Unit 14 - Social Psychology

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 by crediting either internal or external factors

fundamental attribution error

when you overemphasize internal factors and under emphasize external factors

attitude

positive or negative feelings, beliefs, and behaviors to certain objects, people, and situations

peripheral route persuasion

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness

central route persuasion

occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts

foot-in-door phenomenon

the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request

role

a set of norms about social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

cognitive dissonance theory

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent

conformity

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with group standard

normative social influence

influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval

informational social influence

influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality

social facilitation

improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others

social loafing

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable

deindividuation

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in a group situations that foster arousal

group polarization

the enhancement of a group’s beliefs after discussing them with like-minded others

groupthink

when a group of people make decisions or actions that are irrational or dysfunctional as a result for desired harmony within the group

culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

norm

an understood rule for accepted and expected “proper” behavior

prejudice

negative attitude toward a group and its members. Usually involve stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and discriminations (unconscious level)

stereotype

a generalized belief about a group of people

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

just-world phenomenon

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

ingroup

people with whom we share a common identity

outgroup

those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup

ingroup bias

the tendency to favor our own group

scapegoat theory

when a person or group is unfairly blamed or targeted for problems or issues that are not their fault

other-race effect/cross-race effect/own-race bias

the tendency to recall faces or one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races

aggression

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

frustration-aggression principle

the idea that people sometimes become aggressive or hostile when they are prevented from achieving a goal or fulfilling a need

social script

culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations

mere exposure effect

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them

passionate love

an intense and often overwhelming feeling of attraction and affection towards another person

companionate love

type of love that is characterized by feelings of warmth, comfort, and emotional closeness toward another person

equity

the principle of fairness that is often applied in relationships to ensure that each person is treated fairly

self-disclosure

the act of revealing personal information about oneself to others

altruism

the act of helping others without expecting anything in return

bystander effect

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present

social exchange theory

people make decisions about relationships and social interactions based on a cost-benefit analysis

reciprocity norm

an expectation that people will help, not hurt, 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 people or groups are drawn toward actions that are in their best interest in the short term, but lead to negative outcomes for everyone involved

mirror-image perceptions

the phenomenon in which two groups or individuals hold opposing views of each other, often based on stereotypes and assumptions (politics)

self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief or expectation about a person or situation leads to behaviors that ultimately cause that belief or expectation to come true

superordinate goals

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction (GRIT)

a strategy that involves making small, conciliatory gestures towards an adversary in order to reduce tension and promote cooperation

testosterone

when injected, causes aggression

violent criminals have low levels of

serotonin

Stanley Milgram

studied obedience towards authority

Solomon Asch

studied conformity with the length of lines

Philip Zimbardo

did the Stanford Prison Experiment