Person Perception
What is a Duchenne Smile?
A genuine, sincere smile that includes both the mouth and the eyes
What are the three components of the ABC model of attitudes?
Affect (feelings), Behavior (actions), and Cognition (thoughts).
What is conformity?
When individuals voluntarily change their behavior to match the behavior of others.
What is the Oxford definition of nostalgia?
A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.
what is attitude accessibility, and why does it matter?
it's how easily an attitude comes to mind. More accessible attitudes are more likely to guide behavior.
What does the Universality Hypothesis claim?
Facial expressions of basic emotions are understood across cultures, making them universal
What are dual attitudes?
Holding both a positive and negative attitde toward the same object at the same time (e.g., loving fast food but knowing it's unhealthy).
What is the auto-kinetic effect, and what does it demonstrate abut social influence?
It's an optical illusion where a stationary point of light appears to move. Sherif's study showed how people conform to group norms wen uncertain.
What was nostalgia originally considered to be, and how is that different from how we use the term now?
It was once seen as a medical condition similar to homesickness. Now it's understood as a common, positive emotional experience.
What is the facial feedback hypothesis?
The idea that facial expressions can influence emotional experiences - For example, smiling can make you feel happier.
What is the Halo Effect, and how does it influence first impressions?
It's the tendency to let one positive trait (e.g., attractiveness) influence our entire impression of someone.
What's the difference between implicit and explicit attitudes?
Implicit= automatic, unconscious feelings or beliefs.
Explicit= deliberate, conscious evaluations
What's the difference between informational and normative social influence?
Informational social influence is conforming because we want to be right (we look to others for guidance in certain situations).
Normative social influence is conforming because we want to be accepted and avoid rejection or standing out.
Name a trigger that commonly activates nostalgia and why it works.
Examples: music, smells, old shows, or familiar places. These cues activate memory networks tied to emotional experiences.
What is the just-world hypothesis?
The belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get - often used to rationalize inequality.
What is the fundamental Attribution Error, and how does it differ from Actor-Observer Bias?
FAE= overestimating personality and understating situation in others' behavior. Actor-Observer blaming the situation for ourselves, but blaming personality for others
According to the Message-Learning Approach, what four elements influence persuasion?
Source (who), Message (what), Recipient (to whom) and Context (how).
what is herd mentality, and why can it be dangerous?
Herd Mentality is when people follow the behavior or beliefs of a group without critical thinking. It can be dangerous because it leads individuals to act irrationally or unethically, often resulting in harmful outcomes- like mob behavior, cult dynamics, or unsafe trends.
What is vicarious nostalgia, and why is it significant in understanding group identity?
it's nostalgia for a time or event not personally experienced. It helps people feel connected to a shared cultural or generational identity through media and stories.
what is social contagion and how does it spread behavior in groups?
it's the spread of behaviors, emotions, or ideas through imitation and conformity in groups.
What is the self-fulfilling prophecy, and how can it shape someone's behavior?
A self-fullfilling prophecy happens when our expectations about a person influence how we treat them - which in turn causes them to behave in ways that confirm these expectations. (Example: A teacher who expects a student to excel gives them more support and attention, leading the students to actually excel.)
What does the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) explain about how persuasion happens through two paths:
Central route- involves careful, logical, processing when people are motivated and able to think
Peripheral route- relies on superficial cues like attractiveness or emotion when motivation or ability is down.
This model shows that attitude change through the central route tends to last longer and be more resistant to counter persuasion.
What is deindividualization, and how did it play a role in the Stanford Prison Study?
Deindividualization is when people lose their sense of individuality and adopt group identity or roles. In the study, guards became abusive and prisoners submissive due to their assigned roles, leading to unethical behavior and the study's early termination.
What are two main psychological functions of nostalgia and how do they relate to social behavior?
Nostalgia can increase feelings of belonging and social connection, and boost positive affect. This can enhance group cohesion and prosocial behavior.
What is the peripheral route of persuasion, and when is it most likely to be used?
It relies on superficial cues (e.g. attractiveness, popularity) and is used when people are not motivated or able to process information deeply.