Deck 11: Social Psychology

Question 1

Lily does not approve of abortion.She is shocked when she finds out how many people in her state hold pro-choice attitudes.This is an example of _____.

A) the self-fulfilling prophecy
B) cognitive dissonance
C) the false consensus effect
D) groupthink

Answer 1

the false consensus effect

Question 2

You ignore the fact that she is currently taking finals and working 40 hours per week.You are demonstrating the _____.

A) fundamental attribution error
B) universality mistake
C) self-serving bias
D) availability heuristic

Answer 2

fundamental attribution error

Question 3

The process by which we come to understand the causes of others' behavior and form an impression of them as individuals is known as _____.

A) deindividuation
B) validation
C) perception
D) attribution

Answer 3

attribution

Question 4

_____ are favorable views of the self that are not necessarily rooted in reality.

A) Fundamental attribution errors
B) Self-serving biases
C) Self-deceptions
D) Positive illusions

Question 5

The _____ is the overestimation of the degree to which everybody else thinks or acts the way we do.

A) fundamental attribution error
B) self-serving bias
C) stereotype threat
D) false consensus effect

Question 6

According to attribution theory,attributions vary along which of the following dimensions?

A) Internal/external causes
B) Known/unknown causes
C) Regular/irregular causes
D) Consistent/inconsistent causes

Question 7

A _____ is a generalization about a group's characteristics that does not consider any variations from one individual to another.

A) stereotype
B) hypothesis
C) proposition
D) classification

Question 8

Parents warn a new babysitter that their son,Dennis,is very aggressive and mischievous.As a result of this initial expectation,the babysitter starts calling Dennis "Dennis the Menace," and he behaves in ways that elicit aggressive and mischievous behaviors from Dennis.This example best demonstrates the phenomenon called _____.

A) the self-fulfilling prophecy
B) the self-serving bias
C) the fundamental attribution error
D) social conditioning

Question 9

When many people first learn of the classic conformity and obedience studies,they often believe that the participants in these studies are weak-minded people and they tend to underestimate the power of the social situation.This is an example of _____.

A) self-perception theory
B) the fundamental attribution error
C) the false-consensus effect
D) a positive illusion

Question 10

Self-fulfilling prophecy _____.

A) effects show the potential power of stereotypes and other sources of expectations on human behavior
B) shows that aspects of the environment may prime us to behave aggressively
C) examines the characteristics of cultures that are associated with the emergence of altruism and with the belief that everyone deserves fair treatment
D) is the solidification and further strengthening of an individual's position as a consequence of a group discussion or interaction

Question 11

Jack and John were recently dumped by their girlfriends.Jack believes that his girlfriend broke up with him because she is a selfish and unhappy person,whereas John believes that his girlfriend broke up with him because she had to attend to a family emergency and could not make commitment right now.Jack is making a(n)_____ about his girlfriend's behavior,whereas John is making a(n)_____.

A) internal attribution/external attribution
B) external attribution/internal attribution
C) downward social comparison/upward social comparison
D) upward social comparison/downward social comparison

Question 12

Although Jeff frequently exceeds the speed limit by at least 10 mph,he justifies his behavior by erroneously thinking that most other drivers do the same.This belief best illustrates _____.

A) the false consensus effect
B) the self-serving bias
C) deindividuation
D) social loafing

Question 13

_____ refers to the processes by which we use social stimuli to form impressions of others.

A) Form perception
B) Person perception
C) Visual perception
D) Amodal perception

Question 14

_____ is the study of how people think about,influence,and relate to other people.

A) Social Darwinism
B) Social analytics
C) Socialism
D) Social psychology

Question 15

You watch as another student stumbles and drops her books in the hall.According to the fundamental attribution error,how would you explain the student's behavior?

A) She must have tripped over something.
B) She is a clumsy person.
C) She couldn't help it; there were too many books to carry.
D) She was trying to get out of someone else's way.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about research on the "beautiful is good" stereotype is false?

