Ap psych unit 9

• Social psychologists study


  - how we think about one another

  - how we relate to each other

  - how we influence one another
• Fundamental attribution error


  When analyzing another person's behavior, the tendency for people to underestimate the situation and overestimate a person's disposition & character
• Actor-observer bias


  Although when judging others we error on assuming it is their personality, when we judge our own behavior, we tend to assume it is because of the situation (especially with negative outcomes)
• Effects of attribution


  Our attribution biases have significant consequences and can cause judgement, resentment and prejudice
• Attitude


  A relatively enduring and general evaluation of something, from positive to negative
• Central route persuasion


  When interested people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts (support the facts)
• Peripheral route persuasion


  When people use influenced by incidental cues, such as a speaker’s attractiveness (celebrities selling products)
• Foot in the door phenomenon


  The tendency for people that agree with a small action to later comply with a larger one
• Door in the face phenomenon


  A person tries to convince someone to comply by making a large request that the respondent will most likely turn down. The person is then more likely to agree to a second, more reasonable request
• Low ball effect


  Offer products or services at a bargain price in order to attract a buyer but then adds on additional expenses to make the purchase less of a bargain than originally thought
• Bait and switch


  Lures customers in by offering an incredible offer and then reveals to the potential customer that it is no longer available
• Framing effect


  People react differently depending on now something is presented or framed
• Mere exposure effect


  People tend to prefer things merely because they are familiar with them (because they have been exposed the most to them)
• Reciprocity norm


  Compels people to return a favor when someone has helped them
• Zimbardo experiment


  - a group of Stanford students were assigned to be either a guard or prisoner

  - students took their roles too well and the guards treated the prisoners with abuse and the prisoners became helpless and submissive

  - their treatment was too cruel and the experiment was ended early

  - participants were left with lasting psychological damage
• Role playing on attitude and belief


  Eventually we start to become what we do. If you act a certain way for long enough, you will start to become that person (Caty from Mean Girls)
• Cognitive dissonance theory


  When people's behavior are not consistent with their attitude, they experience unpleasant mental tension or discomfort. To relieve this tension we often will change our attitudes to match or behavior without conscious awareness
• Chameleon effect


  We unconsciously mimic others expressions, postures, , and voice tones
• Solomon Asch study


  A study on conformity - the participant is told to take a seat where 5 people (actors) are already seated. They are asked a question with an obvious answer. When the actors answer incorrectly before the participant, The participant will also answer incorrectly
• Factors that strengthen conformity

  -one is made to feel incompetent or insecure

  -the group has at least three people

  -the group is unanimous

  -one admires the group's status and attractiveness

  -one has made no prior commitment to any response

  -others in the group observe one's behavior

  -one's culture strongly encourages respect for social standards
• Unimportant task


  People conform 1/3 of the time
• Important task


  Easy-rare conformity

  Difficult - conforms 1/2 the time
• Normative social influence


  When he conform because we want to fit in with social norms-me want to he accepted and avoid being rejected because of our differences
• Informative social influence


  When we conform because we accept others' information or opinion - we listen and trust the information and therefore agree
• Milgram's study

  Participant was "teacher" and actor was "learner" but participant didnt know "learner" was an actor. Participant asks questions and administers an electric shock with each incorrect answer that increases after every incorrect answer. Actor acts in pain after increasing shocks. 63% complied to the last switch (most powerful shock).
• Obedience is highest when


  - The person giving the orders was close at hand and was perceived to be a legitimate authority figure

  - the authority figure was supported by a prestigious instruction (Megan study done by Yale University)

  - the victim was depersonalized or at a distance, even in another room

  - there were no role models for defiance - no other subjects are seen disobeying the experiment
• Social facilitation


  Improved performance of tasks in the presence of others
• When having an audience helps

  - When task is simple or well- learned
• When having an audience hinders

  When test is difficult or new
• Social loafing


  The tendency for people in a group to put less effort when working in a group toward a common goal than when they are individually accountable
• Deindividuation


  The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity - mob mentality
• Group polarization


  The tendency of a group's views to get stronger during group discussions, which may lead to more extreme decisions
• Groupthink


  When group members suppress their reservations about the ideas supported by the group. So, there is a false sense of unanimity and flaws are overlooked
• How to prevent groupthink

  Welcome various opinions, invite expert critiques of developing plans, and assign people to identity possible problems
• Minority influence


  The power of one or two individuals to sway majorities - committed individuals can be very influential (even if unpopular)
• Prejudice 


  An unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members
• Stereotype


  a generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belied about a group of people. Stereotypes can be positive or negative and they affect how we relate with that group
• Discrimination 


  acting based on prejudice
• discrimination is a behavior while prejudice is a belief
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 


  expectations we have about others can influence the way others behave. Because of our psychological response to prediction, fear and expectation, we sometimes make a false assumption about a truth