unit 4 part 1 ap psych




1

Social psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, & relate to one another

2

Person perception

How we form impressions of ourselves & others, including attributions of behavior 

3

Attribution theory

Theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation (a situational attribution) or the person’s stable, enduring traits (a dispositional attribution)

4

Fundamental attribution error

Tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation & to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

5

Actor-observer bias

Tendency for those acting in a situation to attribute their behavior to external causes, but for observers to attribute others’ behavior to internal causes; contributes to the fundamental attribution error (which focuses on our explanations for others’ behavior)

6

Mere exposure effect

The tendency for repeated exposure to novel stimuli to increase our liking of them

7

Prejudice

An unjustifiable & usually negative attitude toward a group & its members; prejudice generally involves negative emotions, stereotyped beliefs, & a predisposition to discriminatory action

8

Stereotype

Generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people

9

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members

10

Just-world phenomenon

Tendency for people to believe the world is just & that people therefore get what they deserve & deserve what they get

11

Social identity

The “we” aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “Who am I?” that comes from our group memberships 

12

Ingroup

“Us” - people with whom we share a common identity

13

Outgroup

“Them” - those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup

14

Ingroup bias

The tendency to favor our own group

15

Scapegoat theory

The theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

16

Other-race effect

The tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races; also called cross-race effect & own-race bias

17

Attitudes

Feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, & events

18

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request 

19

Door-in-the-face phenomenon

The tendency for people who deny a large request to comply later with a smaller request

20

Role

A set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

21

Cognitive dissonance theory

The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent; for example, when we become aware that our attitudes & our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes

22

Persuasion

Changing people’s attitudes, potentially influence their actions

23

Peripheral route persuasion

Occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness 

24

Central route persuasion

Occurs when interested people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence & arguments

25

Norms

A society’s understood rules for accepted & expected behavior; norms prescribe “proper” behavior in individual & social situations 

26

Conformity

Adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

27

Normative social influence

Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval

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Informational social influence

Influence resulting from a person’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality

29

Obedience

Complying with an order or command

30

Social facilitation

In the presence of others, improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks, & worsened performance on difficult tasks

31

Social loafing

The tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable

32

Deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness & self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal & anonymity

33

Group polarization

The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion with the group 

34

Groupthink

The mode thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives

35

Culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, & traditions shared by a group of people & transmitted from one generation to the next

36

Tight culture

A place with clearly defined & reliably imposed norms

37

Loose culture

A place with flexible & informal norms

38

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

The application of psychological concepts & methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces

39

Altruism

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others

40

Bystander effect

The tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present; when more people share responsibility (diffusion of responsibility), we are less likely to help 

41

Social exchange theory

Theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits & minimize costs 

42

Reciprocity norm

An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them

43

Social-responsibility norm

An expectation that people will help those needing their help 

44

Conflict

A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas

45

Social trap

A situation in which two parties, by each pursuing their self-interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior

46

Mirror-image perceptions

Mutual views often held by conflicting parties, as when each side sees itself as ethical & peaceful & views the other side as evil & aggressive

47

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment due to the person’s own actions 

48

Superordinate goals

Shared goals that override differences among people & require their cooperation

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