Psychology - Chapter 13 Social Psychology - Key Words

study of how people influence others’ behaviour, beliefs and attitudes

theory that we seek to evaluate our abilities and beliefs by comparing them with those of others

outbreak of irrational behaviour that is spread by social contagion

process of assigning causes to behaviour

tendency to overestimate the imapct of dispositional influences on other people’s behaviour

tendency of people to alter their behaviour as a result of group pressure

tendency of people to engage in uncharacteristic behaviour when they are stripped of their usual identities

empahsis on group unanimity at the expense of critical thinking

tendency of group discussion to strengthen the dominant positions held by individual group members

group of individuals who exhibit intense and unquestioning devotion to a single cause

approach to convincing people to change their minds about somehting by first introducing reasons why the perspective might be correct and then debunking them

adherence to instructions from those of higher authority

error of assuming that no one in a group perceives things as we do

reduction in feelings of personal responsibility in the presence of others

phenomenon whereby individuals become less productive in groups

helping others for unselfish reasons

learning about psychological research can change real-wolrd behaviour for the better

behaviour intended to harm others, either verbally or physically

form of indirect aggression, prevalent in girls, involving spreading rumours, gossiping, and nonverbal putdowns for the purpose of social manipulation

belief that includes an emotional component

personality trait that assesses the extent to which people’s behaviour reflects their true feelings and attitudes

unpleasant mental experience of tension resulting from two conflicting thoughts or beliefs

theory that we acquire our attitudes by observing our behaviours

theory that we don’t really change our attitudes, but report that we have so that our behaviours appear consisten with our attitudes

persuasive technique involving making a small request before making a bigger one

persuasive technique involving making an unreasonably large request before making the small request we're hoping to have granted

persuasive technique in which the seller of a product starts by quoting a low sales price, and then mentions all of the "add-on" costs once the customer has agreed to purchase the product

drawing negative conclusions about a person, group of people, or situation prior to evaluating the evidence

a belief, positive or negative, about the characteristics of members of a group that is applied generally to most members of the group

assumption that behaviours among individual members of a group are due to their internal disposition

evolutionary principle that creates a predisposition toward distrusting anything or anyone unfamiliar or different

tendency to favour individuals within our group over those from outside our group

tendency to view all individuals outside our group as highly similar

negative behaviour toward members of out-groups

claim that prejudice arises from a need to blame other groups for our misfortunes

claim that our attributions and behaviours are shaped by a deep-seated assumption that the world is fair and all things happen for a reason

unfounded negative belief of which we're aware regarding the characteristics of an out-group

unfounded negative belief of which we're unaware regarding the characteristics of an out-group

educational approach designed to minimize prejudice by requiring all children to make independent contributions to a shared project