Question 1

You have read the research on the importance of exercise, and you want to begin an exercise program, but you haven't so far, which creates a great deal of cognitive dissonance for you. Describe the concept of cognitive dissonance, and explain how your cognitive dissonance regarding exercising might be reduced using each of five strategies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have read the research on the...

Question 2

People with high needs for structure or certainty are less likely to conform.

Accepted Answer

People with high needs for structure or certainty are actually more likely to conform as they seek stability and consistency in their environment.

Question 3

The scientific study of how individuals behave, think, and feel in the presence of others is called __________ psychology.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The scientific study of how individuals behave,...

Question 4

In order to reduce cognitive dissonance, people may change their attitude, change their behavior, add consonant thoughts, change the importance of the dissonant thoughts, or reduce the amount of perceived choice they have.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory suggests that individuals strive for internal consistency, and when faced with inconsistency (dissonance) between attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors, they may employ various strategies to reduce the dissonance, including changing attitudes or behaviors, adding new thoughts, altering the importance of conflicting beliefs, or adjusting their perception of choice, to achieve consonance.

Question 5

The strongest of the five forms of social influence is conformity.

Accepted Answer

The strongest form of social influence varies depending on the context and individual differences; conformity is just one of the forms, alongside compliance, obedience, persuasion, and identification, and its strength is not universally greater than the others.

Question 6

Which of the following involves standing up for one's rights by speaking out on one's own behalf, while also taking into account the feelings or rights of others?

Accepted Answer

Self-assertion involves standing up for oneself while also considering the feelings or rights of others. Aggression involves standing up for oneself without regard for others, empathic behavior involves considering others' feelings without standing up for oneself, and non-assertion involves failing to stand up for oneself or consider one's own feelings or rights.

Question 7

A compulsion by decision-makers to maintain each other's approval, even at the cost of critical thinking and good judgment, is called the halo effect.

Accepted Answer

The described behavior is actually known as groupthink, not the halo effect.

Question 8

Describe and give two examples of social roles and explain their importance in our daily lives; differentiate between ascribed and achieved roles and provide an example of each type of role; and illustrate with examples the negative effects of role conflicts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe and give two examples of social...

Question 9

Research suggests that if you wish to persuade an audience, only one side of the argument should be presented to a well-informed audience.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Presenting both sides of an argument is important in order to provide a balanced view and to acknowledge and address potential counterarguments. This can actually strengthen a persuasive argument as it shows that the speaker has considered all angles and is confident in their position. However, it is important to note that presenting both sides may not be necessary for all audiences, such as those who are not well-informed or have already made up their minds.

Question 10

Overestimating one's chances of being involved in a violent incident is known as the __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Overestimating one's chances of being involved in...

Question 11

The degree of attraction among group members or their commitment to remaining in the group is referred to as group __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The degree of attraction among group members...

Question 12

All groups have unspoken rules of conduct, which establish acceptable behavior in most situations and are referred to as social __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All groups have unspoken rules of conduct,...

Question 13

Describe how attribution theory affects how we think of ourselves and others, and include an explanation of internal and external causes, the fundamental attribution error, and the actor-observer bias.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how attribution theory affects how we...

Question 14

Since you have no objective standards for rating the difficulty of the psychology test you just took, you ask other students who also took the test whether they thought the test was "hard," which illustrates your use of __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since you have no objective standards for...

Question 15

The tendency we have to view internal causes as the reason for other people's behavior is known as the __________ error.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The tendency we have to view internal...

Question 16

Regarding nonassertive behavior, which of the following statements is\are TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Nonassertive behavior often leads to the receiver feeling sympathy, guilt, or contempt for the nonassertive person. Nonassertive behavior is not self-enhancing and may lead to the suppression of one's own needs and desires. It also does not often achieve the intended goals. Therefore, options A and C are incorrect. Option D is incorrect as well because option A is false.

Question 17

If you were riding your bicycle along the bike path when another rider pulls up beside you, you would most likely speed up your pedaling, according to the theory of social facilitation.

Accepted Answer

According to the theory of social facilitation, the presence of others can enhance or impair one's performance depending on the situation. In the case of cycling, the presence of another rider may increase arousal and motivation, leading to an improvement in performance and an increase in pedaling speed.

Question 18

A mixture of beliefs and emotions that predisposes a person to respond to other people, objects, or institutions in a positive or negative way is called a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A mixture of beliefs and emotions that...

Question 19

The ongoing pattern of life that is passed from one generation to the next is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ongoing pattern of life that is...

Question 20

Any group whose values and attitudes are seen as relevant to one's own is referred to as one's __________ group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Any group whose values and attitudes are...

Quiz 15: Social Psychology