Social Psychology Flashcards
(49 cards)
What is the bystander effect?
The phenomenon where the presence of others reduces the likelihood that any one person will help
This occurs due to diffusion of responsibility.
What factors influence whether we help someone in need?
- The person seems deserving of help
- The person is a woman or similar to us
- The situation is in a small town or rural area
- We feel guilt
- We just saw someone trying to help
- We are not in a rush
- We are in a good mood
Define altruism.
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; helping others without personal gain, possibly despite personal risk or sacrifice.
What is groupthink?
The tendency of a group to make decisions without open exchange of ideas to maintain social harmony.
What is the role of authority in obedience according to Milgram’s study?
Orders given by someone with legitimate authority, associated with a prestigious institution, and standing close by increase obedience.
What is social loafing?
The tendency for individuals to put in less effort when working in a group compared to when they are individually accountable.
What is deindividuation?
Losing one’s individual identity and identifying with the crowd.
What is conformity?
Adjusting behavior or thinking to fit in with group standards.
What are the two types of social influence?
- Normative social influence
- Informational social influence
What is the foot-in-the-door phenomenon?
The tendency to agree to a large request after first agreeing to a smaller request.
What is social impact theory?
The likelihood of following social influence depends on:
* The importance of the group
* Proximity to the group
* The size of the group
What are stereotypes?
Generalized impressions based on groups.
What is prejudice?
Negative attitudes toward members of a social group.
What is discrimination?
Treating a person unfairly solely because they are part of a certain group.
What is the implicit association test (IAT)?
An assessment of reaction times used to detect associations between particular words or images.
What is the realistic conflict theory?
The theory that actual conflict between groups determines the amount of prejudice between them.
What are the three processes of social identity theory?
- Social categorization
- Social identity
- Social comparison
What is group polarization?
When discussion within a group of similar views makes their opinions more extreme.
What is the chameleon effect?
The tendency to mimic the posture, mannerisms, facial expressions, or other behaviors of others.
What did Solomon Asch’s 1951 study demonstrate?
About one-third of people will agree with obvious mistruths to conform to the group.
Fill in the blank: The tendency to agree with one another too readily and make faulty decisions is known as _______.
groupthink
What happens during the deindividuation process?
Individuals feel less personal responsibility and become more susceptible to group influences.
What is the significance of the Kitty Genovese case in studying the bystander effect?
It highlighted the failure of 38 witnesses to intervene during her attack, illustrating the bystander effect.
What did Milgram’s obedience study reveal about people’s behavior under authority?
Many participants complied with harmful requests despite moral objections due to authority pressure.
