Social Psychology

Question 1

Social Psychology

Answer 1

The psychology of how people think, feel, and behave in social environments (emphasis on groups)

Question 2

Conformity

Answer 2

Matching one’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to societal or group norms (also called majority influence)

Question 3

Normative conformity/influence

Answer 3

Conforming to avoid rejection from a group, or to gain approval from the group

Question 4

Informative conformity/influence

Answer 4

Looking for guidance when you don’t know what to do and assuming that the group is correct

Question 5

Compliance

Answer 5

Changing behavior, attitudes, or beliefs based on a direct request; usually for a reward of avoiding a punishment

Question 6

Foot-in-the-Door Technique

Answer 6

Asking of small favors to lead up to much bigger requests

Question 7

Door-in-the-Face Technique

Answer 7

Asking of a large request first so a second, smaller request can be asked and more likely accepted

Question 8

Lowball Technique

Answer 8

The requestor asks for an initial commitment in a favor, but then raises the cost of the commitment

Question 9

Private conformity

Answer 9

Actually changing your behaviors to conform

Question 10

Public conformity

Answer 10

Outwardly changing your behaviors but privately still sticking to your core beliefs

Question 11

Michelangelo Phenomenon

Answer 11

The concept of the self is made up from the intrapersonal self and the interpersonal self (what other people think of the person)

Question 12

Group Polarization

Answer 12

The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the individual inclinations of the members within the group; is also called choice shift

Question 13

Groupthink

Answer 13

Maintaining harmony in the group is more important than carefully analyzing the problem; consensus is reached without discussion of alternatives

Question 14

Group Confirmation Bias

Answer 14

Confirmation bias in a group – groups tend to seek information that supports the majority view

Question 15

Obedience

Answer 15

How we obey authority

Question 16

Social Anomie

Answer 16

The breakdown of social bonds between an individual and the community

Question 17

Identification

Answer 17

A pattern of behaviors that are intended to show respect for a figure

Question 18

Internalization

Answer 18

The idea/belief/behavior has been integrated into our core values; private conformity
In terms of role play, we internalize our role and let it affect our behavior

Question 19

Asch Conformity Study

Answer 19

3 lines and a target line; when confederates gave the wrong answer, 75% of subjects conformed. It’s an example of normative social influence

Question 20

Perceptual error

Answer 20

An error in judging reality as it is

Question 21

Milgram Study on Obedience

Answer 21

The one with the shocks – 65% administered the full shock and conformed (4 prompts for continuation); compliance with authority even if it goes against their moral values

Question 22

Just World Phenomenon

Answer 22

The belief that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people

Question 23

Self-serving bias

Answer 23

Individuals will view their own success as being based on internal factors, while viewing failures and mistakes as being based on external factors

Question 24

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer 24

We tend to believe that flaws and mistakes in others are due to internal factors (inherent personality flaws) than external factors

Question 25

Zimbardo Prison Study

Answer 25

Stanford Prison Experiment; actors got so caught up in their roles that they had to end the experiment early. It shows how internalization works

Question 26

Deindividuation

Answer 26

The crowd/group conceals a person’s identity, so group members are more likely to act inappropriately in a manner that the group is acting in

Question 27

Factors that affect conformity

Answer 27

Group size (3-5)
Unanimity
Group status
Group Cohesion
Observed behavior
Public Response
Prior commitments (did we agree with the group on a previous point?)
Feelings of insecurity

Question 28

Factors that affect Obedience

Answer 28

Type of Authority
Closeness to authority
Legitimacy of Authority
Proximity to authority
Victim distance
Depersonalization (victim made to look less human)
Role Models for Defiance (if others defy, we will too)

Question 29

Bystander Effect

Answer 29

People in a group will feel less likely to help; amplified by the amount of people in the book

Question 30

Diffusion of Responsibility

Answer 30

In a larger group, an individual feels a smaller share of responsibility

Question 31

Dominant Response

Answer 31

The response that is most likely to occur in the event of a stimulus

Question 32

Social Facilitation

Answer 32

In the presence of others, our dominant response will occur (if we’re usually good, then we will perform well in the presence of others)

Question 33

Social Loafing

Answer 33

Each individual in a group will put forth less effort than if they were alone; the group ends up performing poorly

Question 34

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 34

We tend to change our behaviors when we know that we are being observed or monitored

Question 35

Yerke’s Dodson Law of Social Facilitation

Answer 35

Arousal is raised in the presence of others; we therefore perform better on simple tasks (familiar) and are hindered at performing complex tasks (unfamiliar)

Question 36

Peer Pressure

Answer 36

The social influence on an individual by a group or another individual

Question 37

Identity Shift Effect

Answer 37

In the threat of social rejection, a person will conform to the norms of the group. This results in cognitive dissonance, so the individual shifts their identity to adopt the standards of the group