A) Infants as young as 3 to 6 months of age prefer attractive faces over unattractive faces.
B) Attractive people are assumed to have a variety of positive characteristics, including being better adjusted, socially skilled, friendly, likeable, extraverted, and likely to achieve superior job performance.
C) There is little truth to the "beautiful is good stereotype." Attractive people do not really possess the positive characteristics of the stereotype.
D) The "beautiful is good stereotype" can influence how we treat others, as in the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 17

You are watching golf and see Tiger Woods scowl.You would be making the fundamental attribution error if you assumed that _____.

A) he has an angry and volatile personality
B) he just missed a putt
C) he was thrown off by the flash of a camera
D) he was in a tough situation

Question 18

Attribution theory _____.

A) is an explanation of how behaviors influence attitudes
B) views people as motivated to discover the underlying causes of behavior as part of their effort to make sense of the behavior
C) suggests that we feel uneasy when we notice an inconsistency between what we believe and what we do
D) is a theory of social comparison which posits that when individuals lack objective means to evaluate their opinions and abilities, they compare themselves with others

Question 19

Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobsen conducted a study in 1968.The researchers told grade-school teachers that five students were likely to be "late bloomers"-that these students had high levels of ability that would likely emerge over time.In reality,the students had been randomly selected by the researchers.Nonetheless,a year later,the researchers found that teachers' expectations for the "late bloomers" were reflected in student performance-the academic performance of the "late bloomers" was beyond that of other students.The results from this study demonstrate which of the following concepts?

A) Cognitive dissonance theory
B) The butterfly effect
C) The self-fulfilling prophecy
D) The self-serving bias

Question 20

The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and overestimate the impact of inner dispositions upon another's behavior is called _____.

A) the self-serving bias
B) the fundamental attribution error
C) the false consensus bias
D) cognitive dissonance

Question 21

Whenever Claudia gets an A on her psychology exam,she believes it was due to the fact that she is an intelligent,hard-working student.However,when she receives a C on an exam,she blames the instructor's ineffective teaching style and poor choice of test questions.Claudia's behavior is an example of _____.

A) learned helplessness
B) the self-serving bias
C) the false uniqueness effect
D) the false consensus effect

Question 22

_____ refers to the tendency to take credit for one's own successes and to deny responsibility for one's own failures.

A) Positive illusion
B) Learned helplessness
C) Self-serving bias
D) Stereotyping

Question 23

When people pay close attention to the facts,the _____ is (are)the most persuasive,but when subjects are not paying full attention,such as during a television commercial,the _____ may work better.

A) peripheral route/attractiveness of the source
B) emotional factors/attractiveness of the source
C) source's credibility/emotional appeals
D) emotional factors/credibility of the source

Question 24

When people try to confront Alfred about drinking too much alcohol,he replies,"Drinking may be harmful to my health,but I'll die having a good time." This statement,which is an example of self-justification,illustrates Alan's attempt to reduce _____.

A) stereotype threat
B) cognitive dissonance
C) the self-serving bias
D) the fundamental attribution error

Question 25

The elaboration likelihood model _____.

A) views people as motivated to discover the underlying causes of behavior as part of their effort to make sense of the behavior
B) explains the effects of deindividuation
C) refers to the processes by which we use social stimuli to form impressions of others
D) identifies two ways to persuade: a central route and a peripheral route

Question 26

According to self-perception theory,if you're not sure how you feel about something,how can you find out?

A) Compare yourself to others
B) Look to your emotions
C) Ask a friend
D) Look at your behavior

Question 27

Festinger's social comparison theory _____.

A) proposes that when individuals lack objective means to evaluate their opinions and abilities, they compare themselves with others
B) identifies two ways to persuade: a central route and a peripheral route
C) examines potentially altruistic behavior
D) suggests that aspects of the environment may prime us to behave aggressively

Question 28

"Am I as popular as Cathy?" This question is an example of gaining self-knowledge through the process of _____.

A) peer-review
B) peripheral evaluation
C) peer recognition
D) social comparison

Question 29

Which of the following statements about research on persuasion is true?

A) Older people are more likely than younger people to change their attitude.
B) Television is a more powerful medium for persuasion than a printed newspaper.
C) People who have initially strong attitudes on an issue are more likely to be persuaded than those with initially weak attitudes.
D) Emotional appeals are usually not very powerful means of persuasion.

Question 30

The process by which individuals evaluate their thoughts,feelings,behaviors,and abilities in relation to others is known as _____.

