Question 1

In a study of social loafing, blindfolded students were asked to pull on a rope as hard as they could. The students tugged hardest when they thought

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study of social loafing, blindfolded...

Question 2

The country of Superlia increased the size of its military force because its leaders inappropriately anticipated that their rival, the country of Piropia, would do the same. The Piropians subsequently felt it was necessary to respond to the Superlian military buildup with a military expansion of their own. The Piropian response best illustrates the danger of

Accepted Answer

The Piropian response to the Superlian military buildup exemplifies a self-fulfilling prophecy. This occurs when a belief or expectation about a situation leads to actions that ultimately cause that belief or expectation to come true. In this case, Superlia's leaders wrongly anticipated a military buildup from Piropia, which led them to raise their own military force. This, in turn, led the Piropians to respond with their own military expansion. The initial belief about Piropia's military intentions caused actions that ultimately resulted in the feared outcome, a classic example of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 3

Initially prejudiced heterosexuals are likely to develop more accepting attitudes toward homosexuals following the experience of

Accepted Answer

Face-to-face contact has been shown to be an effective way of reducing prejudice towards a group. By interacting with members of the group and learning more about them as individuals, prejudiced individuals may reduce their negative attitudes towards them. This applies to attitudes towards homosexuals as well. Social facilitation (A), mirror-image perceptions (B), and deindividuation (D) do not necessarily lead to reduced prejudice towards homosexuals.

Question 4

Superordinate goals refer to

Accepted Answer

Superordinate goals are shared goals that require cooperation among individuals or groups, and these goals override differences among people. This can lead to greater intergroup cooperation and reduced intergroup tensions.

Question 5

The fundamental attribution error involves

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overlook situational factors and instead attribute a person's behavior to their personality or character. Therefore, choice C, which involves underestimating situational constraints on another's behavior, is the correct option. The other choices, such as group polarization, social loafing, and deindividuation, involve different psychological concepts unrelated to the fundamental attribution error.

Question 6

Adherence to the reciprocity norm is most relevant to the utility of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Adherence to the reciprocity norm is most...

Question 7

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy announced to the then Soviet Union that the United States would discontinue all atmospheric nuclear tests. The Soviet's positive response to this conciliatory gesture illustrated the potential value of

Accepted Answer

The positive response of the Soviet Union to the United States' discontinuation of atmospheric nuclear tests illustrates the potential value of GRIT (Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction), which involves one side making a small, conciliatory gesture to the other side in hopes of promoting cooperation and reducing tensions. Kennedy's announcement demonstrated a willingness to take a first step towards reducing the risk of nuclear war, and may have encouraged the Soviet Union to reciprocate with their own conciliatory actions.

Question 8

A sincere word of apology often helps to reduce the tension between two conflicting parties. This best illustrates the value of

Accepted Answer

The statement is referring to the value of conciliation, which involves making peace or coming to a compromise with someone. A sincere word of apology fits this description and can help to reduce tension between conflicting parties. The other options (mere exposure effect, social facilitation, and groupthink) are not directly related to the situation described in the statement.

Question 9

In most desegregated schools, ethnic groups resegregate themselves in the lunchrooms. People in each group often think they would welcome more contact with the other group, but they assume that the other group does not reciprocate the wish. This pattern of thinking best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Mirror-image perceptions refer to the reciprocal views of each other held by conflict parties, in which each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive. In this scenario, both ethnic groups assume that the other group does not reciprocate the wish for contact, which is a perfect example of mirror-image perceptions.

Question 10

Groupthink is fueled by a desire for

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is fueled by a desire for harmony and agreement within a group. This desire can lead to a lack of critical thinking and consideration of alternative viewpoints, as group members prioritize maintaining group consensus over making objective decisions. Self-disclosure, minority influence, and cognitive dissonance are not directly related to the phenomenon of groupthink.

Question 11

Evidence that people exhibit heightened levels of prejudice when they are economically frustrated offers support for

Accepted Answer

The scapegoat theory suggests that people may blame their economic frustrations on certain groups or individuals, leading to increased prejudice towards those groups or individuals.

