SOC 3200

• depends on the cultural world and time period we live in
• fluid process CHANGES

• we want this type of this info to be true since it's easy to follow and mamke sense
• we tend to focus on the most extreme ends of the explanation instead of the more likely scenario

• Human cognition is completely rational
• Indiv do their best to be right and hold correct opinions

• doesn't leave room for irrational humans
• negative view of human nature

• Looks for
• Consistency of a persons actions (do they always behave this way)
• Consensus (DO others behave this way)
• Distinctiveness of Actions (only one to behave this way)

Not realistic takes a lot of mental energy

when a person attempts to adopt strategies that simplify complex thinking by ignoring info, overusing other info & accepting uncomplete information

 an alternative that is clearly inferior to other possible selections-but serves the purpose of making one of the others look better by comparison. 

when any object is contrasted to something similar but not as good

a procedure based upon the notion that ideas have been recently encountered or frequently activated are more likely to come to mind and thus will used in interpreting social events. 

whether a problem or decision is presented in such a way that it appears to represent the potential for a loss or gain. 

mental shortcut for solving a problem

availability:refers to judgements based upon how easy it is for us to bring specific examples to mind

• when we focus in the similarity of 1 obj. to another to conclude the the 1st obj. acts like the 2nd one.
• used to form impressions and judgements about others

• making decisions by assining obj. either good or bad categories
• play a major role in what we "know" to be true.

bias in which a good or bad impression affects our inferences and future expectations about the person.

• when we dont have time to think
• overloaded with information
• when the issue is not important
• when we dont care to think about it
• when we have very little actual knowledge to make the decision

• when a person begins to act on the impressions they recieve from others
• powerful when you can get ppl to internalize a neg. stigma about themselves

• common ways to categorize ppl is to group them
• in group(my group)
• out group (their group)

see one's in group as better than others and hence give out rewards to those of your group

• idea that we try to preserve what is already establish to maintain our current knowledge, beliefs attiudes and stereotyoes
•  necessary because the world wouldn't be stable
• DOES NOT remove RESPONSIBILITY

the tendency to justify ones action in order to maintain their self-esteem

• a state of tension occurrs whenever an indiv. holds 2 cog. that are psychologically inconsistent
•  ie smoking even though we know it causes cancer
• unpleasant

process of using small favors ro encourage ppl to fulfill larger request

idea that not being able to change the decision you made produces dissonance that needs to be reduced

• focuses on the way ppl view themselves (self conceptualization)most po werful in  situations where the self concept is threatned
• * based on the assumption tht most indiv. like to think of themselves as decent ppl who would not ordinarily mislead somone

• ppl feel personally responsible for their actions
• when their actions have SERIOUS consequences

• recieving insufficient rewards for performing a given task or job.
• if a person accepts a low paying dull job they find benefits or posititves about it in some way
• increasing rewards to the point of over rewardung can extinguish sense of enjoyment

• praise can be beneficial but only if it is done in moderation and in a way that makes a person feel competent
• genuine

• creates dissonance that makes a person question their self concept
• best way to go

idea that if a person goes through a difficult experience in order attain a goal , it becomes more attractive

process of seeing victims as nonhumans,which validates aggression and makes it easier

Largely unconcious process but does not remove responsibility

• indiv feel more dissonance when they do something stupid
• low self esteem feels less dissonance if any

• an intentional action aimed at doing harm or causing pain 
• preplanning

ana ct of agression stemmed from anger aimed at inflicting  pain or injury

• an intention to hurt the other person, but theh hurting to hurt the person besides causing pain
• hit a model to affect their career

• is not purely instinctual or innate
• aggresion in lower animals are inconclusive, determined by the animals previous social exp. as well as the current social context

• any acts tht benefits another person but does not benefit the helper
• involves personal cost to helper

• a release of aggressive energy that has built up over time 
• fooling yourself by thinking the stress is gone

• violence
• amugdala
• testosterone
• alcohol
• pain and discomfort
• fustration from nt reaching a goal
• relative deprivation ( having less than others)
• rejection
• exclusion
• taunting