Social Psychology

Question 1

Define attitude

Answer 1

A +VE or -VE evaluative reaction towards a stimulus such as a person, action, object or concept

Question 2

Relationship between attitude and behavaiour?

Answer 2

Attitudes influence behaviour MORE strongly when the situational factors that contradict our attitudes are WEAK

Question 3

Define cognitive dissonance

Answer 3

The state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change

Question 4

How can you resolve cognitive dissonance?

Answer 4

CHANGE BEHAVIOUR
• e.g. in smoking, would involve quitting which might be difficult hence avoided

ACQUIRE NEW INFORMATION
• e.g. such as seeking exceptions (my grandad smoked all his life and lived till 95)

REDUCE IMPORTANCE OF COGNITIONS
• i.e. beliefs/attitudes

Question 5

Define framing

Answer 5

Refers to whether a message emphasises the benefits or losses of that behaviour

Question 6

When are LOSS-framed messages most effective?

Answer 6

When we want people to take up behaviours aimed at detecting health problems OR illness
• e.g. HIV testing
• e.g if you do not self-examine your breasts, you are more likely to die of breast cancer

Question 7

When are GAIN-framed messages most effective

Answer 7

When we want people to take up behaviours aimed at promoting prevention behaviours
• e.g. condom use
• e.g. use of SPF15 sunscreen makes your skin healthier and prolongs life

Question 8

Define stereotypes

Answer 8

Generalisations made about a group of
people or members of that group, such as race, ethnicity,
or gender. Or more specific such as different medical
specialisations (e.g. surgeons)

Question 9

Define prejudice

Answer 9

To judge, often negatively, without having
relevant facts, usually about a group or its individual
members

Question 10

Define discrimination

Answer 10

Behaviours that follow from negative
evaluations or attitudes towards members of particular
groups

Question 11

Define social loafing

Answer 11

The tendency for people to expend less individual effort when working in a group than when working alone

Question 12

When is student loafing more likely to occur?

Answer 12

• The person believes the individual is not being monitored
• The task/or group has less meaning to the person
• The person generally displays low motivation
• The person expects other group members will display high effort

Question 13

What does the degree of social loafing depend on?

Answer 13

GENDER and CULTURE
• occurs more often in all-male groups
• occurs more often in individualistic cultures (Western)

Question 14

When may social loafing disappear?

Answer 14

• Individual members are monitored
• Members highly value their task or goal
• Groups are smaller
• Members are of similar competence

Question 15

Define conformity

Answer 15

The adjustment of individual behaviours, attitudes and beliefs to a group standard

Question 16

Factors that predict conformity?

Answer 16

• Group size

• conformity increases as group size increases
• no increase over 5 group members

• Presence of a dissenter
- one person disagreeing greatly reduces the group conformity

• Culture
- greater conformity in collectivist cultures

• Cohesion
• Status
• Public response
• Lack of prior commitment

Question 17

What is meant by Helping Behaviour?

Answer 17

The BYSTANDER EFFECT

Question 18

Define the Bystander Effect

Answer 18

Presence of multiple bystanders inhibits each person’s tendency to help
• often due to social comparison or diffusion of responsibility

i.e. Bystander apathy

Question 19

5-step bystander decision process?

Answer 19

1. Notice the event
2. Decide if the event is an emergency
   • Social comparison – look at how others are responding
3. Assume responsibility to intervene
   • Diffusion of responsibility – believing others will help
4. Self-efficacy in dealing with the situation
5. Decision to help
   • based on a cost-benefit analysis, e.g. danger

Question 20

What increases helping behaviour?

Answer 20

1. REDUCING RESTRAINTS ON HELPING
    Reduce ambiguity and increase responsibility.
    Enhance guilt and concern for self-image.

2. SOCIALISE ALTRUISM
	Teach moral inclusion.
	Model helping behaviour.
	Attributing helpful behaviour to altruistic motives.
	Education about barriers to helping.

Question 21

Factors influencing obedience?

Answer 21

• Remoteness of victim
• Closeness and legitmacy of the authority figure
• Diffusion of responsibility
- obedience increases when someone else administers the shocks
• NOT personal characteristics

Question 22

Define collective effort model

Answer 22

On a collective task, people will put forth only as much effort as they expect is needed to reach their goal

Question 23

Define groupthink

Answer 23

Tendency of group members to stop critical thinking because they are striving to seek agreement

Question 24

When does groupthink most likely occur?

Answer 24

When a group:
	Is under stress to reach a decision
	Is insulated from outside input
	Has a directive leader
	Has high cohesiveness

Question 25

Define group polarisation

Answer 25

the tendency of people to make
decisions that are more extreme when they are in a group
as opposed to a decision made alone or independently

Question 26

Symptoms of groupthink?

Answer 26

 Direct pressure applied to people who express doubt.
 Mind guards – people who prevent negative information reaching the group.
 Members display self-censorship and withhold doubts.
 An illusion of unanimity is created.

Question 27

3 distinct style of leadership?

Answer 27

1. Autocratic or authoritarian style:
   • All decision-making powers are centralised in the leader
   • They don’t entertain suggestions/initiatives
2. Participative or democratic style:
   • Decision-making by the group and the leader then gives instruction after consultation
   • They can win the co-operation of the group and motivate them
3. Laissez-faire or “free-rein” style:
   • Does not lead but leaves the group entirely to itself
   • Such a leader allows subordinates absolute freedom