A) peer-review
B) peripheral attribution
C) social comparison
D) peer recognition

Question 31

Based on Claude Steele and Eliot Aronson's research on stereotype threat,we should be especially concerned about instructions for standardized tests if they _____.

A) ask for race/ethnic information before the test starts
B) ask for names before the test starts
C) are administered by men and women from different racial/ethnic backgrounds
D) are culturally/racially sensitive

Question 32

_____ is an individual's fast-acting,self-fulfilling fear of being judged based on a negative idea about his or her group.

A) Stereotype threat
B) The self-serving bias
C) The false uniqueness effect
D) Stereotype consensus effect

Question 33

Cognitive dissonance theory states that in order to reduce dissonance,individuals _____.

A) change attitudes in order to be more popular
B) change behavior in order to be more popular
C) do not perceive a discrepancy between attitudes and behavior
D) try to align their attitudes and behavior

Question 34

Cindy recently played in a softball game in which she misplayed a ground ball for an error.Later in the same game,she made a great catch on a very difficult play.According to the self-serving bias,she would attribute her error to _____ and her good catch to her _____.

A) bad fielding skills/luck
B) bad fielding skills/good fielding skills
C) a bad bounce/luck
D) a bad bounce/good fielding skills

Question 35

_____ theory is an explanation of how behaviors influence attitudes.

A) Self-perception
B) Social identity
C) Self-serving
D) Social comparison

Question 36

Despite evidence to the contrary,Denise thinks she is smarter than most of the people in her class.Denise's unfounded attitude about herself is an example of a(n)_____.

A) positive illusion
B) hallucination
C) reactive illusion
D) an ideal self

Question 37

_____ is the tension that arises when people realize that their behavior is inconsistent with their attitudes.

A) Consensual validation
B) Cognitive dissonance
C) Risky shift
D) Deindividuation

Question 38

Juanita returned home after being away for several years.When she saw her father,whom she thought she disliked,she hugged him and cried.Based on her crying when she saw him,she determined that she must like him more than she thought.This is most consistent with the _____ of attitudes.

A) evolutionary theory
B) social learning theory
C) self-perception theory
D) social identity theory

Question 39

Individuals who have positive illusions about the self _____.

A) are judged less positively by others
B) are psychologically less healthy
C) tend to show high levels of psychological well-being
D) display self views that are rooted in reality

Question 40

Hugh bought a new calculator at Staples for $125.One week later,he saw an ad from Wal-Mart showing the same calculator on sale for $65.Hugh said to himself,"I'm glad I got my calculator at Staples; the ones at Wal-Mart are probably defective.I don't mind having paid more for mine." Hugh's statement reflects _____.

A) cognitive dissonance reduction
B) self-perception bias
C) informational influence
D) peripheral-route processing

Question 41

What is the key social emotion involved with altruism?

A) Sympathy
B) Empathy
C) Self-esteem
D) Love

Question 42

Based on the information presented in your textbook,what is the most likely outcome experienced by children who frequently play violent video games?

A) They are more likely to engage in aggressive and delinquent behaviors.
B) They are no different from children and adolescents who don't play violent video games.
C) They are less likely to engage in aggressive and delinquent behaviors.
D) They are more likely to be empathetic to the feelings of others.

Question 43

Arthur was abusing his wife Amy while arguing with her.The argument led to a scuffle and Arthur slapped Amy and hit her with a stick.Which type of aggression is Arthur's portraying?

A) Relational aggression
B) Subtle aggression
C) Overt aggression
D) Covert aggression

Question 44

Behavior that is meant to harm the social standing of another person through activities such as gossiping and spreading rumors is known as _____.

A) relational aggression
B) institutional aggression
C) overt aggression
D) physical aggression

Question 45

John is selling magazine subscriptions and chocolates.He asks you whether you are interested in buying some chocolates for $1 and you say yes.When you go to get the money to pay for the chocolates and return to the door,John asks you if you would also like to buy a $25 subscription to a variety of magazines.You feel obligated and agree to buy a magazine subscription.This is an example of _____.

