Chapter 13-15 Social Cognition

positivity bias

slight bias towards evaluating things positively and experiencing positive states

mood congruence

tendency to recall valanced information that matches the mood/emotion

example of positive mood congruence

when you are experiencing a positive mood state, you tend to remember more positive information

example of negative mood congruence

when you are experiencing a negative mood state, you tend to remember more negative information

mood state dependent memory

tendency to recall information better when we recall the information in the same mood/emotion state in which we learned it

mood/emotion congruent judgement

judgements or evaluations are commonly influenced in the direction of our affective state

what does fear lead to

avoidance motivations and greater perception of threat

what does anger lead to

approach motivations, optimism, and greater risk seeking

mood-as-information

when making a judgment, our current affect can serve as information if it seems relevant

what does a negative affect indicate

something is a problem in one’s environment

increased cognitive effort is required to remedy the problem

what does a positive affect indicate

people can think carefully while happy, however there is not much motivation to do so

no extra cognitive effort is needed

implement intentions

developing if-then plans for goal attainment

automate planned procedures

what are the three ways we can fantasize about the future

1. focus on fantasy

2. focus on negative realities

3. simultaneously consider reality and fantasy

fantasy realization theory

when people mentally contrast their positive fantasies with the reality of the situation, which may motivate them to take action towards achieving their desired future

focus on the fantasy

focusing on fantasy more than reality and what they need to overcome to achieve it

• no need to act ; if fantasy is true, reality is not considered

what does ‘fantasy’ relate to in the fantasy realization theory

imaginative thoughts about the future

focus on the negative realities

instead of thinking about the good that will happen if the fantasy comes true, you think about the things you will have to overcome and reality

• because there is no fantasy due to focusing on negatives : no motivation

• because fantasies are not considered, there is nothing to achieve : no need to act

simultaneously consider reality and fantasy

transforms reality into something that has to be overcome, and fantasy into something that should be achieved

• need to act

what are the conditions for someone to form a goal when comparing fantasy and reality

when they consider just F or R, they have a moderate goal to act regardless of expectations

multiple act criterion

general attitudes can predict behavior in the aggregate, across many possible behaviors related to the attitude

when do attitudes predict behavior

when they are:

• strong

• accessible

• embedded

• personal relevance

• formed through direct experience

consummatory behavior

we engage in that behavior for its own sake

instrumental behavior

behavior enacted to achieve a goal

high self monitors

attitudes match real behavior less often because they report attitudes they think others have

low self monitors

tend to speak their mind and behave consistently with attitude

affective forecasting

predictions of how we will feel in the future

immune neglect

we predict that negative events will be worse than they are and last longer than they do

What steps for planning and behavior did gollwitzer and colleagues come up with

• deliberative mindset

• implementation mindset

• goal shielding

deliberative mindset

• initial, motivational phase

• choose WHAT they are going to do

• weigh information in unbiased, open minded way

• ends in declaring a goal

implementation mindset

• volitional phase

• make decisions about HOW they are going to do it and when

• attend to information and the environment in ways that facilitate chosen action

goal shielding

try to protect that goal from other possible competing goals