Psychology Social Behavior and Attribution Theories Quizlet

Dispositional Attribution

Explaining someone's behavior by referring to their personality or internal traits.

Situational Attribution

Explaining someone's behavior based on external circumstances or the environment.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate personality and underestimate the situation when judging others' behavior.

Attitudes

Feelings influenced by beliefs that predispose us to respond in certain ways to people or events.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, like attractiveness or confidence.

Central Route Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs when people are influenced by strong, logical arguments and evidence.

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

The tendency for people who agree to a small request to later comply with a larger one.

Door-in-the-Face Phenomenon

The tendency to comply with a smaller request after first refusing a much larger one.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The idea that we act to reduce discomfort when our thoughts and actions conflict, often by changing our attitudes.

Normative Social Influence

Conforming to gain approval or avoid disapproval from a group.

Informational Social Influence

Conforming because we believe others' interpretations of a situation are more accurate than our own.

Milgram Experiment

A study showing people obey authority figures even when asked to harm others.

Asch Experiment

A study demonstrating that individuals conform to group pressure even when the group is clearly wrong.

Why do people conform? Why do they obey?

People conform and obey to fit in, avoid rejection, gain approval, reduce uncertainty, or because they perceive authority figures as legitimate and trustworthy.

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others.

Social Loafing

When individuals exert less effort in a group than when working alone.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.

Stanford Prison Experiment

A study showing how social roles and situational pressures can lead to abusive behavior.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group discussion to strengthen members' initial attitudes.

Groupthink

When the desire for harmony in a group leads to poor decision-making and suppressed dissent.

Power of Individuals

The ability of one person to resist group pressure and influence group norms.

Cultural Influence and Norms

Shared rules and behaviors learned from one's culture that guide social behavior.

Prejudice

An unjustified, usually negative, attitude toward a group and its members.

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Implicit Bias

Automatic, unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that influence behavior.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get.

In-Group/Out-Group

The tendency to favor one's own group (in-group) and view others as different or inferior (out-group).

Scapegoat Theory

The theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by finding someone to blame.

Other-Race Effect

The tendency to better recognize faces of one's own race than others.

Hostile Aggression

Aggression driven by anger with the intent to cause harm.

Instrumental Aggression

Aggression used as a means to achieve a goal.

Genetic, Neural and Biochemical Influences

Biological factors such as heredity, brain activity, and hormones that affect aggression.

Aversive Events

Unpleasant or stressful situations that can trigger aggression.

Frustration-Aggression Principle

The idea that frustration creates anger, which can lead to aggression.

Reinforcement and Modeling

Learning aggressive behavior through rewards or by observing and imitating others.

Proximity

Physical closeness, which increases the likelihood of forming relationships.

Physical Attractiveness

The tendency to be drawn to people who are aesthetically appealing.

Similarity

The tendency to form relationships with people who share similar traits or interests.

Passionate Love

An intense, aroused state of positive absorption in another person.

Companionate Love

A deep, affectionate attachment built on trust and shared life.

Equity

A relationship where both partners give and receive in a balanced way.

Self-Disclosure

Revealing personal information to another, which builds closeness.

Altruism

Helping others without expecting anything in return.

Bystander Effect

The tendency for people to be less likely to help when others are present.

Social Exchange Theory

The idea that helping behavior is based on weighing costs and benefits.

Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

Social Responsibility Norm

The expectation that people should help those who need assistance.