Final answer:
The situation described in the question is an example of behavioral confirmation, where one's expectations lead to behavior that causes others to confirm these expectations. This principle differs from other cognitive biases as it pertains to the interactive effect of behavior within social contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described in the question is best explained as behavioral confirmation, which is a type of social psychology phenomenon where individuals’ expectations lead them to behave in ways that cause others to confirm these expectations. The individual attended a party expecting people to be friendly and consequently acted warm and sociable, leading others to respond in kind. This effect is seen when our own attitudes and expectations influence the behavior of others, effectively confirming what we already anticipated.
Behavioral confirmation is often discussed in contrast to other cognitive biases and heuristics. While they may influence our perceptions and decisions, they do not describe the interactive effect of one's behavior on another's as clearly as behavioral confirmation does. In this case, the student's friendly demeanor elicited a friendly response from others, aligning with the expectations set by the student.
Factors such as the availability heuristic, the representativeness heuristic, and illusory correlation influence how we process information and what we expect in certain situations, but they do not dictate the interactive nature of behavioral confirmation. This psychological principle is rooted in the interplay between personal expectations and social interactions.