PSY 100 Exam 4

STUDY

social psychology

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

Attribution

an explanation of the cause of behaviors or events

internal (dispositional) attribution

cause is within person (personal characteristics)

Example: Unfavorable reaction = saying something mean

external (situational) attribution

cause is within the situation (action of others, nature of situation, situational damage)

Example: Tolerant reaction = Maybe that driver is ill

fundamental attribution error

the tendency for observers, when analyzing another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

just-world hypothesis

the assumption that the world is fair and that therefore people get what they deserve and deserve what they get

Helps justify cruelty to others

self-fulfilling prophecy

an expectation that causes you to act in ways that make that expectation come true.

self-serving bias

the tendency to make attributions so that one can perceive oneself favorably

false consensus effect

Bias where we assume everyone experiences the world like we do.

false uniqueness effect

the tendency to underestimate the commonality of one's abilities and successful behaviors

Attitudes

Evaluative reactions (positive or negative) toward objects, events, and other people

cognitive dissonance

feeling of discomfort created from a discrepancy between an attitude and behavior or between two competing attitudes or beliefs.

Social Influence

Examines how other people and the social forces they create influence and individual's behavior.

Conformity

Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a 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

compliance

Acting in accordance with a direct request from another person or group

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

start with a small request, then follow up with a larger one.

There is a consistency between behaviors.

door-in-the-face phenomenon

Start with a large request, then follow up with a smaller one.

low ball

Make an attractive initial offer, after getting a commitment. Make the terms less good.

That's not all

People are more likely to comply to a request after a build- up to make the request sound "better"

Obedience

following the commands of a person in authority

social facilitation

improved performance of tasks in the presence of others

Occurs with simple or well- learned tasks

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

Example: one person does all the work the others don't help

group polarization

if a group is like-minded, discussion strengthens prevailing options and attitudes

- they start to think alike or agree in the same thing.

Deindividuation

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

- Act without thinking

altruism

Actions designed to help others with no obvious benefit to the helper

Egoistic Model

helping that's motivated by anticipated gain

empathy-altruism model

-helping motivated by empathy

-share the emotions experienced by others

diffusion of responsibility

Distribution of personal responsibility

ambiguous situation

unclear what help is needed

Bystander effect

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

aggression

behavior intended to harm others, either verbally or physically

biological factors of aggression

low cortisol, high testosterone, Alcohol usage, Genetic factors

Frustration

Occurs when the achievement of a goal is blocked

interpersonal attraction

liking or having the desire for a relationship with another person

similarity

friends share common attitudes, beliefs, interests

matching hypothesis

choose mate similar to self

mere exposure effect

repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them

feminized characteristics

-eyebrow arch

-bigger eyes

-narrow jaw and nose

-fuller lips

masculine features

Pronounced eyebrow ridge, big jaw, square face

limbal ring

-the line that separates the colored part of the eye from the white

-people with distinct limbal rings are perceived to be more attractive

-indicator of health and fertility

Intimacy

closeness, sharing, communication, and support

Passion

physiological arousal and intense desire to be with the loved one

Commitment

affirmation of your love and long-term commitment to maintain that love

Romantic Love

intimacy and passion

- Start of a relationship

Companionate Love

intimacy and commitment

- Release of oxytocin

Consummate Love

intimacy + passion + commitment

Personality

an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

Hysteria

physical problems without physical basis

Psychoanalysis

the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

Free association

A person says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing.

dream interpretation

unacceptable impulses and desires come through in disguised or altered forms during dreams

Conscious

all things we are aware of at any given moment

Preconscious

everything that can, with a little effort, be brought into consciousness

unconscious

inaccessible warehouse of anxiety-producing thoughts and drives

ID

unconscious psychic energy.
strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives.
Operates on the pleasure principle, demands immediate gratification.

Super ego

represents internalized ideals
operates on the morality principle, threatening to overwhelm us with guilt and shame.
punishes when violate standards

Ego

operates on the reality principle.
Satisfies the id's desires in ways that realistically bring pleasure rather than pain
(ID & Super ego)

psychosexual stages

Freud's five stages of personality development, each associated with a particular erogenous zone

Fixation

an attempt to achieve pleasure as an adult in ways that are equivalent to how it was achieved in earlier stages.

Oral Stage (birth-1 year)

Mouth is associated with sexual pleasure
Fixation can lead to oral activities in adulthood

oral dependent

-passive, gullible, "a sucker"
-weaned too late

oral aggressive

-cruel, sarcastic, "biting remarks"
-weaned too early

Anal Stage (1-3 years)

Anus is associated with pleasure Toilet training can lead to fixation if not handled correctly.
Fixation can lead to anal retentive or expulsive behaviors in adulthood.

anal retentive

compulsive, orderly, cleanliness, harsh potty training

Anal expulsive

messy, careless, informal, lax potty training

Phallic Stage (3-5 years)

-pleasure shifts to genitals
-Oedipus or Electra complex can occur

Oedipus complex (Boys)

sexual desire for mom, hatred of dad, fear of castration

Electra complex (Girls)

hatred for mother, sexual desire for father (penis envy)

Latency Stage (5-puberty)

-sexuality is repressed
-rapid growth of superego
-children participate in hobbies, school and same-sex friendships

Genital Stages (puberty on)

Sexual feelings re- emerge and are oriented toward others

defense mechanisms

Methods for dealing with anxiety, inappropriate thoughts and feelings

Repression

Involuntarily removing an unpleasant memory or barring disturbing sexual and aggressive impulses from consciousness

Projection

Attributing one's own undesirable thoughts, impulses, traits, or behaviors to others

Danial

Refusing to acknowledge consciously the existence of danger or a threatening condition

Regression

Reverting to a behavior characteristic of an earlier stage of development

Rationalization

supplying a logical or rational reason as opposed to the real reason

Sublimation

Rechanneling sexual or aggressive energy into pursuits that society considers acceptable or admirable

reaction formation

Denying an unacceptable impulse, often sexual or aggressive, by giving strong conscious expression to its opposite

Displacement

Substituting a less threatening object for the original object of an impulse.
Example: arguing with your significant other after being criticized by your boss

Trait

internally based, relatively stable characteristics that define an individual's personality

Choletic

Unstable+Extraverted

Sanguine

Stable+Extraverted

Phlegmatic

Stable+Introverted

Melancholic

Unstable+Introverted

Big 5 Traits

OCEAN

psychopathy

impulsive
emotionally cold
remorseless

Machiavellianism

manipulative
self-interested
domineering

Narcissism

grandiosity
perceived superiority
entitlement

social desirability

the tendency for people to present themselves in a generally favorable fashion.

Phrenology

Measuring cranial surface to give indirect clues to personality.
Not valid

personality inventory

a questionnaire to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors

Graphology

study of handwriting to analyze personality

Upward slant

ambitious and optimistic

Downward slant

moody, easily discouraged

Angle Forward

Generous, sensitive nature

Angle backwards

Suppressed, fear of facing the world

Connected letters

positive, firm in decision making

Disconnected letters

a dreamer, has a love for nature