Question 1

In Milgram's original study, when did obedience INCREASE?

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original study on obedience, obedience increased when the responsibility for administering shocks was removed from the participant (the "teacher") and given to another person. When the teacher's role was limited to reading a list of words and another individual actually delivered the shock, the psychological distance from the consequences of their actions increased, leading to higher levels of obedience. This condition made it easier for participants to dissociate from the consequences of their actions, thereby increasing obedience.

Question 2

Zimbardo's simulation of prison life provided a dramatic demonstration of the power of _____ on behavior.

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's prison experiment highlighted how quickly and intensely individuals conform to the roles they are given, in this case, guards and prisoners, demonstrating the powerful influence of assigned roles on behavior.

Question 3

Whether a group's final decision is risky or conservative depends on _____.

Accepted Answer

The dominant preexisting tendencies of the group influence whether its final decision leans towards being risky or conservative. This phenomenon is known as group polarization, where the group's decision tends to be more extreme in the direction of the members' initial inclinations.

Question 4

Stanley Milgram was really investigating _____ in his classic teacher-learner shock study.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's study primarily aimed to understand how far individuals would go in obeying an authority figure, even when it involved causing harm to another person.

Question 5

Less than _____ percent of the public thought they would shock a learner beyond 300 volts; in reality, _____ percent of the actual participants did so.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is based on the findings of the Milgram experiment, which demonstrated that a significant majority of participants (65%) were willing to administer electric shocks of more than 300 volts to a learner, despite predictions that only a small fraction (less than 25%) of the public would do so.

Question 6

The critical factor in deindividuation is _____.

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in group situations. Anonymity is a critical factor because it can reduce personal accountability and increase the likelihood of acting in ways inconsistent with one's personal norms.

Question 7

Amorita agrees to party with friends she admires rather than staying home to study even though she'd rather stay home to study.This is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Amorita's decision to party with friends she admires, despite preferring to study, illustrates how a reference group (the friends she admires) influences her behavior, leading to conformity.

Question 8

A group's movement toward either riskier or more conservative behavior, depending on members' initial dominant tendency, is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the phenomenon where a group's decision-making process leads to the amplification of the group's initial inclination towards riskier or more conservative behavior, rather than maintaining their original level of caution or risk.

Question 9

The results of Milgram's research suggest that _____ will follow orders to hurt someone.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's research demonstrated that a majority of "normal" people would follow orders to hurt someone, even if they were uncomfortable doing so, highlighting the powerful influence of authority on obedience.

Question 10

Faulty decision making that is the result of a highly cohesive group striving for agreement to the point of avoiding inconsistent information is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when a highly cohesive group seeks consensus and agreement in decision-making, often at the expense of considering alternative viewpoints or relevant information, leading to poor or faulty decisions.

Question 11

Which of the following will DECREASE obedience?

Accepted Answer

Holding each person responsible for their own behavior decreases obedience by emphasizing personal accountability over blind compliance to authority. This encourages individuals to think critically about the commands given, rather than obeying without question.

Question 12

Sometimes people conform because they like and admire a group, and want to be like them.This is the _____ explanation for conformity.

Accepted Answer

This is the reference group explanation for conformity, where individuals conform to the norms or values of a group they admire and want to be part of, seeing the group as a standard or reference in their own behavior and attitudes.

Question 13

Milgram's research suggests that _____ factors are MOST important when it comes to obedience.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's research primarily demonstrates that situational factors, such as the presence of an authority figure and the setting of the experiment, have a significant impact on individuals' levels of obedience.

Question 14

Which of the following is a primary antecedent to groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Isolation of the group from outside influences is a primary antecedent to groupthink because it prevents the group from receiving external feedback and perspectives, which can lead to a lack of critical analysis and the development of a consensus without considering alternative viewpoints.

Question 15

Obedience is BEST defined as following _____.

Accepted Answer

Obedience involves following a direct command or order from an authority figure, rather than simply following the lead of others, adhering to group norms, or following directions from anyone.

Question 16

Lincoln thought he smelled smoke for a second.He looked at others in the classroom and at the teacher.No one seemed concerned, so Lincoln continued taking his test along with his other classmates.This is MOST likely an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Lincoln's behavior is an example of informational social influence because he looked to the reactions of others to understand how to interpret the situation (smelling smoke) and decided his response based on their lack of concern.

Question 17

During _____, a person who feels anonymous within a group experiences an increase in arousal and a decrease in self-consciousness, inhibitions, and personal responsibility.

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the psychological state where an individual within a group feels anonymous, leading to decreased self-awareness, reduced concern over social evaluation, and a lower sense of personal responsibility. This can result in behaviors that the individual might not typically engage in if acting alone.

Question 18

Zimbardo's prison study had to be stopped prior to the end of the scheduled two weeks because _____.

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's prison study had to be stopped early because both the prisoners and guards were exhibiting alarming changes in behavior, with guards becoming increasingly cruel and prisoners showing signs of extreme stress and emotional distress.

Question 19

Milgram's participants thought they were participating in an experiment to study the effects of _____.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's participants were told that the experiment was studying the effects of punishment on learning, where they were instructed to administer electric shocks to a "learner" for incorrect answers.

Question 20

In Zimbardo's classic prison study, the _____ took their roles so seriously that the experiment had to be discontinued prior to completion.

Accepted Answer

In Zimbardo's prison study, both the prisoners and guards took their roles extremely seriously, leading to unethical treatment and psychological distress among participants, which necessitated the early termination of the experiment.

Quiz 16: Social Psychology