PSYC1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Fundamental Attribution Error, Social Perception, Startle Response
19 May 2018
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Social perception 1
Social perception: process by which people come to understand and categorise the behaviours
of others
Definitions
Attribution theory
We tend to give a casual explanation for someone's
behaviour
Often crediting either internal dispositions or external
situations
Internal attribution
Explaining behaviour as due to dispositional factors
External attribution
Explaining behaviour as due to situational factors
Covariation model
• Consistency information
o Does the actor behave the same toward the stimulus in difference situations
• Consensus information
o Do other people behave the same toward the stimulus
• Distinctiveness information
o Does the actor behave the same toward different stimuli
Screen clipping taken: 7/06/2017 8:45 PM
Screen clipping taken: 7/06/2017 8:46 PM
Covariation model
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Screen clipping taken: 7/06/2017 8:46 PM
Correspondence Bias and FAE
• Correspondence bias (CB)
o Tendency to infer that traits correspond to behaviour
• Fundamental attribution error (FAE)
o Tendency to over-attribute behaviour to personality traits and underestimate
situational influences
Quiz show paradigm
• Ross et al. 1977
• Randomly assigned to role of contestant or questioner
• Questioner prepares 10 challenging questions
• Second study had added role of observer
• DV = ratings for contestant and questioner on general knowledge
• Results
o Contestants got 4/10 correct
o No difference in questioners' rating of their own knowledge and contestants'
knowledge
o Both contestants and observers rated questioners as more knowledgeable than
contestants
• Shows influence of social roles was underestimated
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Social perception: process by which people come to understand and categorise the behaviours of others. Attribution theory we tend to give a casual explanation for someone"s behaviour. Often crediting either internal dispositions or external situations. Internal attribution explaining behaviour as due to dispositional factors. External attribution explaining behaviour as due to situational factors. Covariation model: consistency information, does the actor behave the same toward the stimulus in difference situations, consensus information, do other people behave the same toward the stimulus, distinctiveness information, does the actor behave the same toward different stimuli. Correspondence bias and fae: correspondence bias (cb, tendency to infer that traits correspond to behaviour. Fundamental attribution error (fae: tendency to over-attribute behaviour to personality traits and underestimate situational influences. 1977: randomly assigned to role of contestant or questioner, questioner prepares 10 challenging questions, dv = ratings for contestant and questioner on general knowledge, results.
