Chapter 18: Social Psychology (Study Guide)

A social trap is a situation in which A) people lose self-awareness in group situations that foster anonymity. B) there are insufficient resources to satisfy the needs of all group members. C) a lack of critical thinking results from a strong desire for group harmony. D) the pursuit of self-interest leads to collective harm. E) altruism violates a social-responsibility norm.

D

A business leader who welcomes a variety of opinions from subordinates and invites experts' critiques of her company's developing plans is most likely to inhibit A) groupthink. B) cognitive dissonance. C) social facilitation. D) superordinate goals. E) social loafing.

A

Maria recently heard a speech calling for a ban on aerosol sprays that endanger the earth's ozone layer. Maria's subsequent decision to stop using aerosol sprays is an example of: A) informational social influence. B) normative social influence. C) deindividuation. D) social facilitation.

A

The belief that those who suffer deserve their fate is expressed in the: A) just-world phenomenon. B) phenomenon of ingroup bias. C) fundamental attribution error. D) mirror-image perception principle.

A

The discomfort we feel when two thoughts are inconsistent is called: A) cognitive dissonance. B) group polarization. C) deindividuation. D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. E) the fundamental attribution error.

A

When a group of high school students who were all prejudiced discussed racial issues, their attitudes became even more prejudiced. This best illustrates: A) group polarization. B) the bystander effect. C) social facilitation. D) the mere exposure effect. E) social loafing.

A

After Mrs. Chanski and her children had helped themselves to free samples of the cookies being promoted in the grocery store, she felt obligated to buy some, even though they seemed unreasonably expensive. Her reaction best illustrates the significance of: A) social facilitation. B) the reciprocity norm. C) the bystander effect. D) the just-world phenomenon. E) deindividuation.

B

Groupthink can be prevented by a leader who A) is directive and makes his or her own position clear from the start. B) invites outside experts to critique a group's developing plans. C) tries to maintain high morale among group members. D) emphasizes the importance of the issue under discussion. E) makes sure that all conflicts are resolved through consensus.

B

Magazine computer ads seldom feature endorsements from Hollywood stars or great athletes. Instead, they offer detailed information for consumers to develop more positive opinions about the company's products. This advertising strategy best illustrates A) the reciprocity norm. B) central route persuasion. C) normative social influence. D) deindividuation. E) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

B

Social facilitation refers to the tendency to: A) neglect critical thinking because of a strong desire for social harmony within a group. B) perform well-learned tasks more effectively in the presence of others. C) experience an increasing attraction to novel stimuli as they become more familiar. D) lose self-restraint in group situations that foster anonymity. E) comply with a large request if one has previously complied with a small request.

B

When buying groceries, many shoppers prefer certain products simply because they have a familiar brand name. This preference best illustrates the importance of: A) social traps. B) the mere exposure effect. C) mirror-image perceptions. D) the reciprocity norm. E) deindividuation.

B

Which of the following is an example of the foot-in-the-door phenomenon? A) To persuade a customer to buy a product, a store owner offers a small gift. B) After agreeing to wear a small "Enforce Recycling" lapel pin, a woman agrees to collect signatures on a petition to make recycling required by law. C) After offering to sell a car at a ridiculously low price, a car salesperson is forced to tell the customer the car will cost $1000 more. D) All of the above are examples.

B

Accepting others' opinions about reality is to ________ as the desire to gain approval is to ________. A) deindividuation; social facilitation B) social facilitation; deindividuation C) informational social influence; normative social influence D) normative social influence; informational social influence

C

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: A) the bystander effect. B) social facilitation. C) deindividuation. D) the mere exposure effect. E) the fundamental attribution error.

C

Altruism is best described as A) exerting greater effort when working in the presence of others. B) experiencing an increasing attraction to people as they become more familiar. C) behaving unselfishly to enhance the welfare of others. D) complying with a large request if one has previously complied with a small request. E) acting as if the suffering of others doesn't bother us.

C

Ever since their cabin lost the camp softball competition, the campers have become increasingly hostile toward one camper in their cabin, blaming her for every problem in the cabin. This behavior is best explained in terms of: A) the ingroup bias. B) prejudice. C) the scapegoat theory. D) the reciprocity norm. E) mirror-image perceptions.

C

Mr. Hughes heard what sounded like cries for help from a swimmer located 30 yards from the ocean shoreline. He continued walking along the beach, however, because he figured that one of the many swimmers in the vicinity would provide help if it was needed. His reaction best illustrates the dynamics involved in: A) the fundamental attribution error. B) group polarization. C) the bystander effect. D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. E) the mere exposure effect.

C

The foot-in-the-door phenomenon refers to the tendency to: A) neglect critical thinking because of a strong desire for social harmony within a group. B) perform simple tasks more effectively in the presence of others. C) comply with a large request if one has previously complied with a small request. D) lose self-restraint in group situations that foster anonymity. E) experience an increasing attraction to novel stimuli as they become more familiar.

C

The hostilities between two racial subgroups of a riverfront community were dramatically reduced when the threat of their river flooding its banks required that they work together to save their town. This best illustrates the impact of: A) the mere exposure effect. B) groupthink. C) superordinate goals. D) deindividuation. E) the bystander effect.

C

After Sandy helped Jack move into his new apartment, Jack felt obligated to help Sandy when she moved. Jack's sense of responsibility can best be explained by: A) evolutionary psychology. B) two-factor theory. C) the social responsibility norm. D) the reciprocity norm.

D

Bonnie pedals an exercise bike at her health club much faster when other patrons happen to be working out on nearby equipment. This best illustrates: A) the bystander effect. B) the mere exposure effect. C) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. D) social facilitation. E) group polarization.

