Social Psychology

Rhonda has just learned that her neighbor Patricia was involved in an automobile accident at a nearby intersection. The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error may lead Rhonda to conclude

"Patricia's recklessness has finally gotten her into trouble."

In Milgram's experiments, participants were torn between whether they should respond to the pleas of the _________ or the demands of the _________.

"learner"; experimenter

Vince, an extraverted university freshman, has just moved into a dormitory. Vince is most likely to become friends with:

Bill, his assigned roommate who is majoring in computer science.

Which of the following is most closely supported by research on social attraction?

Birds of a feather flock together.

How does the presence of observers affect a person's performance?

It improves performance on easy tasks and hinders a person's performance on difficult tasks

How does our explanation of strangers' behavior differ from that of our own behavior?

We explain strangers' behavior in terms of personality traits and our own behavior in terms of situational constraints.

Studies of role-playing most directly highlight the effects of

actions on attitudes

Minimal levels of father care are associated with high levels of

aggression

Ostracism has been observed to intensify

aggression

The frustration-aggression principle suggests that anger results when

an attempt to achieve some goal is blocked

The fundamental attribution error is most likely to lead observers to conclude that unemployed people

are irresponsible and unmotivated

An example of the fundamental attribution error is illustrated in our tendency to underestimate the extent to which others' behavior is influenced by

assigned roles

Social loafing is MOST likely to occur among

audience members who are asked to applaud after a speaker is introduced.

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

believes the rest of the class is unanimous in their position

If one were to generalize from Muzafer Sherif's study of conflict resolution between two groups of campers, the best way for the United States and China to improve their relationship would be to

conduct a joint space program designed to land humans on Mars.

To a social psychologist, a perceived incompatibility of goals indicates

conflict

In one study, researchers found that police officers judge Black faces that appear more typical of their race to be more

criminal

The invention and transmission of dating and courtship customs best illustrate

cultural influence

The enduring traditions, ideas, attitudes, and behaviors shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next define their

culture

The preservation of innovation best illustrates the survival value of

culture

When a mild-mannered woman had an electrode implanted in her amygdala, she

developed more aggressive tendencies

A vivid example of a North Korean's behavior has an unusually strong influence on people's judgments of all North Koreans primarily because people

estimate the frequency of group characteristics in terms of the memorability of these characteristics.

Social loafing refers to the tendency for people to

exert less effort when they are pooling their efforts toward a common goal

A person's behavior is most likely to be consistent with his or her attitudes when

external influences on behavior are minimal

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

face-to-face contact

Studies have revealed diminished activity in the ________ of violent criminals.

frontal lobes

A gap between modest goal attainments and very high goal expectations is most likely to trigger

frustration

After Ravi lost the student election for president of his high school class, he spread false rumors intended to spoil the newly chosen president's reputation. Ravi's behavior is best explained in terms of the

frustration-aggression principle

Since 1960, most Western cultures have changed with remarkable speed. The LEAST likely explanation for these variations involves changes in

genetic predispositions

By providing prospective terrorists with electronic "chat rooms" for interfacing online with others who share their attitudes, the Internet most likely serves as a medium for

group polarization

An overwhelming desire for harmony in a decision-making group increases the probability of

groupthink

Alex thinks drinking sugar-laden sodas is bad for you but other players on his hockey team insist that it is not. Alex is likely to conform to their opinion if

he feels insecure in his role as a new member of the team.

Attribution theory was designed to account for

how people explain others' behavior

Since 1960, Americans have experienced a(n)

increase in the incidence of depression and an increase in work hours.

Most children believe their school is better than the other schools in town. This best illustrates

ingroup bias

Employees who receive a windfall bonus are later happier if they have done something for other people with it. This suggests that altruism is

intrinsically rewarding

Groupthink can be prevented by a leader who

invites outside experts to critique a group's developing plans.

Research on physical attractiveness indicates that men are more likely than women to

judge members of the opposite sex as more attractive if they have a youthful appearance.

A readiness to assume that enslaved people deserve the terrible treatment they receive best illustrates

just-world phenomenon

An eagerness to believe that victims of a natural disaster are being punished by God for their sins is best explained in terms of

just-world phenomenon

After three months of riding the 8:30 bus to work, Cindy has actually started to feel affection for the gruff and scowling old bus driver. Cindy's reaction best illustrates

mere exposure effect

Parents who discipline their children with beatings are often teaching aggression through the process of

modeling

A culture that promotes individualism is most likely to encourage

nonconformity

Conformity resulting from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval is said to be a response to

normative social influence

The practice covering your mouth when you cough best illustrates the impact of

norms

Social facilitation refers to the tendency to

perform well-learned tasks more effectively in the presence of others

Observing yourself on a videotape is most likely to increase your tendency to attribute your behavior to

personality traits

The two-factor theory of emotion specifically suggests that passionate love can be facilitated by

physical arousal

The set of prescribed behaviors associated with a particular social position is best described as a(n)

role

Circumstances that increase _____________ are likely to reduce _____________.

self-awareness; deindividuation

Comedy routines that are mildly amusing to people in an uncrowded room seem funnier in a densely packed room. This is best explained in terms of

social facilitation

Expert pool players were observed to make 71 percent of their shots when alone. When four people watched them, they made 80 percent of their shots. This best illustrates

social facilitation

Class members are asked to work cooperatively in groups on major course papers. Every member of a group is to receive exactly the same grade based on the quality of the group's paper. This situation is most likely to lead to

social loafing

Youths who are shunned and mocked by peers are especially likely to respond with aggression if they have earlier experienced

social rejection

Culturally modeled guides for how to act in various situations are called

social scripts

A situation in which the individual pursuit of self-interest leads to collective destruction is known as

social trap

Despite government warnings of a severe shortage of heating fuels, most citizens continue to turn up their home thermostats in the belief that their personal fuel consumption will have little effect on the country's total fuel reserves. This reaction best illustrates the dynamics of

social trap

If a cluster of people stand gazing upward, passersby will often pause to do likewise. This best illustrates

the chameleon effect

Research indicates that minorities are most influential when they

unswervingly hold to their own position.

An explanation of aggression in terms of instinct would have the most difficulty accounting for

wide cultural variations in aggressiveness