AP Psychology Unit 9: Social Psychology

Social Psychology

• Field studying how individuals think, influence, and relate to one another.

Attribution Theory

• Explains behavior through situational or dispositional factors.

Fundamental Attribution Error

• Tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal traits rather than external circumstances.

Attitudes

• Evaluative feelings and beliefs shaped by experiences, influencing future behavior.

Central Route Persuasion

• Persuasion method where individuals focus on content and arguments.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

• Persuasion based on incidental cues, like speaker attractiveness, rather than message content.

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

• People agreeing to smaller requests are likely to comply with larger requests later.

Role

• Set expectations defining appropriate behavior for social positions.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

• Discomfort from conflicting thoughts leads individuals to adjust attitudes to alleviate tension.

Conformity

• Adjusting behavior or thinking to align with group standards.

Normative Social Influence

• Desire for approval or to avoid disapproval influences behavior.

Informational Social Influence

• Acceptance of others' opinions about reality based on willingness to be influenced.

Social Facilitation

• Enhanced performance on simple tasks when in the presence of others.

Social Loafing

• Individuals exert less effort in group tasks compared to working alone.

Deindividuation

• Loss of self-awareness in group settings, often leading to impulsive behaviors.

Group Polarization

• Tendency for group discussions to intensify prevailing opinions within the group.

Groupthink

• Desire for group harmony leads to poor decision-making by ignoring alternatives.

Culture

• Collective beliefs and customs shaping social behaviors; includes concepts like collectivism and individualism.

Norm

• Guidelines for acceptable behavior within a group.

Personal Space

• The physical distance individuals prefer to maintain around themselves.

Prejudice

• Rigid negative attitudes based on group membership.

Stereotype

• Oversimplified beliefs about a group, often leading to generalizations.

Discrimination

• Unfair treatment of individuals based on group membership.

Ingroup

• "Us" group sharing a common identity.

Outgroup

• "Them" group perceived as different from one's own group.

Ingroup Bias

• Favoritism towards one’s own group over others.

Scapegoat Theory

• Prejudice as an outlet for anger by blaming others.

Other-Race Effect

• Enhanced ability to recognize and remember faces of one’s own race.

Just-World Phenomenon

• Belief that people generally get what they deserve in life.

Aggression

• Behaviors intended to cause harm or destruction.

Frustration-Aggression Principle

• Frustration can lead to anger, which may subsequently result in aggression.

Mere Exposure Effect

• Repeated exposure to stimuli increases preference or liking.

Passionate Love

• Intense initial affection and absorption in another person.

Companionate Love

• Built on intimacy and commitment within long-term relationships.

Equity

• Balance between what individuals give and receive in relationships.

Self-Disclosure

• Sharing personal information and feelings with others.

Altruism

• Selfless concern for the well-being of others.

Bystander Effect

• Individuals are less likely to assist in emergencies when others are present.

Social Exchange Theory

• Social behavior as an exchange process aimed at maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.

Reciprocity Norm

• Expectation of mutual assistance among individuals.

Social-Responsibility Norm

• Expectation that individuals will help those who depend on them.

Conflict

• Struggle between opposing forces or interests.

Social Trap

• Situation where conflicting self-interests lead to detrimental outcomes for all.

Mirror-Image Perceptions

• Conflicting parties view themselves as ethical while perceiving the other as immoral.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

• Beliefs that produce their own consequences.

Superordinate Goals

• Shared objectives that transcend group differences, requiring cooperation.

GRIT

• Strategy focused on reducing international tensions through graduated initiatives.