Social Psychology
Give 2 forces that cause us to conform to what others are doing.
Social contagion, the chameleon effect, social norms
True or false: Most people who have depression attempt suicide.
False
In what stage of sleep does dreaming occur?
REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep
True or false: "Nature" is usually a better explanation for behavior than "nurture".
False--nature and nurture are not in competition. Instead, they interact.
Give an example of 2 conditions under which we are most likely to help others
Perceived need and deservingness, similarity to us, being in a small group, no time pressure, witnessing prosocial behavior, being in a good mood
Give 2 pros and 2 cons of diagnosis
Pros: access to care, feels validating, allows research and communication between therapists
Cons: stigma and discrimination, risk of over-pathologizing normal stress, can create a self-fulfilling prophecy
What's the difference between depressant and stimulant drugs?
Depressants slow down the central nervous system, leading to reduced neural activity, relaxation, and impaired judgment (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines). Stimulants increase neural activity, boosting alertness, energy, and mood (e.g., caffeine, nicotine, cocaine).
What are 3 areas related to behavior (discussed in class) in which men and women show differences?
Aggression patterns, level of social dominance, and level of social connectedness
What is social facilitation?
What is the difference between inattentive and hyperactive subtypes of ADHD?
The inattentive subtype: difficulties with sustaining attention, organization, and follow-through, along with being easily distracted or forgetful.
The hyperactive-impulsive sub-type: excessive movement, restlessness, impulsive decision-making, and difficulty waiting or sitting still.
Inattentional blindness is the failure to notice a visible object or event because your attention is focused on something else.
Describe an aspect of culture we discussed in class that might influence a person's behavior.
Social norms: Unwritten rules that coordinate behavior and maintain social order
Tight vs loose cultures: Some cultures strictly enforce rules, others allow flexibility
Individualism vs collectivism: Priority on personal goals versus group harmony and loyalty
Give 2 reasons why we might go along with something we know is wrong.
Authority figure is close, its coming from a prestigious institution, the victim is distant, we have no role model for defiance, we have been convinced to do gradually worse things over time (foot-in-the-door technique)
What are two approaches to treating anorexia?
Nutritional rehabilitation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exposure-based therapies
What do we mean by "parallel processing"?
Parallel processing refers to the brain’s ability to handle multiple streams of information at once, and it happens on both conscious and unconscious tracks. The unconscious track processes routine information automatically—like recognizing patterns or guiding well-practiced actions—while the conscious track handles deliberate, effortful processing.
What are epigenetics?
Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors can change gene activity without altering the DNA sequence itself. These changes can turn genes “on” or “off” and can influence behavior, health, and development (e.g,. chronic stress can activate chemical markers that reduce the expression of genes involved in regulating stress hormones).
What is social exchange theory and how does it influence behavior?
Social exchange theory proposes that people make decisions in relationships by weighing the potential rewards (like approval, support, or benefits) against the potential costs (such as effort, time, or conflict). According to the theory, individuals tend to act in ways that maximize rewards and minimize costs.
Describe the role of culture in diagnosis.
Culture shapes the expression and experience of symptoms and some diagnoses only exist in specific cultural communities.
Describe 2 theories of why we dream
Wish Fulfillment: Dreams allow us to safely experience unacceptable feelings
Describe how natural selection lead humans to be so similar.
Natural selection favors traits that help individuals survive and reproduce in their environment, and over many generations, these advantageous traits become more common in the population. Because all humans evolved within the same species and faced many shared evolutionary pressures, humans share a large percentage of their genes, similar cognitive abilities, and many universal behaviors.