AP Psychology Unit 4.2 - Attitude Formation

Stereotypes

Generalized beliefs about groups of people that reduce one’s cognitive load when making decisions on judgements, by simplifying the world (due to Confirmation Bias and Belief Perseverence)

Prejudice

An unjustifiable and typically negative attitude toward an “outgroup” and its members

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior towards a group and its members

Explicit Bias

A negative attitude of which a person is aware toward a group

Implicit Bias

A negative, unconscious attitude toward a group

Just-World Phenomenon

A cognitive bias, shown by the belief that people “get what they deserve”

Outgroup Homogeneity Bias

A cognitive bias, shown when people underestimate the diversity of groups to which they do not belong, while assuming their own groups are diverse

Ingroup Bias

A cognitive bias, shown by favoritism toward members of a group to which one is perceived to belong

Ethnocentrism

The tendency to see one’s own culture as superior to others

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Belief Perseverence

The tendency to maintain one’s beliefs even after they have been discredited by factual information.