Psych Short Answers Part 1

Social Psychology

Study of how individuals think & behave in social situations.

What is the fundamental attribution error?

A cognitive bias where people tend to overemphasize internal attributions and underestimate situational demands when explaining people’s behaviour. For example, if someone cuts us off in traffic, we automatically may assume they are rude or reckless (internal attribution), rather than assuming they may be rushing to an emergency (a situational demand)

What is the actor-observer bias?

The tendency to attribute our own behaviour to situational factors, while attributing others behaviour to internal factors. This bias highlights a difference in how we explain behaviour depending on whether we are the “actor” or “observer”. For example if you fail a test, you might say it was because the test was u fair and you didn’t have enough time to study. If someone else fails, you might think it’s because they’re lazy or not smart enough.

What are self-serving attributions?

Explanations people make to protect or enhance their self image. Specifically, individuals tend to attribute their successes to internal factors (like ability and effort) and their failures to external factors (like bad luck or an unfair task)

What is Conformity?

The tendency to change one’s behaviour, attitudes or beliefs to match those of a group or to fit social norms.

What is compliance?

A form of social influence where a person changes their behaviour in response to someone who has little to no form of authority or social power.

Compare/contrast compliance and conformity

Compliance and conformity are both forms of social influence, but they differ in important ways. Conformity refers to changing one’s behaviour, attitudes or beliefs to match those of a group. Compliance on the other hand, involves changing behaviour in response to a direct request from a person who typically has no authority or social power. The key difference is that conformity is driven by group norms and social expectations, whereas compliance results from a direct request.

What is prosocial behaviour?

Actions intended to benefit others or society as a whole.

What is antisocial behaviour?

Actions that harm or lack consideration for the well-being of others.

What are 4 main factors involved in attraction?

1. Familiarity and Proximity

2. Similarity

3. Physical Attraction

4. Reciprocity

What is Prejudice?

A positive or negative attitude towards an entire group of people.

It is a form of attitude so it has 3 components; Affect (or emotional), cognitive and behavioural. The affect component includes our emotions towards the group in question (can be positive or negative). The cognitive component of prejudice consists of social stereotypes. (oversimplified perceptions of group members that do not take into account their diversity). Finally the behavioural component of prejudice is discrimination. such as biased actions towards a particular group.

Explicit Prejudice

conscious and clearly and publicly expressed discrimination.

Implicit Prejudice

Unconscious thoughts and feelings about members of other groups.

What is the scapegoat theory of prejudice?

Blaming a person or group for actions of others or for conditions not of their making. A type of displaced aggression in which hostilities are triggered by frustration. For example, during times of economic hardship, immigrants are often unfairly blamed for job shortages, even though they are not the root cause of the economic disparities.

How can we reduce prejudice ?

One strategy for reducing prejudice is: Equal-Status Interaction where individuals from different groups interact in situations where they have the same level of power. When people work together as equals, stereotypes are challenged, and mutual respect is more likely to develop, helping reduce bias.

Another strategy is creating: Superordinate Goals prejudice is also reduced in situations that require people of diverse groups to achieve a common goal that is beneficial to everyone. Cooperation and shared goals help reduce conflict by encouraging people in opposing groups to see themselves as a member of a single, larger group.

What is organizational psychology?

The study of organizations to understand how to create structured and company cultures that will improve performance.

What is industrial psychology?

The study of jobs to identify the necessary skills needed for success, which can then guide efforts to select people and train them for jobs that they will find rewarding.

What is job analysis?

A detailed description of the skills, knowledge and activities required by a particular job.

What is theory x leadership?

An approach to leadership that emphasizes work efficiency. It’s a management style based on the belief that workers naturally dislike work and must be closely supervised, controlled and motivated by punishment or reward. A manager who constantly monitors their employees, sets strict rules, and doesn’t allow input from staff is demonstrating this leadership style.

what is theory Y leadership?

A leadership style that emphasizes human relations at work and views people as industrious, responsible and interested in challenging work. Leaders who follow this theory assume employees are creative, capable and work best when given freedom and support.

What is transformational leadership?

Leaders who transform employees to exceed expectations and look beyond self interest to help the organization to better compete.

Idealized Influence; serving as a role model for followers.

Inspirational Motivation; the ability to inspire and motivate followers.

Intellectual Stimulation; the leader challenges followers to be innovative and creative, appeals to intellectual ability.

Individualized Consideration; demonstrate genuine concern for the needs and feelings of followers.

What is a social dilemma?

Situations in which individuals face a choice between self-interest and the interest of the group. The most beneficial individual action, if chosen by the most people, has harmful effects for the collective. The dilemma is if you act in the interest of yourself or the group.

What is the tragedy of the commons?

Situation where people overuse a shared resource because they each act in their own self interest, even though this harms everyone in the long run.

For example in The Lorax, the once-let cuts down truffula trees to make thneeds and get rich. The trees are a shared resource m, but he keeps taking more without thinking of the future. Eventually, all the trees are gone, the animals leave, and his business fails.

Ways to prevent tragedy of the commons?

1: Using punishment (to discourage overuse) - if there were rules or laws that punished the Once-ler for cutting down too many Truffula trees- like a fine or limit on tree cutting - he might have stopped sooner.

2: Using rewards (to encourage good behaviour): If the Once-ler got rewards for using the trees sustainably - like money for planting new trees or praise for protecting the environment - he might have found a better balance between business and nature.

How can social norms be used to encourage sustainable behaviour?

Social norms can be used to encourage sustainable behaviour by showing people what others are doing and what is socially expected.

Social Norms Marketing spreads messages like “most people recycle” to make eco-friendly actions seem normal and widely accepted. This encourages people to follow the crowd and adopt similar behaviours.

Personalized Normative Feedback goes a step further by comparing a persons own actions to those of others or the general public. For example telling someone they use more electricity than their neighbours. This gentle comparison can motivate people to reduce their usage to align with the norm.

Both strategies use peer influence to promote positive environmental change.

3 components of attitude

effect (or emotional)

cognitive

behavioural