Social Psychology Flashcards

Flashcards about Social Psychology

Social Psychology

Studies individuals as they interact with others.

Nonverbal Behavior

Powerful cues for forming impressions of others.

Thin slices of behavior

Brief observations that can lead to accurate judgments.

Facial Expressions

Communicate information such as emotional state, interest, and trustworthiness.

Attribution

The process of explaining one’s own behavior and the behavior of others.

Attribution Theory

The theory of how people make attributions.

Situational Cause

Cause of behavior attributed to external factors.

Dispositional Cause

Cause of behavior attributed to internal factors.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overemphasizing personality traits and underestimating situational factors when explaining other people’s behavior.

Actor/Observer Bias

Focusing on situations for our own behavior and personal attributes for others' behavior.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Tendency to behave in ways that confirm expectations.

Social Cognition

Mental processes used to make sense of the social world.

Impression Formation

Forming of the first knowledge a person has about another person.

Primacy Effect

The first impression tends to persist.

Social Categorization

Assigning a person to a category based on shared characteristics.

Stereotype

Beliefs shared by all members of a particular social category.

Prejudice

Negative attitude held by a person about a social group.

Discrimination

Treating people differently because of prejudice.

In-groups

Social groups with whom a person identifies; 'us'.

Out-groups

Social groups with whom a person does not identify; 'they'.

Stereotype Threat

Fear of confirming a negative stereotype.

Explicit Attitude

An attitude a person is consciously aware of and can report.

Implicit Attitude

An attitude that influences feelings and behavior at an unconscious level.

Attitude

A tendency to respond positively or negatively toward something.

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort when behavior does not correspond to attitude.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Dissonance causes anxiety and tension.

Postdecisional Dissonance

Dissonance that arises after choosing one option.

Persuasion

The process of changing someone's beliefs or actions.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

Model of persuasion with central and peripheral routes.

Central-Route Processing

Attending to the content of the message itself.

Peripheral-Route Processing

Attending to factors not involved in the message content.

Social Facilitation

Positive impact on performance of an easy task due to the presence of others.

Social Loafing

Putting less effort into a simple task when working with others.

Deindividuation

Lessening of self-awareness or identity when in a group.

Groupthink

Prioritizing group cohesiveness over assessing facts.

Normative Influence

Going along with the group to be liked or accepted.

Informational Influence

Assuming the group's behavior provides information about the right way to act.

Obedience

Changing behavior at the command of an authority figure.

Bystander Intervention Effect

Failure to offer help to people in need.

Interpersonal Attraction

Liking or having desire for relationship.

Proximity

Physical or geographical nearness.

Reciprocity of Liking

Tendency to like people who like us in return.

Love

Strong affection for another person.

Intimacy

Emotional feelings of warmth, closeness, and sharing in relationships.

Passion

Physical and sexual attraction to another in relationships.

Commitment

Cognitive appraisal of the relationship and intent to maintain it, even in the face of problems.

Contempt

Being mean, treating others with disrespect by using sarcasm or ridicule.

Criticism

Attacking your partner at the core of their character.

Defensiveness

Feeling accused and offering excuses instead of taking responsibility.

Stonewalling

Avoiding conflict due to fear or unconscious feelings.