social psychology terms

Belief Perseverance

The tendency to maintain a belief even after it has been proven wrong or discredited.

Cognitive Dissonance

The discomfort felt when behavior and beliefs conflict, often leading to a change in attitude or behavior to reduce the tension.

Discrimination

Unjust or negative actions toward someone based on their group membership (e.g., race, gender, religion).

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious beliefs or feelings that influence thoughts and behaviors without awareness.

In-Group Bias

The tendency to favor and give preferential treatment to members of one’s own group.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get, often leading to victim-blaming.

Other-Race Effect

The tendency to more easily recognize faces of one’s own race than those of other races.

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

The belief that members of other groups are all the same, while your own group is diverse.

Prejudice

A negative and unjustified attitude toward a group based on stereotypes and not individual experience.

Scapegoat Theory

The idea that prejudice arises from the need to blame others (often minorities) for one’s own problems.

Stereotype

A generalized and often inaccurate belief about a group of people.