AP Psych Unit 9 Vocab

Social pyschology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Attribution theory

The theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition

Fundamental attribution error

The tendency for observers, when analyzing other’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Attitude

Feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects people, and events

Peripheral route persuasion

Occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness

Central route persuasion

Occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts