Unit G - Unit 4.1-4.3

Social Psychology PART A

Person Perception

The process of forming impressions and making judgments about others.

Attributions

Explanations for the causes of behaviors or events.

Dispositional Attributions

Explaining behavior based on internal traits or personality.

Situational Attributions

Explaining behavior based on external circumstances or environment.

Explanatory Style

A person's habitual way of explaining events.

Optimistic Explanatory Style

Attributing negative events to external, temporary, and specific factors.

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

Attributing negative events to internal, stable, and global factors.

Actor/Observer Bias

Tendency to attribute others' behavior to dispositions but one's own behavior to situations.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overestimating personal factors and underestimating situational factors in others' behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

Attributing successes to personal traits and failures to external factors.

Internal Locus of Control

Belief that personal actions influence outcomes.

External Locus of Control

Belief that external forces or luck determine outcomes.

Mere Exposure Effect

Increased liking of something due to repeated exposure.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Expectations influencing behavior in a way that makes them come true.

Social Comparison

Evaluating oneself by comparing to others.

Upward Social Comparison

Comparing to someone perceived as better to inspire improvement.

Downward Social Comparison

Comparing to someone perceived as worse to boost self-esteem.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling disadvantaged by comparing oneself to others.

Stereotype

Generalized belief about a group of people.

Cognitive Load

The mental effort required to process information.

Prejudice

Unjustified negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on group membership.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious biases that influence behavior.

Just-World Phenomenon

Belief that people get what they deserve.

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

Perceiving members of an out-group as more similar than they are.

In-Group Bias

Favoring one's own group over others.

Ethnocentrism

Viewing one's culture as superior to others.

Belief Perseverance

Holding onto beliefs despite contradictory evidence.

Confirmation Bias

Tendency to seek out and favor information that supports existing beliefs.

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort from holding conflicting thoughts or behaviors.

Social Norms

Shared rules that guide behavior in society.

Social Influence Theory

Idea that behavior is shaped by the presence and expectations of others.

Normative Social Influence

Conforming to gain approval or avoid rejection.

Informational Social Influence

Conforming because others provide valuable information or we want to be accurate.

Persuasion

Process of changing attitudes or behaviors through communication.

Elaboration Likelihood Model

Theory of how people are persuaded through central or peripheral routes.

Central Route

Persuasion based on logical arguments and evidence.

Peripheral Route

Persuasion based on superficial cues like attractiveness or emotions.

Halo Effect

Tendency to assume positive traits based on one favorable impression.

Foot-In-The-Door Technique

Getting compliance with a small request before making a larger one.

Door-In-The-Face Technique

Making a large request expecting refusal, then following with a smaller request.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with a group.

Obedience

Following orders from an authority figure.

Individualism

Cultural value emphasizing personal independence and self-expression.

Collectivism

Cultural value emphasizing group harmony and interdependence.

Multiculturalism

Recognizing and valuing diverse cultural backgrounds.

Group Polarization

Strengthening of group opinions after discussion.

Groupthink

Desire for harmony in a group leading to poor decision-making.

Diffusion of Responsibility

Reduced sense of personal responsibility in group settings.

Social Loafing

Exerting less effort in a group than when working alone.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations.

Social Facilitation

Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others.

False Consensus Effect

Overestimating how much others share one's beliefs or behaviors.

Superordinate Goals

Shared goals requiring cooperation between groups.

Social Traps

Situations where individual interests harm the collective.

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychologists

Psychologists who study workplace behavior to improve productivity and well-being.

Burnout

Emotional and physical exhaustion from prolonged stress.

Altruism

Selfless concern for others' well-being.

Prosocial Behavior

Actions intended to benefit others.

Social Debt

Feeling obligated to reciprocate after receiving help.

Social Reciprocity Norm

Expectation to return favors or kindness.

Social Responsibility Norm

Expectation to help those in need.

Bystander Effect

Reduced likelihood of helping when others are present.

Situational Variables

The odds of helping someone is influenced by situational factors, such as whether we are in hurry or not.

Attentional Variables

The odds of helping someone is influenced by awareness.