Social Psychology Lecture Review

Comprehensive practice vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts in social psychology including research methods, cognitive processes, social influence, and group dynamics.

Evolutionary psychology

The branch of psychology that seeks to examine the potential role of genetic factors in different aspects of human behavior.

Social Psychology

A scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought in social situations, specifically focusing on the behavior and thoughts of individuals.

Inheritance

Refers to the fact that some variations can be passed from one generation to the next.

Research

The systematic investigation and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

Systematic observation

A method of research in which behavior is systematically observed and recorded.

Naturalistic observation

The observation of behavior as it occurs in natural settings.

Independent variable

The variable that is systematically changed in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

Information Overload

A state where demands on the cognitive system are greater than its capacity.

Affect

A term used to describe our current moods and feelings.

Terror management

Our efforts to come to terms with the certainty of our own death and its unsettling implications.

Optimistic bias

Our predisposition to expect things to turn out well overall.

Attribution

The process that people go through to understand the causes behind others' behavior.

Attribution theory

A theory concerning our tendency to explain behavior by inferring causes on the basis of internal or external factors.

Causal attribution components

The three components used to understand the causes of behavior: Consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness.

Possible selves

The image of how and who we might be in the future.

Self-verification perspective

The theory addressing the processes by which people lead others to agree with their views of themselves.

Self-esteem

Your evaluation of your own worth.

Explicit attitudes

Consciously accessible attitudes that are controllable and easy to report.

Pluralistic ignorance

A situation where a majority of group members privately reject a norm, but assume incorrectly that most others accept it.

Classical conditioning

A type of learning demonstrated by Pavlov’s experiment.

Glass ceiling

Barriers that prevent qualified females from advancing to top positions.

Fearful avoidant attachment style

A style characterized by low self-esteem and low interpersonal trust.

Foot-in-the-door effect

An effect where a person who agrees to a small request initially is more likely later to comply with a larger demand.

Normative social influence

Social influence based on the desire to be liked by others.

Door-in-the-face

A tactic based on reciprocity where a large request is followed by a smaller one.

Diffusion of responsibility

A principle suggesting that the greater the number of witnesses to an emergency, the less likely victims are to receive help because responsibility is spread among those present.

Aggression

The intentional infliction of harm on others; any action carried out with the intent of harming another person.

Drive theories of aggression

Theories suggesting that aggression stems from external conditions that arouse the motive to harm others.

Instrumental aggression

Aggression in which the primary goal is not to harm the victim but the attainment of some other goal.

Cooperation

Behavior in which group members work together to attain shared goals.

Social loafing

Reductions in motivation and effort when individuals work in a group compared to when they work individually.

Hassles scale

A scale used to measure unpleasant daily events.

Stereotype

The cognitive component of attitudes toward a social group, often based on incorrect beliefs about appearances or traits.

Self-promotion

Attempting to present ourselves to others as having positive attributes.

Downward comparison

Comparing yourself with a person who ranks lower than you.

Consummate Love

The most complete type of love according to Sternberg’s Triangular Model of Love.

Tokenism

Passing out small rewards or praise to other people when one is unwilling to display discrimination.

Groupthink

A dangerous group process that leads to a suspension of critical thinking and can lead to collective rationalization and pressure to acquiesce.

Representativeness Heuristic

A judgment of something or someone that is based on resemblance to a specific category.