Module 41: Social Thinking

Social psychology

the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Attribution theory

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

Social psychology

the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Attribution theory

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

Fundamental attribution error

tendency to underestimate the impact of the situation, and overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Attitude

feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to later comply with a larger one

Role

a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

Cognitive dissonance theory

the theory that we act to reduce discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent

Peripheral route persuasion

occurs when people are influenced by attention-getting cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness

Central route persuasion

occurs when people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments