Social Psych People

Question 1

Aaronson and Linder

Answer 1

Proposed gain-loss principle (an evaluation that changes will have more effect than an evaluation that remains constant. E.g., we will like someone more if their liking for us has increased (gain) than someone who has consistently liked us).

Question 2

Solomon Asch

Answer 2

Studied conformity by asking subjects to compare lengths of lines, found that subjects yield to group pressure and choose incorrect line.

Question 3

Bandura

Answer 3

Developed the social learning theory, which focuses on learning through social contexts (aggression is learned through modeling (Bobo doll) or reinforcement).

Question 4

Bem

Answer 4

Developed self-perception theory as an alternative to cognitive dissonance.

Question 5

Clark, K. and Clark, M.

Answer 5

Performed study on doll preferences in black and white children, the results of which were used in the 1954 Brown v the Topeka Board if Education Supreme Court case (highlighted negative impact of racism on black children’s’ self-perception, used to argue against segregation in school).

Question 6

Darley and Latane

Answer 6

Proposed that there were two factors that could lead to non-helping: social influence and diffusion of responsibility.

Question 7

Eagly

Answer 7

Suggested that gender differences in conformity were not due to gender per se, but to different social roles.

Question 8

Festinger

Answer 8

Developed cognitive dissonance theory; also developed social comparison theory.

Question 9

Hall

Answer 9

Studied norms for interpersonal distance in interpersonal interactions.

Question 10

Heider

Answer 10

Developed balance theory to explain why attitudes change; also developed attribution theory and divided attributes into two categories, dispositional and situational.

Question 11

Hovland

Answer 11

Studied attitude change.

Question 12

Janis

Answer 12

Developed the concept of groupthink to explain how group decision-making can go awry.

Question 13

Lerner

Answer 13

Proposed concept of belief in a just world.

Question 14

Lewin

Answer 14

Divided leadership styles into three categories: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire.

Question 15

McGuire

Answer 15

Studied how psychological inoculation could help people resist persuasion.

Question 16

Milgram

Answer 16

Studied obedience by asking subjects to administer electroshock; also proposed stimulus-overload theory to explain differences between city and country dwellers.

Question 17

Newcomb

Answer 17

Studied political norms.

Question 18

Petty and Cacioppo

Answer 18

Developed elaboration likelihood model of persuasion (central and peripheral routes to persuasion).

Question 19

Schachter

Answer 19

Studied relationship between anxiety and the need for affiliation.

Question 20

Sherif

Answer 20

Used auto kinetic effect to study conformity; also performed Robber’s Cave experiment and found that having superordinate goals increased inter group cooperation.

Question 21

Zajonc

Answer 21

Studied the mere exposure effect; also resolved problems with social facilitation effect by suggesting that the presence of others enhances the dominant responses and impairs the emission of non dominant responses.

Question 22

Zimbardo

Answer 22

Performed prison simulation and used concept of deindividuation to explain results.