PSYC 1004 EXAM 4
Social Cognition
the thoughts we have about the stimuli in our environment, which typically arise when a
schema is activated
Schemas
Mental categories our brain uses to quickly make a judgment about our surroundings in
order to save processing power. At their most basic level, they help us assess our
approach to stimuli, and more complex schemas can infer personality characteristics of
people around us and suggest how we should act.
Social Cognitive Biases
A reliance on schemas to make assumptions about social situations; they are often
incomplete but have solidified over time and become a bias
Attribution
An assumption of why a person is acting a certain way
Fundamental Attribution Error
Attributing a person's behavior to what we assume to be his/her personality rather than
factors outside of that individual (e.g., the situation)
Self-Serving Bias
Taking credit for our successes and blaming failures on situational factors in order to
maintain a positive view of ourselves
Cognitive Load
The notion that people can only process so much information at once, given their
capabilities and the amount/intensity of the stimuli around them
Cognitive Misers
they try to use as little processing power possible to make decisions, typically by heavy
reliance on schemas to navigate their environment
Affiliation
Connecting with others you identify with in some way
In-Group
A group with which an individual is affiliated
Out-Group
A group an individual believes s/he is not a part of nor affiliated with in particular ways
Intergroup Bias
The tendency to favor an in-group (with which we identify) and undervalue out-groups
(those with which we do not identify)
In-Group Favoritism
Believing our in-group is better than certain out-groups, and benefitting that in-group
through thoughts and/or actions
Group-Serving Bias
Accepting positive aspects of our in-group despite evidence that contradicts these
beliefs
Attraction
, Feeling interested or drawn to another person as a result of the individual's
characteristics (i.e., physical, intellectual, or emotional) or social standing (i.e.,
popularity, power, or affiliation)
Social Comparison
Self-evaluation by comparison with others (i.e., "I'm smarter than they are" or "I'm more
attractive than her/him")
Homogeneity Effect
The assumption that members of a particular out-group are "homogenous," or very
similar to each other on particular characteristics
Stereotypes
Assumptions that members of a particular out-group share certain characteristics or
behaviors
Halo Effect
The tendency to make assumptions about a person based on a single positive
characteristic. This is best understood not in a religious sense (e.g., "good" or angelic)
but in terms of light - a "halo" radiating from a single source of life, like the sun
Prejudice
Negative attitudes resulting from stereotypes
Intergroup Contact Theory
A theory that states prejudice is based on a lack of , and more contact between groups
will lead to greater understanding and less prejudice
Discrimination
Negative action stemming from a stereotype
Peripheral Route
One of the two paths to changing an attitude; this route of attitude change attempts to
intervene on beliefs that are not very strong
Central Route
One of two paths to changing an attitude; this route of attitude change attempts to
intervene on core beliefs (e.g., personal values or other strongly held ideas)
Reciprocity
A feeling of obligation arising from the notion that we are in debt to someone when they
do us a favor
Ingratiation
A conscious effort to get others to like us
Impression Management
Actively managing the way you believe others perceive you (e.g., buying clothes you
cannot afford to convey an appearance of wealth)
Self-Monitoring
monitoring others' reactions and adjusting our actions to change the way we believe
they perceive us
Consistency
The pressure we feel to behave in ways that are in concert with our attitudes and
beliefs, or to behave in ways we know others expect us to behave
Cognitive Dissonance
Tension or discomfort when an individual's attitudes and beliefs are not aligned or
consistent
Social Cognition
the thoughts we have about the stimuli in our environment, which typically arise when a
schema is activated
Schemas
Mental categories our brain uses to quickly make a judgment about our surroundings in
order to save processing power. At their most basic level, they help us assess our
approach to stimuli, and more complex schemas can infer personality characteristics of
people around us and suggest how we should act.
Social Cognitive Biases
A reliance on schemas to make assumptions about social situations; they are often
incomplete but have solidified over time and become a bias
Attribution
An assumption of why a person is acting a certain way
Fundamental Attribution Error
Attributing a person's behavior to what we assume to be his/her personality rather than
factors outside of that individual (e.g., the situation)
Self-Serving Bias
Taking credit for our successes and blaming failures on situational factors in order to
maintain a positive view of ourselves
Cognitive Load
The notion that people can only process so much information at once, given their
capabilities and the amount/intensity of the stimuli around them
Cognitive Misers
they try to use as little processing power possible to make decisions, typically by heavy
reliance on schemas to navigate their environment
Affiliation
Connecting with others you identify with in some way
In-Group
A group with which an individual is affiliated
Out-Group
A group an individual believes s/he is not a part of nor affiliated with in particular ways
Intergroup Bias
The tendency to favor an in-group (with which we identify) and undervalue out-groups
(those with which we do not identify)
In-Group Favoritism
Believing our in-group is better than certain out-groups, and benefitting that in-group
through thoughts and/or actions
Group-Serving Bias
Accepting positive aspects of our in-group despite evidence that contradicts these
beliefs
Attraction
, Feeling interested or drawn to another person as a result of the individual's
characteristics (i.e., physical, intellectual, or emotional) or social standing (i.e.,
popularity, power, or affiliation)
Social Comparison
Self-evaluation by comparison with others (i.e., "I'm smarter than they are" or "I'm more
attractive than her/him")
Homogeneity Effect
The assumption that members of a particular out-group are "homogenous," or very
similar to each other on particular characteristics
Stereotypes
Assumptions that members of a particular out-group share certain characteristics or
behaviors
Halo Effect
The tendency to make assumptions about a person based on a single positive
characteristic. This is best understood not in a religious sense (e.g., "good" or angelic)
but in terms of light - a "halo" radiating from a single source of life, like the sun
Prejudice
Negative attitudes resulting from stereotypes
Intergroup Contact Theory
A theory that states prejudice is based on a lack of , and more contact between groups
will lead to greater understanding and less prejudice
Discrimination
Negative action stemming from a stereotype
Peripheral Route
One of the two paths to changing an attitude; this route of attitude change attempts to
intervene on beliefs that are not very strong
Central Route
One of two paths to changing an attitude; this route of attitude change attempts to
intervene on core beliefs (e.g., personal values or other strongly held ideas)
Reciprocity
A feeling of obligation arising from the notion that we are in debt to someone when they
do us a favor
Ingratiation
A conscious effort to get others to like us
Impression Management
Actively managing the way you believe others perceive you (e.g., buying clothes you
cannot afford to convey an appearance of wealth)
Self-Monitoring
monitoring others' reactions and adjusting our actions to change the way we believe
they perceive us
Consistency
The pressure we feel to behave in ways that are in concert with our attitudes and
beliefs, or to behave in ways we know others expect us to behave
Cognitive Dissonance
Tension or discomfort when an individual's attitudes and beliefs are not aligned or
consistent
