chapter 13 textbook flashcards

Attribution Theory

A framework for understanding how individuals explain the causes of behavior, including personal (internal) and situational (external) attributions.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate personal factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behaviors.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute successes to personal factors while attributing failures to situational factors.

Consistency, Distinctiveness, and Consensus

Three criteria used to determine whether to make personal or situational attributions.

Social Facilitation

The tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks and worse on complex tasks in the presence of others.

Social Loafing

The phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group compared to working alone.

Group Polarization

The tendency for group members to shift towards more extreme positions after group discussions.

Groupthink

A mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.

Deindividuation

A loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in groups, leading to increased impulsive and deviant behavior.

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs about a group of people that may not accurately reflect reality.

Altruism

The selfless concern for the well-being of others, which may motivate helping behavior.

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

The theory that empathetic concern for a person in need leads to altruistic behavior.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon whereby individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward individuals based on their membership in a particular group.

Discrimination

Behaviors that treat people unfairly based on their group membership.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological state that arises when a person experiences conflicting cognitions, leading them to change attitudes or beliefs to alleviate discomfort.

Passionate Love

An intense, emotional state characterized by infatuation and desire for physical intimacy.

Companionate Love

A deep, affectionate attachment characterized by intimacy and commitment.

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

A model that describes love in terms of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that people will respond favorably to each other by returning benefits for benefits.