Social Psychology
What is attribution?
Explaining behavior by crediting internal traits or external situations.
What is culture?
Shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group.
What is general intelligence (g)?
Spearman’s idea that one underlying ability influences performance across tasks.
What is drive‑reduction theory?
This theory says behavior is driven by biological needs that create tension.
What is sensation?
Detecting physical energy from the environment.
What is the foot‑in‑the‑door technique?
This persuasion technique involves getting someone to agree to a small request before asking for a bigger one.
What is identity?
This term refers to a person’s sense of who they are, shaped by culture and social roles.
What is Gardner’s multiple intelligences?
A theory proposing multiple independent intelligences, such as musical or interpersonal.
What is humanistic theory?
This theory emphasizes personal growth, self‑actualization, and intrinsic motivation.
What is an absolute threshold?
The minimum amount of stimulation needed to detect a stimulus.
What is conformity?
This classic concept shows how people change behavior to match a group.
What is privilege or social power structure?
Unequal access to resources and opportunities based on social group membership.
What are the extremes of intelligence?
IQ scores below 70 or above 130 represent these.
What is achievement motivation?
The desire to master skills, meet goals, and excel.
What is perceptual constancy?
Seeing objects as stable even when lighting or distance changes.
What are stereotypes?
Generalized beliefs about a group that can lead to prejudice and discrimination.
What is research on socioeconomic status (SES)?
Research examining differences in opportunities and outcomes based on income, education, and occupation.
What is reliability?
A test that consistently produces the same results demonstrates this quality.
What is the Schachter‑Singer two‑factor theory?
This theory states that emotion results from interpreting physiological arousal.
What is REM sleep?
This sleep stage is associated with vivid dreams and rapid eye movement.
What is prosocial behavior?
Helping behavior influenced by empathy, mood, and social responsibility.
What is societal treatment of disability?
How society’s treatment of people with disabilities affects their identity and status.
What is intelligence?
Factors such as nutrition, schooling, culture, and genetics all influence this psychological construct.
What are basic or universal emotions?
Research shows these emotions—such as happiness, anger, and fear—appear across cultures.
What are psychoactive drugs?
Drugs that alter brain chemistry by affecting neurotransmitter activity at the synapse.