Applied Social Psychology — Chapters 1 to 6 (Textbook Summary)

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards created to aid students in reviewing key concepts from the applied social psychology lecture notes.

Applied Social Psychology

The systematic application of social-psychological principles to understand and solve social and practical problems.

Five Goals of Science

Description, Prediction, Causality, Explanation, Control.

Kurt Lewin

Known as the 'Father of Applied Social Psychology'; developed action research and studied leadership styles.

Cognitive Dissonance

A theory by Festinger (1957) that proposes inconsistent cognitions lead to tension and motivation to restore consistency.

Theory of Planned Behaviour

A theory by Ajzen (1991) stating that behavioral intentions are shaped by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.

Social Learning Theory

A theory by Bandura (1977) that emphasizes behavior is learned through observation and reinforcement.

Historical Development of Applied Social Psychology

Involves key studies from Triplett, Lewin, Asch, Milgram, and Zimbardo that shaped the field.

Core Values of Applied Social Psychology

Accuracy, Objectivity, Skepticism, Open-mindedness, Ethical integrity.

Situational Power

The concept that behavior depends on the context of the situation.

Cultural Perspectives in Dissonance

Individualists feel dissonance from personal choices, while collectivists feel it from group-based inconsistencies.

Action Research

Collaborative problem solving within communities, developed by Kurt Lewin.

Components of Effective Interventions

Identify problems, develop theoretical models, design and implement interventions, and evaluate outcomes.

Experimental Design in Research

Involves manipulating independent variables to establish causality; considered the gold standard.

Randomized Control Trial (RCT)

A type of experimental design known for its rigor in evaluating interventions.

Validity in Research

The quality of being logically or factually sound, involving trade-offs between internal and external validity.

Self-Efficacy

The belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations; a key concept in Social Cognitive Theory.

Learned Helplessness

A condition resulting from a perceived lack of control, leading to passivity; studied by Seligman.

Positive Psychology

A branch focusing on strengths, optimism, and resilience as protective factors.

Coping Approaches

Strategies to manage stress, distinguishing between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.

Barriers to Effective Intervention

Include poor theory, inadequate needs assessment, low fidelity, and lack of stakeholder buy-in.

Narrative Therapy

A therapeutic approach that helps individuals view their life stories as narratives they can influence.

Factors Influencing Team Cohesion

Environmental factors, personal attributes, leadership qualities, and team structure impact cohesion.

Generalization in Research

The process through which findings from a research sample may be inferred to a larger population.

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound (SMART) goals

Framework for setting effective goals in various contexts.

Causality in Research

Understanding the cause-effect relationship, often a primary focus in experimental designs.

Ethical Principles in Research (APA)

Beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, respect for dignity, integrity in research.

Intervention Stages

Identification of the problem, development of models, intervention design, implementation, and evaluation.

Feedback Loops

Processes in which results of an action are used to inform and adjust future actions.

Choking in Performance

When anxiety interferes with the execution of well-learned tasks, leading to performance failures.

Qausi-experimental Design

Research design that involves pre-existing groups when randomization is not feasible.

Mindfulness Interventions

Strategies aimed at enhancing focus and reducing anxiety through awareness and attention control.

Self-Presentation Theory

The idea that individuals manage the impression they give to others in social contexts.

Public Self-Consciousness

An awareness of oneself as a social actor influencing feelings of social anxiety.

Cognitive Distortions

Faulty thinking patterns that may contribute to emotional challenges, such as all-or-nothing thinking.

Transformational Leadership

Leadership style characterized by inspiration, vision, and consideration of individual needs.