Question 1

A social psychologist is designing a study of altruism.What would be the most likely dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

Altruism is defined as selfless behavior intended to benefit others, so the most likely dependent variable would be helping behavior. The study would likely measure the frequency or extent to which participants engage in helping behavior. Persuasion and aggression are not directly related to altruism, and frustration-aggression is a specific theory about the relationship between frustration and aggressive behavior.

Question 2

Which scenario is an example of instrumental aggression?

Accepted Answer

Instrumental aggression is aggression used as a means to achieve an end, such as winning a game. In this scenario, the hockey player intentionally injures the opponent to benefit his own team's chances of winning, showing instrumental aggression. The other scenarios involve reactive aggression, as they are responses to provocation or anger.

Question 3

What does the frustration-aggression hypothesis state?

Accepted Answer

The frustration-aggression hypothesis states that aggression is caused by frustration. This means that when a person is unable to achieve a goal or satisfy a need, they may become frustrated and this frustration can lead to aggressive behavior.

Question 4

Who were the participants in Stanley Milgram's classic series of experiments on obedience?

Accepted Answer

The participants in Stanley Milgram's classic series of experiments on obedience were volunteers recruited through newspaper ads.

Question 5

A man risks his own life to save a little boy from a burning building,even though he was not related to the little boy.From the perspective of a social psychologist,which term best captures this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Altruism is the term used in social psychology to describe when a person acts selflessly to benefit another person without any expectation of personal gain or reward. In this case, the man risked his own life to save the little boy from the burning building, even though he was not related to him, indicating that he acted altruistically.

Question 6

Which statement about most of the participants in Stanley Milgram's studies of obedience is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Most participants showed signs of stress and verbally insisted they could not continue, but many still proceeded under the experimenter's authority.

Question 7

From an evolutionary perspective,which statement about altruistic behaviour is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Altruistic behavior can be partly explained by genetic transmission through the concept of kin selection, which suggests that individuals may be more likely to exhibit altruistic behavior towards genetic relatives who share the same genes. Therefore, altruistic behavior can be viewed as an adaptive trait that has been selected for in certain populations over time. While situational factors and learning may also play a role in altruistic behavior, the genetic component is a significant contributor to its evolution.

Question 8

In a study that assessed genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences in physical and social aggression,researchers collected data on 6-year-old twins.What were the results of the research?

Accepted Answer

The study found that genetic factors explained 50 to 60 percent of the variation in physical aggression and 20 percent of the variation in social aggression. This indicates that genetics play a significant role in individual differences in aggression. The study did not make any conclusions about the social versus genetic differences between monozygotic and dizygotic twins or the likelihood of twins to exhibit antisocial behavior. Option D is incorrect because the study found a significant relationship between genetics and aggression.

Question 9

If asked about the blind obedience of the Nazis during World War II,how would Stanley Milgram most likely respond?

Accepted Answer

Stanley Milgram's experiments demonstrated that ordinary people could commit harmful acts when instructed by an authority figure, suggesting that situational factors can lead anyone to behave in ways similar to the Nazis.

Question 10

A student in the library repeatedly asked two women who were having a conversation to be quiet.When they seemed to intentionally start speaking more loudly,he threatened them.In the context of aggression,what does the women's behaviour most directly exemplify?

Accepted Answer

The women intentionally starting to speak more loudly after being asked to be quiet can be seen as a direct provocation, as they were purposely trying to elicit a response or reaction from the student. This type of behavior can exacerbate aggression and escalate the situation further.

Question 11

An individual believes that some forms of violence are justified and that morality has very little to do with whether a person does or does not engage in violence.On which factor would this individual likely receive a high score?

Accepted Answer

The individual's belief that some forms of violence are justified indicates a positive evaluation of violence, which would likely result in a high score on that factor.

Question 12

When individuals interact with other people,they are likely to find themselves mimicking them in certain ways.What do Chartrand and Bargh label this type of mimicry?

Accepted Answer

Chartrand and Bargh label this type of mimicry as the chameleon effect. This phenomenon refers to the unconscious copying of other people's behavior, such as gestures, expressions, postures, and tone of voice. The term chameleon refers to the lizard species that change their color to match their environment. Similarly, individuals may unconsciously adapt their behavior to match their social context or the behavior of others.

Question 13

Researchers have searched for a relationship between personality and aggression.What have they discovered?

Accepted Answer

Researchers have found that individuals who are prone to impulsive aggression often score high on measures of emotional responsivity, indicating a link between certain personality traits and impulsive aggression.

Question 14

Based on the research of Irving Janis,which approach should be taken to prevent groupthink from occurring in groups?

Accepted Answer

Irving Janis recommends encouraging dissent within the group as a preventive measure against groupthink. This means that group members should be encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas, even if they are different from the prevailing view, and should be free to challenge each other's ideas. By encouraging dissent, the group is more likely to consider a variety of perspectives and avoid the tendency towards group consensus and conformity that characterizes groupthink. Choosing A, C, or D would actually increase the likelihood of groupthink by promoting cohesion, insulating the group from different viewpoints or expert opinions, or relying on a strongly directed leader to impose their views on the group.

Question 15

Imagine that Amos is a participant in Stanley Milgram's experiment on obedience to authority.As the experiment progresses,Amos begins to hesitate and protests that he does not want to continue with the experiment.How will the experimenter respond?

Accepted Answer

The experimenter in Milgram's study would typically use verbal prods to encourage participants to continue, emphasizing the importance of the experiment and their role in it.

Question 16

A man gives his best friend some money knowing that his best friend may help him out with money at some later time.How would Daniel Batson most likely categorize the man's helping behaviour?

Accepted Answer

The man's behavior is motivated by the expectation that his friend may help him out in the future, indicating a self-interested motivation (egoism) rather than pure altruism, collectivism, or conventionalism.

Question 17

What has the research on the relationship between frustration and aggression led theorists to conclude?

Accepted Answer

The research on the relationship between frustration and aggression has led theorists to conclude that frustration does not always lead to aggression. While frustration can increase the likelihood of aggression, it is not the sole determinant of aggressive behavior. Other factors such as situational cues and individual characteristics also play a role in determining whether frustration leads to aggression.

Question 18

In a study that is described in the textbook,college undergraduates played either violent or nonviolent video games for 20 minutes.They were then asked to read incomplete stories and predict what would happen next.What were the results of the study?

Accepted Answer

The results of the study showed that participants who played violent video games consistently gave more aggressive outcomes for the stories compared to those who played nonviolent video games. This suggests a possible desensitization or normalization of aggressive behavior as a result of playing violent video games.

Question 19

Mary Ann comes home after a stressful day at work and is looking forward to relaxing in her apartment's indoor heated pool.When she arrives for her swim,she finds out that the pool is closed for repairs.According to the frustration-aggression hypothesis,how is Mary Ann likely to respond?

Accepted Answer

According to the frustration-aggression hypothesis, frustration increases the probability of aggressive behavior. Since Mary Ann is already feeling stressed and frustrated, the news of the pool closure will likely increase her frustration and thus increase her probability of exhibiting aggressive behavior.

Question 20

Although normally a passive person,a man became involved in a fistfight with a careless driver who almost caused his car to crash.Which type of aggression is being characterized?

Accepted Answer

The aggression is impulsive because it was a spontaneous reaction to a threatening situation, rather than premeditated or planned.

Quiz 17: A: Social Psychology