Social Cognition Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which effect suggests that people tend to like those who share personal information with them?

Effect A

Effect B (correct)

Effect C

Effect D

What communication strategy involves responding to a complaint with another complaint?

Hidden Agenda

Kitchen Sinking

Mind Reading

Cross-Complaining (correct)

In the context of social exchange theory, what is defined as any negative consequence or loss?

Cost (correct)

Benefit

Reward

Investment

According to Noller's study, how do happy and unhappy couples differ in decoding messages?

Both spouses in happy marriages decode messages well, while only women do in unhappy marriages. Signup and view all the answers

Which tip for improving communication emphasizes the importance of clarity and focus?

Be specific, concrete, and clear Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of self-disclosure in relationships?

To communicate information about oneself to others Signup and view all the answers

Which type of self-disclosure includes expressing personal feelings and opinions?

Evaluative disclosure Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'breadth' of self-disclosure refer to?

The amount of information shared Signup and view all the answers

Which function of self-disclosure is associated with receiving feedback from others?

Social validation Signup and view all the answers

According to the social penetration theory, how do relationships develop?

Through superficial interactions leading to deeper intimacy Signup and view all the answers

What is an 'opener' in the context of self-disclosure?

A person skilled at eliciting intimate disclosures Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon describes the act of revealing personal information to strangers?

The stranger on the train/plane phenomenon Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT relate to a function of self-disclosure?

Self-judgment Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of impression management?

To control how others perceive an individual Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes ingratiation?

Becoming more likable to influence others Signup and view all the answers

What does self-verification theory suggest about people's social interactions?

Individuals prefer to interact with those who confirm their self-image Signup and view all the answers

In romantic relationships, how does the marriage context affect self-verification?

Verification supports relationship stability Signup and view all the answers

What does the positive illusions theory state about relationship satisfaction?

Idealized perceptions of partners correlate with greater satisfaction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT a component of self-verification theory?

Validation of personal achievements Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is characteristic of self-promotion?

Highlighting personal qualities and achievements Signup and view all the answers

How does the effort to present oneself positively in romantic relationships change over time?

Effort declines as relationships stabilize Signup and view all the answers

What does social cognition primarily involve?

Understanding and predicting the behavior of others Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the nature of first impressions?

They are often accurate and resistant to change. Signup and view all the answers

How do schema-driven memories differ from mood-congruent memories?

Schema-driven memories focus on event expectations, while mood-congruent memories relate to the current mood. Signup and view all the answers

What type of attribution might someone in a happy relationship make?

They must have had a bad day and acted out. Signup and view all the answers

What are the implications of confirmation bias in social cognition?

It prompts individuals to focus on information that supports their initial beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What emotional response is commonly associated with cognitive responses in relationship events?

Anger Signup and view all the answers

How does the primary effect influence perceptions of a person?

It enhances the impact of the first information received. Signup and view all the answers

In what way are attributions characterized in unhappy relationships?

They often make distress-maintaining attributions. Signup and view all the answers

What does Interdependence Theory primarily indicate about relationships?

Individuals depend on both themselves and others for interpersonal rewards. Signup and view all the answers

How is the simple standard computed in Interdependence Theory?

Outcomes = rewards - costs Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between comparison level and satisfaction?

Satisfaction arises when outcomes exceed the comparison level. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Attractive Stability from Attractive Instability?

Attractive Stability means outcomes exceed both comparison level and comparison level for alternatives. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Unattractive Stability in relationships?

Individuals experience dissatisfaction while being unwilling to leave the relationship. Signup and view all the answers

How does Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLalt) impact dependence?

Lower CLalt typically leads to greater dependence in relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What are common features of Attractive Instability?

Outcomes exceed expectations with a feeling of potential better options. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the outcomes in Unattractive Stability?

