Social Psychology

What are group polarization and groupthink?

Group polarization: the theory that group discussion reinforces the majority’s point of view and shifts opinions to extreme Groupthink: poor group decision making that occurs as a result of a group emphasizing unity over critical thinking

Explain the errors some people make when using shortcuts to attribute behavior

People often put themselves in the best possible light by assigning external causes for failures and internal causes for success, which is called self-serving bias.

Define social loafing

The tendency to work less hard when sharing the workload with others

What is deindividualization and how does it occur?

Is irrational behavior performed by and individual when there is little or no chance of being identified.

What are two factors that inhibit individual action within a group setting?

Diffusion of responsibility and the bystander effect inhibit individual action within a group setting.

How does the cognitive theory explain aggression?

It assumes aggression is learned in childhood by observing and imitating the behaviors of others

Compare and contrast altruism and aggression

Aggression is intended to do physical or psychological harm to another person. Altruism is the act of helping others without expecting a reward.

Describe Zimbardo’s “prison” experiment

Students volunteered to role-play prisoners and prison guards in a stimulated prison. Within two days, most of the guards were intoxicated with power and acting cruelly, and prisoners began showing signs of extreme stress. The emotional reactions were very extreme they had to end the experiment after 6 days.

Describe Milgram’s obedience experiment

Participants were instructed to administer shocks to learners for incorrect answers, increasing shock levels. 65% of participants administered the full shock despite learner’s pleas.

How is compliance related to conformity?

Compliance is a change in behavior without an accompanying change in thinking.

What are the three elements and three functions of attitudes?

Belief or opinion, feelings, and a tendency to act in certain ways

What is generational identity?

The theory that generations tend to think differently about certain issues because of different formative experiences

__________ occurs when a person wholeheartedly accepts an attitude and the attitude becomes an integral part of the person.

internalization

How do stereotypes and roles strengthen prejudice?

Stereotypes are oversimplified and difficult to change beliefs. Roles are oversimplified and difficult to change ways of acting. They work together to create prejudice and interact in such a way that makes the cycle hard to break.

Describe the relationship between attitudes and behavior in counterattitudinal behavior, self-justification, and self-fulfilling prophecy.

Counterattitudinal behavior: public behavior contradicts private attitudes. Self-justification: either behavior or attitudes must be justified to reduce dissonance Self-fulfilling prophecy: person behaves in such a way as to make the attitude true

Define primacy effect

The tendency to form opinions of others based on first impressions

List and describe the factors involved in choosing friends

Proximity: the nearness of one person to another Reward values: what they add to friendship Physical appearance Similarity: choose friends with similar backgrounds

Define social psychology

The study of how thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behaviors are influenced by interactions with others

Identify 3 factors upon which marital happiness depends

The compatibility of the couple’s needs Whether the husbands and wifes images of themselves coincide with their images of each other And agreement on each spouse’s role in the marriage

The tendency to perform better in the presence of a group is known as _____, and the tendency to perform worse is________.

Social facilitation, social inhibition

What is the difference between task functions and social functions?

Task functions are activities directed toward getting a job done. Social functions are responses directed toward satisfying one’s needs.

What factors work to hold a group together and what factors increase the commitment of a person to a group?

Shared norms, a common ideology, and high commitment. Commitment increases when the individuals can share in group decisions and rewards and when personal sacrifice is required.

Identify the 3 characteristics of a group

Interdependence, shared goals, and communication.