Untitled Flashcards Set

Social psychology

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

Person perception

How we form impressions of ourselves & others, including attributions of behavior.

Attribution theory

Theory explaining behavior by crediting situational or dispositional factors.

Fundamental attribution error

Tendency to underestimate situational impact and overestimate personal disposition.

Actor-observer bias

Tendency for actors to attribute their behavior to external causes, while observers attribute it to internal causes.

Mere exposure effect

Increased liking for stimuli due to repeated exposure.

Prejudice

An unjustifiable negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Stereotype

Generalized belief about a group of people.

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Just-world phenomenon

Belief that the world is just and people get what they deserve.

Social identity

The 'we' aspect of our self-concept from group memberships.

Ingroup

'Us'—people with whom we share a common identity.

Outgroup

'Them'—those perceived as different from our ingroup.

Ingroup bias

Tendency to favor our own group.

Scapegoat theory

Theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing a target to blame.

Other-race effect

Tendency to recall faces of one's own race more accurately than others.

Attitudes

Feelings that predispose responses toward objects, people, & events.

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

Tendency for people agreeing to a small request to comply with a larger one later.

Door-in-the-face phenomenon

Tendency for people denying a large request to comply with a smaller one later.

Role

A set of expectations about a social position and behavior.

Cognitive dissonance theory

Theory that we act to reduce discomfort from inconsistent thoughts.

Persuasion

Changing people’s attitudes to influence their actions.

Peripheral route persuasion

Influence driven by incidental cues, such as speaker attractiveness.

Central route persuasion

Influence from thoughtful consideration of evidence and arguments.

Norms

Society’s understood rules for accepted & expected behavior.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior to match group standards.

Normative social influence

Influence driven by desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval.

Informational social influence

Influence stemming from acceptance of others’ opinions about reality.

Obedience

Complying with an order or command.

Social facilitation

Improved performance on well-learned tasks in the presence of others.

Social loafing

Tendency to exert less effort when in a group than when alone.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations.

Group polarization

Enhancement of a group's prevailing inclinations through discussion.

Groupthink

Mode of thinking where harmony in a group overrides realistic appraisal.

Culture

Enduring behaviors, ideas, and traditions shared by a group.

Tight culture

Culture with clearly defined and reliably imposed norms.

Loose culture

Culture with flexible and informal norms.

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

Application of psychological methods to optimize workplace behavior.

Altruism

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

Bystander effect

Tendency for bystanders to be less likely to help when others are present.

Social exchange theory

Theory suggesting that social behavior is an exchange process.

Reciprocity norm

Expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

Social-responsibility norm

Expectation that people will help those needing assistance.

Conflict

Perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.

Social trap

Situation in which parties engaged in self-interest engage in mutually destructive behavior.

Mirror-image perceptions

Mutual views held by conflicting parties.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment due to a person's actions.

Superordinate goals

Shared goals that override differences and require cooperation.