Key Terms
Social psychology
Scientific study of how we feel, think, and behave toward others, and how others influence us.
Social situation
The people we are currently interacting with.
Social cognition
Thinking that helps us understand and predict behavior.
Social norms
Accepted beliefs about appropriate behavior in a given situation.
Cultural variation
Preferences for youth, symmetry, and averageness are universal. Preference for thinness is not; it's a Western norm that
Stereotyping
Attributing traits to people based on appearance or group membership.
Prejudice
Tendency to dislike someone because of appearance or group membership.
Discrimination
Negative behavior toward others based on prejudice.
Self-fulfilling prophecy
When expectations cause behavior that makes those expectations come true.
Ingroup
People we see as similar to us, our group. Outgroup: people we see as different, outside our group.
Social identity
Positive emotions from belonging to a group.
Reducing prejudice
Positive contact with outgroup members, practice, and education all help reduce stereotyping and discrimination.
Causal attribution
Determining the cause of someone's behavior.
Self-serving attribution
Crediting yourself for success, blaming circumstances for failure.
Attitude
Relatively enduring evaluation of a person or thing.