A) social loafing
B) the door-in-the-face technique
C) the foot-in-the-door technique
D) the bystander effect

Question 46

A person on campus walks up to you and asks if you would be willing to wear a ribbon to show support for her cause.Though the ribbon is a bit unattractive,it is small so you agree to wear it.After agreeing to this request,the solicitor then asks you if you would be willing to make a donation of $15.This example best demonstrates the persuasion technique called _____.

A) the foot-in-the-door technique
B) the door-in-the-face technique
C) the norm of reciprocity
D) central route persuasion

Question 47

According to _____,people who have first agreed to a small request tend to comply later with a larger request.

A) the foot-in-the-door technique
B) the door-in-the-face-technique
C) the bystander effect
D) the social facilitation effect

Question 48

Allison is at a workshop where a presenter is attempting to persuade people to make a rather risky but potentially profitable financial investment.The arguments for investing appeal to logic and rationality.After slowly and carefully considering the presenter's arguments,Alison finds this person's idea sounds compelling and decides to invest.This example best demonstrates the _____.

A) peripheral route to persuasion
B) norm of reciprocity
C) central route to persuasion
D) foot-in-the-door technique

Question 49

Central route persuasion _____.

A) involves the use of non-message factors, such as the source's credibility and attractiveness
B) involves engaging someone thoughtfully with a sound, logical argument
C) involves emotional appeals
D) involves altruism

Question 50

Alex regularly gives donations of blood to the Red Cross because he received a life-saving transfusion when he was in a car accident two years ago.His helping behavior is best explained by _____.

A) the concept of reciprocity
B) reciprocal determinism
C) social exchange theory
D) self-perception theory

Question 51

The hormone that is typically implicated in aggressive behavior is _____.

A) estrogen
B) testosterone
C) epinephrine
D) norepinephrine

Question 52

Aggression is associated with low levels of which neurotransmitter?

A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Norepinephrine
D) GABA

Question 53

The advertising committee for a politician is going door to door and asking people to put a big ugly election sign on their lawn.If the people refuse,they ask them if they would consider putting a smaller sign on the lawn.The staff is using _____.

A) the foot-in-the-door technique
B) the door-in-the-face technique
C) the elaboration likelihood model
D) a negative appeal

Question 54

The bystander effect is most likely to occur _____.

A) when someone is witnessing an emergency and there are several other people present
B) when someone is witnessing an emergency and no one else is present
C) in emergencies involving racial minorities where there are a large number of bystanders present
D) in memory studies in which bystanders did not remember as much about an emergency as the individual who was the victim

Question 55

Robert,a 9-year-old boy,loves watching wrestling on TV.Last night he imitated several of the aggressive moves he saw on TV by acting them out with his little brother.Which of the following theories best explains William's behavior?

A) Observational learning
B) Frustration aggression theory
C) Identity crisis
D) Cognitive dissonance

Question 56

Which of the following key aspects of altruism involves an expression of trust for another person,as well as feelings of obligation and guilt?

A) Self-esteem
B) Generosity
C) Reciprocity
D) Unity

Question 57

Approximately what percentage of participants in Solomon Asch's study conformed to the group's pressure to select the incorrect line?

A) All of the participants
B) None of the participants
C) About 35 percent of the participants
D) About 90 percent of the participants

Question 58

Deficits in the functioning of the _____ are associated with aggression.

A) hippocampus
B) hypothalamus
C) parietal lobes
D) frontal lobes

Question 59

Diffusion of responsibility is most likely to influence _____.

A) the attributions we make about others
B) cognitive dissonance
C) helping behavior
D) prejudice

Question 60

_____ refers to the influence other people have on us because we want to be right.

A) Groupthink
B) Normative social influence
C) Herd instinct
D) Informational social influence

Question 61

You are studying in a quiet but crowded library when you suddenly start coughing.You soon notice others doing the same thing.This is an example of _____.

A) social loafing
B) group polarization
C) social facilitation
D) social contagion

Question 62

The tendency to favor one's own cultural group over other groups is called _____.

A) social identity
B) ethnocentrism
C) deindividuation
D) groupthink

Question 63

Results of Milgram's experiment showed that participants were more likely to fail to comply with the authority figure's requests when _____.

A) participants could see everyone else being obedient to authority
B) the authority figure was perceived to be legitimate
C) the authority figure was far away as opposed to nearby
D) the victim was made to seem more human

Question 64

Social loafing refers to the _____.

