Chapter 18: Social Psychology

Question 1

Social Psychology

Answer 1

the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Question 2

Attribution Theory

Answer 2

the theory that we tend to give a casual explanation for someone’s behavior, often by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition.

Question 3

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 3

the tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition.

Question 4

Foot-In-The-Door Phenomenon

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Answer 5

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent.

Question 6

Normative Social Influence

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Informational Social Influence

Answer 7

influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality.

Question 8

Social Facilitation

Answer 8

improved performance of tasks in the presence of others.

Question 9

Social Loafing

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Deindividuation

Answer 10

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.

Question 11

Group Polarization

Answer 11

the enhancement of a group’s prevailing attitudes through discussion within the group.

Question 12

Groupthink

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Ingroup Bias

Answer 13

the tendency to favor one’s own group.

Question 14

Scapegoat Theory

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Just-World Phenomenon

Answer 15

the tendency of people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get.

Question 16

Frustration-Aggression Principle

Answer 16

the principle that frustration - the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal - creates anger, which can generate aggression.

Question 17

Social Trap

Answer 17

a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior.

Question 18

Mere Exposure Effect

Answer 18

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them.

Question 19

Self-Disclosure

Answer 19

revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others.

Question 20

Altruism

Answer 20

unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

Question 21

Bystander Effect

Answer 21

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.

Question 22

Social Exchange Theory

Answer 22

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Question 23

Superordinate Goals

Answer 23

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.

Question 24

GRIT

Answer 24

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-reduction - a strategy designed to decrease international tensions.