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.