Chapter 1: Introduction to Social Psychology

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and concepts from the Introduction to Social Psychology lecture.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of others.

Social Influence

The effect of others on our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or behavior.

Construal

Personal interpretations of a situation that are important in predicting behavior.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

The tendency to discount the power of the situation and see behaviors as determined by personality traits.

Behaviorism

A school of psychology focusing on the reinforcing properties of the environment to understand human behavior.

Gestalt Psychology

A school of psychology emphasizing the subjective perception of objects rather than their objective properties.

Self-Esteem Motive

The drive to maintain a positive self-image and self-worth.

Social Cognition

The process of thinking about and understanding social situations and interactions.

Community Game vs Wall Street Game

An experimental design that studies how the naming of a game influences competitive or cooperative behavior.

Subjectivity of the Situation

The idea that individual perceptions can dramatically alter interpretations of social events.

Scare Tactics

Methods used to frighten individuals to change their behaviors, often ineffective in certain contexts.

Construals

Personal interpretations of situations that shape how individuals understand their social environment.

Applications of Social Psychology

Using principles of social psychology to address societal issues like aggression, helping behavior, and public health.