(Minor) Social

Question 1

Research investigating the effects of age on susceptibility to persuasion suggests that \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ are most resistant to persuasion.
A. young and older adults
B. young adults
C. middle-aged adults
D. older adults

Answer 1

C. middle-aged adults

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Persuasion-080 Answer C is correct. Studies investigating the impact of age on susceptibility to persuasion have not produced entirely consistent results, but there’s some support for a U-shaped relationship between age and attitude change for adolescents and adults, with adolescents/young adults and older adults being most easily persuaded. See, e.g., P. S. Visser and J. A. Krosnick, Development of attitude strength over the life cycle: Surge and decline, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(6), 1389-1410, 1998.

Question 2

In their Robbers Cave study, Sherif and his colleagues (1966) found that competition between two groups of boys for desired prizes produced a high degree of intergroup hostility. These results provide support for which of the following theories of prejudice and discrimination?
A. social identity theory
B. realistic conflict theory
C. scapegoat theory
D. extended contact theory

Answer 2

B. realistic conflict theory

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Prosocial Behavior and Prejudice/Discrimination-145 Answer B is correct. According to realistic conflict theory, prejudice and discrimination are the result of direct competition between groups for scarce and valued resources. Evidence for this theory is provided by Sherif’s Robbers Cave study in which conflict between groups was generated by having two groups of boys who had strong attachments to members of their own group compete for desired prizes.

Question 3

The elaboration likelihood model (Petty & Cacioppo, 1981) predicts attitude change induced by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is likely to be strong and persistent and produce a change in behavior.
A. central route processing
B. peripheral route processing
C. an alpha processing strategy
D. an omega processing strategy

Answer 3

A. central route processing

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Attitudes and Attitude Change-047 Answer A is correct. According to the elaboration likelihood model, the central route involves thoughtful and careful evaluation of the message and is more likely than the peripheral route to produce attitude change that’s strong and persistent and can be expected to cause a change in behavior.v

Question 4

Strength, accessibility, and specificity have been identified as factors that affect:
A. the extent to which a person can resist persuasion.
B. the likelihood that a person’s behaviors will alter his/her attitudes.
C. the amount of influence a person’s attitudes have on his/her behaviors.
D. the persuasiveness of an advertisement or other message.

Answer 4

C. the amount of influence a person’s attitudes have on his/her behaviors.

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Attitudes and Attitude Change-036 Answer C is correct. Research has found that the strength of the relationship between a person’s attitudes and his/her behaviors is affected by several factors, including the strength, accessibility, and specificity of the attitudes. See e.g., C. A. Sanderson, Social psychology, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2010.

Question 5

Moscovici’s (1980) research on minority influence found that a group member with a minority opinion must rely on which of the following to persuade members with the opposing (majority) opinion to adopt his or her opinion?
A. informational influence
B. normative influence
C. behavioral style
D. psychological reactance

Answer 5

C. behavioral style

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Social Influence – Group Influences-115 Answer C is correct. According to Moscovici, a group member with a minority opinion must rely on behavioral style to persuade the majority – i.e., the member must be consistent in expressing his/her opinion without seeming too rigid or dogmatic.

Question 6

Sherif (1935) used the autokinetic phenomenon to study:
A. psychological reactance.
B. conformity to group norms.
C. compliance with direct requests.
D. counterfactual thinking.

Answer 6

B. conformity to group norms.

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Social Influence – Types of Influence-093 Answer B is correct. Sherif used the autokinetic phenomenon (an optical illusion in which a stationary point of light appears to move in a dark room) to study conformity to group norms.

Question 7

Which of the following is most useful for explaining the results of Schachter’s (1959) “misery loves miserable company” study?
A. gain-loss theory
B. self-verification theory
C. equity theory
D. social comparison theory

Answer 7

D. social comparison theory

EXPLANATION

EPPP-P1-SOC-Affiliation, Attraction, and Intimacy-126 Answer D is correct. Social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954) has been used to explain the results of Schachter’s research. It predicts that, in uncertain situations, people often compare themselves to others to obtain information about themselves.