Unit 4: Social Psychology & Personality

Question 1

Attribution theory

Answer 1

explains how we attribute behavior to internal (dispositional) or external (situational) causes.

Question 2

Dispositional attributions

Answer 2

connect behavior to internal qualities like intelligence or personality

Question 3

Situational attributions

Answer 3

we consider external factors

Question 4

Actor-observer bias

Answer 4

we tend to attribute our own behavior to a situation.

• ex: blaming failure on external circumstances

Question 5

Fundamental attribution error

Answer 5

occurs when we overlook situational factors and instead focus on personal traits.

• ex: assuming someone who did bad a test did so because their lazy, despite external factors

Question 6

Self-serving bias

Answer 6

the tendency to view ourselves in a good light.

• however, when this is too much someone can run the risk of having narcissism, which is an excessive self-love & self-focus.

Question 7

Internal locus of control

Answer 7

the perception that you control your own fate

Question 8

External locus of control

Answer 8

the perception that chance or outside forces beyond your personal control determine your fate.

Question 9

Mere exposure effect

Answer 9

suggests that repeated exposure to something increases our liking for it.

Question 10

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 10

an expectation that causes you to act in ways that make that expectation come true.

Question 11

Social comparison

Answer 11

we assess our abilities & actions by comparing ourselves to others, which influences self-perception.

Question 12

Implicit attitudes

Answer 12

attitudes that are involuntary, uncontrollable, and at times unconscious

Question 13

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 13

a psychological discomfort that’s created when our actions contradict our beliefs

Question 14

What do social norms include?

Answer 14

• the reciprocity norm –> returning help to those who help us
• & the social-responsibility norm –> helping those in need, even at a cost to ourselves

Question 15

Conformity

& define normative & informational social influence

Answer 15

Involves adjusting our behavior or thinking to match group standards.

• This adjustment can happen due to normative social influence (to gain approval) or informational social influence (to gain accuracy from others).

Question 16

Groupthink

Answer 16

occurs when a desire for harmony or conformity within a group results in poor decision-making.

• For instance, the Bay of Pigs invasion was partly due to groupthink, where dissenting opinions were suppressed.
• Preventing groupthink requires encouraging diverse viewpoints & appointing a “devils advocate”.

Question 17

Group Polarization

Answer 17

when like-minded people come together, their beliefs often intensify.

• this can lead to more extreme views, whether positive (e.g., greater tolerance) or negative (e.g., radical opinions).
• the internet exacerbates this by fostering “echo chambers” where individuals reinforce each other’s beliefs.

Question 18

Social Loafing

Answer 18

in groups, people tend to exert less effort than when working alone.

• this is especially true when individuals feel their contributions aren’t essential, such as in group projects where others may pick up the slack.

Question 19

Freud’s psychoanalytic perspective: Id

Answer 19

• in our conscious mind
• ID = DeviL
• seeks immediate gratification & will do anything to satisfy our needs & desires

Question 20

Freud’s psychoanalytic perspective: Ego

Answer 20

• our reality check; the reality principle
• in both our conscious & unconscious minds
• e.g.: saving money instead of spending impulsively

Question 21

Freud’s psychoanalytic perspective: Superego

Answer 21

• driven by our moral compass (our conscious)
• in both our conscious, unconscious & preconscious (subconscious) minds
• Freud proposed that children’s superego gain strength as they incorporate many of their parents’ values thru the identification process.

Question 21

Reciprocal Determinism

Answer 21

The idea that behavior, internal personal factors (like thoughts and feelings), and environmental influences all interact and affect one another.

• Proposed by Albert Bandura, it suggests that:
• Behavior both influences and is influenced by
• Personal cognition (traits, beliefs) and
• Environment (social context, surroundings).

This creates a continuous loop of mutual influence known as reciprocal determinism.

Question 21

Self-Efficacy

Answer 21

how well you feel like you can do on a task

Question 22

The trait theory emphasizes that traits are categorized into dimensions, such as the Big 5 Traits: Openness

Answer 22

curiosity

Question 23

The trait theory emphasizes that traits are categorized into dimensions, such as the Big 5 Traits: Conscientiousness

Answer 23

responsibility

Question 24

The trait theory emphasizes that traits are categorized into dimensions, such as the Big 5 Traits: Extraversion

Answer 24

sociability

Question 25

The trait theory emphasizes that traits are categorized into dimensions, such as the Big 5 Traits: Agreeableness

Answer 25

friendliness

Question 26

The trait theory emphasizes that traits are categorized into dimensions, such as the Big 5 Traits: Neuroticism

Answer 26

emotional instability

Question 27

Drive-Reduction Theory

Answer 27

physiological needs create a psychological drive that compels actions to reduce the need. - the goal is homeostasis, or a balanced internal states. - basically, you're hungry, that's your drive. Eating is the drive reducing behavior. Your food is your incentive.

Question 28

Instinct Theory

Answer 28

behavior is influenced by innate, species-specific patterns that are biologically hardwired.

