PSY 206 Exam #3 Study Guide–Chapters 9-11

A collection of vocabulary and definitions related to psychology concepts covering attraction and relationships, stereotypes, prejudice, and systemic bias.

Why People Want Relationships

Humans have a fundamental need to form close, stable relationships.

Communal Relationships

Partners provide support based on need without expecting repayment.

Exchange Relationships

People give benefits expecting comparable benefits in return.

Equity

Balance between what each partner gives and receives.

Social Exchange Theory

Relationships are evaluated through a cost-benefit lens.

Comparison Level (CL)

What you think you deserve in a relationship.

Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLalt)

Your expectations about what you could get elsewhere.

Equity Theory

People are happiest when their input/outcome ratio is similar to their partner’s.

Anxiety Dimension

Fear of rejection or abandonment in relationships.

Avoidance Dimension

Discomfort with closeness and dependence.

Secure Attachment

Low anxiety and low avoidance; comfortable with intimacy.

Functional Distance

The frequency with which people's paths naturally cross.

Proximity

Physical closeness increases liking.

Mere Exposure Effect

Repeated exposure increases liking.

Similarity

People prefer others who share their attitudes and traits.

Physical Attractiveness

Strong predictor of romantic interest.

Halo Effect

Assuming attractive people have other positive traits.

Reproductive Fitness

Traits signaling health and good genes are rated more attractive.

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

Love consists of intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Investment Model of Commitment

Commitment is determined by satisfaction, alternatives, and investments.

Predictors of Low Satisfaction

High-quality alternatives, neuroticism, low commitment, low income, inequity.

Capitalization

Sharing positive events and receiving supportive responses increases satisfaction.

Complementary Hypothesis

People like partners with traits that complement theirs.

Assortative Mating

Tendency to pair with similar others.

Mate Value

A person’s overall attractiveness as a partner.

Healthy / Money / Attractiveness

Traits commonly desired in mates, linked to evolutionary theories.

Global Adoration

Viewing your partner positively in a broad, idealized way.

Stereotype

Cognitive belief about a group.

Prejudice

Affective attitude toward a group.

Discrimination

Behavior directed against a group.

Modern Racism

Subtle, indirect racism.

Benevolent Racism/Benevolent Sexism

Subjectively positive stereotypes that reinforce lower status.

Priming

Exposure to a stimulus influences response.

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

Measures automatic associations between groups and traits.

Attributional Ambiguity

Uncertainty about whether feedback is genuine or biased.

Stereotype Threat

Fear of confirming a stereotype leads to poorer performance.

Contact Hypothesis

Intergroup contact reduces prejudice under certain conditions.

Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP)

Implicit bias test where feelings toward a face spill over onto a neutral symbol.

Paired Distinctiveness

Two rare events stand out when they co-occur.

Illusory Correlation

Believing two things are related when they aren’t.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Expectations cause behavior that confirms the expectation.

Subtyping

Creating a subtype for people who don’t fit the stereotype.

Outgroup Homogeneity Effect

Seeing outgroup members as all the same.

Own-Group Identification Bias

Recognizing in-group faces better than out-group faces.

Automatic Processing

Fast, unconscious bias.

Controlled Processing

Intentional, effortful thought to override bias.

Ethnocentrism

Favoring one’s own group over others.

Realistic Group Conflict Theory

Competition for resources leads to prejudice.

Robber's Cave Experiment

Boys in competing groups became hostile; cooperation reduced conflict.

Superordinate Goal

A goal requiring cooperation between groups.

Jigsaw Classroom

Group learning technique where students teach each other.

Minimal Groups Paradigm

Even arbitrary group labels produce in-group favoritism.

Social Identity Theory

Group memberships form part of our identity.

Basking in Reflected Glory (BIRGing)

Associating with successful groups to boost self-esteem.

Multiculturalism

Emphasizing and valuing group differences.

Color-Blindness

Ignoring group differences; often increases bias.

Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)

Preference for hierarchy and group inequality.

Individual Discrimination

One person discriminates against another.

Institutional Discrimination

Policies/practices that systemically disadvantage groups.

Behavioral Asymmetries

Unequal patterns of behavior across groups.

Meritocracy Belief

Belief that success is solely due to ability or effort.

Just World Belief

Belief that people get what they deserve.

Dehumanization

Denying human qualities to others.

Anthropomorphism

Giving human traits to non-humans.

Stereotype Content Model

Groups are judged based on warmth and competence.

Systemic Inequities

Inequalities built into structures and institutions.

Marley Hypothesis

Knowing historical racism improves recognition of modern racism.