Social 5 Flashcards

Introduction

  • Poll Results Recap

    • Review of previous lecture on attitudes.

    • Majority have a positive view of psychology (80%).

    • Mixed feelings about last three lectures; instructor acknowledges feedback.

    • Poll aimed at understanding student attitudes as predictors of future behavior.

First Impressions in Social Perception

  • Importance of First Impressions

    • Rapid formation based on minimal information.

    • Automatic judgments about personalities from brief interactions.

  • Characteristics of First Impressions

    • Formed quickly, based on visual and behavioral cues.

    • Achieve consensus among observers regarding judgments.

    • Durable; initial judgments tend to stick over time.

Sources of Information for First Impressions

  • Visual Cues

    • Facial features influence judgments (baby-faced vs. harsh-lined).

    • Demographic features (age, gender, ethnicity).

  • Behavioral Cues

    • Body language, speech patterns, tone of voice.

    • Actions and interactions with others provide context.

First Impressions and Social Media

  • Evolution of First Impression Research

    • Social media as a platform for first impressions.

    • Curated self-presentation influences perceptions. -Studies on First Impressions and Online Profiles

    • Research correlates judgments from Facebook profiles with in-person interactions.

    • Results suggest self-presentation online reflects actual personality traits, primarily openness and conscientiousness.

Attribution Theory

  • Understanding Attributions

    • Attributions explain why people behave as they do.

    • Two sources of attributions: situational factors vs. personal characteristics.

  • The Attribution Process

    • Observing a behavior: perceiving the situation and expectations.

    • Evaluating behavior through consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness.

    • Example: Behavior of an individual named Thomas in various situations.

Attribution Errors

  • Common Errors in Attribution

    • Correspondence Bias

      • Overemphasizes dispositional factors, underestimates situational influences.

    • Stereotype Maintenance

      • Attributing stereotype-consistent behavior to internal characteristics; avoiding situation-driven explanations.

The Impact of Attribution Errors

  • Reasons for Attribution Errors

    • Mental economy: simplified judgments are easier.

    • Stereotypes serve need for predictability; reducing cognitive overload.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

  • Definition of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

    • Expectations shape behavior leading to actual outcomes.

  • Classic Studies

    • Study on rats: students' expectations influenced training success based on perceived intelligence.

    • Study in schools: teachers' expectations made selected students perform better.

Current Research on Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

  • Applications in Online Dating

    • Users' negative expectations lead to poor experiences.

  • The Face-Name Effect Study

    • Physical appearance aligns with names due to how people are treated based on names, influenced by self-fulfilling prophecies.

Conclusion

  • Summary of Key Concepts

    • Rapid judgments are key to social perception.

    • Attribution processes can lead to errors.

    • Expectations significantly influence actual behaviors.