Intro to Psych Final

Two main assumptions of social psychology

people construct their own reality and that social influence is pervasive

Situational attributes

blames ot on external factors

dispositional attributes

blames behavior on internal traits(personality, character)

attitudes

a settled way of thinking, feeling, or acting towards a person, object or idea, combining your beliefs (cognitive), emotions (affective), and behavioral tendencies, influencing your overall outlook and how you interact with the world, odten described as positive or negative

Objectivity Illusion

tendency to see oneself as more impartial and less biased than others, believing one’s own views reflect reality while assuming those who disagree are biased or irrational

Just world phenomenon

a cognitive bias where people believe the world is inherently fair meaning everyone gets what they deserve, good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people

Self- serving bias

a common cognitive bias where indivuals attribute their successes to internal factors (their own abilties, effort, or character) and their failures to external factors (bad luck, other pople, or situatuonal circumstances)

anchoring effect

a cognitive bias where individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information offered when making decisions

Foot in the door technique

technique is a persuasion tatic where someone first asks for a small favor and then when the other person agrees, means they are more likely to say to the next request which is larger

Cognitive Dissonance

the mental discomfort or stress people feel when holding two contradicting beliefs, values, or attitudes, or when their actions conflict with their beliefs, leading to an urge to reduce this internal conflict

Solomon Asch experiment

tested how group pressure influences conformity, showing people will often give an obviously wrong answer to match a unanimous majority, even when they know its incorrect.

emotion contagion

the unconscious process where you“catch” or mimic the emotions, facial expressions and behaviors of the people around you causing your own feelings to align with theirs

Mob mentality

when individuals in a large group act differently than they would alone, influence by the crowd’s emotions and action with examples ranging from social media trends like “devious licks”

Norm conformity

changing you behavior to fit in, be liked, or avoid rejection like teenagers adopting slang/fashion to match with friends

Central Route to persuasion

a method where people are convinced by the logic, facts, and strength of arguments in a message, requiring high motivation and cognitive effort, leading to deeper processing and more lasting attitude change, unlike superficial peripheral cues

Peripheral Route to Persuasion

influencing attitudes via superficial cues (like attractiveness, emotion, or celebrity endorsement) instead of deep logical processing of arguments, used when people lack motivation or ability to think critically about the message

Group think

a psychological phenomenon where a group prioritizes harmony and consensus over critical thinking, leading to irrational or poor decision, as members suppress dissenting views to fit in or avoid conflict, even if it goes against their better judgement

Group polarization

is a social psychology phenomenon where discussions among like-minded people cause their shared opinions to become more extreme than their initial individual leanings

Conformity

is changing behavior to match a group (to fit in or be right)

Obedience

is changing behavior to follow an authority figure’s commands

Milgram experiment

when they had someone increase the amounts of shocks they were giving someone they couldn’t see when they got questions wrong

Deindividuation

a psychological phenomenon where individuals lose their sense of personal identity and self-awareness, leading them to act impulsively

Social loafing

when individuals exert less effort to achieve a common goal when working in a group than when working alone, often due to reduced individual accountability, feeling their contribution doesn’t matter, or diffusing responsibility among others

Social facilitation

where people perform better on simple or well-learned tasks when others are present but perform worse on complex or new tasks due to increased arousal, anxiety, or evaluation apprehension from the audience or co actors

Stereotypes

Oversimplified, generalized, and often inaccurate beliefs or ideas about a particular group of people, assuming all members share the same traits, abilities, or behaviors, regardless or individuality

Prejudice

a preconceived often negative, attitude toward a group of pople based on stereotypes rather than individual merit

Discrimination

acting on prejudice(treating groups unfairly based on race, gender, etc.)

Implicit bias

refers to the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, action, and decision in an involuntary manner, without our awareness or control

Explicit bias

the attitudes, beliefs, or preferences a person holds about a particular group on an conscious level, deliberate thoughts

Racial prejudice

a preconceived, negative attitude, belief, or feeling about individuals or groups based on their race, often rooted in stereotypes and the idea that one race is superior, leading to unfair judgements and potential discrimination, even without factual evidence

gender prejudice

unfair judgements about someone based on their gender

Sexual minority prejudice

the negative attitude, belief, or feeling toward individuals based on their non-heterosexual orientation

ingroup and outgroup bias

in group bias is favoring your own group over others while out group bias is disliking or negatively viewing those outside your group

Scapegoat theory

explains how people redirect frustration and aggression from a threatening or unattainable source onto a weaker more vunerlable target to feel better and maintain self esteem.

