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Library AP Psychology Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality
⁂   AP Psychology · Unit 4

4. Social Psychology and Personality

15–25% of the AP exam. Key topics: Attribution theory: Heider, fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias, actor-observer bias, Attitudes and persuasion: central vs. peripheral route (elaboration likelihood model), cognitive dissonance (Festinger), Conformity: Asch line studies, Compliance techniques: foot-in-the-door, door-in-the-face, reciprocity norm, Obedience: Milgram shock experiment, Group dynamics: social facilitation, social loafing, deindividuation, groupthink, group polarization, Bystander effect: diffusion of responsibility, pluralistic ignorance (Kitty Genovese case), Prejudice and discrimination: stereotypes, in-group vs. out-group bias, scapegoating, just-world hypothesis, realistic group conflict theory (Robbers Cave), contact hypothesis (Allport), Aggression: biological, psychological (frustration-aggression hypothesis), and social-cultural explanations, Prosocial behavior: altruism, reciprocal altruism, Motivation theories: drive-reduction (Hull), instinct/evolutionary, arousal theory, incentive theory, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-determination theory, Hunger and eating: hypothalamus (lateral and ventromedial nuclei), set-point theory, ghrelin and leptin, eating disorders, Emotion theories: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer two-factor, Lazarus cognitive appraisal; Ekman's universal facial expressions; polygraph validity, Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic personality: Freud (id, ego, superego; defense mechanisms; psychosexual stages), Jung, Adler, neo-Freudians, Humanistic personality: Maslow, Rogers (unconditional positive regard, self-concept, self-actualization), Trait theories: Allport, Cattell, Big Five OCEAN (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism), Social-cognitive personality: Bandura's reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy, Rotter's locus of control, Seligman's learned helplessness, Personality assessment: projective tests (Rorschach, TAT), objective tests (MMPI-2).

20 instructional periods 15–25% exam weight standard track

Unit 4: Social Psychology and Personality

Study guide content for this unit is being prepared. Check back soon for complete lesson notes, formula sheets, and worked examples.

Topics in this unit

  • Attribution theory: Heider, fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias, actor-observer bias
  • Attitudes and persuasion: central vs. peripheral route (elaboration likelihood model), cognitive dissonance (Festinger)
  • Conformity: Asch line studies
  • Compliance techniques: foot-in-the-door, door-in-the-face, reciprocity norm
  • Obedience: Milgram shock experiment
  • Group dynamics: social facilitation, social loafing, deindividuation, groupthink, group polarization
  • Bystander effect: diffusion of responsibility, pluralistic ignorance (Kitty Genovese case)
  • Prejudice and discrimination: stereotypes, in-group vs. out-group bias, scapegoating, just-world hypothesis, realistic group conflict theory (Robbers Cave), contact hypothesis (Allport)
  • Aggression: biological, psychological (frustration-aggression hypothesis), and social-cultural explanations
  • Prosocial behavior: altruism, reciprocal altruism
  • Motivation theories: drive-reduction (Hull), instinct/evolutionary, arousal theory, incentive theory, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-determination theory
  • Hunger and eating: hypothalamus (lateral and ventromedial nuclei), set-point theory, ghrelin and leptin, eating disorders
  • Emotion theories: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer two-factor, Lazarus cognitive appraisal; Ekman's universal facial expressions; polygraph validity
  • Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic personality: Freud (id, ego, superego; defense mechanisms; psychosexual stages), Jung, Adler, neo-Freudians
  • Humanistic personality: Maslow, Rogers (unconditional positive regard, self-concept, self-actualization)
  • Trait theories: Allport, Cattell, Big Five OCEAN (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism)
  • Social-cognitive personality: Bandura's reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy, Rotter's locus of control, Seligman's learned helplessness
  • Personality assessment: projective tests (Rorschach, TAT), objective tests (MMPI-2)