Question 12

Research participants who worked alongside someone who rubbed his or her face or shook his or her foot were observed to do the same thing themselves. This best illustrated

Accepted Answer

The behavior exhibited in the scenario is known as the chameleon effect, where individuals mimic the actions and behaviors of those around them, often unconsciously. The other options do not accurately describe the observed phenomenon. The mere exposure effect is when repeated exposure to a stimulus increases liking for that stimulus. Social loafing refers to the tendency for individuals to exert less effort in a group task because they believe their individual effort is not necessary. The bystander effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help someone in need when others are present.

Question 13

The success of interracial cooperative learning in classroom settings best illustrates the value of ________ for reducing racial conflict.

Accepted Answer

The success of interracial cooperative learning is evidence of how superordinate goals (goals that can only be achieved by working together) can reduce racial conflict. By working towards a common goal, students from different racial backgrounds are forced to see each other as allies instead of enemies. This breaks down their preconceived notions about each other and reduces animosity. Social facilitation (the tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others) and deindividuation (losing one's sense of individual identity when in a group) are not directly related to reducing racial conflict. The just-world phenomenon (the belief that people get what they deserve in life) can actually contribute to racial conflict by perpetuating stereotypes and justifying discrimination.

Question 14

After their country was ravaged by a series of earthquakes, two bitterly antagonistic political groups set aside their differences and worked cooperatively on effective disaster relief. This cooperation best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The scenario highlights how two opposing political groups set aside their differences and worked collaboratively towards a common goal, which is an illustration of superordinate goals. Superordinate goals involve creating a common goal that both parties can work together to achieve, thereby reducing intergroup conflicts.

Question 15

Using the Asch procedure, conformity to group judgments would be LEAST likely when

Accepted Answer

The Asch procedure involves participants making judgments about the length of lines after hearing the judgments of other group members. The purpose is to see if participants will conform to the group judgments, even if those judgments are clearly wrong. However, if participants are not observed by other group members when giving their answers (as in choice B), there is no pressure to conform or go along with the group. Therefore, conformity is least likely in this situation.

Question 16

A win-win orientation is one that seeks ________ of conflict.

Accepted Answer

A win-win orientation seeks mutually beneficial resolutions that satisfy the interests of all parties involved and reduce or eliminate conflict. Mirror-image perceptions refer to a situation where each party sees themselves as rational and the other party as irrational, which can contribute to conflict. Social facilitation and deindividuation do not necessarily relate to conflict resolution strategies.

Question 17

Professor Stewart wrote a very positive letter of recommendation for a student despite having doubts about her competence. Which theory best explains why he subsequently began to develop more favorable attitudes about the student's abilities?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory suggests that when our actions and beliefs are not aligned, we experience discomfort or dissonance, which we strive to reduce by changing our attitudes or beliefs to be more consistent with our actions. In this case, Professor Stewart's positive letter of recommendation for a student he had doubts about created dissonance, and to reduce this discomfort, he may have begun to develop more favorable attitudes towards the student.

Question 18

Although Frieda is typically very reserved, as part of a huge rock concert crowd she lost her inhibitions and behaved in a very sexually provocative way. Frieda's unusual behavior is best understood in terms of

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in a large group or anonymous setting, leading to behaviors that would not normally occur in an individual's normal state. Frieda's behavior of losing her inhibitions and behaving in a sexually provocative way is indicative of deindividuation.

Question 19

Two friends quarreled over possession of a single orange without realizing that one of them simply wanted orange juice and the other simply wanted the orange peel to make a cake. This classic episode best illustrates that people sometimes fail to recognize

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question highlights the importance of win-win solutions. If the two friends had communicated and understood each other's needs, they could have both gotten what they wanted without conflict. Instead, they were focused on individual possession of the orange and failed to consider alternative solutions that would benefit both parties.

Question 20

The concept of a superordinate goal is best illustrated by

Accepted Answer

A superordinate goal is a common goal that overrides differences among people and requires their cooperation. The intent of management and labor to produce a fuel-efficient automobile that will outsell any car on the market is an example of a superordinate goal because it requires the cooperation of both management and labor, despite any potential differences or conflicts. The other choices do not represent a common goal that requires cooperation among groups with differing interests.

Quiz 13: Personality