ap psych 4.1-4.3 quiz

Attribution theory

the theory that behavior is explained by attributing causes to internal dispositions or external situations

attribution

the process of explaining one’s own or others’ behavior

dispositional attributions

explaining behavior based on internal traits or personality

situational attributions

explaining behavior based on external circumstances

explanatory style (optimistic/pessimistic)

habitual way of explaining events; optimistic attributes bad events to temporary/external causes, pessimistic to stable/internal causes

actor/observer bias

tendency to attribute others’ actions to dispositions while attributing one’s own to situations

fundamental attribution error

tendency to overemphasize dispositional causes and underestimate situational causes for others’ behavior

self-serving bias

tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors

locus of control (internal/external)

degree to which people believe they have control over outcomes (internal) or outcomes are due to external forces

Person perception

process of forming impressions of others

mere exposure effect

increased liking for stimuli due to repeated exposure

self-fulfilling prophecy

belief that leads to its own fulfillment through influencing behavior

social comparison (upward/downward)

evaluating oneself by comparing to others; upward to those better, downward to those worse

relative deprivation

perception of being worse off compared to others

stereotype

generalized belief about a group of people

cognitive load

amount of mental effort being used in working memory

discrimination

unjustified negative behavior toward a group

prejudice

unjustified negative attitude toward a group

implicit attitudes

unconscious beliefs or associations about a group

just-world phenomenon

belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get

out-group homogeneity bias

perception that members of an out-group are more similar than they are

in-group homogeneity bias

perception that members of one’s own group are more similar than they are

ethnocentrism

belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture

belief perseverance

tendency to hold onto beliefs even after evidence disproves them

confirmation bias

tendency to seek and favor information that supports existing beliefs

cognitive dissonance

psychological discomfort from holding conflicting thoughts, leading to attitude change

social norms

rules for accepted and expected behavior in a group

social influence theory (normative, informational)

normative influence to gain approval; informational influence to gain accurate understanding

persuasion

process of changing attitudes or beliefs

elaboration likelihood model

theory that persuasion occurs via central or peripheral routes

routes to persuasion (central peripheral)

central involves thoughtful processing; peripheral involves superficial cues

halo effect

tendency to let one positive trait influence overall judgment of a person

foot-in-the-door technique

persuasion method starting with small request to gain compliance with larger one

door-in-the-face technique

persuasion method starting with large request followed by smaller one

conformity

adjusting behavior or thinking to match a group

obedience

compliance with authority figures

individualism

prioritizing personal goals over group goals

collectivism

prioritizing group goals over individual goals

multiculturalism

recognition and respect for cultural diversity

group polarization

enhancement of a group’s prevailing attitudes after discussion

groupthink

mode of thinking where desire for harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives

diffusion of responsibility

reduced sense of personal responsibility in a group

social loafing

reduced effort when working in a group

deindividuation

loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations

social facilitation

improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others

false consensus effect

overestimating how much others share one’s beliefs and behaviors

superordinate goals

shared goals that require cooperation between groups

social traps

situations where short-term rewards lead to long-term negative consequences

industrial-organizational psychologists

psychologists who study and improve workplace behavior and productivity

burnout

state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion due to prolonged stress

altruism

unselfish concern for the welfare of others