unit 2

• What is an attitude?

  An individual's enduring evaluation, positive or negative, toward a person, object, or idea that influences their behavior.
• What are stereotypes?

  Oversimplified and fixed ideas about a group of people, which can lead to generalizations that do not accurately reflect reality.
• What are implicit attitudes?

  Attitudes that are automatic, spontaneous, and often unconscious.
• What are explicit attitudes?

  Attitudes that are deliberate, conscious, and can be easily articulated or reported.
• What is the affective component of an attitude?

  The emotional response or feelings toward an object or person.
• What does the behavioral component of an attitude refer to?

  How an attitude influences an individual's actions or behaviors.
• What is the cognitive component of an attitude?

  The beliefs and thoughts that comprise the basis of an attitude.
• What does the Theory of Cognitive Dissonance suggest?

  Inconsistency among beliefs or between beliefs and actions creates psychological discomfort.
• What is avoidance in the context of cognitive dissonance?

  Steering clear of information that contradicts their beliefs.
• What does reduction refer to in cognitive dissonance?

  Altering beliefs to minimize dissonance.
• What is rationalization in cognitive dissonance?

  Making excuses for conflicting beliefs or behaviors.
• How does magnitude affect cognitive dissonance?

  Greater dissonance results from more significant inconsistencies or more personally relevant conflicts.
• What does it mean to change beliefs in the context of cognitive dissonance?

  Adapting beliefs to align with actions.
• What does it mean to change behavior in cognitive dissonance?

  Altering actions to be consistent with beliefs.
• What is cognitive dissonance?

  The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes.
• What is forced compliance?

  Being compelled to behave in a way that goes against one's beliefs or attitudes.
• What does Attribution Theory explain?

  How individuals interpret the causes of behavior.
• What are situational attributions?

  Explaining behavior based on external factors like the environment.
• What are dispositional attributions?

  Explaining behavior based on internal factors like personality traits.
• What does Social Identity Theory suggest?

  Individuals derive identity from the groups they belong to.
• What is social categorization?

  Process of grouping individuals based on shared characteristics.
• What is social identification?

  Adopting the identity of the group one belongs to.
• What is social comparison?

  Evaluating one's group in comparison to others, often leading to bias.
• What is prejudice?

  Preconceived negative opinions about individuals or groups without reason.
• What is discrimination?

  Unfair treatment of individuals based on their group membership.
• What is direct discrimination?

  Overtly treating someone unfairly based on their group membership.
• What is indirect discrimination?

  Policies or practices that disadvantage certain groups despite appearing neutral.
• What is social influence?

  Pressure from society or peer groups that can foster prejudice.
• What is intergroup competition?

  Competition for resources or power that can intensify biases between groups.
• What is social categorization?

  The natural tendency to categorize people, leading to stereotyping.
• What is the Just World Phenomenon?

  Belief that the world is fair and individuals get what they deserve, perpetuating stereotypes.
• What does the Contact Hypothesis suggest?

  Intergroup contact can reduce prejudice.
• What are superordinate goals?

  Common goals requiring cooperation between conflicting groups to reduce bias.
• What is mutual interdependence?

  Situations where individuals need each other to succeed, promoting understanding.
• What is equal-status contact?

  Ensuring that group members interact as equals to reduce bias.
• What is the Robbers Cave Experiment?

  A study illustrating resolution of intergroup conflict through shared goals and cooperation.
• What does Social Influence Theory examine?

  How individuals change attitudes or behaviors in response to social influences.
• What is compliance?

  Conforming to a request or demand, often to gain approval or avoid disapproval.
• What is identification?

  Conforming to the expectations of a group to enhance one's self-image.
• What is internalisation?

  Adopting beliefs or behaviors as one’s own after being influenced, resulting in genuine change.