Gatech Psyc 2210 exam 1

Social Psychology

Scientific study of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals in social situations.

Power of the Situation

The influence of situational factors on individual behavior.

Social Facilitation

The tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others compared to when alone.

Asch Conformity Study

Demonstrated that 75% of participants conformed to group pressure at least once.

Normative Social Influence

The influence of others that leads us to conform in order to be liked or accepted.

Milgram Experiment

Study showing that 62.5% of participants administered the maximum shock of 450 volts.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal factors rather than situational influences.

Construal

Interpretation of stimuli or situations that affects our reactions.

Schema

Cognitive structures that help us organize and interpret information about the world.

Scripts

Schemas about events that guide our expectations and behaviors.

Stereotypes

Schemas about groups of people that attribute certain characteristics to members of those groups.

Automatic Processing

Fast, involuntary cognitive processing that leads to implicit attitudes.

Controlled Processing

Deliberate, conscious cognitive processing that leads to explicit attitudes.

Nisbett & Wilson Study

Demonstrated that people are often unaware of the influences on their judgments.

Evolutionary Theory

Explains universal human behaviors and their origins.

Human Universals

Traits or behaviors common across all cultures, such as group living and language.

Independent Cultures

Cultures that emphasize individualism and personal autonomy.

Interdependent Cultures

Cultures that emphasize social roles and relationships.

Self-Concept

The overall understanding of oneself shaped by social context and comparisons.

Looking Glass Self

Concept by Cooley that suggests our self-knowledge is shaped by how we think others perceive us.

Self-Schemas

Cognitive structures representing our thoughts about ourselves in various contexts.

Trait Self-Esteem

Stable, long-term evaluation of self-worth.

State Self-Esteem

Temporary self-evaluation based on current mood or situation.

Self-Enhancement

The motive to maintain a positive self-view.

Self-Verification

The desire to confirm our self-views, whether positive or negative.

Self-Presentation

Efforts to influence how others perceive us.

Self-Handicapping

Engaging in behaviors that provide an excuse for potential failure.

Snap Judgments

Quick impressions about others based on physical appearance.

Causal Attribution

The process of inferring the causes of behavior.

Covariation Principle

Behavior is attributed to causes that occur with the behavior.

Counterfactual Thinking

Considering what might have happened differently.

Self-Serving Attributional Bias

Tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

Tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal traits rather than situational factors.

Order Effects

The influence of the sequence in which information is presented on judgments.

Framing Effects

How information presentation influences judgment and decision-making.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to seek information that supports our existing beliefs.

Availability Heuristic

Judging frequency or probability based on how easily instances come to mind.

Representativeness Heuristic

Judging based on how closely something resembles a typical category member.