Ap Psychology Unit 7 Study Guide

AP Psychology Unit 7 Study Guide: Social Psychology Deep Dive

Unit 7 of AP Psychology delves into the fascinating world of social psychology, exploring how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others, real or imagined. This comprehensive study guide will equip you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to excel in this crucial unit. We'll cover key concepts, theories, and research studies, offering insights and strategies for effective learning and exam preparation. Remember, understanding the nuances and applications of these concepts is key to mastering this section.

Social Cognition: Making Sense of the Social World

Social cognition refers to how we interpret, analyze, remember, and use information about the social world. This involves several crucial processes:

1. Person Perception:

• First Impressions: We make rapid judgments about others based on limited information, often relying on schemas – mental frameworks that organize our knowledge about people and situations. These first impressions can be powerfully resistant to change, even in the face of contradictory evidence. Consider the primacy effect, where the first information we receive disproportionately influences our overall impression.
• Attribution Theory: This explains how we explain the causes of behavior, both our own and others'. We tend to make either internal attributions (dispositional attributions, relating to personality) or external attributions (situational attributions, relating to the environment). The fundamental attribution error is our tendency to overemphasize internal attributions when explaining others' behavior while underestimating situational factors. Self-serving bias reflects our tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors and our failures to external factors.
• Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination: Stereotypes are generalized beliefs about groups of people. Prejudice involves negative attitudes toward a group, while discrimination consists of negative actions directed toward a group. These three concepts are interconnected and often contribute to significant social problems. Consider the realistic conflict theory which posits that prejudice arises from competition for limited resources. In-group/out-group bias describes our tendency to favor our own group and negatively view out-groups.

2. Attitudes and Behavior:

• Attitudes: Attitudes are our evaluations of people, objects, and ideas. They have three components: cognitive (beliefs), affective (feelings), and behavioral (actions). Cognitive dissonance arises when our attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent, leading to discomfort that motivates us to change either our attitude or behavior to reduce the dissonance.
• Persuasion: Persuasion aims to change attitudes. The elaboration likelihood model suggests that persuasion occurs through two routes: the central route (focus on the message's content) and the peripheral route (focus on superficial cues like attractiveness of the speaker). Factors influencing persuasion include credibility, attractiveness, and the audience's characteristics.

Social Influence: Conformity, Obedience, and Group Dynamics

Social influence examines how our behavior is shaped by the presence of others. This includes:

1. Conformity:

• Asch's Conformity Studies: These classic experiments demonstrated the powerful influence of group pressure on conformity, even when the group is clearly wrong. Factors influencing conformity include group size, unanimity, and cultural norms. Normative social influence is conformity driven by the desire to be liked and accepted, while informational social influence stems from the desire to be correct.

2. Obedience:

• Milgram's Obedience Experiments: These controversial studies explored the extent to which individuals would obey authority figures, even when it meant causing harm to others. Factors influencing obedience include the authority figure's legitimacy, proximity to the victim, and the presence of dissenting voices.

3. Group Dynamics:

• Social Facilitation: The presence of others can enhance performance on simple or well-learned tasks but impair performance on complex or novel tasks.
• Social Loafing: Individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone.
• Deindividuation: A loss of self-awareness and personal responsibility in a group setting, often leading to impulsive or antisocial behavior.
• Group Polarization: The tendency for group discussions to strengthen the initial opinions of group members.
• Groupthink: A flawed decision-making process in highly cohesive groups, characterized by the suppression of dissenting opinions and a focus on maintaining group harmony.

Interpersonal Attraction and Relationships

Understanding what draws us to others is a significant aspect of social psychology.

1. Factors Influencing Attraction:

• Proximity: Physical closeness increases the likelihood of interaction and attraction. The mere-exposure effect highlights that repeated exposure to a stimulus increases liking.
• Similarity: We tend to be attracted to others who share similar attitudes, values, and backgrounds. Matching hypothesis suggests that people tend to form relationships with others who are similar in terms of attractiveness.
• Physical Attractiveness: Physical attractiveness plays a significant role in initial attraction, although its importance may diminish over time as relationships develop. Halo effect describes the tendency to attribute positive qualities to physically attractive individuals.
• Reciprocity: We are more likely to be attracted to those who are attracted to us.

2. Types of Love:

• Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love: This theory proposes that love consists of three components: intimacy (closeness and connectedness), passion (intense longing and arousal), and commitment (decision to maintain the relationship). Different combinations of these components create different types of love (e.g., romantic love, companionate love).

Aggression and Prosocial Behavior

Social psychology examines the contrasting behaviors of aggression and prosocial behavior.

1. Aggression:

• Biological Factors: Genetics, hormones (testosterone), and brain structures (amygdala) contribute to aggression.
• Social-Cognitive Factors: Learning, frustration, and social norms influence aggressive behavior. The social learning theory emphasizes the role of observational learning in acquiring aggressive behaviors.
• Environmental Factors: Heat, crowding, and alcohol consumption can increase aggression.

2. Prosocial Behavior:

• Altruism: Helping behavior that is motivated by selfless concern for others.
• Bystander Effect: The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help when others are present. Diffusion of responsibility plays a key role in the bystander effect.
• Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis: Helping behavior is motivated by empathy and a genuine concern for the well-being of others.

Prejudice, Discrimination, and Reducing Social Problems

Addressing prejudice and discrimination requires understanding their underlying causes and developing effective strategies for reducing them.

1. Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination:

• Contact Hypothesis: Contact between groups can reduce prejudice under certain conditions (e.g., equal status, cooperation, shared goals).
• Education: Education can increase awareness of stereotypes and prejudice and promote empathy.
• Legislation: Laws can prohibit discrimination and promote equal opportunities.

Applying Social Psychology Concepts

Understanding social psychology goes beyond simply knowing the theories; it's about applying them to real-world situations. This involves critical thinking and analysis of social issues.

1. Case Studies and Real-World Examples:

Throughout your studies, analyze real-world examples of social psychological phenomena. Consider news events, historical examples, and everyday interactions. This practical application reinforces your understanding and strengthens your ability to critically analyze social behavior.

2. Ethical Considerations:

Many classic social psychology studies raise ethical concerns regarding informed consent, deception, and potential harm to participants. Reflecting on these ethical considerations is vital for responsible application of social psychological knowledge.

This comprehensive study guide provides a strong foundation for mastering AP Psychology Unit 7. Remember to actively engage with the material, connect concepts, and utilize various learning strategies to achieve a deep understanding of social psychology's complexities. Good luck with your studies!