Question 1

You get on an elevator. Everyone is facing to the right. You turn and also face to the right. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of conformity, as you are conforming to the behavior of those already on the elevator by also facing to the right.

Question 2

According to research on the fundamental attribution error, we are more likely to attribute our own behaviour to

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to attribute other people's behavior to their character or personality (dispositional factors) while attributing our own behaviors to our situation (situational factors). This means we are more likely to see our own actions as influenced by the context or circumstances we are in.

Question 3

The tendency of people to alter their behaviour as a result of group influence or pressure is called

Accepted Answer

Conformity refers to changing one's behaviour or attitudes in response to real or imagined pressure from a group. The other options are not related to this specific concept.

Question 4

Which factor significantly decreased the likelihood of conformity in Solomon Asch's studies?

Accepted Answer

In Asch's studies, the presence of even one confederate who gave a correct response significantly decreased the likelihood of conformity among the participants.

Question 5

Experiments showing the effects of group pressure on conformity, using judgments about line lengths, were conducted by

Accepted Answer

The experiments on conformity using judgments about line lengths were conducted by Solomon Asch.

Question 6

What is main message of Solomon Asch's series of experiments in which participants were asked to judge the lengths of lines? People will modify their answers

Accepted Answer

The main message of Solomon Asch's experiments is that people will modify their answers to fit in with others. This is demonstrated by the participants giving incorrect answers in order to conform to the rest of the group, even if it goes against their own judgement. This highlights the power of social norms and the desire to belong to a group.

Question 7

According to Asch and others, which of the following is a social factor that influences conformity?

Accepted Answer

Asch's conformity experiments showed that when a group is unanimous in their opinion or decision, individuals are more likely to conform to that group's beliefs or behaviors. The other factors listed may also play a role in conformity, but in Asch's studies, unanimity had the strongest influence.

Question 8

While watching Jeopardy, your roommate says, "The host, Alex Trebek, knows all the answers. He must be a genius." Which of the following helps explain your roommate's belief?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to attribute someone's behavior to their internal characteristics rather than to situational factors. In this case, your roommate is attributing Alex Trebek's knowledge to his internal characteristics (i.e. that he is a genius) rather than situational factors such as his occupation and years of experience hosting a trivia game show.

Question 9

In Solomon Asch's study, which factor increased the rate of conformity for judgments of line lengths?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of confederates to 4 or 5 confederates increased the rate of conformity for judgments of line lengths in Solomon Asch's study.

Question 10

There are cultural influences on vulnerability to the fundamental attribution error. Compared to North American participants, which of the following is more likely among Chinese participants in studies of attribution?

Accepted Answer

Chinese culture tends to emphasize the importance of social harmony and the interdependence of individuals within a group, leading to a greater emphasis on external factors (such as societal expectations) to explain behavior rather than internal factors (such as personal character).

Question 11

It is 1951, and you are participating in a perception experiment. You join seven others seated in a room. You are shown a 25-cm test line and must choose the line that matches it in length from a choice of three lines. You hear the choices of the others before you make your choice. The experimenter, Solomon Asch, is studying

Accepted Answer

Solomon Asch was studying conformity, specifically how individuals conform to group norms even when they contradict their own beliefs. In this experiment, participants were influenced by the choices of others in the group, even if those choices were obviously incorrect.

Question 12

What do social psychologists call the tendency to rely on internal characteristics for explanations of the behaviour of others and to ignore the influence of the situation?

Accepted Answer

The tendency described is known as the fundamental attribution error, where individuals tend to focus on internal traits and characteristics to explain others’ behavior rather than considering situational factors.

Question 13

An individual from which of the following cultures would be LEAST likely to engage in the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

Japan has a collectivist culture where individuals prioritize the goals of the group over their own personal goals. Therefore, they are less likely to engage in the fundamental attribution error, which involves making dispositional attributions about individuals' behavior rather than considering situational factors.

Question 14

According to studies of brain activity during conformity tasks, like the ones in Asch's line judgment studies, which part of the brain is active when participants learn that the other group members all have reported the same incorrect answer?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is involved in the processing of emotional information, and studies have shown increased amygdala activity in response to social exclusion and social conformity. When participants learn that the other group members all have reported the same incorrect answer, they may experience social pressure to conform, leading to an emotional response and activation of the amygdala.

Question 15

If you walk into a library talking with a friend, and you notice that the rest of the people in the library are not talking, you are likely to be quiet and stop your conversation. This behaviour is an example of ______________.

Accepted Answer

This behaviour is an example of conformity, which is the act of adjusting one's behaviour or beliefs to match those of a group. In this case, the group norm is to remain quiet in the library, and the individual adjusts their behaviour to conform to this norm. Obedience and compliance involve following orders or requests from authority figures, and persuasion involves changing someone's attitudes or beliefs through communication.

Question 16

In which of the following scenarios, based on the Asch studies of conformity, would you be most likely to conform by giving the same response as the confederates?

Accepted Answer

Asch found that conformity increased with group size up to a point, but beyond four or five individuals, the pressure to conform was no greater. Therefore, in a scenario where four confederates give the same wrong answer and all of the responses are the same, the participant is more likely to conform and give the same response as the group.

Question 17

Which of the following tends to reduce conformity in studies like the line-judgment ones conducted by Asch?

Accepted Answer

Seeing someone else voice a different opinion than the rest of the group tends to reduce conformity because it provides social support for nonconformity and therefore decreases the pressure to conform. This is known as the dissenting opinion technique.

Question 18

Vince has always believed in providing supports for people who are poor. During a class discussion, he hears the first of several speakers express very negative attitudes toward spending tax money on the poor. When it is his turn to speak, he voices an opinion more in keeping with the previous speakers even though he doesn't really believe what he says. Vince's behaviour is an example of

Accepted Answer

Vince's behaviour of going along with the negative opinions expressed by others even though he doesn't believe them is an example of conformity. He is conforming to the group norms and pressures to fit in and avoid standing out, even if it means going against his own beliefs. Compliance refers to agreeing to a request or demand from someone in authority, persuasion refers to changing someone's attitude or behaviour through communication, and obedience refers to following the orders or instructions of an authority figure.

Question 19

Voluntarily yielding to social norms, even at the expense of one's own preference, is called

Accepted Answer

Conformity refers to changing one's behavior or attitudes in response to real or imagined pressure from others. This can involve voluntarily yielding to social norms, even if it goes against one's own preferences or beliefs. Compliance, on the other hand, refers to acquiescing to explicit requests or demands from others, while obedience involves following orders from an authority figure. Delusion refers to a false belief that is maintained despite evidence to the contrary.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error involves making assumptions about someone's behavior based on their personality traits, rather than taking into account situational factors. In this case, Craig is assuming that his classmate is stupid based on one performance on an exam, without considering any external factors that may have affected the grade.

Quiz 13: Social Psychology