Question 1

Research on behavior during group task performance has resulted in varying theories about social influence on task performance. Someone working with a group on a difficult class project does less work because of the complexity of the project. Which phenomenon does this situation likely demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Social inhibition occurs when group presence compromises task performance and is generally associated with tasks that are new or difficult. Social loafing also involves decreased performance due to group presence, but is motivated by the idea that individual evaluation will be avoided and therefore work is not as important.

Question 2

Research on delinquency and aggression in children and teenagers points to one major source of these social problems. Patterson's coercion model of aggression presents three steps that lead to delinquency. What is the first step of this model?

Accepted Answer

Patterson's model suggests that children first learn to be aggressive through observation of parents who are coercive and antisocial, which triggers a cycle of such behavior within the family. After that, a child starts to experience peer rejection and academic failure. The child then develops depression and becomes more likely to join deviant social groups.

Question 3

Studies on educational issues suggest a strong link between teachers' expectations and students' performance. What is this connection known as?

Accepted Answer

Rosenthal's research into the impact of teachers' expectations and students' performance resulted in the theory of the Rosenthal effect. This theory maintains that there is a positive correlation between teacher expectations and student performance (the higher the expectation, the better the performance).

Question 4

In 1999, Chartrand and Bargh conducted a study on interpersonal communication and behavior which resulted in a theory called the chameleon effect. What does this theory claim?

Accepted Answer

Chartrand and Bargh's findings, referred to as the chameleon effect, state that people unconsciously mimic physical behaviors and mannerisms of those they are interacting with. Adjusting motor behavior in this manner is thought to facilitate better interaction and increase admiration between interaction partners.

Question 5

In his work on group therapy techniques, Irvin Yalom identified twelve factors of group therapy that contribute to the benefits of those being involved in a group. Which of those factors is considered to be the single most important component of group therapy?

Accepted Answer

Cohesiveness is thought to be most critical for the success of group therapy. A cohesive group offers greater acceptance and understanding, as well as greater permission to express conflict among the group.

Question 6

Beth, a team supervisor, likes Tom, one of her coworkers, least out of all her subordinates. She gives him a high rating when asked to rate all her colleagues. Based on Fiedler's contingency theory, which of the following is true about Beth? Choose all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Fiedler's contingency theory posits that someone like Beth, who rates her least-liked coworker highly, would be an effective leader in an unfavorable situation. She is considered a high-LPC worker -- those professionals who would be the most effective leaders in a situation that was moderately favorable, rather than a highly favorable or unfavorable situation.

Question 7

Andy readily complies with direction or requests from his immediate superior because they get along well and Andy respects his intelligence. Based on theories of power in the workplace, what type of power does Andy likely feel?

Accepted Answer

Referent power is likely the cause of Andy's attitude. Referent power comes from identifying with or admiring the leader; Andy's immediate superior has referent power because of Andy's opinion of him.

Question 8

Joan is inclined towards creativity and experimentation in her job. She is given projects that allow her to express creativity and fulfill that need. Which of the following theories claims that chain of events will lead to her need for creativity becoming stronger, rather than simply being satisfied?

Accepted Answer

Alderfer's Erg theory suggests that rather than leading to satisfaction, meeting a specific need will result in that need becoming stronger. The opportunities Joan has to be creative in her work will cause her to need more opportunity for creativity.

Question 9

An employee who has been capable of producing excellent results in the past when working on her own performs at a mediocre level when working with a team of coworker who typically produces standard results. What is this known as?

Accepted Answer

The Ringelmann effect, also known as social loafing, refers to a situation in which an individual works harder alone than she does in a group. Informal work groups tend to set an internal performance standard and those within the group will stay within that standard regardless of how well they perform on their own.

Question 10

Ecological systems theory, developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, discusses four types of nested environmental systems that influence each other. Which of those systems is composed of connections between immediate environments?

Accepted Answer

The mesosystem comprises connections between immediate environments, such as work or school. Those immediate environments are known as microsystems. Macrosystems refer to larger cultural context; the fourth original system is the exosystem, which is made of external environments that have an indirect impact. Chronosystem was later added to the theory and is the patterning of events in one's environment over the course of life.

Question 11

Instincts are one path psychologists use to explain certain human behaviors. There are four criteria that must be met in order for a behavior to be considered instinctive. Which of the following is NOT one of those criteria?

Accepted Answer

Instinctive behavior is characteristic of one species, not across all species. It is consistent, will occur in the absence and presence of specific stimuli, and occurs in an organized manner without any prior practice.

Question 12

Instincts are characteristics of one species that are innate and organized. A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a description of certain instinctive behavior. What is the best description of a fixed action pattern?

Accepted Answer

A fixed action pattern is an instinctive behavioral sequence that is innate, indivisible, and runs to completion. Mating dances of birds are FAPs; a yawn that triggers observers to yawn is a human FAP.

Question 13

Evolutionary heritage refers to psychological functions that result directly from brain functions. Which of the following is NOT an example of evolutionary heritage?

Accepted Answer

Pain perception is not part of evolutionary heritage; it is the result of pain receptors located throughout the central nervous system. Hunger and thirst (such as a sweet tooth), sexual behavior, memory ability, and learning activity are all part of evolutionary heritage.

Question 14

What was Stern's theory about behavior and ability in the nature vs. nurture debate?

Accepted Answer

Stern's theory about the relationship between nature and nurture was called the rubber-band hypothesis. He posited that while individuals are born with a certain genetic endowment for any given trait, environmental factors may stretch or otherwise alter the expression of those traits.

Question 15

Which of the following beliefs or practices are common to both cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Both cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis assume that behavior is often influenced by beliefs that we may not be aware of. They differ greatly, however, in that cognitive therapy focuses mostly on changing current maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, while psychoanalysis focuses mostly on past life events and suppressed memories.

Question 16

Transactional analysis (TA) integrates theories of psychoanalysis, cognitive, and humanist approaches to therapy, and is meant to simplify a patient's understanding of maladaptive behavior. Which of the following is not a philosophy or specific concept of TA?

Accepted Answer

Transactions refer to the flow of communication, both verbal and nonverbal, between people. The importance of transactions in this theory is largely about their unspoken psychological content that requires interpretation.

Question 17

Defense mechanisms, according to Freudian psychology, are employed by the ego to cope with pressures of reality and resolve conflicting drives of the id. Which of the following defense mechanisms is characterized by identifying the self and others as either good or bad?

Accepted Answer

Splitting refers to identifying oneself or others as entirely good or bad without recognizing that people can have both good and bad qualities at the same time.

Question 18

What is the correct meaning of catharsis as it is defined in psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Catharsis specifically refers to emotional release that results from remembering formerly unconscious material.

Question 19

Behaviorist views have received criticism from a number of other schools of thought. Ethologists, for example, claim that behaviorists ignore evolutionary built-in biases in learning. They also disagree with which of the following behaviorist practice?

Accepted Answer

Ethologists maintain that there is a biologically qualitative difference between humans and other animals and therefore, that using animals in experiments can only demonstrate artificial, not innate, natural learning.

Question 20

Client-centered therapy (also known PCT and associated with Carl Rogers) is a form of talk therapy in which the therapist encourages and facilitates personal growth in a supportive environment. Which of the following concepts associated with this therapeutic model is NOT correctly defined?

Accepted Answer

In this therapeutic model, unconditional positive regard refers to a therapist accepting the client unconditionally and without judgment so that the client can start to become aware of how other's perceptions influence their own self-worth.

Quiz 7: Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior