Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality

Name:​ ​Period:​ ​Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality​ ​15-25%​​(of AP Exam Weighting)​ ​Modules:​ ​Essential Questions:​ ​ ​ ​Do people act the same when they are alone versus when they are in a group? Why or why not?​ ​ ​ ​How do expectations, biases, and attitudes affect our relationships with ourselves and others?​ ★ ★ ★ ​ ​ ​Why do you do what you do? Is your “why” determined by your personal choices or what you are rewarded​ ​to do?​ ​4.1 Attribution Theory and Person Perception​ ​(Learning​​Topic)​ ​ earning Objective: 4.1 A​​Explain how attribution​​theory applies to behavior and mental​ L ​processes.​ ​Social Psychology​ ​Social psychology is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and​ ​relate to one another. It examines how social situations shape behavior and​ ​mental processes.​ ​Social Psychology Themes​ ​a.​ ​social thinking​ ​b.​ ​social learning​ ​c.​ ​social influence​ ​d.​ ​relations​ ​e.​ ​cognition​ ​f.​ ​group dynamics​ ​Attribution (Attribution Theory)​ ​a.​ ​Dispositional Attributions​ ​Dispositional attributions assign behavior to internal characteristics like​ ​personality or ability. For example, assuming someone failed because they​ ​are lazy is a dispositional attribution.​ ​Outgroup homogeneity​ ​Outgroup homogeneity is the tendency to see members of an​ ​outside group as more similar to each other than they really are.​ ​b.​ ​Situational Attributions​ ​Situational attributions blame behavior on the situation or environment. For​ ​example, saying someone was late because of traffic.​ ​Fundamental Attribution Error​ ​a.​ ​Just World Hypothesis​ ​This is the belief that people get what they deserve. It can make people​ ​blame victims for bad things that happen to them.​ ​b.​ ​Self-serving bias​ ​This is when we take credit for good things but blame outside factors for​ ​bad things. It helps protect our self-esteem.​ ​Explanatory Style​ ​Explanatory style is how someone explains good and bad events in their life.​ ​Optimistic people see problems as temporary, while pessimistic people see them​ ​as permanent.​ ​Biases:​ ​a.​ ​Actor-Observer Bias​ ​This is when we blame our own behavior on the situation but blame others​ ​on their personality. We understand our situation but not theirs.​ ​b.​ ​Cultural influences on bias:​ ​Individualistic cultures focus more on personal traits. Collectivist cultures​ ​focus more on the situation.​ ​Other Notes:​ ​ nswer Learning Objective:4.1 A​​Explain how attribution theory applies to behavior and​ A ​mental processes.​ ​ ttribution theory explains how we decide why people act a certain way. These explanations​ A ​affect how we judge others and ourselves. Sometimes we blame personality when it is really the​ ​situation. These thinking patterns change how we feel and how we treat people.​ ​Learning Objective: 4.1 B​ ​Explain how locus of control​​(internal and external) applies to​ ​behavior and mental processes​ ​Internal Locus of Control​ ​This means you believe your actions control what happens to you. You think​ ​success or failure depends mostly on you.​ ​External Locus of Control​ ​This means you believe outside forces control what happens. You may blame​ ​luck, fate, or other people.​ ​ nswer Learning Objective: 4.1 B​ ​Explain how locus​​of control (internal and external) applies​ A ​to behavior and mental processes​ ​ ocus of control affects how people react to success and failure. People with an internal locus​ L ​try harder because they believe they are in control. People with an external locus may feel less​ ​motivated because they think they have no control. This belief changes behavior and emotions.​ ​Learning Objective: 4.1 C​​Explain how person perception​​applies to behavior and mental​ ​processes​ ​Attitudes​ ​Attitudes are beliefs and feelings about people or things. They guide how we act.​ ​Mere Exposure Effect​ ​This is when we like something more just because we see it often. Familiar things​ ​feel safer and better.​ ​Self-Fulfilling Prophecy​ ​This happens when expectations cause behavior that makes the expectation come​ ​true. If you believe something will happen, you may act in ways that make it​ ​happen.​ ​Mirror-Image Perceptions​ ​This is when two groups see each other as bad and themselves as good. Both​ ​sides think the other group is wrong.​ ​Social Comparison​ ​This is when we compare ourselves to others. It affects how we feel about​ ​ourselves.​ ​Relative Deprivation​ ​This is when we feel upset because others have more than us. It can lead to​ ​anger or jealousy.​ ​Other Notes:​ ​ nswer Learning Objective: 4.1 C​​Explain how person​​perception applies to behavior and​ A ​mental processes​ ​ erson perception is how we see and judge others. Our attitudes and expectations affect how​ P ​we treat people. Sometimes our beliefs can change what actually happens. These ideas help​ ​explain relationships, group conflict, and self-esteem.