social psychology

A type of self-fulfilling prophecy whereby people's social expectations lead them to behave in ways that cause others to confirm their expectations

a belief and feeling that can predispose our response to something or someone

A set of norms that defines how people in a give social position ought to behave

The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request

a tactic for getting people to agree to something. People who agree to an initial request will often still comply when the requester ups the ante. People who receive only the costly request are less likely to comply with it

Tension that arises when one is simultaneously aware of two inconsistent cognitions.

the theory that when we infer them much as would someone observing us- by looking at our behavior and the circumstances under which it occurs

The tendency of mildly depressed people to make accurate rather than self-serving judgments, attributions, and predicitons

One's habitual way of explaining life events.

the evolutionary process by which heritable traits that best enable organisms to survive and reproduce in particular environments are passed to ensuing generations

The study of the evolution of cognition and bahvior using principles of natural selection

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions, shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Standards for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe "proper" behavior.

the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies. its size depends on our familiarity with whoever is near us.

A change in behavior or belief to accord with others

acting in accord with a direct order