A) tendency for people to exert less effort when working in groups than when working alone
B) tendency for people to exert more effort when working in groups than when working alone
C) tendency to spend more time being productive when in the company of one's peers
D) social norm that obligates the general public to help those who may not be completely able to help themselves (e.g., children and the elderly)

Question 65

Katie,who is moderately liberal,attends a very liberal college.After four years at this college,Katie is likely to become _____ as a result of _____.

A) more politically conservative/the fundamental attribution error
B) more politically conservative/self-perception theory
C) more liberal/group polarization
D) more liberal/social loafing

Question 66

The Stanford prison experiment provides a dramatic example of how social situations and the roles we take on in life can influence _____.

A) deindividuation
B) the self-serving bias
C) the false consensus effect
D) social loafing

Question 67

Psychologists believe that the social facilitation effect occurs because _____.

A) the presence of other individual arouses us
B) we are more relaxed in group situations than when we are alone
C) we feel more deindividuated when we are alone than when we are in a group
D) of a genetic predisposition toward heightened performance in group settings

Question 68

Joyce has the potential to be an honor student but frustrates her teachers because of her actions.Rather than work to succeed,she tends to "dummy down" to act more like the students that she hangs out with.She has at times answered questions incorrectly in class on purpose to be more like her friends.Joyce's behavior is an example of _____.

A) informational social influence
B) ethnocentrism
C) groupthink
D) normative social influence

Question 69

The effects of others on our behavior can take the form of _____,imitative behavior involving the spread of behavior,emotions,and ideas.

A) egoism
B) altruism
C) social contagion
D) social loafing

Question 70

Ralph just started taking guitar lessons last week.Jimmie has been playing guitar for almost 20 years.According to the concept of social facilitation,performing in front of an audience of strangers and friends tonight is likely to _____ Ralph's performance and _____ Jimmie's performance.

A) decrease/decrease
B) increase/enhance
C) decrease/enhance
D) increase/decrease

Question 71

According to the social facilitation effect,the presence of others _____.

A) enhances performance on all types of tasks
B) diminishes performance on easy or well-learned tasks
C) diminishes performance on difficult or new tasks
D) has little to no effect on performance

Question 72

Which of the following is most likely to reduce the kinds of group biases that exist in face-to-face groups?

A) Crowd psychology
B) Herd mentality
C) Crowdsourcing
D) Groupthink

Question 73

The tendency for a group decision to be riskier than the average decision made by the individual group members is known as _____.

A) risk hedging
B) social loafing
C) risky shift
D) group polarization

Question 74

Approximately _____ of the participants in Milgram's obedience experiment administered the maximum 450-volt shock to the victim.

A) one-fourth
B) one-third
C) two-thirds
D) three-fourths

Question 75

Dr.McCall found that class projects were of poorer quality when students worked in groups compared to when each student did an individual project.This difference can be explained by the phenomenon of _____.

A) cognitive dissonance
B) social loafing
C) the sleeper effect
D) polarization

Question 76

The reduction in personal identity and erosion of the sense of personal responsibility when one is part of a group is known as _____.

A) social contagion
B) the self-serving bias
C) the false consensus effect
D) deindividuation

Question 77

Rosalie was invited to a black-tie dinner at the Ritz Carlton.She's never been served a 10-course meal before so she's unfamiliar with the social etiquette regarding silverware selection.Since Rosalie is in a foreign environment,she gets through the night by watching others who appear to know what they are doing.For each course,she follows their selection of silverware.Rosalie is displaying _____.

A) normative social influence
B) informational social influence
C) group polarization
D) the bystander effect

Question 78

_____ refers to the way individuals define themselves in terms of their group membership.

A) Social identity
B) Ethnocentrism
C) Crowdsourcing
D) Groupthink

Question 79

_____ refers to the impaired decision making that occurs in a team when making the right decision is less important than maintaining harmony in a team.

A) Group polarization
B) Minority influence
C) Risky Shift
D) Groupthink

Question 80

_____ is based on a person's desire to be accepted by the group.

A) Informational social influence
B) Normative social influence
C) Social loafing
D) Social facilitation