Unit 4 Psych Notes
Explain how attribution theory applies to behavior and mental processes
Attribution: how behavior is explanined
Atrribution theory: our perception of the cause of events + behaviors
Explain how locus of control (internal and external) appliesto behavior and mental processes
Locus of Control: individualds belife over hoe much ifnluence they have on events in their life
Impacts how they perceive and interpret situations
Situational attribution: attributed to external factors
Dispoisstional attribution: internal factors, inherant
Biases and errors
Fundamental attribution error: underestimate the impact of situation and overestimate impact of
personal dispossiaton
Actor observer bias: attribute to external causes but observer attributes to internal causes
Self serving bias: perceive us favorbaly (bad garde-blame others, good grade-credit ourselves
Explain how person perception applies to behavior and mental processes.
Person perception: how we form impressins of ourslevs and otrhers including atrrinution of behavior
-explain why others act as they do and why we act as we do (changes based on who it is)
-Stereotypes
-social comparison
-Prejudice: implicit and explicit
-discrimiantion
Mere exposure effect: exposure to stimuli=liking them
Self fulfilling prophecy: ppl can behave in ways that elicit behavior from others that confirm their beliefs
or perception of themselves
Just world pehnornmemnn: believ world is just people gte what they deeseve
Social identity: who we are
Ingroups: ppl we share a common identity with Outgroups: aprt from our ingroup
Ingroup bias: favor ourown group Outgroup homogeneity: outgroup ppl r more
Alike and less diverse
Scapegoat theory: prejudice offers outlet for anger w someone to blame
Other-race effect: (cross-race effect, own-race effect) tendency to recall one’s own race more
accuarlty than otehr rcaes
4.2
Explain how stereotypes and implicit attitudes contribute to the behaviors and mental processes
of prejudice and discrimination.
Attitudes: feelinsg often influenced by our beliefs that predipose us to respond in a particular way
Foot in door pehnomonn: first agree w small request then larger one
Door in face: vice versa
Attitudes impact us when situational factors are minimal
Explain how belief perseverance and cognitive dissonance apply to attitude formation and change
Cognitive dissonance
↓
Confirmation bias→Belief perseverance←justify own social/cultures
Cognitive dissonance theory: we act to reduce discomfort when two of our thoughts are inconsistent
(change attitudes as it is much easier than changing actions)
Persuasion: changing others attitudes (can influence their actions)
Elaboration Likelihood Model: explains how ppl process info and develop attitudes that
Influence their behaviors
Periphereal route: attention cues that leave emotional mark to persuade chnage
Central route: focus on facst and data
Halo effect: one trait defines perception of a purpose
4.3
Explain how the social situation affects behavior and mental processes
Norms: societys understood rules for accepted beahvior.
Social conatgin/chamelon effect: spontaneous spread of behaviors
Conofrmity: adjs behavior to match groups
Obedience: comply w order/command
Minority influence: one or two ppl to sway majority
Normative social infulce: influence from desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval
Informational social influence: a persons willingness to accept others opinions on reality
Explain how being in a group can affect an individual’s behavior and mental processes
Social facliation: presenec fo others=improved perfromance
Crowding affect: arousal by havig other sin shared space (football games)
Social Loafing: more effort as an induvudal but less as a group
Deindidvudalization: loss of self awareness+arousal foster anonymity
Group polarization: enhancement of group’s prevailing inclinations
Grouothink: desire for harmony overrides logic and realistic appraisal of alternatives
Explain how prosocial behavior affects behavior and mental processes.
Tight cultures: defined terms and norms Loose cultures: flexible rules
Agression: physical/verbal behavuor intended to harm someone emotionally/physically
Biochemcial influences: Y chrmocome, testetirerone levaels
Frustaration Agression principle: frsutaration w an obtsackle blocking achievment causes anger which
Can lead to aggression
Aversive Effects: (heat) can lead to aggression
Stimulation of the amygdala can increase aggression, less tissue in frontal lobe more impulsive decision
= increased agfgression
Passionate love: aroused state of positve absorbtion fo one another
Companaite love: deep affection when lives are intertwined
Equity: get what u give in a relationship
Self disclosure: reveal intimate aspects
Altrusim: unselfish regard for the welfare of others
Social repsonbikity: help those who need it Social exchange theory: exchange process w begavior
Social exchange theory: behavior as an exchange process
Mirror image perceptions: mutual interest w diff perception( one sees ethical another sees evil)
Self fulfilling propehcy: belief that leads to its won fukfillment
Explain how the psychodynamic theory of personality defines and assesses personality.
Personality: an individual’s characteristic pattern of feeling, thinking and knowing
Psychodynamic theories: view personality w a focus on unconscious mind
Psychoanalysis: attributes thoughts and personality+actions to conflict and pleasure
Projective test: personality test provide a road into unconscious mind {Thematic apperception test
(tat)} individual makes up a story
Rorschach Inkblot test (controversial)
Sigmund Frued(psychoanalytic) life was built around tension and pleasure, tension was cause of build
up of libido(sexual energy)
Free association: saying whatever comes to mind-no shame, no judgement
Interacting systems: id(unconscious energy), ego(mostly conscious+connects id and superego by
Making peace between the two), superego(internalized needs)
Age 4-5-superego develops and provides moral compass+strives for perfection
Freudian slips-unconscious seeps through and reveals anxiety (against belief you can't access
unconscious)
Neo Frueidans-disagree w him on sexual tensions and agree w personality even though its
Controversial
Alfred ader: childhood is important cause social ifnlences at that age (inferiority complex)
Karen horney: emphasis on love and security (opposed frueds penis envy)
Carl juang: less emphasis on social more on unconscious
Terror-managemnt theory: death related anxiety when aware of potential death causing events
Explain how the humanistic theory of personality defines and assesses personality
Humanistic theories: focus on potential for healthy personal growth +behaviorism is too simple and
psychodynamic was pessimistic
Abraham Maslow: hierarchy of needs, self transcendence (striving for meaning+purpose beyond self)
, self actualization (fulfill one's potential)
Carl Rogers: ppl have innate goodness, self actualizing tendencies, environment matters as it can
Promote social climate, unconditional positive regard: environment that helps promote self awareness
And self actualization
Key to humanism→self concept
Ideal self (who you would like to be) vs Real self(who you are)
Congruence: self concept is accurate
High congruence: greater sense of self worth
Incongruence: great dispaarancy between ideal and real selves
Criticisms: theories are vague+subjective and lack scientific integrity