module 74 Flashcards
What is social psychology?
The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
What does attribution theory explain?
How people explain the causes of their behavior and the behavior of others
What is the fundamental attribution error?
The tendency to blame personality more than situation when judging others
Give an example of the fundamental attribution error.
Thinking someone is careless for being late without considering they might have been stuck in traffic
Define attitude in social psychology.
Feelings, often influenced by beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way
What is peripheral route persuasion?
Influence based on superficial cues like a speaker’s appearance rather than the actual message
Provide an example of peripheral route persuasion.
Buying a product because an ad features a celebrity
What is central route persuasion?
Persuasion that occurs when people are influenced by the strength of the argument
Give an example of central route persuasion.
Buying a product after reading reviews
What is the foot-in-the-door phenomenon?
The tendency for people who have agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request
Define ‘role’ in social psychology.
A set of expectations about a social position
What does cognitive dissonance theory state?
We feel uncomfortable when our thoughts or actions don’t match, leading us to change one of them
Provide an example of cognitive dissonance.
Believing smoking is bad and either stopping or convincing oneself that smoking isn’t harmful
What is dispositional attribution?
Attributing behavior to something about a person’s disposition or personality
What is situational attribution?
Attributing behavior to external factors or the situation
