PSYC 1101 Study Guide - Final Guide: Social Proof, Fundamental Attribution Error, Normative Social Influence

• School: Northeastern University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1101
• Professor: James D.Akula

Document Summary

Attribution theory posits that we take into account both the person and the situation when sizing up the behaviors of others. Fundamental attribution error, wherein we fail to correctly recognize the importance of situation. The fundamental attribution error is common across all cultures, but members of collectivist cultures seem to be somewhat better able to incorporate the power of situation into their evaluations of others. Conservatives tend to attribute social problems (poverty, single parenthood, etc. ) to personality, believing people pretty much get what they deserve. In large-scale changes, typically a smaller group of people are persuaded by the central route and then others follow peripherally. The central route to persuasion is, in essence, reasoned persuasion: in this route, the argument or the content of a message convince a person or persons to adopt a particular attitude. Dicaprio began espousing the virtues of environmentalism, you might, too, since you like his movies or think he"s cute.