Social Psychology Lecture Notes Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the Social Psychology lecture, focusing on definitions and core ideas.

Social Psychology

The study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others.

Social Cognition

The processes by which people come to understand others.

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs about a group that can impact judgments and behaviors.

Illusory Correlation

When people overestimate the association between social traits due to selective attention.

Conformity

The tendency to do what others do simply because they are doing it.

Obedience

The tendency to follow the directives of an authority figure.

First Impressions

Initial evaluations that can significantly influence later judgments about individuals.

Stereotype Threat

Fear of confirming a negative stereotype about one's social group, which can impact performance.

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

A measure of the strength of associations between concepts or categories.

Normative Influence

When conformity is influenced by the group’s perceived norms for appropriate behavior.

Informational Influence

When individuals conform because they assume the group has accurate information.

Evaluating Others

The process through which individuals form judgments about others' traits and competencies.

Thin-Slicing

The ability to make quick judgments based on limited information about others.

Evaluation Accuracy

The degree to which initial impressions predict later evaluations of an individual.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Bias

Prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group, often viewed as unfair.

Contact Hypothesis

The idea that increased contact between groups can reduce prejudice and improve relations.