PSYC 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Fundamental Attribution Error, Dispositional Attribution, Peer Pressure

• School: Northeastern University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1101
• Professor: Eidson

Document Summary

*social psychology- how we think in relation to other people, how other people influence not only our thinking but actions and how we treat/ relate to each other. Social psychologists- examine aspects of the classroom situation that would influence any stude(cid:374)t"s de(cid:272)isio(cid:374) a(cid:271)out speaki(cid:374)g. Attribution- a conclusion about the cause of an observed behavior/event. Attribution theory- we explain others behavior with two types of attributions situational and dispositional. Situational attribution- factors outside the person doing the action, such as peer pressure. Dispositional attribution- the persons stable, enduring traits and personality influence the action. *fundamental attribution error- (cid:449)he(cid:374) (cid:449)e go too far i(cid:374) assu(cid:373)i(cid:374)g that a perso(cid:374)"s (cid:271)eha(cid:448)ior is caused by their personality think a behavior demonstrates a trait. William college study- paid a woman to act friendly/ unfriendly- participants knew she was paid and ignored the fact. When we explain our own behavior we tend to blame the situation for our failures and then take personal credit for our successes.