AP Psych Unit 2: Social Psychology

Social psychology

The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in a social context

Attribution theory

We attribute that behavior or attitude to their disposition (personality) or situation

Fundamental attribution error

When we tend to overestimate a person’s personality and underestimate a person’s situation, and judge them based on that.

Self-serving bias

When people attribute positive outcomes to personal factors, but negative outcomes to external factors.

Actor-observer bias

When we’re the actor (involved), we say bad things happened because of outside factors 

When we’re the observers, we say bad things about other people 

Just-world phenomenon

The tendency to believe that the world is just, and people get what they deserve.

Attitude 

Our evaluation of a person, idea, or object

Our attitudes affect our actions, and our actions affect our attitudes

Peripheral route of persuasion

The process by which a person does not thing carefully about a communication and is influenced by superficial cues. (carl’s jr ad) 

Foot-in-the-door

Where people agree to a small request, which makes them more likely to subconsciously agree to a big request later on.

Cognitive dissonance

Discomfort or distress that occurs when a person’s behavior doesn’t match with that person’s attitudes or beliefs.

Social influence

The way people are affected by the real or imagined pressures of others 

Chameleon effect

Unconsciously mimicking others automatically without thought or effect 

Conformity

Matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.

Muzafer Sherif 

Robbers cave experiment: different goals = more conflict, same goals = less conflict

Solomon Asch

Psychologist who conducts the 3 line study to observe how people conform.

Informational influence

Influence that produces conformity when a person believes others are correct in their judgements. 

Normative influence “social norm”

Influence that produces conformity when a person fears the negative social consequences of appearing deviant. 

Obedience

Changing one’s behavior at the direct command of an authority figure.

Stanley Milgram 

Conducted an experiment that observes obedience from authoritative figures.

The teacher shocks the student if he answers incorrectly 

The obedient participant “65% baseline”

Scientists speculated that 0.1% of people would continue to shock the learner till the end

The real # is 66%, two thirds would be willing to shock. 

Important factors in Milgram’s study

Authority: destructive obedience requires the physical presence of a prestigious authority figure

The victim: physical separation from victim allows for emotional distance from the consequences of actions 

The procedure: removal of sense of responsibility for the victim’s welfare

The study applies foot-in-the-door  

Social facilitation

Improved performance in the presence of other people.

Social inhibition

Worsened performance in the presence of other people.

Social loafing

When a member of a group exerts less effort when pooling their efforts towards attaining a common goal with the group.

Deindividuation 

The loss of a person’s individuality and self awareness in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.

Group polarization

The enhancement of a group’s opinions through discussions within the group.

Groupthink

Giving up your own beliefs in order to maintain harmony within a group.

Stereotype

Overgeneralized belief about people based on their membership in a group.

Prejudice

Unjustified negative attitude towards a group of people based on stereotypes.

Discrimination

Unjustified negative behavior towards people based on race, ethnicity, and other characteristics

Racism

Categorization of a person or group of people based on race or ethnicity.

Stereotype threat

A situation in which people feel at risk of performing as their group is expected to perform 

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that makes it true.

Scapegoat theory

A group of power holds members of a less powerful group responsible for their problems.

In-groups

Groups that we identify with “us” or see ourselves as belonging to. People we share a common identity with.

Ethnocentrism 

Tendency to believe your own culture is superior to others.

Out-groups

Groups a person does not identify with. “Them”. Those perceived as different or apart from the ingroup.

Contact hypothesis

The more you come into contact with outgroups, the less likely you are to feel prejudice and stereotypes, discrimination.

Hostile aggression

Strong, impulsive, unplanned emotions of anger

Usually physical

Instrumental aggression

Goal-oriented, planned, hidden, or controlled emotions of anger in order to achieve something.

Interpersonal attraction 

The factors that cause people to like each other

Can range from liking, loving, friendship, lust. 

Proximity

The closer people are physically, the more likely they are to form a relationship/friendship. 

Familiarity “Mere Exposure Effect”

Liking someone occurs because of repeatedly seeing that person or thing. 

Physical Attraction

People tend to like those whom they find attractive 

Physical Attractiveness Stereotype

Pretty privilege

Attractive individuals are evaluated more positively 

Evolutionary Psychologists

Argue that men tend to be more attracted to youthfulness and physical attractiveness, while women value social status, wealth, ambition. 

Similarity

The more similar two people are, the more they are likely they are to like each other.

Reciprocity

Exchange of positive actions between people

Passionate Love

Love that’s expressed in a physical manner

Companionate Love

Love that’s settled to a warm enduring relationship between two partners.

Bystander Effect

People are less likely to help someone in need if there are other people watching the distress.

Diffusion of Responsibility

The phenomenon in which someone witnessing a problem is less likely to take action while others are present because they assume others are taking on the responsibility. 

Bystander Intervention

Helping an emergency despite the presence of others.

Altruism

The desire to help others even if the costs outweigh the benefits of helping.

Social Exchange Theory

Altruism only exists when the benefits outweigh the costs

Social Responsibility Norm

Social rule that tells people they should help others who need help, even if they may not repay us

Conflict

Arises when groups act in self interest

A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas. 

Graduated & Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction (GRIT)

A strategy designed to decrease international tensions.

Aggression

Physical or verbal behavior that is designed to hurt or manipulate.

Social scripts

A culturally accepted way of doing something, a social norm.

Social trap

When you engage in destructive behavior, but since you’re not doing it alone, you don’t feel bad