Outcomes fall below what individuals expect, resulting in unhappiness. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social Cognition: is the ability to understand and predict the behavior of others and adapt your own behavior in social situations.
First Impressions: Tend to endure, influence future interactions are generally accurate, and tend to be resistant to change even when incorrect.
Primacy Effect: Weight is given to the first information received about a person.
Confirmation Bias: The tendency to seek information that confirms existing beliefs rather than contradicts them.
Schema-Driven Memory: People will be more likely to recall information that fits their existing schema, even if it is incorrect.
Schema: Scripts or patterns for typical events based on past experiences that are activated to help process future events, like memories of a past Halloween.
Mood Congruent Memory People are more likely to recall memories congruent with their current mood.
Attributions: Explanations for someone's behavior, which can be relationship-enhancing (positive) or distress-maintaining (negative).
Impression Management: The conscious or subconscious effort to control how others perceive you and to achieve desired goals.
Ingratiation: Trying to influence someone by making yourself more likeable to them.
Self-Promotion: Highlighting your qualities and skills.
Intimidation: Using power dynamics and status differences to influence others.
Supplication: Making yourself appear vulnerable or helpless to gain sympathy.
Self-Verification Theory: People prefer to interact with those who confirm their self-image, even if the image is negative.
Positive Illusions Theory: Relationship satisfaction is associated with idealized perceptions of partners.
Over Time (Relationships): Partners tend to make less effort to present themselves positively as they become more comfortable with each other.

Self-Disclosure

Self-Disclosure: Sharing information about yourself with others.
Descriptive Disclosure: Sharing facts about yourself.
Evaluative Disclosure: Sharing personal feelings, opinions, and judgments.
Breadth of Disclosure: The range of topics discussed.
Depth of Disclosure: The level of intimacy of information shared.
Functions of Self-Disclosure: Expression of feelings, self-clarification, social validation, social control, and social connectedness.
Social Penetration Theory: Relationships deepen as self-disclosure progresses from superficial to more intimate levels, like peeling layers of an onion.
Openers: Individuals who are skilled at eliciting self-disclosure from others.
Stranger on the Train Phenomenon: People frequently disclose personal information to strangers they will likely never see again.
Effects of Self-Disclosure (Meta-analysis): We like people who disclose to us; people like those whom they disclose; people disclose more to people they initially like; and people perceive that they are liked by people who have disclosed to them.

Communication

Noller Study: Couples in happy marriages were better at sending and decoding messages than couples in unhappy marriages.
Poor Communication Strategies (Gottman): Hidden agendas, mind-reading, cross-complaining, kitchen-sinking, yes-butting.
Tips for Improving Communication: Be specific and clear, focus on current issues, take ownership, listen actively, prioritize negotiation and problem-solving, and avoid hurtful or disrespectful language.

Rewards: Anything of value gained in a relationship.
Costs: Any negative consequences or losses in a relationship.
Norm of Reciprocity: The expectation that people should return favors and kindness they receive from others.
Interdependence: Mutual reliance on each other for valuable rewards in a relationship.
Simple Standard: Rewards - Costs = Outcome, to assess profitability or loss in a relationship.
Comparison Level (CL): An individual's expectations for the quality of rewards and costs in a relationship based on past experiences.
Comparison Level for Alternatives (CL Alt): Evaluation of alternative relationships or being alone outside the current relationship.
Relationship Types (Social Exchange Theory):
- Attractive Stability: Outcomes exceed both CL and CL Alt. High satisfaction and dependence.
- Attractive Instability: Outcomes exceed CL but not CL Alt. High satisfaction but potential for instability.
- Unattractive Stability: Outcomes fall below CL but higher than CL Alt. Dissatisfaction but dependence.
- Unattractive Instability: Outcomes fall below both CL and CL Alt. Low satisfaction and low dependence.

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Description

Explore the concepts and theories of social cognition with this quiz. Understand how first impressions, confirmation bias, and schema-driven memory shape our interactions and perceptions of others. Test your knowledge on key terms and processes that influence social behavior.