themselves to others in social situations.

What distinguishes authentic self-presentation?

Presenting the 'real' or genuine self.

What is tactical self-presentation?

Strategically tailoring presentation to the situation.

What is self-disclosure?

The process of revealing feelings and behaviours to others.

What is impression management?

The broader process of trying to shape how others see us.

What is Goffman's model of dramaturgy?

Treating social life like ‘putting on a performance’.

What occurs during cooling out?

Someone is eased out of a role and given alternative identity options.

What constitutes identity degradation?

Forcing someone out of a role with no adequate alternative identities available.

What is the relationship between stigma and social judgment?

Stigma arises from cultural meanings and collective reactions.

What are key social emotions discussed in class?

Guilt, shame, love, jealousy, and embarrassment.

What defines altruism?

Believing others' well-being is equal to or greater than your own.

What is egoism in the context of altruism?

Self-interest as the main driver of action.

What is the bystander effect?

The more people present, the less likely any one person is to help.

What is the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

Frustrating circumstances lead to aggression.

What are normative and informational influences in conformity?

Normative influence is going along with the crowd; informational influence is looking to the group for information.

What is social perception?

Constructing an understanding of the social world from sensory data.

What does attribution explain?

The causes of someone's behavior.

What is the Fundamental Attribution Error?

Overestimating dispositional factors while underestimating situational influences.

What is emotional labour?

Emotion work that becomes part of a job role.

What is cognitive dissonance?

Psychological tension caused by dissonant relationships between cognitive elements.

What are the two major routes of persuasion?

Central route and peripheral route.

What is communicator credibility?

The believability of the communicator.

What is a key takeaway about the central route to persuasion?

It leads to more enduring attitude change.

What does selective self-presentation involve?

Highlighting traits that the target will find attractive.

What does social responsibility norms emphasize?

Considering how actions affect the community.

What is the social exchange theory?

Interaction guided by 'social economics' based on costs and rewards.

How does the self develop according to Mead's theory?

Through stages that involve language and social interaction.

What do schemas help with in social cognition?

Helping organize, interpret, and understand information.

What is the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Acting toward someone based on our impression of them can lead them to reflect that impression.

What influences the strength of the attitude-behavior relationship?

Accessibility, characteristics of the attitude, correspondence, situational constraints, and reference groups.

What is deep acting?

Trying to change what you actually feel, not just what you show.

What is the primary focus of social psychology?

The interaction between the individual and the social context.

What are some disadvantages of schemas?

They may lead to biases and reluctance to change with new evidence.

What is the role of emotions in social interactions?

They are tied to cultural expectations and social roles.

What is the main aim of tactical impression management?

To manipulate others’ impressions in a deliberate way.

What is the role of significant others in self-development?

They profoundly influence self-perception and self-evaluation.

What is the significance of situational identity?

Who you are in relation to the people around you at a given moment.

What is the implication of identity salience in social contexts?

Shifts in which identity is most prominent depending on the situation.

What techniques are used in ingratiation?

Flattery, highlighting shared opinions, presenting oneself as needy.

What constitutes a persona in social interactions?

The outward identity one presents to others in social situations.

What are emotional responses linked to stigma?

Embarrassment, distress, and fear of negative judgments.

What is the essence of the ‘self’ according to social psychology?

It is viewed as socially formed and constructed through interactions.

What illustrates the link between identity and culture?

Culture shapes what traits are praised or criticized in self-evaluation.

What is the aim of collective altruism?

Helping others with expectation of future reciprocation.

What is the role of reinforcement in shaping attitudes?

Reinforcement can strengthen or weaken attitudes based on perceived outcomes.

What connects emotional experiences to social relationships?

Emotions such as love and jealousy are inherently relational and contextual.

What is a key factor that affects impression management effectiveness?

The shared understanding of the situation among participants.

What is social learning theory's contribution to understanding aggression?

Aggression is learned through imitation and reinforcement.

What is the ecological validity of field studies in social psychology research?

Field studies capture real-world behavior with high ecological realism.

What enhances credibility in persuasion situations?

The communicator's expertise and trustworthiness.

What differentiates social emotions from basic emotions?

Social emotions are experienced within the context of social interactions.

What is the outcome of effective self-disclosure?

It builds trust and can deepen interpersonal relationships.

What is a core principle of the Elaboration Likelihood Model?

Different routes to persuasion yield different levels of attitude change.

How does self-criticism influence relationships?

Excessive self-criticism can diminish others’ liking if they perceive it negatively.