Outgroup homogeneity

the idea that everyone who is not apart of your group in the all the same

Agression and its influences

behavior intended to cause harm to others, oneself, or property influenced by a mix of biological factors, psychological elements, and socio-cultural forces

the effects of media on aggression

media violence, particularly in video games and TV, is a consistent risk factor linked to increased aggression as well as decreased empathy, through short term arousal and long term learning, though its one of many factors and its effects vary by individual and context

attraction and its causes

is a sense of interest, desire, or closeness felt toward another person which can be platonic, romantic, or sexual in nature

mere exposure effect

where people develop a preference for something simply because they’ve been repeatedly exposed to it, finding familiar things more favorable, less threatening, and more appealing even subconsciously

Romantic love

characterized by intense passion, attraction, and emotional intimacy, often including a desire for physical closeness and strong wish to be with the other person

Companionate love

deep, other person centered form of love characterized by empathy, kindness, care, and a strong commitment to another’s well being and flourishing often developing in long term relationships as passionate love matures. It focuses on mutual respect, support, and helping difficulties, and is seen in family, friends, and romantic partners

Intimacy love

the component of emotional closeness, connectedness, and bonding involving sharing personal thoughts, building trust, and feeling warmth and affection

commitment love

particularly apart of Robert Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, commitment is one of the three core components of love, representing the conscious decision and ling term dedication to stay with someone and work toward shared goals, even without intense passion or intimacy

Fatuous love

is a whirlwind romance driven by intense passion and quick commitment, but it completely lacks emotional intimacy, meaning partners don’t truly open up or form a deep bond, leading to unstable, often short-lived relationships

consummate love

type of love, according to Robert Sternberg’s theory, is the ideal and most complete form, characterized by the perfect balance of all three components

Social exchange theory

relationships views interactions as economic exchange where people seek to maximize rewards and minimize costs

reciprocity norm

the urge people feel to give back to others who have given to them (social obligation)

Social responsibility norm

the societal expectation that individuals have a moral duty to help others in need, contribute to the greater good, and act in ways that benefit society, often involving actions like volunteering, charity, or being environmentally conscious

Altruism

we help others simply because we want to, we aren’t looking for anything in exchange

diffusion of responsibility

a social phenomenon where people feel less personal accountability to act in a situation when others are present, assuming someone else will take charge

bystander effect

social phenomenon that people are less likely to help someone when there are other people present

superordinate goals

shared objectives that require people to work together to accomplish

Conciliation

conflict resolution where a neutral third party, called a conciliator, helps conflicting individuals or groups communicate, identify issues, and reach a mutually acceptable agreement

what causes conflict?

incompatible goals, scarce resources, communication problems, and differences in personality, values, and perceptions

What causes peace?

cultivating inner clam through techniques like mindfulness, positive self-talk, and acceptance, challenging negative beliefs, connecting with nature and practicing self compassion while also addressing external factors like societal structures that create conflict

Freudian theory of mind

human personality and behavior result from the dynamic interaction among three psychic structures: the id, ego, and superego. This interaction largely occurs outside of our conscious awareness and involves ongoing internal conflicts

Unconscious

the part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and feelings we are not aware of, yet it can significantly influence our behavior

Freud’s drives

sex and aggression

Hypnosis

seeing it as a path to the unconscious but eventually abandoned it for free association because hypnotic cures were temporary and didn’t address root causes, leading to a significant shift away from hypnosis in psychotherapy

Id, Ego, Superego

id is unconscious, instinctual, and seeks immediate gratification; the ego is the realistic decision-maker; and the superego internalizes societal rules and standards

Denial

a person refuses to accept or acknowledge painful realities facts, or feeling to protect themselves from anxiety, stress, or trauma, often manifesting as minimizing problems, blaming others, or avoiding the issue entirely, which hinders healthy coping and problem-solving

Repression

where the mind pushes distressing or unacceptable thoughts, memories, feelings, and impulses out of the conscious awareness to protect the self form anxiety or trauma, often stemming from childhood experiences, and can manifest as stress, depression, or behavioral issues

Projection

where you attribute your own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or impulses onto someone else, avoiding personal responsibility and internal conflict like a person feeling insecure about cheating accusing their partner of infidelity

Intellectualization

use excessive reasoning, logic, and abstract thought to avoid confronting difficult of uncomfortable emotions, transforming a stressful situation into a purely intellectual problem rather than feeling the associated pain. Instead of experiencing fear, greif or anger, you analyze they why and how, getting lost in facts, patterns, and solutions to distance yourself from the raw emotion

Humor

using comical or ironic aspects to cope with a hardship

displacement

where a person redirects a negative emotions from its orginal source to a less threatening target. For example, if someone is angry at their boss but can’t express it without risking their job, they might go home and yell at their family member

Criticism of Freudian Theory

lack of empirical evidence and testability, overemphasis on sexuality and early childhood, and a narrow view based on a limited, culturally specific population

Why did Neo-Freudians break away?

they disagreed with his heavy emphasis on sexual drives as the main motivator for behavior and personality development. they instead focused more on the significance of social and cultural influences, interpersonal relationships, and the role of the conscious mind and ego

Object Relations Theory

a psychoanalytic approach that emphasizes the importance of early relationships, particularly with primary caregivers, in shaping a person personality and future relationship

Behaviorism

a theory focusing on observable behaviors as the primary subject of study, viewing personality and learning as shaped by environmental interactions, particularly through conditioning

Humanistic psychology

a perspective focusing on the whole person, emphasizing free will, personal growth, self actualization, and subjective experiences, viewing individuals as inherently good and motivated to reach their full potential

Self actualization

is the concept of realizing one’s full potential and pursuing personal growth to become the best version of oneself

Hierarchy of needs

Maslow you need to obtain the bottom levels before you can reach the top, Physiological Needs: Essential for survival (food, water, warmth, rest, shelter).

