L10: Social Psychology

Question 1

First impressions

Answer 1

Initial judgments of the character of other people. Made quickly, with very little information, especially from faces.

Question 2

Primacy effect

Answer 2

Order matters, we remember earlier info and take it into account more than later info

Question 3

Factors that limit accuracy of first impressions

Answer 3

Heuristics, impression management, confirmation bias

Question 4

Heuristics

Answer 4

A quick mental shortcut to get an impression of someone

Question 5

impression management

Answer 5

Strategies people use in an attempt to put their best face forward. Includes Self-promotion, Ingratiation, Exemplification, Intimidation, Supplication

Question 6

False consensus effect

Answer 6

This tendency to use the self as an anchor and overestimate the extent to which other people’s beliefs and attitudes are similar to our own

Question 7

Confirmation bias

Answer 7

Attending to information that’s consistent with an initial impression, and ignoring information not consistent with these beliefs.

Question 8

Accuracy of first impressions

Answer 8

Generally, fairly accurate. The more we get to know someone, the more accurate we are. The better our motivation to be accurate, the more accurate we are likely to be

Question 9

Attribution theory

Answer 9

when explaining others’ behaviour we tend to attribute the behaviour to internal OR external factors

Question 10

Dispositional attribution

Answer 10

Internal factors such as traits, values, attitudes, and beliefs

Question 11

Situational attribution

Answer 11

External factors, such as events and context

Question 12

Self-serving bias

Answer 12

We are more likely to attribute our successes to internal explanations and our failures to external explanations

Question 13

Fundamental Attribution error

Answer 13

When people try to figure out the cause of another person’s behaviour in Western cultures, they tend to overestimate the impact of internal influences and underestimate the impact of external influences

Question 14

Individualistic society

Answer 14

tend to value independence, autonomy, self-reliance to a greater extent

Question 15

Collectivistic society

Answer 15

tend to value interdependence, cooperation, and social harmony to a greater extent

Question 16

Stereotyping

Answer 16

beliefs, schemas, or automatic associations that link whole groups of people with certain traits or characteristics.

Question 17

Prejudice

Answer 17

learned attitudes or affective responses toward or about a group and its individual members. can be positive or negative, but usually discussed as being negative

Question 18

Discrimination

Answer 18

differential treatment/ behaviours directed against people because of their group membership

Question 19

Social categorization

Answer 19

we categorize people into different groups based on shared characteristics or common attributes. is adaptive (allows us to make predictions about individuals) , but has costs (often not accurate and can blind us to the reality that people are diverse)

Question 20

In-group favouritism

Answer 20

We tend to like members of our group more

Question 21

Out-group derogation

Answer 21

disliking people who are not in your group

Question 22

Out-group homogeneity effect

Answer 22

“they are all alike; WE are unique and diverse”

Question 23

Overt racism vs symbolic racism

Answer 23

Overt Racism = Hate crimes, racial slurs, swastikas
Symbolic racism = indirect forms of discrimination, such as social policies

Question 25

Robber’s Cave Study

Answer 25

• sought to examine how prejudice and discrimination might develop and how they might be reduced
• demonstrated realistic conflict theory: competition for resources increased prejudice
• prejudice reduced by forcing the groups to work together to reach common goals, but contact alone was not enough

Question 26

Contact hypothesis

Answer 26

under appropriate conditions, interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members

Question 27

Realistic conflict theory

Answer 27

Prejudice and conflict arise from competition for scarce resources among groups

Question 28

Social identity theory

Answer 28

a person’s self-concept and self-esteem are derived from the status and accomplishments of various groups to which the person belongs. prejudice and conflict arise from in-group favouritism and discrimination may make one feel better about their own group membership

Question 29

Explicit attitudes

Answer 29

Easy to report, conscious of it, can be updated with new info

Question 30

Implicit attitudes

Answer 30

Quick, automatic, unconscious, not aware of it difficult to update

Question 31

Elaboration likelihood model

Answer 31

Dual process theory of persuasion: central and peripheral routes

Question 32

Cognitive dissonance theory

Answer 32

We strongly desire cognitive consistency in which beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours are compatible. When there is discrepancy b/n beliefs and attitudes we experience dissonance, and act irrationally to reduce it.

