Social Psychology

Unit 14 of the Textbook (modules 74-80), Attribution, attitudes, and actions, Conformity and Obedience, Group Behavior, Prejudice and Discrimination, Aggression Attraction, Altruism, conflict, and peacemaking

Attribution Theory

the theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition

Fundamental Attribution Error

the tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Attitudes

feelings that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events

Peripheral Route Persuasion

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues such as a speakers attractiveness

Central Route Persuasion

occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts

Foot-in-the-door Phenomenon

the tendency for people who have agreed to a small request to comply with a bigger request

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that we act to reduce discomfort when our attitudes and actions don’t align

Conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Normative Social Influence

influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval

Informational Social Influence

influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions about reality

Social Facilitation

improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others

Social Loafing

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts to a common goal

Deindividuation

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations

Group Polarization

the beliefs and attitudes we bring to a group grow stronger with like-minded people

Groupthink

the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision making group overrides a realistic alternative

Just-World Phenomenon

the world is just and people will get what they deserve

Ingroup

“Us”- people with whom we share a common identity

Outgroup

“Them”- those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup

Ingroup Bias

favoring our own group

Scapegoat Theory

the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

Other-Race Effect

the tendency to recall faces of one’s own race rather than the faces of other races

Aggression

physical or verbal behavior intended to harm

Frustration-Aggression Principle

frustration leads to anger which leads to aggression

Social Scripts

a culturally modeled guide for how to act in situations

Mere Exposure Effect

repeated exposure to stimuli increases liking of them

Passionate Love

an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually at the beginning of relationships

Companionate Love

the deep affectionate attachment we feel with those whom our lives are intertwined

Self-Disclosure

the act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others

Altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

Bystander Effect

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if someone else is around

Social Exchange Theory

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and reduce costs

Reciprocity Norm

people will help those who helped them

Social-Responsibility Norm

people will help thsoe who can’t help themselves

Social Traps

a situation in which the conflicting parties become caught in mutually destructive behavior

Mirror-Image Perceptions

Each side sees itself as ethical while the other side is evil

Self-Fufilling Prophecy

a beleif that leads to its own fufillment

Superordinate Goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require cooperation

GRIT

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction- a strategy designed to decrease international tensions