Untitled Flashcards Set

Attribution Theory The theory that explains how individuals determine the causes of behavior, either by attributing it to internal dispositions or external situations.

Dispositional Attribution Attributing behavior to an individual’s internal traits, personality, or character rather than external factors. EX: "They failed the test because they are lazy."

Situational Attribution Attributing behavior to external factors, such as environment or circumstances. EX: "They failed the test because they were sick."

Fundamental Attribution Error The tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior. EX: Assuming someone is rude because they have a bad personality rather than considering they had a rough day.

Actor-Observer Bias The tendency to attribute our own actions to external causes while attributing others' actions to internal causes. EX: "I was late because of traffic, but they were late because they are irresponsible."

Self-Serving Bias The tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors. EX: "I got an A because I studied hard, but I failed because the test was unfair."

Just World Phenomenon The belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get. EX: Believing that poor people are in poverty because of laziness rather than systemic issues.

Halo Effect The tendency to let an overall impression of someone influence judgments about their specific traits. EX: Assuming an attractive person is also intelligent.

Social Psychology The scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others.

Prejudice An unjustified negative attitude toward an individual or group based on group membership. EX: Holding negative beliefs about a group based on stereotypes.

Stereotype A generalized belief about a group of people. EX: "All teenagers are irresponsible."

Grain of Truth Hypothesis The idea that stereotypes originate from a small truth that gets exaggerated.

Confirmation Bias The tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms one's existing beliefs.

Gatekeepers Individuals or groups that control access to information, shaping public perception. EX: The media influencing public opinions.

Outgroup Homogeneity The tendency to see members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than members of one's ingroup.

Scapegoat Theory Blaming an outgroup for one's problems or frustrations. EX: Immigrants being blamed for job shortages.

Other Race Effect The tendency to more easily recognize faces of one’s own race than those of other races.

Belief Perseverance The tendency to maintain beliefs even after they have been discredited.

Implicit Attitudes Unconscious attitudes that influence behavior.

Ethnocentrism Believing one's own culture is superior to others.

Ingroup A group with which one identifies. EX: "My school is better than yours."

Outgroup A group to which one does not belong. EX: Rival schools.

Superordinate Goals Goals that require cooperation between groups to be achieved, reducing prejudice. EX: Competing teams working together to fix a broken scoreboard.

Social Facilitation Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others. EX: Running faster when people are watching.

Social Loafing The tendency to exert less effort when working in a group. EX: A group project where some members slack off.

Deindividuation The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster anonymity. EX: Rioting in large crowds.

Group Polarization The tendency for group discussions to strengthen the group's prevailing attitudes. EX: Political discussions making group members more extreme in their views.

Groupthink A desire for harmony in a group that leads to poor decision-making. EX: A jury making a rushed decision to avoid conflict.

Social Comparison Evaluating oneself in relation to others.

Social Upward Comparison Comparing oneself to someone perceived as better. EX: Comparing your grades to a top student’s.

Social Downward Comparison Comparing oneself to someone perceived as worse. EX: Feeling better about your grades by comparing to someone failing.

Relative Deprivation Feeling disadvantaged compared to others, even if one's situation is objectively fine.

Social Norms Unwritten rules for behavior in a society.

Social Influence Theory The theory that social influence affects how people change their attitudes and behaviors.

Informational Social Influence Conforming because one believes others have more knowledge. EX: Following a crowd in an unfamiliar place.

Normative Social Influence Conforming to fit in and gain approval. EX: Dressing a certain way to be accepted.

Conformity Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with a group standard.

Elaboration Likelihood Model (Already defined above)

Central Route Persuasion Persuasion through logical arguments and evidence. EX: A scientist using statistics to promote a vaccine.

Peripheral Route Persuasion Persuasion through superficial cues. EX: A celebrity endorsing a product.

Foot-in-the-Door Persuasion Getting someone to agree to a small request first, making them more likely to agree to a larger request later. EX: Asking for a small donation before requesting a larger one.

Door-in-the-Face Persuasion (High Balling) Starting with a large request, expecting it to be rejected, then making a smaller request that seems more reasonable.

Social Reciprocity Norm / Social Debt The expectation that people will return favors. EX: Feeling obligated to help someone who helped you.

Cognitive Dissonance The discomfort felt when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, leading to attitude change to reduce inconsistency.

Internal Locus of Control Believing that one controls their own destiny.

External Locus of Control Believing that outside forces control one's fate.

Altruism Unselfish concern for the well-being of others.

Mere Exposure Effect Increased liking of something due to repeated exposure.

Diffusion of Responsibility Less personal responsibility felt in a group setting. EX: The bystander effect.

Individualism Prioritizing personal goals over group goals.

Collectivism Prioritizing group goals over personal goals.

Multiculturalism (Already defined above)

Do-Good-Feel-Good Effect Helping others increases personal happiness.

Social Responsibility Norm The expectation that people help those who depend on them. EX: Helping an elderly person cross the street.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy A belief that leads to its own fulfillment. EX: Thinking you will fail and then performing poorly as a result.