Social Cognition and Social Influence

Question 1

Social psychology is social because it

Answer 1

deals with how people are affected by other people

Question 2

Cognitive psychology’s influence on social psychology is evident in the area of

Answer 2

social cognition

Question 3

One problem with defining social psychology solely in terms of the topics it studies is that

Answer 3

this does not properly differentiate it from other disciplines

Question 4

At a broad level, research in social psychology can be said to use two types of methods

Answer 4

experimental and non-experimental

Question 5

One way to avoid confounding results in an experiment is to

Answer 5

ensure all conditions are identical except for the independent variable of interest

Question 6

Social cognition is a field of social psychology dealing with how

Answer 6

thought processes are linked to social contexts and social behaviour

Question 7

Which concept has NOT played a role in the development of modern social cognition?

Answer 7

Group mind

Question 8

Following Asch (1946), which model do people use to form first impressions of others?

Answer 8

A configural model

Question 9

Asch (1946) found that some traits (central traits) perceived in others strongly affect how we
decide if other traits also apply. For example, we are more likely to judge Mary as ‘generous’ if
we also believe that she is

Answer 9

‘warm’

Question 10

Stephanie is a firm believer in ‘not judging a book by its cover’. In her Introduction to Psychology
class, Stephanie has been partnered up with Chris for a group assignment. When she looks
across the room to see her new partner, Stephanie finds Chris very physically attractive. Based

Answer 10

intelligent, interesting, capable and a good worker

Question 11

The best definition of a schema is that it is

Answer 11

a cognitive structure that represents knowledge about a concept or type of stimulus

Question 12

Your friend claims that guys in rock bands ‘snort drugs, stub out cigarettes on the carpet and
steal people’s knickers’. Your studies suggest that these descriptions are

Answer 12

stereotypes

Question 13

When you started your degree perhaps you were confident of graduating because you are
hardworking, at least as intelligent as the average student and otherwise a determined person.
Such traits are aspects of your

Answer 13

self-schema

Question 14

Alyson, Cara and Hilda agree that Prince Harry is the perfect male. They

Answer 14

are using a prototype

Question 15

People use schemas to process information. Schemas function to

Answer 15

interpret new information; encode old information; fill in gaps in what we know

Question 16

Who was the most influential person of the 20th century? Europeans may refer to Hitler, Indians
to Gandhi and Americans to Kennedy. These are different responses, so that the category
‘influential person’ is a(n)

Answer 16

fuzzy set

Question 17

When categorising stimuli, the accentuation effect is enhanced when

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the categorisation has

importance, relevance or value to the person

Question 18

Schemas become more complex as

Answer 18

more instances are encountered

Question 19

The property of a stimulus to make it stand out relative to other stimuli is called

Answer 19

salience

Question 20

You are having Sunday brunch with your friend at a quiet, family-friendly cafe when suddenly
three cross-dressers enter and perform an aria usually sung by three famous tenors. Excited, you
and your friend continue to discuss this event after the three artists have left because you

Answer 20

have just perceived stimuli that are vivid

Question 21

Categories of stimuli that are accessible are those that are

Answer 21

recently learned; used in everyday life; in line with what we want or need

Question 22

In terms of our general impression of someone, we are more likely to recall information that is
inconsistent, rather than consistent, with our impression. Why is this?

Answer 22

Because inconsistent information attracts attention and generates more cognition and
thought, strengthening memory retrieval routes

Question 23

Softly-spoken Dorothy is doing something very uncharacteristic in a public car park—assertively
she tells someone who has just unpacked a shopping trolley to return it to ‘its proper place’. You,
as a close friend, are likely to

Answer 23

pay close attention to what is going on

Question 24

According to Tracey, the living standard in Europe has improved since the establishment of the
EU. She says she knows this because she has been reading about the EU in the local paper.
Which heuristic bias is she likely to be using?

Answer 24

Availability

Question 25

Lauren does not consider herself to be very artistic or creative. When she meets Ben in her
Introduction to Psychology class, and finds out he plays guitar, she may infer that he is extremely
artistic. What cognitive heuristic is Lauren most likely to be using?

Answer 25

Anchoring

Question 26

‘Compliance’ refers to

Answer 26

an external change in behaviour and in expressed attitudes

Question 27

A collection of individuals who are significant for a person’s attitude and behaviour both in a
positive as well as a negative sense is termed

Answer 27

a reference group

Question 28

Mr Swine is the owner of a new shoe factory. He can threaten, or even punish, his
predominantly immigrant and female factory workers if they make mistakes. Mr Swine’s power is

Answer 28

coercive

Question 29

While the process of controlling others through domination is referred to as power, the process
of mobilising others to attain a common goal is referred to as

Answer 29

leadership

Question 30

One reason that people continued to administer electric shocks in Milgram’s study may be that
the experiment starts with quite trivial shocks and, once the participant has committed
themselves to giving shocks, it can be difficult for them to change their mind and not continue
their commitment. This process

Answer 30

reflects the psychology of ‘sunk costs’; is similar to the foot-in-the-door technique of persuasion

Question 31

When can obedience be beneficial?

Answer 31

In an emergency situation

Question 32

A context that is relevant for making social comparisons is called a(n)

Answer 32

frame of reference

Question 33

When it comes to matters of taste, and when you are concerned about ‘fitting in’ with the
group, group size will have a

Answer 33

non-linear effect on conformity

Question 34

The dual-process dependency model of social influence refers to both informational and
normative influence. However, it has been challenged because

Answer 34

it disregards the role of group belongingness

Question 35

Wayne has taken up surfing. Now he spends every free minute at the beach. He wears long
baggy shorts, wrap-around sunglasses and has dyed blonde curls. In joining a ‘world of surfies’ he

Answer 35

referent informational influence

Question 36

) The majority share the attitude that chocolate is the best flavour for ice-cream. However, I think
vanilla ice-cream is the best. According to Nemeth’s ‘convergent-divergent’ theory, upon
discovering that my attitude towards ice-cream flavours is in disagreement with that of the
majority

Answer 36

I should feel surprise and stress. This will then lead to convergent thinking.