Chapter 2 Flashcards
(28 cards)
What are the three major roles of theories in applied social psychology?
- Help make sense of social behavior (understanding)
- Guide and inform the development of interventions (solve)
- Test for practicality and usefulness in real life (evaluate)
Theories are fundamental in understanding and applying social psychology effectively.
What is the knowledge-deficit model?
It posits that social programmes are underutilized because individuals lack knowledge about the programme or the behavior, but research shows it is not a very useful model for changing behavior.
This model has been criticized for oversimplifying the reasons behind behavior change.
What is action research?
An approach to solving social problems that draws on social-psychological theory.
It emphasizes practical applications and iterative learning.
Define ‘theory’ in the context of applied social psychology.
An organized set of principles that describes, explains, predicts events.
Theories are foundational in understanding human behavior.
What is a principle in applied social psychology?
A principle describes a specific process and is often integrated into theories.
Principles help to clarify the processes within a theoretical framework.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction derived from a theory.
Hypotheses are essential for empirical research.
What is a model in applied social psychology?
A framework that integrates theories and principles.
Models provide a structured way to understand complex interactions.
What does ‘construct’ refer to in social psychology?
It refers to the inferred affective, cognitive, or motivational aspects of human behavior.
Constructs like attitudes are crucial for understanding human behavior.
What does the rational choice theory maintain?
Individuals are motivated to pursue their own interests, containing constructs like costs and rewards.
This theory also leads to hypotheses and ideas for intervention.
What is social cognition?
Also referred to as social thinking, it involves understanding how people process social information.
It encompasses theories like schemas and attribution.
What is the attribution theory?
It refers to the tendency to give causal explanations for the behavior of ourselves and others, involving internal or external attributions.
This theory helps explain how we interpret social interactions.
What is the fundamental attribution error?
The tendency to overestimate the influence of personality variables and underestimate situational variables when explaining others’ behaviors.
This error highlights biases in social perception.
What does cognitive dissonance theory suggest?
It suggests that it is psychologically uncomfortable when attitudes, beliefs, and behavior are not congruent, leading to motivation to reduce dissonance.
This theory explains how individuals strive for internal consistency.
What are the three constructs in the Theory of Planned Behavior?
- Attitude
- Subjective norms
- Perceived behavioral control
These constructs predict an individual’s intention to act.
What is conformity?
The change of behavior to be consistent with real or imagined social expectations.
Conformity is often a conscious process.
What is compliance?
The act of changing behavior following a direct request.
Compliance is influenced by individual goals and social dynamics.
What is obedience?
The act of changing behavior following an order.
Milgram’s experiments highlighted the power of authority in influencing behavior.
What does the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) distinguish between?
- Central route
- Peripheral route
ELM explains how people process persuasive messages.
What is ingroup bias?
The tendency to think better of our own groups compared to outgroups.
This bias influences social categorization and stereotyping.
What is the contact hypothesis?
The theory that bringing members of conflicting groups together will reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations.
Conditions for effective contact include equal status and common goals.
What is the dual concern model?
A strategic choice model predicting when a person will yield, choose inaction, contend, or problem-solve in response to a conflict of interest.
This model considers concerns for self and for others.
What is prosocial behavior?
Acting in a manner that benefits others, categorized into relationship-mending and relationship-enhancing behaviors.
Prosocial behavior is essential for social cohesion.
What is altruism?
When a person is motivated to act in ways that benefit another person while desiring little or no personal benefit in exchange.
Altruism is often regarded as a selfless act.
What does the diffusion of responsibility describe?
How the probability of any single individual taking action decreases as the size of a group increases.
This phenomenon explains bystander apathy in emergencies.
