AP psychology social psych

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and underestimate situational influences when evaluating others' behavior.

Self Serving Bias

The habit of attributing one’s successes to internal factors (e.g., talent) while blaming failures on external circumstances (e.g., bad luck).

Altruism

Unselfish concern for the welfare of others that motivates voluntary helping behaviors.

Just World Hypothesis

The belief that people generally get what they deserve in life, leading to the perception of a fair and just world.

Mere Exposure Effect

A psychological phenomenon where repeated exposure to a stimulus increases an individual’s preference for that stimulus.

Outgroup vs In-group

In-group refers to groups with which a person identifies, while outgroup encompasses those to which the individual does not belong.

Attribution

The cognitive process involved in explaining the causes behind behaviors and events.

Stereotype

An overly simplistic and generalizing belief about a particular group of people or things.

Conformity

The alignment of one’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with those of a group.

Actor Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute one’s own actions to situational factors while attributing others' actions to their character.

Normative Social Influence

Influence that leads individuals to conform to be accepted or liked by others.

Deindividuation

A psychological state where individuals lose self-awareness and become less accountable in group settings.

Social Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that individuals will respond in kind to others' actions, especially favors.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that suggests inconsistency among beliefs or behaviors causes psychological discomfort, prompting individuals to seek consistency.

Belief Perseverance

The inclination to cling to one's initial beliefs even when faced with contradictory evidence.

Bystander Effect

The observed phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim in the presence of others.

Halo Effect

A cognitive bias where the perception of one positive trait leads to the assumption of other positive traits.

Central Route of Persuasion vs Peripheral Route of Persuasion

Central route persuasion entails a careful evaluation of arguments; peripheral route persuasion is based on superficial factors like attractiveness.

Group Polarization

The tendency of a group to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial individual inclinations of its members.

Foot in the Door

A compliance strategy that starts with a small request to gain eventual compliance with a larger request.

Milgram Experiment

A series of experiments that explored obedience to authority, where participants were willing to administer shocks to others when instructed by an authority figure.

Asch Experiment

A study that demonstrated the influence of group pressure on individual judgment, showing that people often conform to a group’s incorrect responses.

Zimbardo Experiment

A psychological study examining the effects of perceived authority, illustrating how situational variables can influence behavior in a simulated prison environment.