Social Psychology

attribution

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

ex: believing a high test score was due to intelligence rather than a tutor

personal disposition

an individuals habitual, natural tendency to think, feel, or act in specific ways

fundamental attribution error

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

ex: assuming a driver who cuts you off is a reckless driver, ignoring that they could be rushing somewhere

actor observer bias

a cognitive bias where people attribute their own actions to external, situational factors, but attribute others behaviors to internal, personal traits

ex: make excuses for ourselves but blame others for the same thing

self-serving bias

a cognitive distortion where individuals attribute positive events to their own character or actions and negative outcomes to external factors

ex: getting an ‘A’ on the test due to intelligence, but getting a ‘C’ due to unfair testing or bad instructor

attitudes

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

elaboration likelihood model

explains how attitudes are formed and changed based on the level of cognitive effort (elaboration) applied to a message

cognitive dissonance

the mental discomfort or psychological stress experienced when a person holds 2 or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes

ex: smoking even though you know it can cause cancer

social influence

examines how individuals emotions, opinions, or behaviors are affected by others, covering conformity, compliance, and obedience

norms

understood rules for accepted and expected behavior

ex: forming lines, shaking hands, saying “please”

role playing

a technique where individuals act out scenarios, personas, or emotions to develop coping mechanisms

ex: therapists use puppets to help children with selective mutism or trauma discuss certain topics

foot in the door

a persuasion strategy where a small, initial request is made to increase the likelihood of compliance with a subsequent, larger request

ex: a fundraiser asking you to sign a petition before asking for a donation

door in face

a persuasion strategy where a person makes an initial, large request that is almost certain to be rejected

ex: asking to borrow $100, and when refused, asking for $20

conformity

a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior to fit in with a group, stemming from perceived group pressure

ex: engaging in behaviors like smoking/drinking because other teens are doing it

obedience

following direct commands

ex: Milgram Shock Experiments

normative social influence

we want to fit in and be accepted

informational social influence

we want to be right, and think others may help us with that

minority influence

a form of social influence where a smaller group or individual changes the attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors of a majority

ex: a single juror influencing the rest of the jury to change their verdict through consistent argumentation

group influence

how the presence, norms, and actions of others shape an individual’s behaviors, attitudes, and decisions

social facilitation

the psychological tendency for people to perform better on simple or well-practiced tasks when in the presence of others compared to when they are alone

ex: a skilled runner running faster in a race than during solo training

social loafing

the psychological tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working collectively on a task than when working alone

ex: group projects

group polarization

group members opinions become more extreme after discussion, shifting toward a more intensified, collective consensus than their initial, individual viewpoints

ex: jury decisions

group think

the desire for group cohesion and harmony overrides critical analysis, leading to irrational or dysfunctional decision making

ex: teams ignoring safety warnings to meet a tight, high-pressure deadline

stereotypes

a fixed, oversimplified, and generalized belief about a specific group of people, which is applied to individuals regardless of their personal characteristics

ex: gender roles, racial profiling

prejudice

a learned, often negative, and unjustified attitude toward an individual based solely on their group membership

ex: racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia

discrimination

social behavior involving unjust treatment of groups or the cognitive ability to differentiate between stimuli

ex: a person learning that it is appropriate to yell at a football game but not in a library

implicit prejudice

unconscious, automatic attitudes and stereotypes that affect understanding, actions, and decisions in an involuntary manner

ex: someone may feel discomfort (lack of eye contact) during interactions with out-group members

explicit prejudice

a consciously held, negative attitude or belief toward a specific social group, which an individual is aware of, endorses, and can openly communicate

ex: sexist comments and active discrimination

agression

any behavior intended to harm, injure, or intimidate another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment

genetic influences of aggression

Y chromosome, and MAOA gene

neural influences of aggression

amygdala, and frontal lobes

biochemical influences

testosterone and alcohol

media and aggression

the study of how exposure to violent content in television, movies, video games, and social media increases aggressive behavior, thoughts, and emotions in viewers

attraction

the force that draws individuals together, encompassing the interest, liking, or desire to form friendships or romantic relationships

environment attraction

why humans are drawn to specific natural or built surroundings and how these environments affect emotions, behavior, and mental well-being

similarity attraction

individuals are more likely to be attracted to, like, and form relationships with others who share similar attitudes, values, interests, and personality traits

ex: friends sharing hobbies

physical attractiveness

how aesthetic appeal, facial symmetry, and body proportions influence human social perception, partner selection, and behavior

ex: using “attractive” models to increase product appeal

romantic love

a passionate emotional and sexual attachment characterized by high intimacy, intense longing, and idealization of the partner

ex: the process of choosing and committing to a long-term partner

self disclosure

the voluntary, intentional act of revealing personal, private, or intimate information about oneself to another person

ex: sharing interests, hobbies, or personal stories to build connections

bystander intervention

recognizing a potentially harmful situation and choosing to respond in a way that positively influences the outcome, effectively countering the bystander effect where individuals fail to help in emergencies

ex: intervening in bullying, checking on someone who seems uncomfortable