psych week 3 t3

Robbers Cave Experiment

A study by Muzafer Sherif in 1954 that examined how intergroup competition leads to prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination.

Prejudice

Unjustifiable and usually negative attitudes towards a group and its members.

Discrimination

The action or behavioral component of being prejudiced or treating others in an unfair manner based on negative attitudes.

Direct Discrimination

When a person or group is treated less favorably than another due to their background or characteristics.

Indirect Discrimination

An unreasonable rule or policy that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on a particular group.

Social Identity Theory

A theory proposed by Tajfel and Turner stating that individuals derive a sense of self from their group memberships.

Social Categorization

The process of identifying a person as a member of a certain group based on shared characteristics.

Ingroup

A group with which an individual identifies or feels affinity.

Outgroup

A group with which an individual does not identify or feels hostility towards.

Superordinate Goals

Shared goals that necessitate cooperation between groups to achieve.

Intergroup Competition

Conflict between groups competing for limited resources, leading to hostility and prejudice.

Stereotyping

Beliefs that certain people share specific features, often leading to oversimplified and generalized judgments.

Contact Hypothesis

The theory that contact between groups can reduce prejudice, provided the groups are of equal status.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs or behaviors.

Leon Festinger

The psychologist who proposed the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957.

Affective Component

Feelings or emotions associated with an attitude object.

Behavioral Component

Actions or behaviors toward an attitude object.

Cognitive Component

Beliefs and thoughts associated with an attitude object.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

A prediction that causes itself to become true due to the behavior it generates.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is fair and that individuals get what they deserve.

Mutual Interdependence

A situation in which individuals rely on one another to achieve shared goals.

Equal Status Contact

Interaction with another person or group at the same social level.

Intergroup Contact

Contact between members of different groups, which may help reduce prejudice.

Social Norms

Shared guidelines or expectations for behavior within a group.

Attitude Object

The target of an attitude, which can be a person, event, or object.

Implicit Attitude

An involuntary or unconscious evaluation towards an attitude object.

Explicit Attitude

A consciously held set of beliefs about an attitude object.

Magnitude of Dissonance

The strength and significance of cognitive dissonance experienced by an individual.

Data Collection

Methods used to gather information in psychological research.

Qualitative Research

Research focused on understanding the meaning individuals assign to experiences.

Quantitative Research

Research that relies on measuring variables and analyzing statistical relationships.

Rating Scale

An instrument to assign scores to attitudes or behaviors along a numerical dimension.

Likert Scale

A type of rating scale with fixed responses indicating agreement or frequency of occurrence.

Social Influence

The way individuals alter their ideas and actions to meet group norms.

Individual Differences

Variations in the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals.

Reality Conflict Theory

A theory developed by Sherif which posits that intergroup conflicts arise from competition over limited resources.

Field Experiment

Research conducted in a natural setting to study behavior in real-life contexts.

Participant Observation

A research technique involving the researcher immersing themselves within the group being studied.

Peer Influence

The effect that friends and peers have on one's attitudes and behaviors.

Cognitive Consistency

The state of having attitudes and beliefs that are in harmony or agreement.

Behavioral Intention

The motivation or intent to perform a certain behavior.

Social Roles

Expected behavior patterns associated with particular social positions or statuses.

Environmental Influence

External factors that can affect attitudes and behaviors.

Discrimination Examples

Sexism, racism, ageism—where biases lead to unfair treatment.

Group Cohesion

The bonds that hold a group together and promote unity.

Group Dynamics

The social processes that occur in groups and impact individual behavior.

Collectivist Culture

A culture that values group goals over individual goals.

Individualist Culture

A culture that emphasizes individual goals and personal success.

Social Comparison

The process of comparing oneself to others to evaluate opinions and abilities.

Influence of Media

How media representations shape societal attitudes and stereotypes.

Behavioral Norm

An expected standard of behavior within a group.

Social Values

Beliefs about what is important or desirable in a society.

Group Identity

A person's sense of belonging to a particular group.

Conflict Resolution

Methods used to solve disagreements and foster collaboration between groups.

Empathy in Contact

The capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing.

Cognitive Restructuring

A psychological process involving reframing one's perceptions and reactions.

Resistance to Change

The reluctance to alter established attitudes and beliefs.

Self-Assessment

Evaluating one's own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Role of Teachers

Influencers in shaping students' attitudes and behaviors.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions and the emotions of others.

Integration of Knowledge

Combining different areas of understanding to analyze social issues.

Attitudinal Change

The process by which an individual's attitudes are modified over time.

Normative Influence

The effect of others' behaviors and expectations on an individual’s attitudes.

Conformity

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.

Behavioral Measurement

Methods used to evaluate actions and responses in psychological studies.

Social Metrics

Tools used to quantify social behaviors and attitudes.

Feedback Loop

An iterative process in which information from outcomes influences future actions.

Social Experiment

A controlled experiment conducted in a social environment to study human behavior.

Group Pressure

Social influence exerted by a dominant group on individuals.

Cognitive Bias

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.

Leadership Styles

Different approaches to directing and influencing a group.

Social Change

Significant alterations over time in behavior patterns and cultural values.

Attitude Accessibility

The ease with which a particular attitude can be called to mind.

Attitude Strength

The durability and impact of an attitude on behavior.

Social Reinforcement

Rewards or punishments used to influence behavior within a social context.

Anonymity in Research

Condition in which participants' identities are protected in a study.

Research Ethics

Moral principles guiding research practices involving humans.

Peer Feedback

Input from peers regarding one's behaviors or attitudes.

Cultural Sensitivity

Awareness of and respect for cultural differences.

Psychological Safety

A state in which individuals feel safe to express thoughts and ideas.

Generational Influence

Effects of different age groups on the socialization process.

Identity Crisis

A period of internal confusion or uncertainty regarding one's sense of self.

Critical Thinking

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

Resilience in Groups

The ability of groups to recover and adapt to challenges.

Community Engagement

The process of working collaboratively with community groups.

Prejudice Reduction Techniques

Strategies aimed at decreasing biased attitudes towards outgroups.

Attitude Measurement Tools

Instruments used to assess the attitudes of individuals.

Behavioral Analytics

The analysis of data to understand patterns in behavior.

Social Identity Conflict

Tensions arising from competing group identities.

Coping Mechanisms

Strategies used to manage stress or anxiety.

Social Assimilation

The process by which individuals adopt the customs and attitudes of a dominant culture.

Dissonance Reduction Strategies

Methods individuals use to alleviate cognitive dissonance.

Psychosocial Dynamics

Interactions between psychological and social factors influencing behavior.

Emotional Responses

Feelings triggered by social interactions or stimuli.

Cultural Heritage

The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group.

Diversity Awareness

Understanding and appreciating differences among individuals.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize dispositional explanations for the behavior of others while underestimating situational influences.

Bystander Effect

A phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The diminished sense of personal responsibility to act, often experienced in group settings.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group compared to working alone.