Unit 9

What is Social Psychology?

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

What is attribution theory?

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

What is fundamental attribution error?

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

What is attitude?

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

What is central route persuasion?

attitude change path in which interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts 

What is peripheral route persuasion?

attitude change path in which people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness 

What is foot-in-door phenomenon?

 the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request 

What is door-in-face phenomenon?

Tactic where a large request is made knowing it will be rejected, followed by a smaller request. The smaller request is more likely to be accepted due to the feeling of reciprocity.

What is a role?

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave 

What is cognitive dissonance?

 the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent.  For example, when our awareness of our attitudes and of our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes. 

What is the Just-World Fallacy?

 the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get

What is a self-fufilling prophecy?

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment

What is conformity?

adjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard (a request)

What is the bystander effect?

 the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present 

What is the chameleon effect?

we are natural mimics, unconsciously mimicking others’ expressions, postures, and voice tones; this helps to explain why we feel happier around happy people

What is mood-linkage?

 sharing up and down moods 

What are the conditions that strengthen conformity?

Some conditions that strengthen conformity include group size, unanimity, cohesion, and status. When a group is larger, individuals are more likely to conform to the group's norms. When there is unanimity within the group, individuals are more likely to conform to the group's beliefs. Cohesion within the group also increases conformity, as individuals are more likely to conform to a group they feel connected to. Finally, individuals with lower status are more likely to conform to those with higher status within the group.

What is normative social influence?

 influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval 

What is informational social influence?

influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept other’s opinions about reality 

What is obedience?

The presence of authority figures when ordered to conform (an order)

What is culture?

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

What is Social Facilitation?

stronger responses on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others 

What is the reciprocity norm?

The reciprocity norm is a social norm that states that people should repay, in kind, what another person has provided for them. This norm is often used to explain why people feel obligated to return favors or gifts that they have received from others.

What is Group polarization?

**the enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion with the groups** 

What is Social loafing?

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable  (group projects)

What is Groupthink?

the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives,

What is de-individuation?

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity

What is conflict?

a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

What is a social trap?

 situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior 

What is stereotype?

 a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of peopleW

What is prejudice?

 an unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members.  Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action S

What is discrimination?

 unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

What is a norm?

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior.  Norms prescribe “proper” behavior

What is in-group bias?

the tendency to favor our own group 

What is an in-group?

 “Us” – people with whom we share a common identity 

What is the scapegoat theory?

the theory that prejudice offers an  outlet for anger by providing someone to blame 

What is the other-race effect?

The tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races.  Also called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias.

What is aggression?

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

What is the frustration-aggression principle?

the principle that frustration – the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal – creates anger, which can generate aggressio

What is mere exposure?

the phenomenon the repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them 

What is passionate love?

an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a love relationship

What is compassionate love?

the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined 

What is equity?

 a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it 

What is self-discosure?

revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others 

What is altruism?

unselfish regard for the welfare of others 

 

What is social-exchange theory?

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs 

What is the social responsibility norm?

an expectation that people will help those dependent upon them 

What is mirror-image perception?

Mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive

What are superordinate goals?

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation 

What is GRIT?

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction – a strategy designed to decrease international tensions