Theories about how we understand people
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/a_people_meaning.htm
Explanations > Theories > Theories about how we understand other people
Here are academic theories about how we make sense of the other people, inferring meaning about them.
Attributing cause
Theories about groups
In-class point-bearing exercise: You will be assigned one of these theories and you will develop a story that shows the theory at work. During the exercise you will tell the story, explain the theory then show how the theory worked in the story.
Explanations > Theories > Theories about how we understand other people
Here are academic theories about how we make sense of the other people, inferring meaning about them.
Attributing cause
- Actor-Observer Difference: we see others' behavior caused by disposition, ours by situation.
- Correspondence Bias: We over-estimate dispositional factors over situational factors.
- Correspondent Inference Theory: we assume unusual acts are due to disposition
- Covariation Model: we look for similarities to narrow down attribution in others.
- Fundamental Attribution Error: we overestimate dispositional factors.
- Positivity Effect: we make situational attribution for those we like.
- Scapegoat Theory: we like having someone else to blame.
- Dilution Effect: information about others reduces stereotyping.
- Expectancy Violations Theory: we have expectations of others' behavior, eg. body space.
- False Consensus Effect: we overestimate how much people agree with us.
- Halo Effect: we generalize judgment across traits.
- Implicit Personality Theory: we generalize expectation from a few central. traits.
- Interpersonal Expectancy Effect: Action is based on how we expect others to behave.
- Interview Illusion: after a quick discussion, we believe we can predict many behaviors.
- Out-Group Homogeneity: we see out-group people as 'all the same'.
- Outcome Dependency: we are optimistic about others when we need them to cooperate.
- Reciprocity Norm: expecting others to return our favors.
- Stereotypes: we classify people in broad groups.
- Social Exchange Theory: comparing give and take in relationships.
- Theory of Mind: Guessing what they are thinking.
- Ultimate Attribution Error: we assume broad groups have similar disposition.
- Illusion of asymmetric insight: We think we understand others better than they understand us.
- Language Expectancy Theory: we are shocked by unexpected language.
- Repulsion Hypothesis: we dislike people who are very different from us.
- Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: we language reality into existence.
Theories about groups
In-class point-bearing exercise: You will be assigned one of these theories and you will develop a story that shows the theory at work. During the exercise you will tell the story, explain the theory then show how the theory worked in the story.