Social Psychology Flashcards
(37 cards)
Social Psychology
The psychology of how people think, feel, and behave in social environments (emphasis on groups)
Conformity
Matching one’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to societal or group norms (also called majority influence)
Normative conformity/influence
Conforming to avoid rejection from a group, or to gain approval from the group
Informative conformity/influence
Looking for guidance when you don’t know what to do and assuming that the group is correct
Compliance
Changing behavior, attitudes, or beliefs based on a direct request; usually for a reward of avoiding a punishment
Foot-in-the-Door Technique
Asking of small favors to lead up to much bigger requests
Door-in-the-Face Technique
Asking of a large request first so a second, smaller request can be asked and more likely accepted
Lowball Technique
The requestor asks for an initial commitment in a favor, but then raises the cost of the commitment
Private conformity
Actually changing your behaviors to conform
Public conformity
Outwardly changing your behaviors but privately still sticking to your core beliefs
Michelangelo Phenomenon
The concept of the self is made up from the intrapersonal self and the interpersonal self (what other people think of the person)
Group Polarization
The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the individual inclinations of the members within the group; is also called choice shift
Groupthink
Maintaining harmony in the group is more important than carefully analyzing the problem; consensus is reached without discussion of alternatives
Group Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias in a group – groups tend to seek information that supports the majority view
Obedience
How we obey authority
Social Anomie
The breakdown of social bonds between an individual and the community
Identification
A pattern of behaviors that are intended to show respect for a figure
Internalization
The idea/belief/behavior has been integrated into our core values; private conformity
In terms of role play, we internalize our role and let it affect our behavior
Asch Conformity Study
3 lines and a target line; when confederates gave the wrong answer, 75% of subjects conformed. It’s an example of normative social influence
Perceptual error
An error in judging reality as it is
Milgram Study on Obedience
The one with the shocks – 65% administered the full shock and conformed (4 prompts for continuation); compliance with authority even if it goes against their moral values
Just World Phenomenon
The belief that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people
Self-serving bias
Individuals will view their own success as being based on internal factors, while viewing failures and mistakes as being based on external factors
Fundamental Attribution Error
We tend to believe that flaws and mistakes in others are due to internal factors (inherent personality flaws) than external factors