Question 33

Post-decision dissonance

Answer 33

Decision can’t be undone, so after the discus one focusses on the positive features of the chosen option and the negative features of the option not chosen.

Question 34

Social influence

Answer 34

The automatic way people are affected by the real and imaged presence of others

Question 35

3 ways we yield to social influence

Answer 35

Conformity, compliance, obedience

Question 36

Social norm

Answer 36

Commonly shared beliefs about appropriate actions that vary across context, culture, and time

Question 37

Conformity

Answer 37

Changing our perceptions, opinions, or behaviour in ways that are consistent with group norms

Question 38

Informational social influence

Answer 38

The need to be right and seek information

Question 39

Social facilitation

Answer 39

the mere presence of others can boost arousal in a way that facilitates the dominant response

Question 40

Social loafing

Answer 40

the tendency for individuals to expend less effort on a task when they are doing it with others rather than alone

Question 41

Obedience

Answer 41

Changing our behaviour in response to commands by perceived authority figures

Question 42

Milgram Studies

Answer 42

To what extent will people comply with requests/directives from a perceived authority figure to harm another person? 40 men @ Harvard university everyone went to at least 300 v and 65% went all the way

Question 43

Replicating Milgram today: Burger Study

Answer 43

Same methodology: 70 men & women

Findings: 70% continued to 150 V (max allowed). although obedience diminished, it is by no means extinct today

Question 44

Instrumental aggression

Answer 44

aka proactive aggression, harmful behaviour that has a purpose to it

Question 45

Hostile aggression

Answer 45

aka reactive aggression, motivated by hostility with the goal to harm someone

Question 46

Theories of aggression

Answer 46

Biological & environmental models

Question 47

Prosocial behaviour

Answer 47

actions intended to benefit others. ex. helping, comforting, sharing, cooperating

Question 48

Altruism

Answer 48

refers to behaviours intended to benefit another without expectations of anything in return

Question 49

Reciprocal altruism

Answer 49

actions that benefit others, despite some immediate risk or cost that are repaid in the long run

Question 50

Norm of reciprocity

Answer 50

• give and take rule: if someone helps us, we should help them in return
• people can get very dissatisfied when there is no reciprocation in return

Question 51

overcoming the bystander effect

Answer 51

if you need help and people are around, identify one person and ask them directly for help. when given responsibility, people are much more likely to help

Question 52

two explanations for the bystander effect

Answer 52

1. diffusion of responsibility
2. pluralistic ignorance

Question 53

Bystander effect

Answer 53

the presence of others inhibits helping

Question 54

Mere exposure effect

Answer 54

the more you see a novel stimulus, the more you like it. easier to cognitively process familiar stimuli

Question 55

Interpersonal attraction (factors)

Answer 55

1) Proximity: we are more likely to get together with someone when they are physically nearby
2) Familiarity: we tend to like people who are known to us
3) Similarity: we tend to like similar others: personality, attitudes, values, interests
4) Reciprocity: we like those who like us; very validating
5) Physical attractiveness: a rewarding visible and immediate stimulus; bias for beauty

Question 56

Halo effect

Answer 56

belief that attractive people possess a bunch of other positive qualities

Question 57

Attachment theory

Answer 57

Human infants develop intensely strong emotional bonds with caretakers as a survival strategy. Having these close emotional bonds increases survival, so children develop internal models giving rise to attachment styles.

Question 58

Attachment styles

Answer 58

Characterized by intimacy avoidance and abandonment anxiety

1) Dismissive
2) Fearful
3) Secure
4) Preoccupied