Social Psychology: Chapter 12 Flashcards
What is the branch of psychology that studies how our thoughts, feelings and behavior are influenced by the presence of other people and by our social environment?
Social Psychology
What is attribution?
The process of explaining our own and others’ behavior
What is the fundamental attribution error?
The fundamental attribution error occurs when we blame others’ behavior on internal (character) factors, but we excuse our own behavior with external (situational) reasons
What is it called when we blame an innocent person for causing their misfortune or not being able to avoid it?
Blaming the victim
When we take credit for our successes, but blame our failures on external causes, what is this called?
The self-serving bias
When people believe that all members of a social group behave the same way:
Prejudice
When people believe that all members of a social group behave the same way:
Stereotyped thinking
When people tend to think that all members of a different group look or act very similar:
Out-group homogeneity
When you change your opinions to match the opinions of the group around you:
Conformity
What did the Asch experiment demonstrate?
Conformity. People were shown lines of different lengths and asked which line was the longest. People tended to agree with whatever the group said, even when the group was wrong.
What did Milgram’s Obedience study demonstrate?
People’s obedience to authority figures. People were told they were going to “teach” a subject by using electric shock. 70% of the participants went to the highest level of shock, despite hearing the learner yell and groan.
What did the Stanford Prison experiment demonstrate?
The power of social roles and expectations. College students were randomly assigned to be “guard” or “prisoners” in a fake prison in a college basement. Guards quickly became punitive and controlling. Prisoners quickly assumed a rebellious or helpless reaction. Even the psychologist in charge was absorbed in his role and did not recognize that the experiment was hurting people. The two-week experiment was called off in six days.
What is the bystander effect?
The tendency of people not to get involved in a problem situation when there are several other people present
When a group of people witnesses someone in trouble but no one steps forward to help, why is this?
Diffusion of responsibility: no one person feels responsible enough to take action
What are some of the interests of forensic psychologist?’
Psychology and law: mental health evaluations for court purposes, profiling, expert witness, research into eyewitness testimony, consultation for jury selection
