NEW SOCIAL PSYCH MIDTERM

what is social psych

The scientific study of social influence on thoughts, feelings, behavior of individuals. influenced by actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.

different from other areas in psych?

focuses on individuals behavior rather than groups

4 images of social thinker

cognitive consistency, naive scientist, cognitive miser, motivated tactician

cognitive consistency

ppl seek coherence

naive scientist

ppl try an explain behavior rationally

cognitive miser

ppl use shortcuts to save mental effect

motivated tactician

people switch strategies depending on goals

heuristics

mental shortcuts. availability and representativeness

availability heuristic

judging frequently based on how easily examples come to mind

representativeness heuristics

judging based on how much someone fits or resembles a typical category

asch configuration model

impression formation which central traits play a disproportionate role in configuring the final impressions

schema

cognitive structure that represents knowledge abt concept or stimulus type. lets us fill in gaps, interpret situations, and move through social world

categories

fuzzy set of features organized around prototype. people classify social objects through patterns, fam resemblance, and remembered examples.

attribution

process of assigning a cause to our own behavior and that of others. shapes emotions, blame, sympathy, and action. tool for navigating life.

why does attribution matter?

people want casual explanations to make behavior meaningful. supports prediction, control. social coordination

internal attribution

traits, motives, intentions

external attributions

pressure, context, luck

Kelley covariation model

people act like everyday scientists by asking what correlates with behavior. 3 cues — consensus, consistency, distinctiveness

consensus cue

do others behave the same way

consistency cue

does this person behave this way across time?

distinctiveness cue

does this person behave the same way only here?

fundamental attribution error

tendency to overemphasize personality and underemphasize the situation when explaining others behavior

actor-observer effect

we explain our own behavior more situationally than others

self-serving bias

we attribute success internally and failure externally. protects self-concept but distort judgement

social cognition

cognitive processes and structures that influence and are influenced by social behavior.

social identity theory

group identity is part of self. ppl define themselves as member, shapes perception, emotion, behavior

self

how people think and experience themselves. socially constructed

identity

meaning attached to who were are

symbolic interactionism

self develops through interactions with others and we see ourselves as others see us

self-awareness theory

directing attention to urself. focus on thoughts, feelings, appearance, standards.

self-schemas

organized beliefs about who you are. guide attention, memory, interpretation. ppl pursue selves they want and avoid others

persuasion

influence, attitudes that shape behavior

yale model

persuasion depends on source, message, audience. 4 steps: attention, comprehension, acceptance, retention

yale model: source

expert, attractive, popular, likability increases impact, fast, confident, similarity,