social psych quiz

attribution theory

how we attribute the cause of the behavior

fundamental attribution error

we all have a strong tendency to underestimate situational factors

actor-observer effect

we tend to over estimate situational factors for our own behavior and under estimate situational factors for others behavior

attitude

beliefs and feelings that predispose our reaction to everything

cognitive component

what I think about something

emotional component

how I feel about something

behavioral component

what I really do about something

consonance

when all components of an attitude are the same

dissonance

when a disconnect exists among an attitudes components

highly unpleasant state that drives the person to bring all attitude components back in line

incorrect assumption

behavioral component comes from thought/emotional component

prejudice

cognitive component of an attitude

discrimination

component of an attitude

in group bias

tendency to favor one’s own group

scapegoating

when prejudice expresses anger

conformity

changing attitudes in order to be consistent with some group standard

we do what others do without noticing (yawning, laughing)

obedience

a response with complies to the orders of another individual or group

group effects

when the group becomes its own entity

presence of dissenting others

the most important factor

if even one other person does not conform to the group it is easier for other individuals to not conform

amount of information

subject may feel that everyone knows something he doesn’t

group size

the larger the group, the greater pressure for conformity some expectations exist

public nature

if subjects response is hidden from others, less likely conform

position within group

low “man on totem pole” more likely to conform

relative competence

if subject has some expertise on an issue he/she less likely to conform

legitimacy of authority

is experimenter authoritative (uniforms, labcoat, appearance)

proximity of authority

the closer the authority is physically to the subject the greater chance of obedience

background authority

ex) when study conducted at Yale vs. office building, greater chance of obedience

depersonalization of victim

if “student/confederate” was located in another room easier for subject to obey

proximity of victim decreases chance of obeying

show of resistance from others

as in conformity, if another teacher/subject refused to give any shocks the real subject was less likely to obey

foot-in-door

the first shock given “guaranteed” that the remaining shocks would be delivered

socialized to be obedient

as children we are taught to obey authority

efficiency

easier to let someone else run the show

authority figures as knowledgeable

especially easy to let someone else run the show when that person seems to know whats going on

criticism of milgram’s experiment

volunteers for experiments tend to be “biased’

have personality traits - might make them more likely to obey authority and “want to please”

issues of psychological and emotional harm to subjects

mob rule

we often engage in behaviors when in a group that we would not normally do if alone or with just one other person

encourages conformity

Asch’s experiment

larger group sizes tend to increase tendency to conform

social facilitation

improves, increases, speeds up behavior/performance

group polarization

if one’s opinions are weakly “left” or “right”, participation in a strongly polarized group will cause the individual’s opinion to move more strongly in that direction

de-individuation/anonymity/decreases personal responsibility

we tend to lose ourselves in the group

verbal

content and tone and interaction with non-verbal

non-verbal

body language & eye contact

the 6 universal facial expressions

anger, fear, disgust, surprise, joy, sadness

proximity

we tend to become attracted to people who are near us and/or people with whom we spend a lot of time with

physical attractiveness

initial attraction often based upon physical appearance

similarity

people with similar interests, backgrounds, even appearances are more likely to be attracted to one another

reciprocation of attraction

we are often attracted to people who show an interest in us

pro-social behavior

behavior that benefits others but does not have any obvious benefit to the performer

altruistic behavior

same as pro-social except includes some high level of risk to performer (saving a life)

bystander apathy

more typical of large cities than of small towns