Theories about how we understand people

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.

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.

Identifiable Victim Effect: Empathizing with one more than many.

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.

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