Unit 2 AOS 1 – Social Cognition, Attribution, Attitudes & Biases

These vocabulary flashcards cover the essential terms and definitions from Unit 2 AOS 1 lecture notes, including social cognition, attribution theories, attitudes, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, cognitive dissonance, cognitive biases, and heuristics.

Social Cognition

The mental processes we use to interpret, analyse, remember, and use information about the social world.

Intimate Relationship

A close, personal relationship such as with a significant other or close family member.

What is an example of an intimate relationship?

A significant other or close family member.

Impersonal Relationship

A relationship lacking personal attachment, such as meeting someone for the first time.

What is an example of an impersonal relationship?

Meeting someone for the first time.

Formal Relationship

A professional relationship, for example between colleagues in a workplace.

What is an example of a formal relationship?

Between colleagues in a workplace.

Person Perception

The mental processes used to form impressions and make judgments about other people.

Direct Person Perception

Judgments formed from information provided directly by the target (e.g., observing their behaviour).

What is an example of direct person perception?

Observing their behaviour.

Indirect Person Perception

Judgments formed from information obtained second-hand (e.g., from friends or online sources).

What is an example of indirect person perception?

From friends or online sources.

First Impressions

Quick, often lasting judgments made when meeting someone for the first time.

Attractive Bias

The tendency to attribute more positive qualities to physically attractive people.

Non-Verbal Communication

Sending and receiving information without spoken words, e.g., facial expressions, eye gaze, posture.

What are examples of non-verbal communication?

Facial expressions, eye gaze, posture.

Decision-Making (in person perception)

Using first impressions as information when choosing how to act toward others.

Attribution

An evaluation of the causes of behaviour and the process of making that evaluation.

Personal (Internal) Attribution

Explaining behaviour as caused by factors within the individual, such as ability or motivation.

What are examples of Personal (internal) Attributions

Ability or motivation.

Situational (External) Attribution

Explaining behaviour as caused by factors outside the individual, such as environment or luck.

What are examples of situational (external) attributions?

Environment or luck.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasise personal factors and underestimate situational factors when judging others.

Attribution Style

A person’s habitual pattern of explaining events, e.g., optimistic or pessimistic.

Optimistic Attributional Style

Habitually attributing successes internally and failures to changeable, external factors.

Pessimistic Attributional Style

Habitually attributing failures to stable, internal causes and successes to external luck.

Learned Helplessness

A state where repeated attribution of failure to fixed internal causes leads to a belief of powerlessness.

Attitude

A settled, learned evaluation of a person, object, event, or idea that can be positive, negative, or neutral.

What are examples of objects an attitude can be an evaluation of?

A person, object, event, or idea.

Tri-Component Model of Attitudes

Theory that an attitude consists of affective, behavioural, and cognitive components.

Affective Component

The emotional feelings associated with an attitude object.

Behavioural Component

The observable actions toward an attitude object.

Cognitive Component

The beliefs or thoughts about an attitude object.

Cognitive Dissonance

Psychological tension produced when thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviours are inconsistent.

Self-Serving Bias

Attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors to protect self-esteem.

Actor-Observer Bias

Attributing one’s own behaviour to external causes but others’ behaviour to internal causes.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking, interpreting, and remembering information that supports existing beliefs while ignoring contradictions.

False-Consensus Bias

Overestimating how much others share our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours.

Halo Effect

Using one positive trait (e.g., attractiveness) to form an overall favourable impression of a person.

Stereotype

A widely held generalisation about members of a group.

Stereotyping

The process of assigning people to categories based on perceived group membership.

Social Stigma

Societal disapproval or discrimination against individuals based on distinguishing characteristics.

Self-Stigma

Internalised negative attitudes and shame about one’s own characteristics or group.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward people of a certain group based solely on membership in that group.

Discrimination

Unjust or prejudicial behaviour toward individuals based on their group membership.

Direct Discrimination

Explicitly treating someone unfairly because of a personal characteristic.

Indirect Discrimination

A rule or practice that applies to everyone but unfairly disadvantages a particular group.

Heuristic

A mental shortcut or information-processing strategy that enables quick judgments and decisions.

Anchoring Heuristic

Judging based on the first information received, which serves as a mental anchor.

Anchoring Bias

Over-reliance on initial information when making decisions.