1. Safety Needs: Security, stability, freedom from fear, health, financial security.

2. Love and Belonging: Friendship, intimacy, family, a sense of connection.

3. Esteem Needs: Self-respect, confidence, achievement, respect from others.

4. Self-Actualization: Fulfilling personal potential, creativity, morality, personal growth.

Unconditional Positive regard

Carl Rodgers person centered therapy, meaning to offer complete, nonjudgemental support, acceptance, and care for someone, recognizing their inherent worth regardless of their actions, feelings, or mistakes

Genuineness

is the therapists abilty to be real, authentic, and transparent

empathy

the profound, non-judgemental process of entering another person’s private world feeling their emotions and meanings as if they were your own, but without losing your own sense of self

personality traits

personality traits aren't fixed but describe the "fully functioning person" who is self-actualizing, characterized by openness to experience, living in the present, trusting their feelings, being self-directed and creative, and taking responsibility for their lives, all stemming from congruence between the real self and ideal self, achieved through unconditional positive regard.

Factor analysis

statisical method for simplifying complex data by identifying underlying, unobservable “factors” or latent variables that explain correlation among a larger set of observed variables, effectively reducing many items into a few key concepts for easier interpretation, common in psychology

The person situation debate

questions whether our behavior is driven more by stable personality trains or by the immediate external environment

Personality inventory

standardized self report questionnaire used to measure and evaluate an individuals enduing traits behaviors patterns and attitudes

Social Cognitive theory

behavior is the result of people’s traits and their interaction in social context

Reciprocal determinism

behavior cognition, and environment all interact dynamically in creating the self

self esteem

our feeling of self worth

self efficacy

a person belief in their ability to succeed

Narcissism

excessive pride in oneself, a need to be better than everyone else, crave status, underneath it all is. fragile sense of self

spotlight effect

the belief that everyone is watching

Dunning Kruger effect

the idea that people with low ability in a specific area overestimate their competence, while experts often underestimate theirs, leading to misplaced confidence in the unskilled and self-doubt in the highly skilled.

biological psychopathology

studies mental illness by focusing on their geneitc neruophysiological and biochemical roots viewing disorders as resulting from abnormalities in brain function, structure, and chemistry incorporating genetics, neurotransmitters and gene environment interaction to understand causes, course and develop biologically based treatments

Psychological

is the scientific study of mental disorders focusing on their symptoms cuases development and treatment

social determinants of mental health

the broad societal, economic, and environmental conditions- like poverty, housing, education, discrimination, and social support-where people live, work, and age profoundly shaping mental health risks, resilience and outcomes actin gas both causes and consequences of mental illness

epigenetics

studies how behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work, turning them “on” of “off” without alerting the DNA sequence itself

Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders a

the authoritative guide for mental health professionals, published by the American Psychiatric Association, providing standardized criteria descriptions and codes for diagnosing mental disorders, updated with current scientific literature

internal vs. external fears

internal fears originate from within-thoughts or memories (like fear of failure or rejection) - while external fears are triggered by outside situations people or environmental (like public speaking, spiders, or crowded spaces)

phobias and the classical conditioning model

intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, often developing through classical conditioning, where a neutral thing( like a spider) gets paired with something scary(like a painful bite), making the neutral thing trigger fear(the phobia) even alone

Panic Disorder/Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

Panic Disorder involves unexpected, intense panic attacks and constant worry about having more, while panic Disorder with Agoraphobia adds a crucial element; the dear and avoidance of places or situations (like crowds, bridges, or being home alone) where escape might be difficult or help unavailable if a panic attack strikes, often leading to significant life restriction or even becoming home bound

Generalized anxiety disorder

symptoms include being jittery, can’t sleep, can’t stop worrying. overreaction of the amygdala

Obsessive Compulsive disorder

Obsessive and repetitive thoughts, can’t stop feeling compelled, dysfunctional dopamine response, superstitious behavior

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

experiencing a traumatic event, recurring memories, fears, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, changes in mood and emotional response, the feared stimulus in internal

Somatic Symptom Disorder

symptoms manifest in physical symptoms

Conversion Disorder

a mental health condition where severe stress or trauma manifests as real neurological symptoms (like paralysis, blindness, tremors, seizures) that can’t be explained by a medical condition, acting as the brain’s way to convert emotional pain into physical issues