Attribution

Overestimation

________ of the degree to which everybody else thinks or acts the way we do, stemming from the use of our own outlook or situation to predict that of others.

psychological discomfort

An individual's ________ (dissonance) caused by two inconsistent thoughts.

Self

Objectification

1957

wrote a book

Self

Perception Theory

Bystander Effect

AKA Diffusion of responsibility

Results of two psychologists

Darley and Latane

Inspired by Kitty Genovese case

1964

Attribution Theory

Theory that views people as motivated to discover the underlying causes of behavior as part of their effort to explain the behavior

Actor Observer Effect

People attribute behavior depending on weather they are performing it or observing it

Situational factors

when people discuss their own behavior, they are likely to attribute it to external factors

Dispositional Factors

when people discuss other people's behavior they are likely to attribute it to internal factors

Internal/External Causes

Stable/ Unstable

We perceive some causes of behavior as enduring and permanent and others are temporary.

Controllable/Uncontrollable

We perceive that we can control some causes for behavior but not others

Attribution Emotional and Motivational ImplicationsBernard Weiner (1986,2006)

People perceive that of their accomplishment are based on internal characteristics, we feel proud of them. If we perceive them as being the result of external factors, we do not take pride in them

Fundamental attribution error

The tendency for observers to overestimate the importance of internal traits of the individual and underestimate the importance of external situations when they seek explanations of a person’s behavior.

False Consensus Effect

Overestimation of the degree to which everybody else thinks or acts the way we do, stemming from the use of our own outlook or situation to predict that of others.

The self as a social object

People have a mental representation (schema) of themselves (identity, personality, and self

Schema(building blocks of knowledge)

Theory/Idea that there are building blocks of knowledge

Positive Illusions

Positive views of oneself that are not necessarily deeply rooted in reality

Self Serving Bias

The tendency to take credit for one’s successes and to deny responsibility for one’s failures

Modesty Bias

When Individuals attribute situation factor for their successes, and dissociated themselves from their successes by attributing them to situation factors

Self Objectification

The tendency to see oneself primarily as an object on the eyes of others

Stereotype threat

An individual's fast acting, self fulfilling fear (spotlight anxiety) of being judged on the basis of a negative stereotype about his or her group

Social Comparison

The process by which individuals evaluate their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and abilities in relation to other people.

Attitudes

Opinions and beliefs about people, objects, and ideas

Can attitudes predict behavior? Research (Mcguire, 2004

Smith & Fabrigar, 2000)

suggest that attitudes can in fact sometimes predict behavior When a person’s attitudes are strong.When a person shows a strong awareness of their attitude and practices themWhen attitudes are relevant to the behavior.

Can Behavior Predict attitudes?

Two theories suggest that behavior does indeed influence attitudes

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

An individual's psychological discomfort (dissonance) caused by two inconsistent thoughts. Leon Festinger 1957: wrote a book

Self Perception Theory

Stresses that individuals make inferences about their attitudes by perceiving their behavior.

How are people’s attitudes changed?

The communicator (source)

The message

The medium

The target (Audience)

Altruism

An unselfish interest in helping someone else

Egoism

Giving to another person to:Ensure reciprocityTo gain self esteemPresent oneself as powerful, competent, or caringAvoid social and self

Empathy

A feeling of oneness with the emotional state of another person

Bystander Effect: AKA Diffusion of responsibility

Results of two psychologists: Darley and Latane

Inspired by Kitty Genovese case: 1964

The tendency of an individual who observes an emergency to help less when other people are present than when the observer is alone