AP Psychology College Board Learning Objectives
- Apply attribution theory to explain motives (e.g., fundamental attribution error, self-serving bias).
- Describe the structure and function of different kinds of group behavior (e.g., deindividuation, group polarization).
- Explain how individuals respond to expectations of others, including groupthink, conformity, and obedience to authority.
- Discuss attitudes and how they change (e.g., central route to persuasion).
- Predict the impact of the presence of others on individual behavior (e.g., bystander effect, social facilitation).
- Describe processes that contribute to differential treatment of group members (e.g., in-group/out-group dynamics, ethnocentrism, prejudice).
- Articulate the impact of social and cultural categories (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity) on self-concept and relations with others.
- Anticipate the impact of behavior on a self-fulfilling prophecy.
- Describe the variables that contribute to altruism, aggression, and attraction.
- Discuss attitude formation and change, including persuasion strategies and cognitive dissonance.
- Identify important figures in social psychology (e.g., Solomon Asch, Leon Festinger, Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo).
Unit Study Guide Based on APA National Standards
Use these standards as a checklist to make sure you've mastered this unit.
- Social cognition
- 1.1 Describe attributional explanations of behavior.
- 1.2 Describe the relationship between attitudes (implicit and explicit) and behavior.
- 1.3 Identify persuasive methods used to change attitudes.
- Social Influence
- 2.1 Describe the power of the situation.
- 2.2 Describe effects of others’ presence on individuals’ behavior.
- 2.3 Describe how group dynamics influence behavior.
- 2.4 Discuss how an individual influences group behavior.
- Social relations
- 3.1 Discuss the nature and effects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.
- 3.2 Describe determinants of prosocial behavior.
- 3.3 Discuss influences upon aggression and conflict.
- 3.4 Discuss factors influencing attraction and relationships.