Social Psychology Attribution and Bias

Types of Attribution

• Personal attribution explains behavior based on individual characteristics.
• Situational attribution attributes behavior to external factors.

Tri Component Model

• Comprises three key components: Affective (emotions), Behavioral (actions), and Cognitive (thoughts).
• Often referred to as the ABC model of behavior formation.

Social Cognition

• Encompasses how individuals assess and interpret others in social contexts.
• Involves judgment processes similar to a judge evaluating cases.

Cognitive Bias

• Refers to systematic errors in thinking that can affect decision-making and perception.
• Highlighted by personal cognitive processes influencing interpretations.

Person Perception

• Involves the methods used to form impressions and evaluations of other individuals.
• Combines personal processing and the subjective nature of perception.

Types of Person Perception

• Directly acquired from the individual being judged.
• Indirectly obtained from others or external sources.

Schema

• Represents pre-existing mental frameworks that aid in understanding concepts.
• Facilitates rapid information processing through established ideas.

Physical Cues

• Involves the observation of physical traits and behaviors in others.
• Plays a role in forming impressions based on visual and behavioral observations.

The Halo Effect

• A cognitive bias where an overall impression of a person alters perceptions of their specific traits.
• Demonstrated when positive or negative associations affect judgments of unrelated qualities.

Body Language

• Encompasses non-verbal communication, including posture and movements.
• Conveys emotions and attitudes without spoken words.

Social Categorization

• Process of grouping individuals based on shared characteristics.
• aids in simplifying social perception and interactions.

Saliency Detection

• The ability to focus on certain aspects of sensory information for deeper interpretation.
• Important in understanding context and relevance in social interactions.

Attribution

• Involves making evaluations regarding the causes behind behaviors.
• Central to understanding human motivation and social interactions.

Affective (Tri-Component)

• Relates to emotional responses toward people or situations.
• Plays a significant role in forming attitudes and influencing behavior.

Behavioral (Tri-Component)

• Represents observable actions linked to personal opinions or attitudes.
• Demonstrates how feelings and beliefs manifest in real-world actions.

Cognitive (Tri-Component)

• Covers the thoughts and beliefs that shape attitudes and perceptions.
• Crucial for justifying actions and underlying motivations.

Stereotype

• A generalized belief or assumption about a group of individuals.
• Can lead to oversimplification and mischaracterization of diverse groups.

Stigma

• A negative label that leads to disapproval or discrimination against individuals.
• Often results in social exclusion and internalized shame.

Attitude

• Reflects a person's evaluative response (positive or negative) about an object, person, or situation.
• Influences behavior and decision-making processes.