Sources of Bias in Social Cognition

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Questions and Answers

What role did the philosophical ideas of Plato and Aristotle play in social psychology?

They were the first to study group dynamics.

They shaped early notions of human behavior and interaction. (correct)

They established the principles of cognitive dissonance.

They focused on empirical methods for psychological research.

How do internal attributions differ from external attributions in Attribution Theory?

Internal attributions focus on external circumstances.

Internal attributions assign behavior to personal characteristics. (correct)

External attributions are always negative in nature.

External attributions emphasize personal traits.

Which of the following best describes confirmation bias?

The inclination to favor information that confirms existing beliefs. (correct)

The process of actively seeking disconfirming evidence.

The tendency to evaluate information objectively.

The ability to recognize one's own biases in judgment.

What effect do heuristics have on social information processing?

They speed up decision-making at the potential cost of accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive bias is characterized by judging individuals based on stereotypes?

Stereotyping. Signup and view all the answers

How may ingroup bias affect our perception of others?

It can lead to unfair favoritism towards members of one's own group. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome of attribution errors in social judgments?

Misinterpretation of behavioral causes. Signup and view all the answers

How does cultural context influence attribution styles?

Cultural differences can shape whether people lean towards internal or external attributions. Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains how people's thoughts and behaviors are influenced by their perceptions of others?

Social Psychology Signup and view all the answers

How does social cognition primarily function in social situations?

By processing and interpreting social signals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes an individual's ability to understand another person's emotional state through observation?

Empathy Signup and view all the answers

What is a schema in the context of social cognition?

A cognitive framework for organizing information Signup and view all the answers

What does the process of forming first impressions often rely on?

Physical appearance and behavior Signup and view all the answers

When interpreting facial expressions and body language, what psychological process is at play?

Social cognition Signup and view all the answers

What can influence an individual’s mood and attitude according to social psychology concepts?

The behavior of people around them Signup and view all the answers

In social cognition, how might stereotype formation affect perception?

It can distort understanding and lead to misjudgments Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the tendency to favor one’s own group over others?

Ingroup Bias Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of ingroup bias?

Helping only members of your own team during a competition Signup and view all the answers

Ingroup bias can lead to which of the following outcomes?

Unfair bias against outgroup members Signup and view all the answers

How does ingroup bias influence social cognition?

It distorts perceptions of outgroup behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a common consequence of ingroup bias?

Overlooking the strengths of outgroup members Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive process is most directly related to ingroup bias?

Social categorization Signup and view all the answers

What is a common way to reduce ingroup bias?

Increasing interaction with outgroup members Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is an opposite of ingroup bias?

Intergroup harmony Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Confirmation Bias: The inclination to favor information that aligns with existing beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence.
Stereotyping: Generalized beliefs about groups that impact individual perceptions and judgments.
Ingroup Bias: Preference for one's own group leading to favorable treatment of ingroup members and prejudice against others.
Attributional Biases: Errors in understanding behavior causes, resulting in simplistic or incorrect conclusions.

Attribution Theory

Developed by Fritz Heider in the 1950s; furthered by scholars like Harold Kelley and Bernard Weiner.
Key Components:
- Internal (Dispositional) Attribution: Ascribes behavior to personal traits or feelings.
- External (Situational) Attribution: Attributes behavior to outside influences such as environment or luck.

Mental Shortcuts and Cognitive Biases

Heuristics: Mental shortcuts that simplify decision-making processes.
Impact of Cognitive Biases: Biases like confirmation and stereotyping can distort social information processing and judgment formation.

The scientific exploration of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others' presence.
Understanding social behavior is crucial as perceptions of self and others directly affect actions and decisions.

Social Cognition: Psychological processes involved in interpreting social signals to respond appropriately.
First Impressions: Fast judgments based on appearance and behavior, which can shape overall perceptions.
Empathy: The ability to understand and interpret emotions through cues like facial expressions, leading to supportive behaviors.

Schema

Defined as a cognitive structure that organizes and interprets information, facilitating understanding and decision-making.

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Description

Explore various sources of bias in social cognition, including confirmation bias, stereotyping, ingroup bias, and attributional biases. Understand how these biases influence perceptions and judgments about others. Additionally, delve into the fundamentals of attribution theory and mental shortcuts that shape our decision-making processes.