Question 29

Arousal theory

Answer 29

motivation stems from the desire to maintain an ideal level of arousal, even without physical needs.

Question 30

Our motivations are needs that direct & enable behaviors. There can be 2 types of motivation: Intrinsic Motivation

Answer 30

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

Question 31

Our motivations are needs that direct & enable behaviors. There can be 2 types of motivation: Extrinsic Motivation

Answer 31

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

Question 32

Prejudice

Answer 32

unjustifiable, often negative attitudes towards a group based on characteristics like ethnicity, gender, or culture. Prejudice has 3 components: 1) stereotype: generalized beliefs about a group 2) neg. emotions: feeling of hostility or fear 3) predisposition to action: the tendency to discriminate - Prejudice is also fueled by emotions like frustration & anger.

Question 33

Just-world phenomenon

Answer 33

a belief that good things happen to good people & bad things to bad people. - this leads to victim blaming & fuels prejudice.

Question 34

Scapegoat theory

Answer 34

we may direct blame at outgroups during times of hardship. - outgroup: groups we don't identity with 'them'.

Question 35

Other-race effect

Answer 35

where people can more easily recognize faces of their own race.

Question 36

the Dunning-Kreuger Effect

Answer 36

a cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their skills, while highly competent people may underestimate theirs.

Question 37

Preconscious

Answer 37

thoughts we temporarily store

Question 38

Unconscious

Answer 38

hidden memories, thoughts & feelings - e.g., repressed childhood memories

Question 39

Collective unconscious

Answer 39

structures of the unconscious mind which are shared among beings of the same species according to Jung. - It's like a psychological inheritance containing knowledge from our ancestors' experiences.

Question 40

Archetypes

Answer 40

universally recognized symbols or patterns of behavior that are found in the collective unconscious. - They appear across cultures and times, such as the "mother" archetype.

Question 41

Psychodynamic assesses personality through Projective Tests. Define Projective Tests.

Answer 41

we project our emotions onto ambiguous pictures make up stories about them & give an idea of what we're feeling

Question 42

Factor Analysis

Answer 42

statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (called factors) on a test - used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie a person's total score.

Question 43

Psychodynamic theory

Answer 43

the conscious & unconscious minds interact. - Early experiences and defense strategies play a pivotal role in shaping personality.

Question 44

Humanistic theory

Answer 44

emphasizes the potential for personal growth in healthy individuals rather than focusing on mental health struggles. - understanding of personality: when basic needs are fulfilled, individuals aim for self-actualization. A supportive environment fosters self-awareness & a positive self-view.

Question 45

Social-Cognitive Theory

Answer 45

behavior is shaped by the interaction between individual traits & environmental factors (reciprocal determinism). - learning through observation & experience is key.

Question 46

The Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

Answer 46

the tendency for people to comply with a large request after agreeing to a smaller one. - starting with a smaller request can lead to increased compliance over time.

Question 47

Peripheral route persuasion

Answer 47

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness. - this route leads to fast but temporary attitude changes.

Question 48

Central route persuasion

Answer 48

involves presenting evidence & logical arguments to encourage thoughtful, deliberate reflection. - this approach leads to more enduring attitude change & is effective for analytical audiences who are motivated to think deeply.

Question 49

Social Contagion or "chameleon effect"

Answer 49

the spontaneous spread of behaviors through a group, like yawning or laughing. - it helps us empathize with others by imitating their behaviors & emotions.

Question 50

Social Facilitation

Answer 50

the presence of others can enhance our performance on simple tasks but hinder it on complex ones. - ex: skilled athletes perform better with an audience, while less experienced individuals may struggle.

Question 51

Deindividuation

Answer 51

when people feel anonymous in a group, they may lose their sense of self-awareness & restraint, leading to uninhibited behavior. - this can occur during riots or online bullying, where anonymity allows individuals to act in ways they normally wouldn't.

Question 52

Altruism

Answer 52

unselfish concern for the welfare of others. - This concept is closely related to the bystander effect, a tendency for individuals to be less likely to help in emergencies when others are present.

Question 53

Hunger-Stimulating Hormones

Answer 53

- Ghrelin: released by the stomach when it's empty, signaling hunger - Orexin: produced by the hypothalamus, it also triggers hunger. - The Hypothalamus: the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus plays a key role in hunger regulation by secreting appetite-stimulating hormones.

Question 54

Hunger-Suppressing Hormones

Answer 54

- Insulin: secreted by the pancreas, insulin helps regulate blood glucose levels. - Leptin: released by fat cells, leptin reduces hunger & increases metabolism when abundant. - PYY: a digestive hormone that signals to the brain, "I'm not hungry."

Question 55

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Answer 55

explains that our emotional experience is determined by how we interpret or appraise a situation, rather than the situation itself. - It emphasizes that our thoughts & beliefs about an event influence our emotional response.

Question 56

False consensus effect

Answer 56

a cognitive bias where people overestimate how common their own views and behaviors are.