AP Psychology - social psychology

Fundamental Attribution Error

Assuming a situation is because of a person's traits, not their situation.

Explanatory style

A personality trait determining how people habitually explain to themselves why events happen.

Permanence

Do you think a bad event will last forever (stable) or is it a passing event (temporary)?

Pervasiveness

Do you think this event affects all areas of your life (global) or is it confined to one area (specific)?

Personalization

Do you blame yourself (internal) or external circumstances (external) for the event?

Pessimistic explanatory style

When a bad event happens, a person thinks internally, stably, and globally.

Optimistic explanatory style

When bad events happen, a person thinks externally, temporarily, and specifically.

Situational attribution

Blaming an external factor instead of an internal factor.

Mere exposure effect

Your exposure to something for too long makes you start liking it.

Self fulfilling prophecy

A false belief or assumption leads a person to act in ways that make the belief come true.

Dispositional attribution

A person's behavior based on their characteristics.

Actor-observer bias

The tendency to favor your own situation over others when it comes to actions

Mirror-image perceptions

When two groups see themselves as ethical and peaceful but each views the other as evil and aggressive.

In-group bias

Favoring members of one’s own group over others.

Stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people.

Cognitive dissonance

changing behavior or thinking to fit in with a group

Prejudice

A prejudgment or unjustified attitude toward a group.

Scapegoat theory

the idea that discrimination comes from blaming a group for problems

Discrimination

Unjust behavior directed toward a group.

Just-world phenomenon

The belief that people get what they deserve, leading to blaming victims.

Role playing and attitudes

How adopting roles can influence attitudes.

Implicit attitudes

Unconscious attitudes that affect behavior.

Other-race effect

The tendency to recognize faces of one’s own race better than those of other races.

Social Facilitation

Doing better on simple or well learned tasks when others are around

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Influencing attitudes through superficial cues.

Central Route to Persuasion

Influencing attitudes through logical arguments and evidence.

Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that people will respond favorably to kindness by returning it.

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

Agreeing to a small request increases the likelihood of agreeing to a larger one later.

Door-in-the-Face Technique

Starting with a large request that is refused, then following with a smaller request.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with a group standard.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations, leading to impulsive behavior.

Bystander Effect

Reduced likelihood of helping when others are present.

Social Loafing

the tendency to put in less effort when working in a group compared to alone

Groupthink

When the desire for harmony in a group leads to poor decision-making.

Group Polarization

 A groups attitudes becoming more extreme after discussion

Social Exchange Theory

The idea that social behavior is an exchange process aiming to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Understanding behavior through the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.