Social Psych
Situationism means
Behavior depends on situation
What is the actor-observer bias?
We tend to explain our own behaviors away while judging others based on their behaviors.
What is the "liking gap"?
People usually like us more than we think they do.
What is prejudice ?
A negative attitude toward an indivdual based on the group that individual belongs to.
It makes us more intimidating, more dangerous, and generally more powerful in bad situations.
Dispositionalism means
Behavior is based on a person's personality/character
What is the self-serving bias?
Good things happen because WE made them happen; bad things are not our fault.
A rule that people follow in a certain society or culture.
What is a stereotype?
A belief or assumption about an individual based on the group they belong to
How can rage harm us?
It can lead us to make very poor decisions that actually increase our danger or get us into trouble.
A collectivist culture is
a culture where people prioritize relationships+responsibilities
What is the just-world hypothesis?
Life is fair, so everybody gets what they deserve.
What is a rebel?
Someone who breaks social norms in some way
What is discrimination?
A harmful action against someone because of the group they belong to.
How can rage benefit a larger group of people?
Rage is a signal that something is wrong. It can spark revolutions and create social movements to change social norms.
An individualistic culture is
A culture where individuals prioritize their own goals and achievement.
Why do people believe in the just-world hypothesis?
It is comforting to us to believe things are fair and means we are not responsible for improving things.
What risks do rebels take by breaking social norms?
They might be excluded from society, punished by the law, killed, etc.
Why do prejudice and discrimination exist?
People learn these attitudes from others in society, and they are often reinforced by social norms.
What is altruism?
Doing kind things for others without the expectation of being rewarded.
Most modern psychologists believe which two things influence behavior?
Who you are (disposition) and what is happening (situation)
What is the common theme between the actor-observer bias, the self-serving bias, and the just-world hypothesis?
All of them reduce our responsibility for bad actions and place the blame for bad things on other people
What is the purpose of social norms?
The purpose of social norms is to keep us unified and allow everyone to prosper by setting ground rules we all agree to and obey.
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
When we believe something is true, we may unconsciously take actions to make sure it actually happens. "This kid is bad at math" = giving the kid a lower grade then their peers for the same answers.
What are two possible explanations for altruistic behavior?
1) We are empathetic towards others and want to help them because we connect with their emotional state.
2) We want to be seen as good people and think of ourselves as good, so we act accordingly.