LearningCurve 13b. Social Influence

Tyree is lifting weights to build muscle for the upcoming football season. While in the gym lifting, a group of cheerleaders comes in to start practice. While the cheerleaders were watching, Tyree was able to do 10 reps more than he has ever accomplished in the past. This BEST illustrates _____.

social facilitation

The local basketball team seems to perform better in front of their home audience on their home court. According to the text, the phenomenon of the home field advantage is BEST understood with reference to:

social facilitation.

Wanda is typically very shy. However, while watching a rock concert with a huge crowd, she lost her inhibitions. Wanda's unusual behavior is BEST understood in terms of _____.

deindividuation

Alexandra is well liked by her friends. When you watch her, you can see that she mimics her friends' gestures and seems to match their moods. Alexandra's behavior would suggest that this automatic mimicry is a component of:

empathy.

Tyler is with three of his friends at a restaurant. One of his friends yawns, then another friend does so, and then finally Tyler yawns. Research suggests that Tyler and his friends who also mimicked the yawn may show increased levels of:

empathy.

Which phenomenon BEST explains the rise of fascism in the 1930s?

group polarization

At her health club, Bonnie pedals an exercise bike much faster when other patrons are using nearby equipment. This BEST illustrates:

social facilitation.

The home advantage in college and professional athletic events can be attributed to:

social facilitation.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy and his advisers decided to invade Cuba with 1400 CIA-trained Cuban exiles. When the invaders were easily captured and soon linked to the U.S. government, Kennedy wondered in hindsight, "How could I have been so stupid?" This is an example of:

groupthink.

Dr. Cheng studies social influence at a university in China. He is concerned because he is finding that rates of conformity in his experiments are much higher than those reported by his cousin, another social influence researcher, who does his research in the United States. Which reason might account for this difference?

Dr. Cheng is conducting his experiments in a country that prizes collectivism, whereas his cousin is conducting experiments in a country that prizes individualism.

José's friends ask him to participate in some activities. He feels pressure to join them, even though the adventures might not be in his best interest. Which reason might be strengthening José's conformity to the group?

He admires the group's status and attractiveness.

Mark, Jane, and Meagan are working on a class project together. Mark is not helping as much as he could and he knows it. Why is he social loafing?

He may view his individual contribution as dispensable.

What might explain why, when asked controversial questions, students' answers are more diverse when using anonymous electronic clickers than when raising their hands?

The students may feel as though others in the class are observing their behavior when they have to raise their hands.

Joanna disagrees with her classmates on an issue. During a class discussion of the issue, Joanna is MOST likely to conform to her classmates' opinion if she:

believes the rest of the class is unanimous in their position.

During a discussion, Dr. Mansfield argues that Asch's participants conformed to the confederates' responses because they wished to be correct about the lengths of the lines in the experiment. Dr. Roach counters that the participants conformed because they simply sought the confederates' approval. Dr. Mansfield is suggesting that Asch's conformity is an example of _____ social influence. Dr. Roach is suggesting instead that it reflects _____ social influence.

informational; normative

In making wedding preparations, JaMarcus conforms to the expectations of his future bride's family in order to win their favor. His behavior illustrates the importance of _____ social influence.

normative

Javier has the potential to be an honor student but frustrates his teachers because of his actions. Rather than work to succeed, he tends to dumb down to act more like the students with whom he hangs out. He has at times answered questions incorrectly in class, on purpose, in order to be more like his friends. Javier's behavior is an example of:

normative social influence.

Dahlia is trying to make partner at one of the city's most prestigious law firms. It is generally understood that associates remain hard at work in the office until at least 7 or 8 each evening. This is an element of the firm's:

norms

If one student in a classroom begins to cough, others are likely to do the same. This BEST illustrates:

the chameleon effect.

Sherelle is with three of her friends at a restaurant. One of her friends yawns, then another friend, and then Sherelle. She has just experienced:

the chameleon effect.

While on a date with his girlfriend, Juan discovered that she was depressed about a low exam grade. He found that he began to feel dejected and they both talked very little and ended the date early. Juan's change in mood BEST illustrates:

the chameleon effect.

Why does social facilitation account for the home advantage noted in both college and professional athletic events?

the energizing effect of the enthusiastic audience

In which situation is one MOST likely to conform?

when everyone else in the group agrees

In which situation is one MOST likely to conform?

when one admires the group's status

In which situation is one MOST likely to conform?

when others in the group are observing one's behavior