chapter 14

attribution

a belief concerning why people behave in a certain way

social cognitive theory

a cognitively oriented learning theory in which observational learning and person variables such as values and expectancies play major roles in individual differences

situational attribution

a n assumption that a persons behavior is determined by external circumstances such as the social pressure found in a situation

groupthink

a process in which group members are influenced by cohesiveness and a dynamic leader to ignore external realities as they make decisions

social perception

a subfield of social psychology that studies the ways in which we form and modify impression of others

fear appeal

a type of persuasive communication that influences behavior ion the basis of arousing fear instead of rational analysis of the issues

dispositional attribution

an assumption that a persons behavior is determined by internal causes such as personal traits

prejudice

an attitude toward a group that leads people to evaluate members of that group negativeley

attitude

an enduring mental representation of a person place or thing that typically evokes an emotional response and related behavior

attitude discrepant behavior

behavior inconsistent with an attitude that may have the effect of modifying an attitude

intimacy

close acquaintance and familiarity; a characteristic of a relationship in which partners share their innermost feelings

discrimination

hostile behavior directed against groups toward whom one is prejudiced

attraction

in social psychology, an attitude of liking or disliking negative attraction

altruism

selfless concern for the welfare of others- is connected with some heroic behavior

self serving bias

tendency to view ones successes as stemming from internal factors and ones failures as stemming from external factors

commitment

the decision to maintain a relationship

social influence

the area of social psychology that studies the ways in which people influence the thoughts, feelings and behavior of others

fundamental attribution error

the assumption that others act predominantly on the basis of their disposition even when there is evidence suggesting the importance of their situations

selective exposure

deliberately seeking and attending to information that is consistent with ones attitudes

selective avoidance

diverting ones attention from information that is inconsistent with ones attitudes

stereotyping

erroneous assumptions that all members a group share the same traits or characteristics

foot in the door technique

method for inducing compliance in which a small request is followed by a larger request

consummate love

the ideal form of love within stern bergs model which combines passion , intimacy and commitment

a b problem

the issue of how well we can predict behavior on the basis of attitudes

social facilitation

the process by which a persons performance is increased when other members of a group engage in similar behavior

diffusion of responsibility

the spreading of sharing of responsibility for a decision or behavior within a group

actor observer effect

the tendency to attribute our own behavior to situational factors but to attribute the behavior of others to dispositional factors

bystander effect

the tendency to avoid helping other people in emergencies when other people are also present and apparently capable of helping

primacy effect

the tendency to evaluate others in terms of first impressions

recency effect

the tendency to evaluate others in terms of the most recent impression

elaboration likelihood model

the view that persuasive messages are evaluated (elaborated) on the basis of central and peripheral cues

cognitive dissonance theory

the view that we are motivated to make our cognitions or beliefs constant with each other and with our behavior

romantic love

an intense , positive emotion that involves sexual attraction feelings of caring and the belief that one is in love

effort justification

in cognitive dissonance theory, the tendency to seek justification (acceptable reasons) for strenuous efforts

deindividuation

process by which group members may discontinue self evaluation and adopt group norms and attitudes

social decision schemes

rules for predicting the final outcome of group decision making on the basis of the members initial positions

triangular model of love

stern bergs view that love involves combinations of three components: intimacy, passion and commitment

passion

strong romantic and sexual feelings