unit 9

Question 1

social psychology

Answer 1

scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another

Question 2

attribution theory

Answer 2

the theory that we can explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation or the person’s disposition

Question 3

fundamental attribution theory

Answer 3

the tendency for observers, when analyzing others’ behaviors, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the person’s disposition.

Question 4

attitudes

Answer 4

feelings, often influenced by our beliefs, that predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects, people and events

Question 5

peripheral route of persuasion

Answer 5

occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues, such as the speaker’s attractiveness

Question 6

central route of persuasion

Answer 6

occurs when interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts

Question 7

foot in the door phenomenon

Answer 7

the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later to a larger request.

Question 8

role

Answer 8

a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave

Question 9

philip zimbardo

Answer 9

created a toxic situation; assigned guard and prisoner roles to random people

Question 10

cognitive dissonance theory

Answer 10

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent; when we become aware that our attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes

Question 11

norms

Answer 11

understood rules for accepted and expected behavior; describe ‘proper’ behavior

Question 12

conformity

Answer 12

adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

Question 13

solomon asch

Answer 13

devised a simple test to study conformity; found out that people were willing to ‘call white black’ by going with the group

Question 14

normative social influence

Answer 14

influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval; agreeing in order to fit in.

Question 15

informational social influence

Answer 15

influence resulting from one’s willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality; genuianly thinking you’re wrong.

Question 16

prejudice

Answer 16

an unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action.

Question 17

stereotype

Answer 17

a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.

Question 18

discrimination

Answer 18

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

Question 19

just-world phenomenon

Answer 19

the tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get.

Question 20

ingroup

Answer 20

“us”––people with whom we share a common identity

Question 21

outgroup

Answer 21

“them”––those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup

Question 22

ingroup bias

Answer 22

the tendency to favor our own group

Question 23

scapegoat theory

Answer 23

the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

Question 24

other-race effect

Answer 24

the tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than the faces of other races. aka the cross race effect and own race bias.

Question 25

aggression

Answer 25

any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally

Question 26

frustration-aggression principle

Answer 26

the principle that frustration––the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal––creates anger, which can generate aggression (if something feels unfair)

Question 27

social script

Answer 27

a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations

Question 28

biological influences

Answer 28

- genetic influences - biochemical influences (testosterone and alcohol) - neural influences (severe head injury)

Question 29

psychological influences

Answer 29

- dominating behavior - believing that alcohol has been ingested (regardless if it has or hasn't) - frustration - aggressive role models - rewards for aggressive behaviors - low self control

Question 30

social-cultural influences

Answer 30

- deindividuation (loss of self awareness or self restraint) - challenging environment factors (heat, crowding, direct provocations) - parental models of aggression - minimal father involvement - rejection from a group - exposure to violent media

Question 31

mere exposure effect

Answer 31

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to things makes you like them better

Question 32

passionate love

Answer 32

an aroused state of intense positive absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a romantic relationship

Question 33

companionate love

Answer 33

the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

Question 34

equity

Answer 34

a condition in which people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they to it

Question 35

altruism

Answer 35

unselfish regard for the welfare of others (doing something without expecting anything in return for it)

Question 36

bystander effect

Answer 36

the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present

Question 37

social exchange theory

Answer 37

the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs

Question 38

reciprocity norm

Answer 38

an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them.

Question 39

social responsibility norm

Answer 39

an expectation that people will help those needing their help

Question 40

conflict

Answer 40

an perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.

Question 41

social trap

Answer 41

a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each pursuing their self interest rather than the good of the group, become caught in mutually destructive behavior.

Question 42

mirror-image perceptions

Answer 42

mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself

Question 42

self fulfilling prophecy

Answer 42

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

Question 42

superordinate goals

Answer 42

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation.

Question 42

GRIT

Answer 42

graduated and reciprocated initiatives in tension reduction–a strategy designed to decrease international tensions.

Question 42

personality psychologists

Answer 42

focus on the person, study the personal traits and dynamics that explain why, in a given situation, different people act differently.

Question 43

door in the face phenomenon

Answer 43

larger requests precedes smaller requests.

Question 44

outgroup homogeneity

Answer 44

uniformity of outgroup attitudes, personality and appearance

Question 45

prosocial behavior

Answer 45

behavior that intends to help or benefit someone

Question 46

proximity

Answer 46

geographical nearness

Question 47

physical attractiveness

Answer 47

- attractiveness influences first impression for both sexes - people's attractiveness is unrelated to their happiness and self esteem - strikingly attractive people are sometimes suspicious that praise for their work may simply be a reaction to their looks - for people who were friends before lovers, looks matter less - those we like we find attractive

Question 48

similarity

Answer 48

- the more alike people are, the more their liking endures - similarity breeds content - we like those who like us

Question 49

reward theory of attraction

Answer 49

we will like those whose behavior is rewarding to us, including those who are both able and willing to help us achieve our goals

Question 50

oxytocin

Answer 50

supporting feelings of trust, calmness and bonding with the mate, usually remains

Question 51

self disclosure

Answer 51

the act of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others.

Question 52

diffusion of responsibility

Answer 52

if there are a lot of people around, they are less likely to help because they think the others will.

Question 53

odds of helping are highest when

Answer 53

- the person appears to need and deserve help - similar to us - it's a woman - we have just observed someone else being helpful - we aren't in a hurry - we are in a small town/rural area - we are feeling guilty - focused on others and not preoccupied - we are in a good mood