Social Psychology Week 5

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary difference between top-down processing and bottom-up processing?

  • Top-down processing ignores prior knowledge, while bottom-up processing does not.
  • Top-down is concept driven, while bottom-up is perception based. (correct)
  • Top-down is data driven while bottom-up uses prior knowledge.
  • Top-down processes rely heavily on sensory input, whereas bottom-up processes rely on preconceptions.

Which heuristic suggests that individuals judge the frequency of occurrences based on how easily they can remember similar occurrences?

  • Representativeness heuristic
  • Anchoring heuristic
  • Status quo heuristic
  • Availability heuristic (correct)

What does status quo heuristic explain in decision making?

  • The tendency to be influenced by irrelevant information.
  • Decision making based on logical analysis rather than assumptions.
  • Preference for change and adaptation to new situations.
  • Believing the current state of affairs is optimal. (correct)

Which of the following best describes the representativeness heuristic?

<p>Assuming someone belongs to a group based on their similarities to group members. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of using heuristics in decision-making?

<p>They are not always accurate and can lead to biases. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the anchoring and adjustment heuristic function in decision making?

<p>By relying on an irrelevant initial figure to make subsequent judgments. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive bias is demonstrated when vague personality statements are perceived as accurate by many individuals?

<p>Barnum effect (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primary role does heuristics play in decision making when information is scarce?

<p>Heuristics simplify choices by reducing cognitive load. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of schemas in social cognition?

<p>To organize and guide social information processing (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do schemas influence attention in social cognition?

<p>They direct attention to consistent information (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does cognitive load refer to in the context of dual processing?

<p>The amount of mental processing we can handle at once (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does priming have on schemas?

<p>It heightens the activation of a schema due to context (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes automatic thinking in social cognition?

<p>It is nonconscious, unintentional, and effortless (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process does cognitive load shifting facilitate?

<p>Switching between intuition and logic in thinking (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the retrieval process in schemas?

<p>More consistent information is remembered, but inconsistent information can be recalled as well (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of unpriming on schemas?

<p>It diminishes the potential activation of a schema (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Social Cognition

The mental processes (memory, thinking, reasoning) used to process social information, often combining logic and intuition.

Dual Processing

Our ability to think using both intuition (fast, automatic) and logic (slow, deliberate).

Cognitive Load

The amount of mental effort we can handle at any given time.

Schemas

Organized mental frameworks for processing social information, influencing what we notice, remember, and how we act.

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Priming

Activating a schema by exposure to related information or experiences.

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Unpriming

Deactivating the activation of schemas; reducing their influence.

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Automatic Thinking

Nonconscious, unintentional, involuntary, and effortless thinking.

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Cognitive Load Shifting

Switching between intuitive and logical thinking to efficiently handle cognitive load.

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Top-Down Processing

Concept-driven or theory-driven processing using existing knowledge to interpret information.

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Bottom-Up Processing

Data-driven processing using sensory information to form perceptions.

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Heuristics

Simple rules of thumb or mental shortcuts to make decisions or judgments quickly; reduce cognitive load.

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Status Quo Heuristic

The tendency to favor the current state of affairs or common practices.

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Anchoring & Adjustment

Using an initial piece of information (anchor) to make adjustments to subsequent judgments.

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Availability Heuristic

Judging the frequency or likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.

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Representativeness Heuristic

Making assumptions about something based on its resemblance to a category.

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Schema

Mental frameworks for organizing and interpreting information.

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Study Notes

Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Processing

  • Top-down processing relies on prior knowledge, expectations, and context to interpret sensory information. It is a conceptually-driven approach.
  • Bottom-up processing starts with sensory input and works its way up to higher-level processing. It is data-driven.

Availability Heuristic

  • The availability heuristic suggests individuals judge the frequency of events based on how readily they can recall examples.

Status Quo Heuristic

  • The status quo heuristic explains the tendency to favor the current state of affairs when making decisions.

Representativeness Heuristic

  • The representativeness heuristic evaluates the likelihood of something based on how well it matches a prototype or stereotype.

Drawbacks of Heuristics

  • A potential drawback of using heuristics is that they can lead to cognitive biases, which are systematic errors in thinking.

Anchoring and Adjustment Heuristic

  • The anchoring and adjustment heuristic involves starting with an initial anchor value and then adjusting it based on available information.

Barnum Effect

  • The Barnum effect describes the tendency to perceive vague personality statements as accurate, even though they could apply to almost anyone.

Heuristics in Scarce Information Environments

  • When information is scarce, heuristics play a crucial role in helping us make decisions quickly and efficiently.

Schemas in Social Cognition

  • Schemas are mental frameworks that organize our knowledge about people, objects, and events. They help us make sense of the world.

Schemas and Attention

  • Schemas influence attention by guiding us to pay attention to information that is consistent with our existing beliefs and expectations.

Cognitive Load in Dual Processing

  • Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required to process information. When cognitive load is high, we are more likely to rely on automatic processes.

Priming and Schemas

  • Priming refers to the activation of a schema by exposure to a related stimulus. Priming can make a schema more accessible and likely to influence our behavior.

Automatic Thinking

  • Automatic thinking is characterized by being effortless, unconscious, and based on heuristics and schemas.

Cognitive Load Shifting

  • Cognitive Load Shifting facilitates a smooth transition between automatic and controlled processing depending on cognitive load.

Schema Retrieval Process

  • The retrieval process in schemas involves accessing and bringing to mind relevant information from a schema.

Unpriming and Schemas

  • Unpriming refers to the deactivation of a schema after exposure to a related stimulus. This can help reduce the influence of a schema on our judgments and behavior.

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