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The tendency to respond to a positive action with another positive action, fostering positive social behaviors. A real-world example is when someone invites you to their party, prompting you to invite them to a future event of yours.

The tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others versus alone. Real-world example: A runner may perform better when running in a group or competition versus practicing alone.

The phenomenon where individuals exert less effort to achieve a goal when they work in a group than when they work alone. Example: In group projects, some members may contribute less, assuming others will pick up the slack.

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms. Example: Changing one's fashion style to match what's popular in one's peer group.

The act of following orders or directions from someone in authority, often overriding personal beliefs or safety. Real-world example: Following a superior's directive at work even if it conflicts with one's own judgment.

The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. Real-world example: Walking past someone struggling with heavy bags without offering to help because others are also ignoring the person.

The phenomenon where a group's prevailing attitudes intensify after discussing them as a group. Real-world example: After a group discussion, a jury may take a more extreme position in their sentencing decision.

A psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group when the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Example: The failed Bay of Pigs Invasion was partially attributed to groupthink.

A concept in social psychology regarding the loosening of social norms in groups, leading individuals to behave in ways they would not normally when alone. Example: Riots where individuals engage in behaviors such as vandalism.

The common habit of a person taking credit for positive events or outcomes, but blaming outside factors for negative events. Real-world example: A student attributes good grades to their intelligence, but blames bad grades on the difficulty of the questions.

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when judging others' behavior. Example: Assuming a person is mean because they did not say hello, ignoring the fact they may have had a bad day.

The tendency for an impression created in one area to influence opinion in another area. Example: Believing someone is inherently good in all aspects because they are attractive.

A cognitive bias whereby people overestimate the degree to which their beliefs, opinions, preferences, values, and habits are normal and typical of those of others. Example: Assuming everyone likes your favorite music because your friends do.

The cognitive bias that a person's actions are inherently inclined to bring morally fair and fitting consequences to that person, to the end of all noble actions being eventually rewarded and all evil actions eventually punished. Example: Believing that victims of a natural disaster must have done something to deserve it.

The tendency to favor one's own group over other groups. Example: Fans favoring their own sports team and believing it to be superior to all others.

The perception of out-group members as more similar to one another than are in-group members, e.g., 'they are alike; we are diverse.' Example: Stereotyping another nationality as being all the same, while recognizing individuality within one's own group.

A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior. Example: Students perform better or worse based on teachers' expectations of them.

A cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in the hopes of keeping potential failure from hurting self-esteem. Example: A student might not study for a test and use lack of preparation as an excuse for a poor grade to preserve their self-esteem.

The mental discomfort experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. Real-world example: When someone smokes despite knowing it is bad for their health, they are experiencing cognitive dissonance.