Chapter 13

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 explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition.

Question 3

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 3

the tendency, when analyzing others’ behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition. This is flipped when observing ourselves.

Question 4

Attitude

Answer 4

feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events. This can precede behavior, or follow behavior.

Question 5

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Role

Answer 6

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave. When first getting into a role, actions may feel phony. As time progresses, this will become your new normal.

Role-playing can greatly affect our actions and attitudes.

Question 7

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Answer 7

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 clash with our actions, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.

Question 8

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Answer 8

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

Used to trigger emotion-based reactions.

Question 9

Central Route Persuasion

Answer 9

occurs when interested people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments.

Used to trigger careful thinking.

Question 10

Norms

Answer 10

understood rules for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior.

Question 11

Chameleon Effect

Answer 11

our ability to mimic each other’s actions, a type of “social contagion”. Helps us to empathize with others.

Question 12

Positive Herding

Answer 12

positive ratings generate more positive ratings.

Question 13

Conformity

Answer 13

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

More likely to conform when in groups, feel insecure, or respect social standards.

Question 14

Normative Social Influence

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Informative Social Influence

Answer 15

influence resulting from a person’s willingness to accept other’s opinions about reality.

Question 16

Obedience

Answer 16

when people follow orders. We are inclined to do this a lot.

Highest when the demander is powerful or when the victim is depersonalized. Obedience usually outdoes kindness.

Question 17

Minority Influence

Answer 17

the power of one to two individuals to sway majorities.

Question 18

Social Facilitation

Answer 18

in the presence of others, improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks, and worsened performance on difficult tasks.

Question 19

Social Loafing

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Deindividuation

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Group Polarization

Answer 21

the enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group. This is a self-affirming cycle.

Question 22

Groupthink

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Prejudice

Answer 23

an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Question 24

Stereotype

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Discrimination

Answer 25

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Question 26

Explicit Prejudice

Answer 26

when we are aware of our prejudice.

Question 27

Implicit Prejudice

Answer 27

unthinking and unconscious prejudice.

Question 28

Types of Prejudice

Answer 28

• Racial and ethnic prejudice
• Gender prejudice
• LGBTQ prejudice

Question 29

Just-World Phenomenon

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Ingroup

Answer 30

“us”— people with whom we share a common identity.

Question 31

Outgroup

Answer 31

“them”—those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup.

Question 32

Ingroup Bias

Answer 32

the tendency to favor our group. A root of prejudice.

Question 33

Scapegoat Theory

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Other-Race Effect

Answer 34

the tendency to recall faces of one’s race more accurately than faces of other races. Also called the cross-race effect and the own-race bias. It also explains why it is easier to catch differences in our race faces. A root of prejudice.

Question 35

Aggression

Answer 35

any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally. Caused by biopsychosocial influence.

Question 36

Frustration-Aggression Principle

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Social Scripts

Answer 37

a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.

Question 38

Mere Exposure Effect

Answer 38

the tendency for repeated exposure to novel stimuli to increase our liking of people. This explains why proximity is the biggest influence in forming relationships.

Question 39

Passionate Love

Answer 39

an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship.

Question 40

Companionate Love

Answer 40

the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.

Question 41

Equity

Answer 41

a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it.

Question 42

Self-Disclosure

Answer 42

the act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others. This, along with positive support, is crucial for a relationship.

Question 43

Altruism

Answer 43

unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

Question 44

Bystander Effect

Answer 44

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

Question 45

Social Exchange Theory

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Reciprocity Norm

Answer 46

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

Question 47

Social-Responsibility Norm

Answer 47

an expectation that people will help those needing their help. Especially people who can’t give as much as they receive.

Question 48

Conflict

Answer 48

a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.

Question 49

Social Trap

Answer 49

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.

Question 50

Mirror-Image Perceptions

Answer 50

mutual views are often held by conflicting parties, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive.

Question 51

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Answer 51

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

Question 52

Superordinate Goals

Answer 52

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

Question 53

GRIT

Answer 53

a strategy designed to decrease international tensions.