AP PSYCH Unit 4 VOCAB

fundamental attribution error

overestimating dispositional/personality factors and underestimating situational factors when explaining others’ behavior

actor-observer bias

attributing your own behavior to situations but others’ behavior to personality traits

self-serving bias

attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors

locus of control

belief about whether outcomes are controlled internally or externally

internal locus of control

belief that outcomes are mostly controlled by your own actions

external locus of control

belief that outcomes are controlled by outside forces like luck or fate

self-fulfilling prophecy

expectations lead people to act in ways that make the expectations come true

mere exposure effect

repeated exposure to something increases liking for it

social comparison

evaluating yourself by comparing yourself to others

upward social comparison

comparing yourself to people perceived as better than you

downward social comparison

comparing yourself to people perceived as worse off than you

cognitive dissonance

discomfort caused by conflicting thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors

confirmation bias

tendency to seek or interpret information that confirms existing beliefs

belief perseverance

maintaining beliefs even after evidence disproves them

implicit attitudes

unconscious attitudes or biases people may not realize they hold

prejudice

negative attitude toward a group or its members

stereotype

generalized belief about a group of people

discrimination

unfair behavior or treatment toward people based on group membership

in-group bias

tendency to favor members of your own group

just-world phenomenon

belief that people get what they deserve

conformity

adjusting behavior or thinking to match a group standard

obedience

complying with commands from an authority figure

groupthink

desire for group harmony leading to poor decision-making

group polarization

group discussion strengthens members’ initial opinions

social loafing

exerting less effort in a group than when alone

social facilitation

improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others

bystander effect

reduced likelihood of helping when other people are present

diffusion of responsibility

feeling less personal responsibility in a group setting

deindividuation

loss of self-awareness and restraint in group situations

foot-in-the-door technique

getting compliance with a larger request after a smaller request is accepted

door-in-the-face technique

getting compliance with a smaller request after a larger request is rejected

central route to persuasion

persuasion through logic and careful thinking

peripheral route to persuasion

persuasion through superficial cues like attractiveness or emotion

normative social influence

conforming to gain approval or avoid rejection

informational social influence

conforming because others are seen as a source of accurate information

prosocial behavior

behavior intended to help others

altruism

helping others with no expectation of personal gain

false consensus effect

overestimating how much others agree with your beliefs or behaviors

halo effect

one positive trait influences overall impressions of a person

superordinate goals

shared goals requiring cooperation between groups

psychodynamic theory

personality theory emphasizing unconscious conflicts and drives

ego defense mechanisms

unconscious strategies used to reduce anxiety

repression

pushing distressing thoughts into the unconscious

projection

attributing your own unacceptable thoughts to someone else

displacement

redirecting emotions to a safer target

regression

reverting to childlike behaviors under stress

reaction formation

expressing the opposite of true unconscious feelings

sublimation

channeling unacceptable impulses into acceptable activities

denial

refusing to accept reality or facts

rationalization

creating logical explanations to justify behavior

humanistic theory

personality theory emphasizing growth, free will, and self-fulfillment

self-actualizing tendency

innate drive to reach full potential

unconditional regard

acceptance and support without judgment

Big Five theory

theory that personality consists of five major traits

self-efficacy

belief in your ability to succeed in specific situations

reciprocal determinism

interaction between behavior, thoughts, and environment

social-cognitive theory

theory emphasizing learning, thinking, and environment in personality

intrinsic motivation

motivation driven by internal enjoyment or satisfaction

extrinsic motivation

motivation driven by external rewards or punishments

drive-reduction theory

motivation theory stating behavior reduces internal tension caused by needs

arousal theory

theory stating people seek an optimal level of arousal

Yerkes-Dodson Law

performance is best at moderate levels of arousal

approach-approach conflict

choosing between two desirable options

avoidance-avoidance conflict

choosing between two undesirable options

approach-avoidance conflict

one option has both positive and negative aspects

homeostasis

maintenance of stable internal bodily conditions

hypothalamus

brain structure regulating hunger, temperature, hormones, and homeostasis

ghrelin

hormone that increases hunger

leptin

hormone that signals fullness

cognitive appraisal

interpretation of a situation that influences emotional response

facial-feedback hypothesis

facial expressions influence emotional experiences

broaden-and-build theory

positive emotions expand thinking and build resources

display rules

cultural norms for expressing emotions

universality of emotions

idea that some emotional expressions are shared across cultures