PSYCH SAC TERM 3 #1

Person Perception

refers to the different mental processes used to understand and form impressions of other people.

Direct person perception

provided from the person we are judging, for example through observing them or interacting with them

Indirect person perception

through hearing about the person we are judging from another person or source, for example through a friend or reading about someone online

What is a first impression?

When we first meet someone, we make a snap judgement about them in less than a second, based on easily accessible (superficial) perceptual information. eg. body language and appearance

How do first impressions impact the process of decision making?

Person perception acts as a source of information when making choices, such as whether to see someone again.

How do first impressions impact the process of interpersonal interactions

First impressions last, and we tend to trust these ‘gut’ feelings and can \n treat people accordingly.

What is an attribution?

The process by which people explain the causes of their own and other people’s behaviour and the process of making this evaluation.

What is internal attribution?

when we judge behaviour as being caused by something personal within an individual.

What is external attribution?

when we determine the cause of a behaviour as resulting from situational factors occurring outside the individual.

what is the fundamental attribution error?

our tendency to explain other people’s behaviour in terms of internal \n factors, while ignoring possible external factors

What is an attitude?

An evaluation of something, such as a person, object, event, or idea. Attitudes can vary in strength and people may hold different attitudes towards certain items.

List the criteria for an attitude to be formed

1. An evaluation of something
2. Settled and stable
3. Learnt through experience

Describe the tri-component model of attitudes (ABC)

illustrates the relationship between the affective, behavioural, and \n cognitive components of our attitudes.

Describe the affective component

Affect (feelings and emotional response). Our emotions and intuitive feelings towards something, reflected in our attitude. An automatic feeling you get when presented with something.

Describe the behavioural component

Behaviour (actions and intentions). Outward and observable actions that reflect our point of view about something. When we hold an attitude we can often act in accordance with that attitude.

Describe the cognitive component

Cognitive (thoughts, feelings, understandings about…). Involves our thoughts and beliefs towards something. Separated from the affective component because it is comprised of the more emotion free and objective feelings.

What is a criticism of the tri-component model of attitudes.

The behavioural component. Many psychologists suggest that only the affective and cognitive components need to be present for an attitude to exist.

What is a stereotype?

A widely held belief and generalisation about a group, such as people, animals or objects. They allow us to perceive others and make sense of the social world by applying simplified characteristics to all members of a group or category of people. Part of the cognitive component.

How can stereotypes be harmful?

they often lead to oversimplified and inaccurate judgements of individual people within those groups.

What is cognitive dissonance?

The psychological tension that occurs when our thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviours do not align with one another

How is cognitive dissonance often reduced?

* Changing your thoughts to align with your behaviour.
* Changing your behaviour to align with your thoughts.

What is important to know about cognitive dissonance?

Inconsistencies in our behaviours, thoughts and feelings can only produce cognitive dissonance under certain circumstances. eg. if you can not sufficiently justify why you performed the behaviour, if you were aware of the consequences of your behaviour before undertaking it.

What are cognitive biases?

unconscious, systematic tendencies to interpret information in a way that is neither rational nor based on objective reality. Instead of following logic, individuals distort information to think about in a way that is preferable to them.

Define confirmation bias?

The tendency to search for and accept information that supports our prior beliefs or behaviours and ignore contradictory information.

Define actor-observer bias?

The tendency to attribute our own actions to external factors and situational causes while attributing other people’s actions to internal factors

Define self-serving bias?

The tendency to attribute positive success to our internal character and actions and attribute our failures to external factors or situational causes.

Define false-consensus bias?

The tendency to overestimate the degree to which other people share the same ideas and attitudes as we do.

Define the halo-effect?

The tendency for the impression we form about one quality of a person to influence our overall beliefs about the person in other respects

What is the first definition of heuristics?

information- processing strategies or ‘mental shortcuts’ that enable individuals to form judgements, make decisions, and solve problems quickly and efficiently

what is the second definition of heuristics?

A process we rely on to make decisions by using our past experience - limited by our own knowledge and bias

Describe the anchoring heuristic?

information-processing strategy that involves forming \n judgements based on the first information received about an idea or concept

Describe the availability heuristic?

an information-processing strategy that enables individuals to form a judgement, solve a problem, or make a decision based on information that is easily accessible

Describe the representative heuristic?

an information-processing strategy that involves making a categorical \n judgement about an idea, event, or person, based on their similarity to other items in that category.

Describe the affect heuristic

\n is an information-processing strategy that involves using emotions to make a judgement or decision

what is prejudice?

an often negative preconception (judgement) held against people because they belong to a particular group or social category.

What is discrimination?

is the unjust treatment (behaviour) of people due to their membership within a certain social category.

What is stigma?

the feeling of shame or disgrace experienced by an individual for a characteristic that differentiates them from others (it is closely linked to stereotypes, as stereotypes are what often lead to stigma).

Two types of stigma: What is social stigma?

is largely characterised by negative stereotypes as they come to define people and prevent them from being seen as an individual leading to widespread discrimination.

Two types of stigma: What is self stigma?

is the result of the internalisation of negative stereotypes and can lead to poor self-efficacy and low self-esteem

What is mental wellbeing?

an individual’s current psychological state, involving their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions.

Reducing prejudice, discrimination, and stigma: Education?

Providing knowledge and information about the unknown is a great way to correct assumptions people have about others.

Reducing prejudice, discrimination, and stigma: Inter-group contact?

Impact of stigma and prejudice can be reduced by conversations, having open discussions and asking respectful questions

Reducing prejudice, discrimination, and stigma: Social media?

Social media can be a useful tool for in raising awareness and calling out prejudice and discrimination. Impact of these attempts is more widespread due to lots of people being active on these platforms.

Reducing prejudice, discrimination, and stigma: Laws?

Laws put in place to protect against prejudice, discrimination and stigma may protect and give a voice to minority groups.