Question 1

Minimal groups are groups

Accepted Answer

Minimal groups are defined by the creation of groups based on arbitrary, trivial, or superficial criteria that have no real significance or importance, demonstrating how easily in-group and out-group biases can form.

Question 2

According to social identity theory, people display ingroup favoritism

Accepted Answer

Social identity theory suggests that individuals derive part of their self-esteem from their group memberships. By favoring their ingroup, people can enhance their self-esteem through positive comparisons with outgroups.

Question 3

A junior high coach decides to separate his basketball players into Team A and Team B. These two teams regularly play each other and compete for rewards, such as time at the drinking fountain and use of the new basketballs. The Robbers Cave experiment would suggest that the coach's new arrangement is likely to

Accepted Answer

The Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that competitive situations can lead to animosity and conflict between groups, suggesting that the coach's arrangement of creating two competing teams could lead to hostility between them.

Question 4

The results of the Robbers Cave experiment can be extrapolated to suggest that prejudice and discrimination between groups are often cast aside when

Accepted Answer

The Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that prejudice and discrimination between groups can be reduced when the groups are brought together to achieve a common goal, fostering cooperation and reducing intergroup conflict.

Question 5

Socio cultural factors that influence stereotyping include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The effects of priming are more related to cognitive processes and how exposure to certain stimuli can influence an individual's response to subsequent stimuli, rather than being a socio-cultural factor that influences stereotyping. Socio-cultural factors like popular images in the media, one's peers, and social roles directly contribute to the formation and reinforcement of stereotypes.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of collectivist cultures in the context of social identity and prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Collectivist cultures often emphasize harmony and interdependence, which can lead to a greater acceptance of contradictions within their ingroups compared to individualist cultures, which focus more on personal achievement and self-esteem.

Question 7

Some border-town residents dislike illegal immigrants because they fear that the immigrants will take jobs away from them. These feelings can best be explained by

Accepted Answer

Realistic conflict theory explains these feelings best, as it suggests that intergroup conflicts and negative attitudes arise from competition over limited resources, such as jobs.

Question 8

James is not satisfied with his $5 million annual salary because he feels that other basketball All-Stars are paid far more money. James' dissatisfaction is most likely the result of

Accepted Answer

James' dissatisfaction stems from relative deprivation, which is the feeling of discontentment arising from the belief that one is worse off compared to others, in this case, other basketball All-Stars with higher salaries.

Question 9

Which of the following is not predicted by social identity theory?

Accepted Answer

Social Identity Theory predicts that threats to self-esteem tend to increase ingroup favoritism, not decrease it, as individuals seek to bolster their self-esteem through positive associations with their ingroup.

Question 10

Research using minimal groups has demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

Minimal group research has shown that simply categorizing individuals into different groups, even under trivial or arbitrary circumstances, can lead to ingroup favoritism. This demonstrates that neither competition for resources, ingroup cohesion, nor the significance of the group is necessary for this bias to emerge.

Question 11

Which of the following statements concerning the relationship between competition and prejudice is false ?

Accepted Answer

Superordinate goals, which are shared goals that necessitate cooperative effort, have been shown to reduce conflict and prejudice among both children and adults, not just children. This approach is based on the contact hypothesis and has been effectively used in various settings to improve intergroup relations.

Question 12

The Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

The Robbers Cave experiment, conducted by Muzafer Sherif and colleagues, showed that prejudice and hostility between groups can arise from competition over resources, supporting the idea that such attitudes can be a result of intergroup competition.

Question 13

Which of the following statements best epitomizes the role of socialization in explaining stereotypes?

Accepted Answer

Socialization plays a crucial role in the formation of stereotypes as it involves the transmission of beliefs, values, and attitudes from one generation to another or within social groups. Jeff's belief about Italians being loud and easily excited because of his father's descriptions is a clear example of how stereotypes can be learned through socialization processes.

Question 14

Which of the following best exemplifies realistic conflict theory?

Accepted Answer

Realistic conflict theory suggests that conflicts arise when groups compete over limited resources. The conflict over land ownership between Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East is a prime example of this, as both groups vie for the same territorial resources.

Question 15

Fein and Spencer (1997) conducted a study in which participants evaluated a job applicant whom they believed to be either Jewish or non-Jewish. Which of the following statements about this study is false ?

Accepted Answer

Participants who discriminated against the Jewish applicant, not those who avoided discrimination, experienced a boost in self-esteem, supporting the idea that derogating others can enhance one's self-image.

Question 16

Realistic conflict theory proposes that

Accepted Answer

Realistic conflict theory suggests that intergroup hostility and conflict arise from competition among groups for limited resources, such as money, power, or territory, rather than from inherent interpersonal animosities or misperceptions.

Question 17

Michigan and Ohio State are rival universities. Students at the two schools tend to only interact when the athletic teams they play for compete against each other. Sheriff's Robbers Cave experiment suggests that the students will

Accepted Answer

Sherif's Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that groups in competition tend to develop negative views and hostility towards each other, which aligns with the expected behavior of students from rival universities when they interact primarily through competitive sports.

Question 18

Zoe just learned that she did not get into the college of her choice. She comes upon Alec, a resident of a nearby neighborhood and one that most outsiders find distasteful. It is likely that the news Zoe just received will cause her to judge Alec more ____, making her feel ____ about herself.

Accepted Answer

When people receive bad news or face personal setbacks, they may engage in downward social comparison, judging others more negatively to feel better about themselves. This psychological mechanism helps individuals maintain self-esteem by comparing themselves to those they perceive as worse off or less desirable.

Question 19

The Jets and the Sharks are two groups of local youths who regularly-and belligerently-compete against each other. The Robbers Cave experiment would suggest that one way of healing the rift between these groups is to

Accepted Answer

The Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that intergroup conflict can be reduced by having groups work together on superordinate goals that require cooperative efforts, thus fostering a sense of unity and reducing hostility.

Question 20

Which of the following can be inferred from the Robbers Cave study?

Accepted Answer

The Robbers Cave study demonstrated that competition for limited resources between groups can lead to conflict, supporting the realistic conflict theory.

Quiz 5: Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination