AP PSYCH SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Attributions

Explanations for why people behave as they do.

Actor-Observer Bias

We attribute others’ behavior to disposition but our own to the situation.

Dispositional Attribution

Behavior caused by internal traits such as personality or intelligence.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating personality and underestimating situation when judging others.

Situational Attribution

Behavior caused by external factors like environment or stress.

Self-Serving Bias

Taking credit for success (dispositional) but blaming failure on external factors (situational).

Explanatory Style - Optimistic

Attributes failures to external, unstable, or specific factors.

Explanatory Style - Pessimistic

Attributes failures to internal, stable, or global factors.

Mere Exposure Effect

Repeated exposure to something increases our liking of it.

Companionate Love

Deep commitment and affection between people, built with trust and lasting.

Passionate Love

Romantic love characterized by intense emotions, strong sexual attraction, and desire.

Halo Effect

Cognitive bias where overall impression of someone is based on a single trait.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Expectations about a person lead to behaviors that fulfill those expectations.

Social Comparison - Upward

Comparing to someone better, which can lead to motivation or insecurity.

Social Comparison - Downward

Comparing to someone worse, which can boost self-esteem.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling deprived compared to others, leading to frustration or resentment.

Stereotype

Generalized belief about a group.

Cognitive Load

Under stress, reliance on stereotypes for quick judgments increases.

Biased Perceptions

Interpreting information to fit existing stereotypes.

Prejudiced Attitudes

Preconceived, negative beliefs about a group.

Discriminatory Behaviors

Actions taken based on prejudice.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious biases that shape behavior.

Negative Evaluations

Tendency to judge out-group members more harshly.

Just World Phenomenon

Belief that the world is fair, leading to victim-blaming.

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

Seeing out-group members as all the same.

In-Group Bias

Favoring one’s own group.

Ethnocentrism

Believing one’s culture is superior.

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to beliefs despite contradictory evidence.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking information that supports existing beliefs.

Cognitive Dissonance

Psychological discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs, motivating attitude change.

Social Norms

Expected behaviors in society.

Normative Social Influence

Conforming to gain approval or avoid rejection.

Informational Social Influence

Conforming because we believe others are correct.

Persuasion

The process of influencing someone’s beliefs or behaviors.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

Two routes to persuasion: central route (logical arguments) and peripheral route (emotions, attractiveness, or credibility).

Foot-in-the-Door

Starting with a small request followed by a larger request.

Door-in-the-Face

Making a large request first (likely rejected), then a smaller request.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior to fit group norms.

Obedience

Following authority even against personal beliefs.

Individualism

Prioritizing personal goals over group goals.

Collectivism

Prioritizing group harmony over personal goals.

Multiculturalism

Emphasizing coexistence of diverse cultures.

Group Polarization

Group discussions strengthen extreme views.

Groupthink

Desire for harmony leading to poor decision-making.

Social Loafing

Putting in less effort in group tasks.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness in groups, leading to impulsive behavior.

Social Facilitation

Performing better on easy tasks in the presence of others.

False Consensus Effect

Overestimating how much others share our beliefs.

Diffusion of Responsibility

Assuming others will take action, reducing personal responsibility.

Superordinate Goals

Shared goals that require cooperation, reducing conflict.

Social Traps

Pursuing self-interest harms the group, like overusing resources.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Study workplace behavior and group dynamics.

Burnout

Emotional exhaustion from chronic stress.

Altruism

Helping others with no expectation of reward.

Social Debt

Feeling obligated to return a favor.

Prosocial Behavior

Actions that benefit others or society.

Social Reciprocity Norm

Expectation to help those who help us.

Social Responsibility Norm

Expectation to help those in need.

Bystander Effect

People are less likely to help in large groups due to diffusion of responsibility.

Pluralistic Ignorance

When individuals assume others in a group understand a situation better than they do, leading to inaction.

Scapegoat Theory

Tendency to blame an out-group for problems.

Social Exchange Theory

Human relationships are based on cost-benefit analysis.

Norm of Reciprocity

The expectation that people will respond to kindness with kindness.

Aggression (Instrumental vs. Hostile)

Instrumental aggression is goal-driven; hostile aggression is driven by emotions.

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

Frustration increases the likelihood of aggression.

Contact Hypothesis

Intergroup contact under the right conditions can reduce prejudice.

Role Theory

People behave in ways consistent with the social roles they are given.

Self-Perception Theory

People infer their own attitudes by observing their behavior.

Social Identity Theory

People derive self-esteem from their group memberships.

Cognitive Miser

The idea that humans take mental shortcuts to save cognitive effort.

Illusory Correlation

Perceiving a relationship between two variables when none exists.

Minimal Group Paradigm

Even arbitrary group distinctions can create in-group favoritism.

Normative vs. Informational Influence

Conforming for social acceptance vs. to gain accurate information.

Terror Management Theory

How awareness of mortality influences attitudes and behaviors.