AP Psych Unit 4

Attribution Theory

The process of explaining the causes of one’s behavior.

Internal Attribution

Attribution based on personal or dispositional factors.

External Attribution

Attribution based on situational factors.

Explanatory Style

Predictable patterns of how people explain good or bad events.

Three Steps of Attribution

1. Antecedent, 2. Attribution, 3. Consequence.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal factors.

Actor/Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal causes while attributing our own to external causes.

Self-Serving Bias

Taking personal credit for positive outcomes but blaming external factors for failures.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to remember information that confirms our biases.

Person Perception

Mental processes we use to form impressions of people.

Mere Exposure Effect

The tendency for attitudes toward an object or person to become more positive with frequent exposure.

Central Route to Persuasion

Persuasion based on the content of the message.

Peripheral Route to Persuasion

Persuasion influenced by external cues rather than central content.

Foot-in-the-Door Technique

Getting someone to agree to a small request before presenting a larger request.

door in face technique

Making a large request likely to be denied followed by a smaller more reasonable request.

Cognitive Dissonance

The discomfort felt when attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent.

Leon Festinger

Psychologist known for his research on cognitive dissonance.

Deindividuation

Phenomenon where individuals lose sense of individuality in a group.

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on familiar tasks in the presence of others.

Social Loafing

The tendency to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group discussions to lead to more extreme positions.

False Consensus Effect

The tendency to overestimate how much others agree with us.

Conformity

Changing one’s behavior or beliefs to match those of others due to group pressure.

Milgram Obedience Studies

Experiments demonstrating the extent to which people will obey authority figures.

Altruism

An unselfish concern for another's welfare.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where the likelihood of help decreases as the number of bystanders increases.

Just World Phenomenon

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

Scapegoat Theory

Blaming someone else for our problems to maintain self-esteem.

Proximity

The tendency to like people who are physically close to us.

Similarity

The tendency to be attracted to people who share our traits or interests.

Reciprocity

The tendency to like those who show that they like us.

Motivation

The process that initiates, guides, or maintains behavior.

Drive Reduction Theory

Physiological needs create a drive that motivates behavior to achieve homeostasis.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation driven by internal rewards, such as interest or enjoyment.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation influenced by external factors, like rewards or recognition.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A theory outlining the stages of human needs from physiological to self-actualization.

James-Lange Theory

Theory that emotions arise from physiological responses to stimuli.

Schachter Two-Factor Theory

Theory stating that emotion is based on physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation.

Distress

Stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure.

Eustress

Positive stress that results from striving for a challenge.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Three stages of response to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Tend and Befriend

Stress response characterized by seeking and giving support.

Type A Personality

Personality type characterized by high levels of stress and competitiveness.

Type B Personality

Easygoing personality type.

Problem-Focused Coping

Coping strategy aimed at addressing the root cause of stress.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Coping strategy aimed at managing emotional responses to stress.

Projective Tests

Tests that allow for interpretation through open-ended responses.

Neo-Freudians

Psychologists who build on Freud's theories while emphasizing social and cultural factors.

Humanistic Perspective

Approach focusing on personal growth and self-actualization.

Cognitive Perspective

Approach emphasizing the role of thought patterns in behavior.

Social Cognitive Theory

Theory suggesting behavior is a result of interactions with our environment.

Self-Efficacy

Our belief in our ability to succeed in tasks.

Sociocultural Perspective

Focus on how culture and social interactions influence behavior.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

A standardized test used to assess personality and psychopathology.

Big Five Personality Test

A model describing five core dimensions of personality.