Chapter 15: Social Psychology
Chapter Review
Summarizing the Principles of Social Psychology
How Do We Know Ourselves?1. Our self-concept consists of self-knowledge: Self-schemas are the cognitive aspects of self-knowledge and the working self-concept is what is activated and processed at any given time. Interdependendent and independent self-construals are culture-based.
2. Perceived social regard influences self-esteem: Self-esteem is influenced by reflected appraisal. In sociometer theory, the basic need to belong influences social anxiety relative to self-esteem. Self-esteem may also be influenced by death anxiety.
3. We use mental strategies to maintain our views of self: Positive illusions of self are common. Self-esteem is influenced by our comparisons to others. A self-serving bias helps maintain positive self-esteem and may be culturally in- fluenced.
How Do Attitudes Guide Behavior?
4. We form attitudes through socialization and experience: Attitudes are influenced by familiarity (the mere exposure effect), and can be shaped by conditioning and socialization by others.
5. Behaviors are consistent with strong attitudes: Implicit attitudes (those that are automatic and easily activated from memory) influence behavior and may differ from explicit attitudes (those that we profess).
6. Discrepancies lead to dissonance: A mismatch between attitudes or an attitude and a behavior cause cognitive dissonance, which is often resolved by a change in attitude. A behavioral change is possible but more difficult to accomplish. To justify discrepant behavior, many people often in- flate the positive aspects of the experience.
7. Attitudes can be changed through persuasion: Persuasion often works by either focusing on the message (the central route) or the feelings the message generates (the peripheral route).
How Do We Form Our Impressions of Others?
8. Nonverbal actions and expressions affect our impressions: Nonverbal behavior (body language) is quickly interpreted and provides valuable information.
9. We make attributions about others: We use personal dispositions and situational factors to explain the behavior of others. Fundamental attribution error is when the personal attributions are favored over the situational attributions in explaining behavior.
10. Stereotypes are based on automatic categorization: Stereotypes are cognitive schemas that allow for fast, easy processing of social information, and can lead to bias and illusory correlations. Self-fulfilling prophecies occur when people behave in a way that confirms the biases of stereotypes.
11. Stereotypes can lead to prejudice: Prejudice occurs when the associated attitude is negative. Having a negative bias can lead to discriminatory actions. We show a preference for members of our ingroup versus those in the outgroup.
How Do Others Influence Us?
12. Groups influence individual behavior: The presence of others can improve performance (social facilitation) or create laziness (social loafing). Loss of personal identity CHAPTER 15 | Social Psychology 656 and self-awareness (deindividuation) can occur in groups. Group decisions can be extreme.
13. We conform to social norms: Socially determined influences on behavior occur through awareness of social norms. Lack of unanimity diminishes conformity.
14. We are compliant: A variety of factors influence the likelihood of compliance including what mood we are in and whether we've previously agreed to a lesser request (footin- the-door effect).
15. We are obedient to authority: People readily behave in ways directed by authorities even to the extent of harming others.
When Do We Harm or Help Others?
16. Aggression can be adaptive: Brain structures, neurochemistry, and hormones influence aggression. Biologically based responses can be adaptive. Frustration can lead to aggression.
17. Aggression has social and cultural aspects: Aggression is not entirely adaptive and is influenced by the social and cultural experiences we have.
18. Many factors may influence helping behavior: Prosocial behaviors maintain social relations. Altruism toward kin may favor inclusive fitness. Reciprocal helping is more likely in social groups in which survival depends on cooperation.
19. Some situations lead to bystander apathy: The presence of others in an emergency may create a diffusion of responsibility causing individual inaction.
What Determines the Quality of Relationships?
20. Situational and personal factors influence friendships: People affiliate with those who are similar and possess valued characteristics, including attractiveness.
21. Love is an important component of romantic relationships: In romantic relationships, passionate love evolves into companionate love.
22. Making love last is difficult: As passion fades, couples must develop other areas of satisfaction. Jealousy arises out of fears of infidelity. How couples deal with conflict influences the stability of the relationship. Generally, happy couples have positive views of their partners and their relationships.
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