Social psychology terms

social psychology

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

attribution theory

The theory that we explain someone’s behavior based on situation or the person’s disposition.

fundamental attribution error

The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the impact of personal disposition.

attitude

Feelings that predispose us to respond in a particular way.

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

People who have agreed to a small request will comply later with a larger request.

peripheral route persuasion

When people are influenced by incidental cues.

central route persuasion

When interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts.

role

A set of expectations defining how those in a social position ought to behave.

cognitive dissonance theory

We act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent.

conformity

Adjusting our behavior to coincide with a group standard.

normative social influence

Influence resulting from a desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval.

informational social influence

Influence from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions.

social facilitation

Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others.

groupthink

Mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a group overrides an appraisal of alternatives.

social loafing

Tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts together to attain a common goal.

deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness in group settings that foster arousal and anonymity.

group polarization

The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group.

just world phenomenon

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

culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and values shared and passed on by a group of people.

norm

An understood rule for accepted and expected behavior.

prejudice

An unjustifiable and negative attitude toward a group and its members that includes stereotypes.

stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people.

discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior towards a group and its members.

explanatory style

A person's habitual way of explaining events, which can be either optimistic or pessimistic, and impacts how they view setbacks and successes.

ingroup

'Us' - people with whom we share a common identity.

outgroup

'Them' - those perceived as different from our ingroup.

ingroup bias

The tendency to favor our own group.

self-serving bias

The tendency to attribute our successes to internal, personal factors, and our failures to external, situational factors.

other-race effect

Tendency to recall faces of one’s own race better than faces of other races.

aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt.

social script

Culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.

passionate love

An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another.

companionate love

Deep, affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.

social comparison

Describes how individuals evaluate their own abilities, opinions, and beliefs by comparing themselves to others.

out-group homogeneity

Tendency to perceive members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than they actually are, while viewing members of your own group (ingroup) as more diverse.

self-disclosure

Revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others.

altruism

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

ethnocentrism

Where individuals view their own culture as the center of the world and perceive other cultures as inferior.

bystander effect

Tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.

reciprocity norm

An expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

social-responsibility norm

An expectation that people will help those needing their help.

conflict

A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.

social trap

A situation in which conflicting parties become caught in mutually destructive behavior.

mirror-image perceptions

Mutual views often held by conflicting people.

self-fulfilling prophecy

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

superordinate goals

Shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.

mere exposure effect

Phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them.