Social Influence in Action
A student laughs at a joke they don’t find funny because everyone else is laughing.
Conformity
A teacher assumes a student failed a test because they’re lazy, ignoring that the student was sick all week.
fundamental attribution error
Students working in a large group put in less effort than when they work alone.
social loafing
Assuming a new student is nice just because they are attractive.
halo effect
A student feels obligated to help a classmate who helped them study last week.
social reciprocity norm
A teen chooses a popular brand mainly to be accepted by their peer group.
normative social influence
After getting an A, a student says it was because they’re smart; after failing, they blame the test being unfair.
self-serving bias
A normally shy student becomes loud and reckless while part of a large crowd.
deindividuation
Believing all members of a group share the same traits.
stereotyping
A person helps an injured stranger because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
social responsibility norm
During a test review, a student changes their answer after realizing most classmates chose a different one and assumes they’re right.
Informational social influence
A coach believes a player is unmotivated instead of considering that they’re dealing with problems at home. This is a_____ attribution.
dispositional attribution
After discussing an issue, a group becomes more extreme in the opinion they already held.
group polarization
Refusing to hire someone because of their group membership.
discrimination
A group with members from different cliques works together to win a school-wide competition.
superordinate goals
A student agrees to donate $5 to a fundraiser after first being asked to donate $100.
door-in-the-face technique
A student believes they failed a quiz because the room was loud and distracting. This is a ____ attribution.
situational attribution
Several people witness someone fall, but no one helps because they assume someone else will.
diffusion of responsibility
Cheering harder for your own school’s team than for others, regardless of skill.
ingroup bias
A student performs better on an easy quiz when classmates are watching.
social faciliation
After agreeing to put a small sticker on their locker for a cause, a student later agrees to wear a large campaign shirt all day.
foot-in-the-door-technique
Someone believes that people who experience bad outcomes must have done something to deserve it.
Just world phenomenon
A person is less likely to help during an emergency when others are present.
bystander effect
Believing most people agree with your opinion because it feels common to you.
false consensus effect
A student performs worse on a difficult presentation because others are watching.
social inhibition