PY 101 Chapter 52: Module 52

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PY 101
• Professor: Tammi Carroll

Document Summary

Social psychology- the scientific study of how people"s thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others o o. Consider the kinds and causes of the individual"s behavior in social situations. Examine how the nature of situations in which we find ourselves influences our behavior in important ways. Attitudes- evaluations of a person, behavior, belief, or concept. Central route processing- the type of mental processing that occurs when a persuasive message is evaluated by thoughtful consideration of the issues and arguments used to persuade. Peripheral route processing- the type of mental processing that occurs when a persuasive message is evaluated on the basis of irrelevant or extraneous factors. High need for cognition- a person"s habitual level of thoughtfulness and cognitive activity = more likely to employ central route processing. Cognitive dissonance- the mental conflict that occurs when a person holds two contradictory attitudes or thoughts (referred to as cognitions)