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Exploring Psychology (9th Edition) - Chapter 13 Vocab Flashcards

Myers 9th Edition.

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2808084728Social PsychologyThe scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.0
2808084729Attribution TheoryThe theory that we explain someone's behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition.1
2808084730Fundamental Attribution ErrorThe tendency for observers, when analyzing another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition. Ex. I see him speeding and am more likely to think he's reckless than he's having an emergency2
2808084734Foot-in-the-door phenomenonThe tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.3
2808084736Cognitive Dissonance TheoryThe theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, when we become aware that our attitudes and our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.4
2808084737CultureThe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.5
2808084738NormAn understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe "proper" behavior.6
2808084739ConformityAdjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard. Yielding to real or imagined social pressure.7
2808084744Social facilitationImproved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others.8
2808084745Social loafingThe tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable.9
2808084746DeindividuationThe loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity.10
2808084747Group polarizationThe enhancement of a group's prevailing inclinations through discussion within the group.11
2808084748PrejudiceAn unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members. Generally involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action.12
2808084749StereotypeA generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.13
2808084750Discriminationaction that treats members of a group unfairly Ex. No women are allowed in our club.14
2808084751Just-world phenomenonThe tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get.15
2808084752Scapegoat theoryThe theory that prejudice offers and outlet for anger by providing someone to blame.16
2808084753AggressionAny physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.17
28080847555 Factors of interpersonal attraction1. Proximity 2. Personal Attractiveness 3. Similarity 4. Exchange 5. Intimacy18
2808084756AltruismUnselfish regard for the welfare of others.19
2808084757Bystander effectThe tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.20
2808986825AttributionsInferences (explanations) we make about causes of behavior. Ex. Why was she late for dinner21
2809043580Internal AttributionsSituational factors and environmental constraints that explain behavior Ex. I see him speeding and am more likely to think he's reckless than he's having an emergency22
2809001677External AttributionsSituational factors and environmental constraints that explain behavior Ex. There was a lot of traffic23
2809006597Self-serving biasTendency to make the fundamental attribution error particularly when comparing ourselves to others (them personal attributions, us situational) Ex. He speeds: he's reckless; I speed: I have a good reason (I'm late, it's an emergency)24
2809013770StereotypesBeliefs that people have certain characteristics because of membership in a particular group Ex. He must be good at math because he's asian; she's cheap because she's jewish25
2809017797AttitudesFeelings, often influenced by our beliefs Ex. I like Planned Parenthood because I believe it provides good services26
2809023608RolesA set of expectations about one's social position; how to behave27
2809024985Zimbardo's Prison Study (1972)Men played role of prisoners or guards. Role-playing led to degrading behaviors among "guards" and the study had to be stopped28
2809026502Asch's Conformity Study37% of students conformed all the time; 75% conformed at least once29
2809030549Factors increasing conformityAs group size increases, conformity increases; feeling incompetent or insecure; group is homogeneous and cohesive admiring group; being observed by group members; collectivistic culture30
2809032205Normative influencesconform for fear of negative social reaction Ex. Dressing like everyone in the group so you're not the "odd man out"31
2809035511Informational influenceLooking to others in an ambiguous situation when you think others know more than you Ex. Following what other students are doing in a classroom on your first day of school32
2809037689ObedienceFollowing direct order of authority figure Ex. "you must do it." O33
2809040651Milgram's Obedience Experiment65% of subjects administered all 30 shocks34
2809045977Factors that increase obedienceAuthority figure, authority in the room35
2809047794Lessons learned from MilgramSocial influence can "make" people do things they won't ordinarily do; good people can do bad things36
2809050680Foot-In-the-Door TheoryPeople comply to small things first then step-by-step to bigger one's. If your put on hold and you wait for 15 minutes and you don't know how much longer you have to wait, you will anyways because you've already waited 15 minutes.37
2809053621Cognitie DissonanceDiscomfort that arises when our attitude is different from our behavior; we tend to change attitude, NOT behavior38
2809056582Implicit racial associationsMuch of our thinking is unconscious, automatic and out of sight Ex. prejudice is often a knee-jerk reaction rather than a decision39
2809060706Modern discrimination/prejudice (indirect)Less blatant; private beliefs expressed when you feel "justified" or "safe" Ex. resenting minorities, discomfort in group of another race40
2809061707Causes of prejudicefundamental attribution error, belief in "just world," relative deprivation Ex. competition, threats to social identity41
2809064052Just World PhenomenonBelief that the world is just, so if bad things happen to someone, they must deserve it42
2809065543Social identityself esteem is related to social identity (which is tied to group membership)43
2809067178Sherif's Robbers' Cave ExperimentCreated prejudice, hostility and aggression by introducing competition between 2 groups44
2809069131In-Group favoritism"us," we favor our own group Ex. we see us as being made up of individuals45
2809069752Out-group bias"them," Ex. we see them as all alike46
2809430803Biological causes of aggressiontestosterone; genetics: predisposition toward aggressiveness; brain: severe brain injury, stimulation of amygdala.47
2809433518Frustration-aggression principlefrustration creates anger which generates aggression48
2809434792Instinct theorypeople have instinct for aggression49
2809436716Weapon effectmere presence of weapon increases aggressiveness50
2809437753Social/cultural influences on aggresssionpositive & negative reinforcement, observation, modeling, rejection, relative deprivation Ex. I hit you and get what I want; I see dad hit mom; I see violence on TV51
2809439373Attraction and proximitygeographic closeness Ex. closeness breeds liking52
2809440396Mere exposure effectjust seeing something increase our liking of it; repeated exposure to new stimuli increases liking (if initial reaction is positive)53
2809442499Similaritywe are attracted to people who are similar in education, religion, values, goals, personality, interests, etc54
2809443883Triangular theory of lovelove is made up of any combination of three factors: intimacy, passion and commitment55
2809444547Passionarousal, intense positive absorption; depends on uncertainty, novelty, etc56
2809446534Companionate lovedeep affection and attachment; combo of intimacy and commitment57
2809447448Empty lovelove with only commitment, no passion or intimacy58
2809447997Reciprocity principleif you give me something or do something, i should "return the favor"59
2809450092Superordinate goalsshared goals that override differences among people and require cooperation from both sides60
2809452418Door-In-The-Faceask for something big and then return with smaller requests61
2810202119Group facilitationtalking to "like-minded" people about our attitudes causes our attitudes to become more extreme62
2810207181Groupthinkthe tendency for groups to all think alike in order to maintain group harmony,please the leader, etc63
2810211549Social trapwhen personal interest and collective well-being conflict64
2810219732Contact, cooperation, communication, conciliationfour C's of conflict resolution65
2810221678Mirror image perceptionsWhen both sides of conflict see themselves as good and the other side as bad66

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