Forming Impressions

Question 1

Social Perceptions

Answer 1

Conscious and unconscious judgements we make

Question 2

Correspondent Inference Theory

Answer 2

Analyzing behaviours and making inferences about someone based on:

1) Degree of choice
2) Expectation
3) Intended Consequences

Question 3

Degree of Choice

Answer 3

We consider to what degree a person had a choice in acting the way they did

Question 4

Expectation

Answer 4

We consider an observed behaviour is either typical or uncommon, consider how expected it is

Question 5

Intended Consequences

Answer 5

We consider the intentions and motives behind a particular behaviour

Question 6

Covariation Theory

Answer 6

How a person’s behaviour can be attributed to either personal dispositional or situational circumstances judged by:

1) Consistency
2) Distinctiveness
3) Consensus

Question 7

Dispositional

Answer 7

Distinctiveness = no 
Consensus = no

Question 8

Situational

Answer 8

Distinctiveness = yes
Consensus = yes

Question 9

The Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 9

Tendency for people to place emphasis on attributional characteristics of a person, rather than external situational factors

Question 10

The Actor/Observer Effect

Answer 10

Considering and over valuing the situational factors for our own behaviours rather than considering attributional

Question 11

Collectivist Societies

Answer 11

• Fundamental error attribution is diminished in collectivist societies
• American winners - attribute winning to determination and talent
• Japanese - attribute winning to success of coaching team and organization

Question 12

Self Serving Bias

Answer 12

• Refers to your tendency to perceive yourself favourably
• Fundamental attribution error and actor-observer effect can lead to this
• Blame things on situational to explain the outcome

Question 13

Above Average Effect

Answer 13

• Identifying dispositional causes for our successes, but situational causes for failures, giving exaggerated view of your abilities
• bias in believing we are above average in things that matter to us

Question 14

Cognitive Heuristics

Answer 14

Processing speed of social perceptions are shaped by heuristics to automatically make quick decisions about incoming information from the environment

Question 15

Representativeness Heuristic

Answer 15

When you use the representativeness heuristic, you classify people by considering how well their behaviour fits with a certain prototype

Question 16

Availability Heuristic

Answer 16

Considers the experiences most readily available in memory

Question 17

Attraction

Answer 17

Important application of forming impressions is found in the field of attraction research:

• proximity
• familiarity
• physical attractiveness
• peer opinions

Question 18

Proximity

Answer 18

We are more likely to be attracted to people who are in close proximity to us (interactions)

Question 19

Familiarity

Answer 19

We are more positive towards familiar than unfamiliar stimuli (faces we see often)

Question 20

Physical Attractiveness

Answer 20

We use physical attractiveness as an indicator of personal characteristics

Question 21

Peer Opinions

Answer 21

We like those who like us back, especially when we have low self-esteem