Attribution, Attitudes, and Actions in Social Psychology

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to social psychology, including theories of attribution and the relationship between attitudes and actions.

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, when analyzing others’ behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to 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.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s 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 first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent.

Social Psychology

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

Social Influence

The effect that the words, actions, or mere presence of other people have on our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external factors.