D

Deindividuation refers to: A) lack of critical thinking due to a strong desire for social harmony within a group. B) the tendency to overestimate the impact of personal dispositions on another's behavior. C) the failure to give aid in an emergency situation observed by many onlookers. D) a loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity. E) the enhancement of a group's prevailing attitudes through group discussion.

D

Following Germany's defeat in World War I and the economic chaos that followed, many Germans experienced increasing levels of prejudice toward Jews. This surge of hostility can best be explained in terms of the A) mere exposure effect. B) reciprocity norm. C) just-world phenomenon. D) scapegoat theory. E) bystander effect.

D

Group polarization refers to A) the lack of critical thinking that results from a strong desire for harmony within a group. B) a split within a group produced by striking differences of opinion among group members. C) the tendency of individuals to exert more effort when working as part of a group. D) the enhancement of a group's prevailing attitudes through group discussion. E) the failure to give aid in an emergency situation observed by many onlookers.

D

In his study of obedience, Stanley Milgram found that the majority of subjects: A) refused to shock the learner even once. B) complied with the experiment until the "learner" first indicated pain. C) complied with the experiment until the "learner" began screaming in agony. D) complied with all the demands of the experiment.

D

Increasing the number of people that are present during an emergency tends to: A) increase the likelihood that people will cooperate in rendering assistance. B) decrease the empathy that people feel for the victim. C) increase the role that social norms governing helping will play. D) decrease the likelihood that anyone will help.

D

Max fails to recycle his glass, metal, and plastic garbage because he thinks it's personally inconvenient and likely to have minimal impact on the city's already overflowing landfills. His reaction best illustrates the dynamics of: A) the mere exposure effect. B) the just-world phenomenon. C) the fundamental attribution error. D) a social trap. E) social facilitation.

D

Prejudice is a(n) ________; discrimination is a(n) ________. A) dispositional attribution; situational attribution B) ingroup bias; outgroup bias C) normative influence; informational influence D) attitude; behavior E) role; norm

D

Professor Washington's students did very poorly on the last exam. The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error might lead her to conclude that the class did poorly because: A) the test was unfair. B) not enough time was given for students to complete the test. C) students were distracted by some social function on campus. D) students were unmotivated.

D

Sherif's study of conflict in a Boy Scout camp indicated that conflict between two groups of boys could be reduced most effectively by: A) bringing the members of both groups into close contact. B) having one group make conciliatory gestures to the other group. C) allowing leaders of the two groups to communicate. D) exposing the groups to tasks that required their joint cooperation.

D

The bystander effect refers to the tendency for an observer of an emergency to withhold aid if the A) emergency takes place in a large city. B) observer has just endured a frustrating experience. C) emergency victim is a member of a different racial group than the observer. D) emergency is being observed by a number of other people. E) observer has been exposed to many similar emergencies in the past.

D

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to underestimate the impact of ________ and to overestimate the impact of ________ in explaining the behavior of others. A) normative influences; informational influences B) informational influences; normative influences C) personal dispositions; situational influences D) situational influences; personal dispositions

D

The mere exposure effect refers to the fact that people: A) perform well-learned tasks more effectively in the presence of others. B) become more extreme in their opinions following group discussion. C) more readily comply with a large request if they previously complied with a small request. D) experience increasing attraction to novel stimuli that become more familiar. E) often fail to notice the influence they exert on others.

D

The phenomenon in which individuals lose their identity and relinquish normal restraints when they are part of a group is called: A) groupthink. B) cognitive dissonance. C) empathy. D) deindividuation.

D

The tendency for people to exert less effort when they are pooling their efforts toward a common goal is known as A) deindividuation. B) the bystander effect. C) group polarization. D) social loafing. E) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

D

The tendency for people to exert less effort when they are pooling their efforts toward a common goal is known as: A) deindividuation. B) the bystander effect. C) group polarization. D) social loafing. E) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

D

Which theory describes how we explain others' behavior as being due to internal dispositions or external situations? A) social exchange theory B) reward theory C) two-factor theory D) attribution theory

D

Attribution theory was designed to account for: A) the process of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others. B) the impact of both heredity and environment on social behavior. C) social facilitation and social loafing. D) the loss of self-awareness that occurs in group situations. E) how people explain others' behavior.

E

Conformity increased under which of the following conditions in Asch's studies of conformity? A) The group had three or more people. B) The group had high status. C) Individuals were made to feel insecure. D) The group was unanimous. E) All of the above increased conformity.

E

Kelly, a Republican, and Carlos, a Democrat, both believe that members of their own political party are more fair-minded and trustworthy than members of other parties. Their beliefs best illustrate: A) the social responsibility norm. B) the just-world phenomenon. C) the two-factor theory. D) deindividuation. E) ingroup bias.

E

Ksana insists that her boyfriend's car accident resulted from his carelessness. Her explanation for the accident provides an example of: A) the bystander effect. B) deindividuation. C) ingroup bias. D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. E) a dispositional attribution.

E

Shortly after Alex learned that he had failed to make the high school football team, he vandalized the team's locker room and broke several classroom windows. His behavior is best explained in terms of: A) group polarization. B) the mere exposure effect. C) social loafing. D) deindividuation. E) the frustration-aggression principle.

E

When 12-year-old Jamilah saw an old man lying on the sidewalk in apparent discomfort, he prepared to offer help. But when he noticed several adults walk past the man, he concluded that the man did not need any help. His reaction most clearly illustrates one of the dynamics involved in A) the mere exposure effect. B) the fundamental attribution error. C) social loafing. D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. E) the bystander effect.

E