AP Psych 4.1-4.3

person perception

how we form impressions of ourselves and others

dispositional

internal traits

situational

external factors

fundamental attribution error

overestimating disposition over situation regarding others’ behavior

actor-observer bias

bias explaining behaviors based on who’s being examined

social comparison

judging ourself against others; can be positive or negative for us

stereotype

often overgeneralized belief about a certain group of people

prejudice

unjustifiable, usually negative attitude towards a group/its members

3 components of prejudice

1. negative emotions

2. stereotypes

3. negative acts

why does prejudice exist today?

despite not supporting a prejudice, most don’t confront those who hold them

just-world phenomenon

belief that the world is fair and everyone gets what they deserve

ingroup bias

tendency to favor our own group

scapegoat theory

suggestion that people need someone to blame when things don’t go well

other-race effect

increased ability to recognize features like ours, and difficulty distinguishing other races

vivid cases

more easily remembering vivid things like violent crimes leads to the availability heuristic, forming prejudice

attitudes

feelings that predispose us to react in a certain way

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

people are more likely to commit to larger requests after accepting small ones

low-ball technique

creating commitment by offering good details before bad

door in the face technique (aka contrast effect)

making a large demand so a smaller one seems more reasonable

cognitive dissonance theory

suggestion that we feel uncomfortable when our actions and attitudes differ, leading us to change our attitudes (as they’re easier to shift)

peripheral persuasion

using attention-grabbing cues, often with emotion, to persuade us to change an attitude

halo effect

belief that beautiful/famous people are trustworthy or smart

central route persuasion

use of direct evidence to persuade you to change attitude; better for significant decisions

social contagions

spread of attitudes, belief, or behaviors through a group

chameleon effect

mimicking of physical actions or expressions; mimicry allows empathy

normative social influence

avoidance of rejection to gain social approval

informational social influence

believing others to be accurate rather than yourself

minority influence

ability of a few people to sway a crowd

social facilitations

performance enhanced by an audience; if you’re good, you do better, if you’re bad, you do worse

crowding effect

arousal created by many people in a shared space

social loafing

tendency to exert less effort in groups; especially when your participation feels minimal or is overestimated

• more common in men in individualistic cultures

deindividuation

loss of self-awareness/restraint when anonymous in a crowd

group polarization

increasing strength in beliefs caused by echo chambers

groupthink

working more to find harmony within a group than think critically about information

tight cultures

cultures with clear social norms

loose cultures

more flexible norms

aggression

physical or verbal behavior with intent to harm

genetic influence: aggression

y chromosome aids aggression, low monoamine oxide (MAOA; x-linked) increases aggressive reactions

neural influence: aggression

smaller amygdala = more aggression, breakdown between frontal lobe and amygdala = more aggression

biochemical influences: aggression

testosterone & dampening of alcohol increase aggression

aversive events

things you dislike—eg heat or hunger

frustration-aggression principle

belief frustration (blocking from a goal) creates anger, creates aggression

reinforcement/culture of honor

aggressive action reinforced is more likely to be repeated, cultures of honor are more likely to resort to violence