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.