PQ's for CH 4-6

Social Perception

  • Definition: The process through which we form impressions of and make inferences about other people.

  • Purpose: Involves understanding why others behave as they do.

Nonverbal Communication

  • Definition: Communication without words, encompassing facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, and body language.

  • Key Components:

    • Encode: Expressing nonverbal behavior (e.g., smiling).

    • Decode: Interpreting the meaning of nonverbal behaviors (e.g., a pat on the back).

  • Challenges in Decoding: Affect blends complicate interpretation.

    • Affect Blends: Facial expressions displaying mixed emotions simultaneously.

Cultural Aspects

  • Display Rules: Culturally determined guidelines on appropriate nonverbal behaviors.

  • Emblems: Nonverbal gestures with specific meanings within a culture.

Impressions and Attributions

First Impressions

  • Influenced by facial expressions, nonverbal communication, and personal environments.

  • Thin-Slicing: Making quick assessments based on brief samples of behavior.

Attribution Theory (Harold Kelley)

  • Definition: Framework for explaining the causes of behavior.

    • Internal Attribution: Inferring behavior due to personal factors (e.g., character).

    • External Attribution: Inferring behavior due to situational factors (e.g., environment).

  • Covariation Model: Determines attribution based on patterns of behavior and potential causative factors.

    • Types of Covariation Information:

      • Consensus: Agreement among others.

      • Distinctiveness: Specificity of actor's behavior.

      • Consistency: Uniformity of behavior over time.

Fundamental Attribution Error

  • The tendency to emphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when evaluating others' behaviors.

The Self

Self-Concept

  • Definition: The comprehensive beliefs about oneself, forming around 18-24 months.

Views of Self

  • Independent Self: Individual defined by personal thoughts and actions (common in Western cultures).

  • Interdependent Self: Individual defined by relationships and societal roles (common in Asian cultures).

Self-Knowledge Functions

  • Self-Control: Management of one's impulses to achieve long-term goals.

  • Impression Management: Presenting oneself in a way to influence how others perceive us.

  • Self-Esteem: The need to maintain positive views about oneself.

Cognitive Dissonance

  • Definition: Psychological discomfort arising from contradictory beliefs or behaviors.

  • Reduction Strategies:

    • Change behavior.

    • Change cognition.

    • Add consonant cognitions.

  • Postdecision Dissonance: Feelings of regret after making a decision, often resolved by emphasizing the positives of the choice.

Attitudes and Attitude Change

Definition of Attitudes

  • Evaluations regarding people, objects, and ideas, influencing behavior.

Components of Attitudes

  1. Affective Component: Emotional response.

  2. Cognitive Component: Beliefs or thoughts.

  3. Behavioral Component: Observations of one's actions.

Attitude Change Mechanisms

  • Persuasive communication can effectively change attitudes under certain conditions.

  • Yale Attitude Change Approach focuses on the source, nature of the message, and audience.

  • Elaboration Likelihood Model describes how attitudes can change via central (thoughtful consideration) or peripheral (surface characteristics) routes.

Summary of Key Theories

  • Self-Perception Theory: Understanding self through behavior observation.

  • Two-Factor Theory of Emotion: Emotions arise from physiological arousal and contextual interpretation.

  • Social Comparison Theory: Individuals gauge their abilities by comparing themselves to others.

  • Growth vs. Fixed Mindset: Conceptions of abilities affect motivation and success.