Social Psychology Concepts and Research Methods

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Questions and Answers

What is controlled thinking primarily characterized by?

Being unconscious and automatic

Being quick and heuristic-based

Being spontaneous and involuntary

Being conscious, intentional, and effortful (correct)

Which heuristic involves making judgments based on how easily information comes to mind?

Anchoring heuristic

Representativeness heuristic

Availability heuristic (correct)

Confirmation bias

How does the belief in free will affect people's behavior?

It encourages them to cheat more frequently.

It has no impact on their behavior.

It reduces their willingness to help others.

It increases their moral actions and willingness to help. (correct)

What role do metaphors play in controlled thinking?

They influence perceptions through physical sensations. Signup and view all the answers

Counterfactual reasoning primarily affects which aspect of emotional reactions?

It influences reactions by altering perceptions of the past. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential drawback of controlled thinking?

It can be time-consuming and lead to anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

Which heuristic involves classifying something based on its similarity to a typical case?

Representativeness heuristic Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of overestimating one's control in decision-making?

More frequent immoral actions, such as cheating. Signup and view all the answers

What do behavioral psychologists, such as B.F. Skinner, believe is fundamental to understanding behavior?

The rewards and punishments in the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which concept refers to the subjective interpretation of the social world?

Construal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'naïve realism' suggest about people's perception?

People perceive things as they really are. Signup and view all the answers

How do hypotheses in social psychological research typically originate?

From previous research findings Signup and view all the answers

What does Gestalt psychology emphasize in the study of behavior?

The subjective way people perceive objects Signup and view all the answers

What conflict arises when a person's need to feel good about themselves clashes with their need to be accurate?

Cognitive dissonance Signup and view all the answers

What represents a two-way street in the relationship between social environment and individual behavior?

Behavior influences interpretations and vice versa Signup and view all the answers

Which bias occurs when individuals retrospectively believe they could have predicted an event?

Hindsight bias Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of schemas in automatic thinking?

To organize and interpret new information Signup and view all the answers

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

An expectation that influences behavior towards someone Signup and view all the answers

How do schemas help individuals in confusing situations?

They reduce ambiguity and provide frameworks for interpretation Signup and view all the answers

What type of thinking style focuses on the overarching context and relationships between objects?

Holistic thinking Signup and view all the answers

During automatic goal pursuit, how do individuals typically make decisions about which goals to follow?

Automatically, based on their environment and contextual cues Signup and view all the answers

In automatic thinking, what is implied by the term 'automatic goal pursuit'?

Choosing goals without conscious involvement or reflection Signup and view all the answers

What is one way that schemas influence perceptions in social situations?

They affect what we notice and remember about others Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes automatic thinking?

A reflexive response based on pre-existing mental frameworks Signup and view all the answers

How does counterfactual reasoning typically affect emotional reactions?

It enhances emotional reactions when outcomes can be mentally undone. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common negative effect of rumination?

Contribution to depression. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes analytic thinking?

Focusing solely on the properties of objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the overconfidence barrier?

People exhibit too much confidence in their judgments' accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome when the Fores matched emotional stories to facial expressions?

They matched the expressions as accurately as Western subjects. Signup and view all the answers

How do cultural schemas affect our understanding of the world?

They provide varied content based on cultural influences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinction between holistic and analytic thinking styles?

Holistic thinking considers context, while analytic focuses on specific details. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of social perception?

It involves forming impressions and making inferences about others. Signup and view all the answers

What does the fundamental attribution error refer to?

The tendency to overestimate dispositional factors in others' behavior Signup and view all the answers

At what age does human self-recognition typically develop?

18 to 24 months Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a child's early self-concept?

Emphasis on physical attributes Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the two-step attribution process?

Automatic internal attribution followed by situational adjustment Signup and view all the answers

As individuals mature, they tend to place less emphasis on which aspect of their self-concept?

Physical characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Cultural influences play a significant role in shaping which aspect of identity?

Self-concept Signup and view all the answers

What do causal theories involve when individuals reflect on their feelings?

Considering past actions and thoughts Signup and view all the answers

During the initial stages of self-concept development, how do children typically define themselves?

Based on observable traits and characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hindsight Bias: After knowing the outcome, people overestimate their ability to have predicted it beforehand

Formulating Hypotheses and Theories

Social Psychological Research: Starts with a hypothesis about the effect of social influence
Hypotheses: Often come from previous research findings

Making Our Schemas Come True: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Expectations about a person influence how we act towards them, causing them to behave in a way that confirms our initial expectations

Analytic Thinking Style: Focus on the properties of objects without considering their surrounding context; common in Western cultures
Holistic Thinking Style: Focus on the overall context, particularly how objects relate to each other; common in East Asian cultures

Self-Concept: One's overall set of beliefs about their personal attributes
Development of Self-Concept:
- Emerges around 18-24 months of age
  - Gradually transitions from concrete characteristics (e.g., age, sex, hobbies) to a more abstract and complex understanding of self
Cultural Influence on Self-Concept: The culture you grow up in significantly shapes your self-concept.

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Description

Explore essential concepts in social psychology, including hindsight bias, self-fulfilling prophecies, and different cultural thinking styles. This quiz will challenge your understanding of how social influence shapes our perceptions and behaviors. Dive into the intricacies of self-concept and social cognition to enhance your grasp of social psychological research.