Question 1

When a group of like-minded people gathers and discusses an issue, the group's opinion, attitude, or decision may become more extreme through the processes of normative social influence and informational social influence.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as group polarization, where discussions within a group of like-minded individuals can lead to a strengthening of the prevailing point of view, making the group's stance more extreme. Normative social influence (the desire to fit in with the group) and informational social influence (the desire to be correct and to understand the right way to act or think in a situation) both contribute to this effect.

Question 2

The matching effect refers to people's tendencies to want to have partners and spouses who are slightly more attractive than they are themselves.

Accepted Answer

The matching effect refers to the tendency for individuals to seek out and form relationships with others who are similar to themselves in physical attractiveness and other traits.

Question 3

Attitudes typically have a greater influence on behaviour when we are aware of them and when they are strongly held.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes are more likely to influence behavior when we are conscious of them and when they are strongly held because they then guide decision-making and actions more directly.

Question 4

The primacy effect refers to people's tendency to attach more importance to the initial information that they learn about someone.

Accepted Answer

The primacy effect is a cognitive bias that results in a person giving greater importance to the first information they receive about something or someone, which influences their perception and judgment thereafter.

Question 5

If Kelly takes the advice of another person because that person is perceived as having accurate knowledge, Kelly is being impacted by normative social influence.

Accepted Answer

Kelly is being impacted by informational social influence, which occurs when someone takes the advice of another person because they believe the person has accurate knowledge or information. Normative social influence, on the other hand, involves conforming to the expectations of others to be liked or accepted.

Question 6

The fundamental attribution error occurs when people's incorrect attributions cause others to actually behave in ways that confirm these attributions.

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior. It does not involve causing others to behave in ways that confirm these attributions.

Question 7

The influence of the minority is more powerful if they maintain a highly consistent position over time.

Accepted Answer

Minority influence is more likely to occur when the minority consistently holds and expresses their viewpoint over time, as this consistency demonstrates commitment and confidence, making their position more persuasive and likely to be taken seriously by the majority.

Question 8

Having a victim who is located remotely (i.e., farther away) is one of the factors that decreases obedience.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Having a victim who is located remotely...

Question 9

The central route to persuasion is likely to be most effective with people who have a high need for cognition.

Accepted Answer

The central route to persuasion, which involves careful and thoughtful consideration of the arguments presented, is more effective with individuals who have a high need for cognition because these individuals enjoy engaging in and prefer to process information deeply.

Question 10

Wood and colleagues found that minority influence is strongest when it remains independent of majority pressure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wood and colleagues found that minority influence...

Question 11

Cognitive dissonance theory best explains the relationship between attitudes and behaviour when counterattitudinal behaviours do not threaten one's self-worth or when the attitudes that are initially held are weak or unclear.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory is most relevant and powerful in explaining the relationship between attitudes and behavior when counterattitudinal behaviors do threaten one's self-worth or when the attitudes that are initially held are strong and clear, leading to a psychological discomfort that motivates individuals to change either their attitudes or behaviors to reduce dissonance.

Question 12

Some people may tend not to approach potential dating partners who are more attractive than they are in order to lessen the risk of rejection.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is often explained by social psychology theories, such as the matching hypothesis, which suggests that individuals are more likely to pursue relationships with others who are approximately equal in attractiveness to avoid the fear of rejection and to increase the chances of mutual interest.

Question 13

Based on the research examining the factors that contribute to affiliation, it appears that the statement "opposites attract" is most accurate.

Accepted Answer

Research in social psychology suggests that similarity in attitudes, values, and interests is a stronger predictor of friendship and romantic relationships than differences, contradicting the "opposites attract" notion.

Question 14

Social comparison theory asserts that people are social creatures because it is important for us to evaluate our behaviours, feelings, and beliefs with those of other people.

Accepted Answer

Social comparison theory, proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, suggests that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. This theory posits that people compare themselves to others in order to evaluate their opinions, abilities, and internal states, which is a fundamental process in forming a social identity and understanding one's place in the social world.

Question 15

If a task is complex but still well learned, the mere presence of others typically serves to enhance performance.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is explained by social facilitation theory, which suggests that the presence of others can enhance performance on well-learned or simple tasks due to increased arousal that enhances the execution of dominant responses.

Question 16

Groupthink occurs when the average opinion of a group of like-minded individuals becomes more extreme after discussing an issue.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink refers to a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. It does not specifically describe the process of opinions becoming more extreme, which is more accurately referred to as polarization.

Question 17

When consensus is high, and consistency and distinctiveness are low, people tend to make situational attributions.

Accepted Answer

When consensus is high, and consistency and distinctiveness are low, people tend to make dispositional attributions, not situational. This is because the behavior is seen as unique to the person rather than being influenced by the situation.

Question 18

Social loafing occurs when people exert less individual effort when working on a group task than when working by themselves.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the phenomenon where individuals put forth less effort when working in a group compared to when they work alone, due to the diffusion of responsibility and decreased accountability.

Question 19

The social exchange theory of relationships asserts that the amount of self-disclosure is one of the key factors that determine how close and deep a relationship becomes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The social exchange theory of relationships asserts...

Question 20

Self-perception theory asserts that counterattitudinal behaviour often serves to change attitudes because of the uncomfortable state of emotional tension evoked by these behaviours.

Accepted Answer

Self-perception theory suggests that individuals infer their attitudes from their behavior when their attitudes are initially unclear, rather than experiencing emotional tension or discomfort (as suggested by cognitive dissonance theory).

Quiz 13: Behaviour in a Social Context