AP Psychology Unit 4 2025

social psychology

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

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 another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition.

attitudes

feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events.

peripheral route persuasion

uses incidental cues to try to produce fast but relatively thoughtless changes in attitudes. (ETHOS)

central route persuasion

offers evidence and arguments to trigger thoughtful responses. (LOGOS)

foor-in-the-door phenomenon

tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.

door-in-the-face phenomenon

tendency for people who won't agree to a large task, but then agree when a smaller request is made.

role

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

cognitive dissonance theory

we will reduce tension by changing our attitudes to match our actions.

prejudice

an unjustifiable, usually negative attitude toward a group and its members.

stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people.

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members (racism).

just-world phenomenon

the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get (karma).

in group bias

the tendency to favor our own group.

in group

"us"

out group

"them"

scapegoat theory

prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame.

confederate

already knows the study and is not the subject.

attribution theory

how people understand the causes of their own and others' actions and events.