Applications of social psychology

Question 1

Why do false confessions happen?

Answer 1

Compliance - escape stressful situation and confess with disregard for long term consequences

Internalisation - begin to believe that you are actually guilty of the crime

Question 2

What are some important characteristics of a defendant that can affect their sentencing?

Answer 2

Physical attractiveness
Race
Display of emotion
Socioeconomic status
Similarity to juror

Question 3

What are the best predictors of effective leadership

Answer 3

Extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness

Question 4

What are particularly important traits of business leaders

Answer 4

Cognitive ability
Inner dive
Leadership motivation
Expertise and creativity
Self-confidence and integrity
Flexibility

Question 5

What is transactional leadership?

Answer 5

A leader who gains compliance and support from followers primarily through goal setting and the use of rewards.

Question 6

What is transformational leadership

Answer 6

A leader who inspires followers to transcend their own need in the interest of a common cause

Question 7

Explain the endowment effect

Answer 7

Tendency for people to inflate the value of objects, goods or services they already own

Question 8

Explain the escalation effect

Answer 8

Tendency for people to persist in failing investments to avert loss, which causes losses to mount

Question 9

What causes the escalation effect

Answer 9

Loss aversion
Desire for completion
Justify prior decisions
Protect self esteem

Question 10

Explain the sunk cost principle

Answer 10

The economic rule of thumb that only future costs and benefits, not past commitments, should be considered in making a decision

Question 11

Explain sunk cost bias

Answer 11

Allowing your decisions to be biased by past investments of time, money and effort.