Localization
Studies that look at how damage to a specific part of the brain affects behavior are investigating the idea of ______
Localization of function
Neurotransmitters are _______________________ that help the brain cells talk to each other.
What is a cognitive bias in simple terms?
It's a way our brain can make errors in thinking or judgment.
According to SIT, what is social categorization?
Naturally categorizing people as belonging to our in-group or to out-groups.
What is enculturation?
The process of learning and adopting the cultural norms and values of one's primary culture.
A research method where scientists correlate the location and size of brain lesions with specific changes in behavior, such as aggression, is a __________________________ study.
correlational
Some studies show that serotonin might be linked to controlling _______________________ behavior
impulsive or aggressive
What does confirmation bias mean?
It means we tend to pay more attention to information that agrees with what we already believe.
According to SIT, what is the motivation behind positive distinctiveness?
Groups want to make themselves appear better than other out-groups.
What are two ways cultural learning is transmitted during enculturation?
Direct Instruction (e.g., parenting)
Observation and Social Learning
Participation in Cultural Practices
Storytelling and Media
The case study of "SM" who had damage to her __________________________ suggests this brain area plays an important role in the experience of fear
amygdala
Describe the method of Passamonti's study
Put participants in fMRI, showed images of different faces, measured brain activity
Bonus: Repeated measures design
Cohen's study (1981) looked at how people remembered details about a woman. What two jobs was she described as having in different versions of the study?
Waitress and librarian
What were the key findings of the minimal group paradigm studies conducted by Tajfel and his colleagues?
Even when individuals were randomly assigned to groups based on trivial criteria, they showed in-group favoritism by allocating more resources to their own group.
What is vicarious learning according to SCT?
Learning about the consequences of behaviors by observing others being rewarded or punished.
To what extent can the findings about SM's reduced experience of fear be generalized to individuals with amygdala damage from different causes or to the general population?
Due to SM's unique genetic condition and the fact that she is a single case, the generalizability of the findings regarding the localized role of the amygdala in fear to broader populations or different causes of amygdala damage is limited.
Passamonti's study found that when serotonin levels were low, a part of the brain called the ________ was less active whenviewing angry faces.
PFC
How did the results of Cohen's study demonstrate confirmation bias?
Participants focused on and remembered information that confirmed their existing stereotypes about the woman's profession
How does SIT differ from Realistic Group Conflict Theory (RCT) in explaining intergroup conflict?
RCT states that conflict arises from competition over scarce resources, while SIT suggests that conflict can occur even when there is no objective competition, simply as a result of in-group favoritism and out-group derogation to enhance social identity
How might cultural norms learned through enculturation influence an individual's behavior in situations involving social influence, such as conformity?
Cultural norms dictate appropriate ways to think and act. The process of enculturation instills these norms, which can then influence the extent to which individuals conform to group behaviors.
How does SM's case study support the topic of localization of function?
It showed a significant reduction in her ability to experience fear, suggesting that the amygdala plays a localized and crucial role in the processing of this emotion.
How does Passamonti's study relate with the topic of neurotransmission?
There was reduced communication between the PFC and amygdala with low serotonin.
According to schema theory, why might confirmation bias occur when we process new information, as seen in Cohen's study?
Our existing schemas (organized knowledge) make it easier to process and remember information that fits with them, conserving cognitive energy
Considering the principles of SIT, what might be one strategy to reduce prejudice and discrimination between groups?
Emphasizing superordinate goals that require cooperation between groups, potentially leading to a recategorization and the creation of a shared in-group identity.