Week 9: Social Psychology

Question 1

What is social psychology?

Answer 1

Social psychology is the scientific study of how people think; attitudes, influence and how to relate to one another.

Question 2

What are attitudes?

Answer 2

Attitudes are feelings that are often influenced by our beliefs that impact our actions.
There are two types.

Question 3

What are the two types of attitudes?

Answer 3

Explicit attitudes
Implicit attitudes

Question 4

What are explicit attitudes?

Answer 4

Explicit attitudes are attitudes we are aware of and that shape our conscious decisions.

Question 5

What are implicit attitudes?

Answer 5

Implicit attitudes are attitudes we are unaware of that influence our behaviour

Question 6

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 6

Cognitive dissonance is when a misalignment happens and our attitudes are not reflective of our behaviours or when we think one thing but do something that is in contradiction.

Question 7

What is attribution?

Answer 7

Attribution is an inference about the cause of our own or another’s behaviour.
There are two types.

Question 8

What are the two types of attributions?

Answer 8

Dispositional attribution
Situational attribution

Question 9

What is dispositional attribution?

Answer 9

Dispositional attribution is attributing the behaviour of other people to their enduring traits.
E.g. calling someone a bad person

Question 10

What is situational attribution?

Answer 10

Situational attribution is attributing the behaviour of other people to the situation.
E.g. someone having a bad day

Question 11

What is the fundamental attribution error?

Answer 11

The fundamental attribution error (FAE) is when we overestimate the influence of personality and underestimate the influence of situations when it comes to the behaviour of others.

Question 12

What is systemic racism?

Answer 12

Systemic racism is the idea that even if racist individuals didn’t exist, there would still be unequal opportunity for certain groups because of discriminatory practices in society.
E.g. indigenous people and people of colour

Question 13

Why are our attributions and first impressions often wrong?

Answer 13

Often below conscious awareness
Not intentional
Not controllable
There are three main types of errors.

Question 14

What are the three main ways errors happen?

Answer 14

Prejudice
Discrimination
Stereotyping

Question 15

What does prejudice mean?

Answer 15

Prejudice is a “prejudgment” that is an unjustified, negative, attitude toward an individual or group.
It can be a biased or preconceived opinion that can impact how we act towards someone.

Question 16

What is a stereotype?

Answer 16

A stereotype is an overgeneralized belief about a particular group of people.

Question 17

What is discrimination?

Answer 17

Discrimination is an action or a decision that treats a person or a group unfairly or negatively for reasons such as their race, age, or disability.

Question 18

What is modern racism?

Answer 18

Modern racism is a more covert form that emerges when it is safe, socially acceptable and easy to rationalize.
It suggests that we try to “hide” our racism.

Question 19

What is the dual-attitude system?

Answer 19

The dual-attitude system is possessed by some of us and it means that we want to see ourselves as “fair” but we still may have racialized feelings.
E.g. discomfort or distrust
If not addressed, theses feelings impact our actions.

Question 20

What is considered a group?

Answer 20

A group is two or more individuals that are bonded together in some way that share perceptions of themselves as a unit.

Question 21

What are the benefits to being apart of a group?

Answer 21

Psychological well-being
Sense of purpose
Self-esteem
Self-worth
Ability to cope with trauma

Question 22

What are the drawbacks to being apart of a group?

Answer 22

Risky or unsafe behaviour (peer pressure)
Extreme or inaccurate cognitions
Bullying

Question 23

What is in-group bias or group favoritism?

Answer 23

In-group bias or group favoritism is when we tend to see the groups that we belong to in a positive light and favour our own groups.

Question 24

How can in-group bias manifest?

Answer 24

Liking for our own group
Disliking for our groups

Question 25

What is social facilitation?

Answer 25

Social facilitation is when an individual or team's performance may improve of worsenin the presence of others.

Question 26

What is the audience effect?

Answer 26

The audience effect occurs in things we do well or that are easy for us ww often do better when people are watching. E.g. hockey teams playing in front of their home crowd OR tasks that are hard for us may seem impossible when people are watching or helping because our arousal and anxiety hinders our abilities.

Question 27

What is social loafing?

Answer 27

Social loafing in the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort to achieve a goal. It is more common when individuals are anonymous, lack achievement motivation, and in individualistic societies. E.g. working on group projects in school

Question 28

How can social loafing be reduced?

Answer 28

Social loafing can be reduced by incorporating self and peer evaluations into group projects and assigning smaller groups or pairs to ensure that all members are accountable.

Question 29

What is deindividuation?

Answer 29

Deindividuation is the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity. It is a hallmark of herd mentality. E.g. riots related to sporting events

Question 30

What is group polarization?

Answer 30

Group polarization is when people with the same opinion get together it can result in either overly cautious or risky extremes. E.g. when highly prejudice people discuss racial issues, they become more prejudice

Question 31

When does group polarization become dangerous?

Answer 31

Group polarization is especially dangerous in online settings where groups easily find and isolate themselves with like-minded people.

Question 32

What is group think?

Answer 32

Group think is when everyone is the group agrees because there is a desire for harmony which overrides consideration of alternatives.

Question 33

What is the bystander effect?

Answer 33

The bystander effect is the tendency to be less likely to give aid if other people are present.

Question 34

When does research suggest you are more likely to receive help?

Answer 34

The person appears to need and deserve help The person is in some way similar to us The person needing help is a women We have just observed someone else being helpful We are not in a hurry We are in a small town or rural area We are feeling guilty We are focused on others and not preoccupied When we are in a good mood

Question 35

What is conformity?

Answer 35

Conformity is defined as changing or adopting a behaviour or an attitude to be consistent with the social norms of a group or the expectations of other people. E.g. the different roles we have in groups (gender roles, social roles, professional roles)

Question 36

What is obedience?

Answer 36

Obedience is a form of social influence, whereby an individual follows a direct order from an authority figure. Without such an order the person would not have acted in this way. Some obedience is necessary for a functional society to comply to rules and regulations.

Question 37

What are the four factors that affect obedience?

Answer 37

Emotional distance Authority proximity and legitimacy Research context Disobedience of others

Question 38

What are social norms?

Answer 38

Social norms are defined as a set of spoken and unspoken group rules that can quickly change. E.g. Lining up and waiting your turn for service

Question 39

What is persuasion?

Answer 39

Persuasion is an intentional and deliberate attempt to influence the attitudes and behaviours of others. There are two types.

Question 40

What are the two types of persuasion?

Answer 40

Central route persuasion Peripheral route persuasion

Question 41

What is central route persuasion?

Answer 41

Central route persuasion occurs when people focus on the experts and facts and engage in careful thought.

Question 42

What is peripheral route persuasion?

Answer 42

Peripheral route persuasion occurs when people are influenced by celebrities and incidental cues such as the attractiveness of the speaker.

Question 43

What are are the three persuasion strategies?

Answer 43

Foot-in-the-door Low-ball Door-in-the-face

Question 44

What is the foot-in-the-door strategy?

Answer 44

The foot-in-the-door persuasion strategy is when one gains agreement to a small request first to make a person more likely to agree to a larger request later. It is designed to secure a favourable response to a small request at first.

Question 45

What is the low-ball strategy?

Answer 45

The low-ball technique persuasion strategy is when one makes an attractive initial offer to get a person to commit to an action, the making the terms less favourable moving forward. It is designed to gain compliance by making a very attractive initial offer.

Question 46

What is the door-in-the-face strategy?

Answer 46

The door-in-the-face persuasion strategy is when one makes a large request with the exception that the person will refuse, and to make the person more likely to comply with a smaller request later.