Social Cognition

  • Social cognition
  • Social psychology
  • Self-concept
  • Self-esteem
  • Social comparison
  • Reference groups
  • Downward social comparison
  • Relative deprivation
  • Social identity theory
  • Self-schemas
  • Unified self-schemas/differentiated self-schemas
  • Actual self, ideal self, ought self
  • Social perception
  • Role of schemas…top-down processing
  • First impressions
  • Forming impressions, lasting impressions
  • Self-fulfilling prophecies
  • Attribution
  • Internal attribution vs. external (situational) attribution
  • Actors, observers…HAROLD KELLY…3 variables…consensus, consistency, distinctiveness
  • Cross-cultural findings on attribution
  • Fundamental attribution error
  • Ultimate attribution error
  • Just world hypothesis
  • Actor-observer bias
  • Self-serving bias
  • Self-protective functions…unrealistic optimism, unique invulnerability, self-handicapping
  • Attitude 
  • Attitude…cognitive, affective, behavioral components
  • Attitude consistency…subjective norm, perceived control, direct experience, monitor
  • Forming attitudes
  • Mere exposure effect
  • Changing attitudes
  • Elaboration likelihood model
  • Peripheral route…persuasion cues
  • Central route
  • Factors affecting the attitude-change process
  • Cognitive dissonance theory…FESTINGER and CARLSMITH…classic study
  • Conditions for cognitive dissonance
  • Self-perception theory
  • Stereotypes
  • Prejudice and its components
  • Discrimination
  • Motivational theories of prejudice…authoritarian personality, in-group/out-group
  • Cognitive theories of prejudice…social categories, illusory correlation
  • Learning theories of prejudice…modeling, observational learning
  • Reducing prejudice…contact theory, jigsaw technique
  • Can ethnic prejudice ever be eliminated?
  • Interpersonal attraction…environmental, proximity, mere exposure effect, etc.
  • Interpersonal attraction…similarity, physical attractiveness, social support, cohesiveness, sexuality
  • Analyzing love…passionate love, companionate love
  • STERNBERG…triangular theory of love…passion, intimacy, commitment, romantic love, companionate love, consummate love
  • Strong/weak marriages