Chapter 12: Social Psychology

Question 1

social psychology

Answer 1

the psychological study of how a person’s thoughts, beliefs, and behavior are affected by the perceived influence of real, imaginary, or implied presence of others

Question 2

social influence

Answer 2

the process by which the real or implies presence of others directly or indirectly influences the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors of a person

Question 3

conformity

Answer 3

changing one’s behavior to match that of other people

Question 4

groupthink

Answer 4

when people give more importance on group cohesiveness rather than assessing the problems the group faces

Question 5

consumer psychology

Answer 5

branch of psychology aimed at getting consumers to buy products; culture differences may be accounted

Question 6

Irving Janis

Answer 6

pychologist who proposed symptoms to groupthink mentality

Question 7

Asch Conformity Effect and implications

Answer 7

a person conforms to group thinking rather using the evidence of self-thought or self-analysis. 1. Effective only when groups are large enough; 2. Conformity decreased when at least one other person agreed with the person’s thinking; 3. cultural differences may be inherent

Question 8

compliance

Answer 8

people change their behaviors when asked or directed to change

Question 9

foot-in-the-door

Answer 9

small commitment–>compliance–>bigger commitment

Question 10

door-in-the-face

Answer 10

large commitment–>rejection–>smaller commitment–>compliance

Question 11

norm of reciprocity

Answer 11

assumption that if one does something for another, a debt is owed back

Question 12

lowball technique

Answer 12

small commitment–>compliance–>confirmation–>raised commitment

Question 13

that’s-not-all

Answer 13

small offer–>increased offer–>decision

Question 14

Milgram’s Classic Study and implications

Answer 14

showed that regular, everyday people may be able to commit horrific crimes, actions, and behaviors when told to do so by perceived figures of authority

Question 15

group polarization

Answer 15

the tendency for members involved in a group discussion to take more extreme positions and suggest riskier actions when compared to individuals who have not participated in a group discussion; due to social comparison and ambiguous informational social influence

Question 16

social facilitation

Answer 16

the tendency for the presence of other people to have a positive impact on the performance of an easy
task

Question 17

social impairment

Answer 17

the tendency for the presence of other people to have a negative impact on the performance of a difficult
task

Question 18

social loafing

Answer 18

the tendency for people to put less effort into a simple task when working with others on that task

Question 19

social cognition

Answer 19

focuses on the ways in which people think about other people and how those cognitions influence behavior toward those other people.

Question 20

attitude

Answer 20

a tendency to respond positively or negatively toward a certain idea, person, object, or situation: this is learned through experience and contact with other people

Question 21

Components of Attitude

Answer 21

Affective: the way a person feels toward something

Behavioral: the way a person acts towards something based on affective component

Cognitive: the way aperson thinks about himself, an object, or a situation.