Intro to Psychology Exam #3 Study Guide

Social Psychology

• Definition of Social Psychology:

  • The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts.

• Attributions:

  • Situational Attributions:
  • Explanations of behavior based on external factors, such as the environment or other people's influence.
  • Dispositional Attributions:
  • Explanations of behavior based on internal factors, like personality or character traits.

• Cultural Perspectives:

  • Individualistic Cultures:
  • Cultures that emphasize personal goals and individual rights.
  • Collectivist Cultures:
  • Cultures that prioritize group goals and social harmony.

• Fundamental Attribution Error:

  • The tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational influences when evaluating others' behavior.

• Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience:

  • Conformity:
  • Change in behavior or belief to match others, often due to real or imagined group pressure.
  • Compliance:
  • Changing behavior in response to a request, even if there is no authority involved.
  • Obedience:
  • Following direct commands, usually from an authority figure.

• Bystander Effect:

  • The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present, often due to diffusion of responsibility.

• Attraction and Relationships:

  • Factors influencing who we are more likely to form relationships with, such as physical attractiveness, similarity, and proximity.

Stress, Lifestyle, & Health

• Types of Stress:

  • Good Stress (Eustress):
  • Positive stress that can motivate and enhance performance.
  • Negative Stress (Distress):
  • Stress that can lead to anxiety and decreased performance.

• Types of Stressors:

  • Environmental, social, and psychological factors that lead to stress.

• Workplace Stress:

  • Factors contributing to stress in the workplace, including job demands, lack of control, and workplace relationships.

• Type A vs. Type B Characteristics:

  • Type A:
  • Competitive, urgent, aggressive, and often experience higher stress levels.
  • Type B:
  • More relaxed, less frustrated by daily events, and less likely to be stressed.

• Positive Psychology:

  • Focuses on strengths and well-being rather than on pathology.

• Long-term Effects of Stress:

  • Chronic stress can lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, weakened immune response, and mental health disorders.

Psychological Disorders

• Definition of Psychological Disorder:

  • A syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.
  • There is no single definition; various criteria and dimensions are considered.

• Biopsychosocial Framework:

  • A model that sees psychological disorders as the result of biological, psychological, and social factors interacting.

• Symptoms of Psychological Disorders:

  • Overview of symptoms associated with anxiety, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and others discussed in class.

Treatment

• History of Mental Health Treatment:

  • Review of early mental health treatments, including asylums and the transition to more humane treatment methods.

• Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic Therapy:

  • Treatment focusing on uncovering and understanding unconscious motives and conflicts influencing behavior.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

  • A therapy aimed at changing negative patterns of thinking and behavior.[
  • Cognitive Distortions:
    • Inaccurate thoughts that reinforce negative thinking patterns.

• Play Therapy:

  • A therapeutic approach used primarily with children, utilizing play to help express feelings and deal with psychological challenges.

• Humanistic Therapy:

  • Focuses on personal growth, self-actualization, and the client-therapist relationship.