Psychology Unit 2 Social Cognition Revision

Front

What is person perception?

Back

The mental processes we use to form impressions and draw conclusions about the personal characteristics of other people. These can come from physical cues and body language.

Front

How does physical cues affect person perception?

Back

We tend to see physically attractive people as more interesting, warmer, mentally healthy, intelligent, independent and outgoing. (Includes the halo effect)

Front

What is the Halo Effect?

Back

A cognitive bias where the impression we form about one quality of a person influences our beliefs and expectations of a person in other qualities. Eg. Celebrities; they are attractive and successful, they must also be smart and kind!

Front

How does body language affect person perception?

Back

We can make quick and accurate judgements based on body language. E.g. hostility, anger, etc.

Front

What are the 3 things included in body language?

Back

-        Eye contact

Someone who maintains eye contact is seen to be honest, straightforward, friendly and likeable. Too much eye contact is seen as unpleasant and can communicate a threat.

-        Personal space

A small, ‘invisible’ physical area immediately surrounding our body that is seen as our personal territory. Nature of relationship determines who we let in and how close they can be.

-        Facial expressions

Ekman concluded that ‘all people speak and understand the same facial language.’ (Does not apply to neurodivergent people.)

Front

What is saliency detection?

Back

Anything that is noticeable compared to its surroundings or background.

Front

What is the Tri-Component model of attributes? (The ABC & L)

Back

Affective: How you feel about something

Behaviour: What what you do about it

Cognitive: How you think about it.

Limitations: Inconsistent and not always the same/correct.

Front

What is prejudice and it's two types?

Back

Prejudice: Holding a negative attitude towards the members of a group, based solely on their membership of that group.

Old Fashioned Prejudice

-        a form of prejudice in which members of the majority group openly reject minority group members. their views towards the minority group are obvious and recognisable to others

Modern Prejudice

-        modern prejudice: form of prejudice, which is more subtle, hidden and expressed in ways more likely to be accepted within the majority group.

Front

What is discrimination and it's two types?

Back

Discrimination: positive or negative behaviour that is directed towards a social group and its members. (when prejudice takes action)

Direct discrimination

-        When someone is treated unfavourably because of a personal characteristic protected by the law.

      For example, direct discrimination would occur if someone was overlooked for a job specifically based on their sex, marital status or some other relevant personal characteristic.

Indirect discrimination

-        When treating everybody the same way disadvantages someone because of a personal characteristic.

      For example, if an employer refuses to allow employees to wear any head covering in the workplace, this may be indirect discrimination against employees whose cultural or religious background requires that they wear a particular type of head covering.

Front

How can we reduce prejudice?

Back

Intergroup Contact: Contact between members of different groups

Sustained contact: When members of a group/different group are forced to interact

Mutual Interdependent: When two or more individuals are reliant on each other for a desired outcome