psych unit 9 again

Attribution

the process of explaining the causes of behavior and events

Dispositional Attributions

explanations that attribute behavior to internal traits like personality or ability

Situational Attributions

explanations that attribute behavior to external factors like environment or context

Explanatory Style

a person’s habitual way of explaining events, often optimistic or pessimistic

Actor Observer Bias

the tendency to attribute our own actions to external/situational causes while attributing others' behaviors to internal/dispositional factors

Fundamental Attribution Error

the tendency to overemphasize personality and underestimate situations when explaining others’ behavior

SelfServing Bias

the cognitive tendency to attribute positive events to one's own character or efforts (internal factors) while blaming negative events on external factors (situations or others).

Mere Exposure Effect

increased liking of something due to repeated exposure

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment through influencing behavior

Social Comparison

evaluating oneself by comparing to others

Relative Deprivation

the perception that one is worse off compared to others

Stereotype

an overgeneralized belief about a group of people

Cognitive Load

the amount of mental effort being used in working memory

Prejudice

an unjustified negative attitude toward a group and its members

Discrimination

unjustified negative behavior toward a group and its members

Implicit Attitudes

unconscious beliefs or feelings toward a group

Just World Phenomenon

a cognitive bias—developed by Melvin Lerner—where people believe the world is fundamentally fair, assuming "people get what they deserve" (good actions are rewarded, bad actions punished).

Out Group Homogeneity Bias

the cognitive tendency to perceive members of an out-group (a group you do not belong to) as "all the same" or highly similar, while viewing your in-group as diverse and unique

InGroup Bias

the tendency to favor one’s own group ("us") over others ("them"), often leading to preferential treatment, higher esteem, or better resources for group members.

Ethnocentrism

the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others

Belief Perseverance

maintaining beliefs even after evidence proves them wrong

Confirmation Bias

the tendency to search for and interpret information that confirms existing beliefs

Cognitive Dissonance

mental discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors

Social Norms

expected rules of behavior within a group

Social Influence Theory

the study of how people change behavior due to others

Normative Social Influence

conforming to be liked or accepted

Informational Social Influence

conforming because others are seen as a source of information

Persuasion

the process of changing attitudes or beliefs

Central Route Persuasion

persuasion through logical arguments and thoughtful processing

Peripheral Route Persuasion

persuasion through superficial cues like attractiveness or emotion

Halo Effect

the tendency to let an overall impression influence specific judgments

Foot in door effect

a persuasion strategy where agreeing to a small, initial request increases the likelihood of complying with a subsequent, larger reques

Door in face

a social psychology compliance strategy where an influencer makes a large, unreasonable request that is rejected, followed by a smaller, more reasonable request (the target request)

Conformity

adjusting behavior to match group norms

Obedience

following direct orders from an authority figure

Individualism

prioritizing personal goals over group goals

Collectivism

prioritizing group goals over personal goals

Multiculturalism

recognition and appreciation of diverse cultural backgrounds

Group Polarization

the strengthening of group attitudes after discussion

Groupthink

the desire for harmony leading to poor decision making in groups

Diffusion of Responsibility

reduced sense of responsibility when others are present

Social Loafing

reduced effort when working in a group

Deindividuation

loss of self

Social Facilitation

improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others

Prosocial Behavior

actions intended to help others

Altruism

selfless concern for the well

Social Responsibility Norm

expectation that people will help those in need

The Bystander Effect

reduced likelihood of helping when others are present

Stereotype Threat

risk of confirming negative stereotypes about one’s group

Stereotype Lift

improved performance when a negative stereotype about another group is activated

Social Trap/Dilemma

a situation in which individuals or groups, acting in their own short-term self-interest, engage in behaviors that lead to long-term negative consequences for themselves or the collective group

Superordinate Goals

shared goals that require cooperation to achieve