IB Pscyh - Social Cognitive Theory and Stereotypes Quiz Review

Social Identity Theory

A person has not just one “personal self”, but also several social selves that correspond to internalized group membership

Out-Group Homogeneity

Tendency to assume that the members of other groups are very similar to each other

Social Cognitive Theory

Behavior can be learned from the environment through modeling and reinforcement

Modeling

Observing of other people’s behavior

Vicarious Reinforcement

The learning of observed reinforcement of others’ behaviors

Stereotypes

A fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people

Confirmation Bias

Tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.

Illusory Correlations

The phenomenon of perceiving a relationship between variables even when no such relationship exists

Stereotype Threat

Psychological threat that arises when one is in a situation or doing something for which a negative stereotype about one's group applies

SCT SAQ: Study

Joy, Kimball, & Zabrack (1986)

SCT SAQ: Vocab

Social Cognitive Theory, Modeling, Vicarious Reinforcement

Joy, Kimball, & Zabrack (1986): Aim

To determine the impact of television on aggressive behavior in children

Joy, Kimball, & Zabrack (1986): Methods

• 3 small towns in British Columbia received new TV channel, but one of them, Notel, never had TV

• Observed physical and verbal aggression on the playground before and 2 years after Notel received TV

• Teacher and peer ratings of aggressive behavior + viewing habits were collected as well

Joy, Kimball, & Zabrack (1986): Results

• Aggressive behavior in children increased significantly in Notel but not in the other 2 towns

• Due to heightened arousal in Notel children resulting from lack of familiarity with TV

Formation of Stereotypes SAQ: Study

Hamilton & Gifford (1976)

Formation of Stereotypes SAQ: Vocab

Stereotypes, Illusory Correlations, Stereotype Threat

Hamilton & Gifford (1976): Aim

To investigate the distinctiveness-based illusory correlation between undesirable behavior and minorities

Hamilton & Gifford (1976): Methods

• 35 males and 35 females given positive or negative statements about individuals in group A or B

  • Group A = 2x larger than B (26 and 13, respectively)

  • Participants told that Group A larger than B

• Then asked to rank members of each group based on 20 traits (popular, social, intelligent, etc)

• Given booklet with statements about a person → had to determine their group (A or B)

• Asked how many of the statements for each group were “undesirable”

Hamilton & Gifford (1976): Results

• Group A was rated higher than B for positive traits and lower than group B for negative traits

• Booklet: participants correctly recalled more positive traits for group A and negative traits for group B

• Researchers argued this was because the minority group = smaller = negative behaviors were more distinct and representative of the minority group