AP Psychology Chapter 16 Social Psychology

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

the theory that we tend to give a causal explanation for someone's behavior, often by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition

the tendency for observers, when analyzing another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

a belief and feeling that predisposes one to respond in a particular way to objects, people, and events

Occurs when people think carefully about a message & are influenced because they find the arguements compelling

when people do not scrutinize the message but are influenced mostly by other factors such as speakers attractiveness

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

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

the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our thoughts are inconsistent

adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard

influence resulting from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval

influence resulting from one's willingness to accept others' opinions about reality

improved performance of tasks in the presence of others; occurs with simple or well-learned tasks but not with tasks that are difficult or not yet mastered

the tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable.

(Myers Psychology 8e p. 739)

the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity

the mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.

the enhancement of a group's prevailing attitudes through discussion within the group

an unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members

a generalized belief about a group of people

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members

"Us" - people with whom one shares a common identity

"Them" - those perceived as different or apart from one's ingroup

the tendency to favor one's own group

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

The tendency to recall faces of one's own race more accurately than faces of other races.

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

any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy

The principle that frustration--the blocking of an attempt to achieve some goal--creates anger, which can generate aggression.

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases liking of them

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

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

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

Revealing intimate aspects of oneself to others.

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

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

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

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

An expectation that people will help those dependent upon them.

A perceived incompatability of actions, goals or ideas.

a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior

Mutual views often held by conflicting people, as when each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive.

shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction, strategy designed to decrease international tensions. (Myers Psychology 8e p. 769)