This document provides an overview of key concepts in social psychology including group behavior, social cognition, obedience, power, attitudes, and persuasion. It defines important terms and concepts like social groups, norms, attribution theory, conformity, obedience, types of power, the mere-exposure effect, cognitive dissonance, and more. Experiments by Solomon Asch and Stanley Milgram are summarized that studied conformity and obedience. The document aims to explain how social situations and influences can impact human behavior.

1. Social Psychology
Lesson One: Group Behavior
What is social psychology?
Key Term: Description:
Social Group
Norm
Role
What is the “Power of the Situation?”
What is Social Loafing, and what are a few reasons why it happens?
Description -
Why it happens:
1.
2.
3.

2. Key Social Psychology Terms:
Key Term: Description: Personal Examples:
Social Facilitation
Groupthink
Group Polarization
Minority Influence
Deindividuation: Examples:
Where does this happen?

3. Diffusion of
Responsibility
Altruism
Does the story of Kitty Genovese surprise you at all? Why or why not?
Lesson Two: Attribution and Prejudice
What is social cognition?
Social
Thinking
Attribution Theory
Dispositional
Attributions
Situational
Attributions

4. Evaluating Behavior:
What is the “Just World Phenomenon” and do you agree with the idea?
How have people used the just world phenomenon in the past to rationalize their behavior?
Ingroup:
Outgroup
Self-Serving Bias Fundamental Attribution Error

5. What is the “Scapegoat Theory?”
What is the difference between:
• Prejudice –
• Stereotype –
Causes of Conflict:
Conflict Key Term: Description:
Ethnocentrism
Out of Group Homogeneity
How do we increase team work and cooperation?
Key Term: Description:
Contact Theory
Super ordinate Goal

6. Lesson Three Objectives: Obedience, Power, and Social Influence
Key Term: Description:
Normative Social Influence
Conformity
Chameleon Effect
Provide a brief summary of Solomon Asch’s research on conformity:
What are three main reasons why we might conform:
1.
2.
3.
Provide a brief summary of Stanley Milgram’s research on Obedience:
Identify two times when obedience is at its highest:
1.
2.

7. Types of Power:
Type of Power: Description: Example:
Coercive
Reward
Legitimate
Expert
Referent
Lesson Four: Attitudes and Persuasion
Key Term: Description:
Attitude
Foot in the Door Phenomenon
Reciprocity
What is the Mere-Exposure Effect and how do you see it happen in your life?
Elaboration Likelihood Model
Central Route to Persuasion
Peripheral Route to Persuasion

8. • Definition –
• Example -
What is Cognitive Dissonance and how do you see it happen in your life?
• Definition –
• Example -