GROUP INFLUENCES (cont.)
Group Polarization: The enhancement of a group's prevailing
attitudes following discussion within the group.
Groupthink: The form of unrealistic thinking that can
occur in a cohesive group when a desire for harmony within the group
overrides logical and realistic thinking.
SOCIAL RELATIONS
Prejudice: An unjustifiable (and usually negative) attitude
toward a group and its members. Prejudice typically involves stereotyped
beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition toward discriminatory
behavior.
Stereotype: A generalized (sometimes accurate, but often
overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.
Scapegoat Theory: The theory that prejudice offers an
outlet for anger by providing someone to blame for your (or your
society's) problems.
Ingroup: "Us"--the people with whom we share a common
identity.
Outgroup: "Them"--those perceived as different or apart
from one's ingroup.
Ingroup Bias: The tendency to favor one's own group.
The Just-World Phenomenon: The tendency for people to
believe that the world is fair and just and therefore, people get what
they deserve and deserve what they get.
AGGRESSION
Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.
Biological Influences:
Genetics
Neural Influences: amygdala stimulation; diminished
activity in the frontal lobes
Biochemical Influences: testosterone; alcohol
Psychological Influences:
Violence in the media: movies, TV, video games
"Learned" violence at home
Frustration-aggression Principle: When an attempt to
achieve a goal is blocked, frustration is created. This, in turns
creates anger, which can generate aggression. |
PSYCHOLOGY OF
ATTRACTION
1. Proximity: Simple "geographical nearness" may be the most
powerful predictor of friendship and attraction to others. It
helps create The mere-exposure effect: repeated exposure to a
novel stimulus increases our "liking" of that stimulus.
2. Physical Attractiveness: Studies reveal that our 1st
impressions of people are based on their level of physical
attractiveness. While there are many cultural differences in what
is deemed attractive, men are attracted to "youthful" women and women
are attracted to "mature, dominant, and affluent" men.
3. Similarity: We tend to be attracted to people who are similar
to us in beliefs, attitudes, interests, attractiveness level, etc.
In truth, "opposites do not attract".
Love: The premiere researcher in this area is Elaine Hatfield.
Passionate Love: An aroused state of intense positive
absorption in another, usually present at the beginning of a
relationship (also typical of adolescent love).
Companionate Love: The deep affectionate attachment we
feel for those with whom our live are intertwined. It involves:
Equity: A person feels they receive as
much from the relationship as they put into it.
Self-disclosure: Ability to reveal
intimate feelings and aspects about oneself to others.
ALTRUISM
A total unselfish regard for the welfare of others.
Social Exchange Theory: The goal of our social behavior is
to maximize benefits and minimize costs.
Reciprocity Norm: Through socialization, we learn that we should
help, not harm, others----and they may someday help us.
Bystander Effect (or Diffusion of Responsibility): The tendency for a person to be less
likely to give aid in an emergency if other bystanders are present. (We
are MORE likely to help if we are not in a hurry, we are in a good mood,
we have seen someone else being helpful, we feel the victim deserves
help, we feel the victim is somehow similar to us). |