Question 1

The enduring piece of knowledge about an object or event is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A belief is a long-lasting and deeply ingrained piece of knowledge about an object or event. Norms are rules or expectations for behavior in a group, opinions are personal thoughts or judgments, and attitudes are a person's feelings or disposition towards something.

Question 2

In Milgram's classic study on obedience,the learners:

Accepted Answer

The learners were actually paid actors who pretended to receive painful shocks during the study.

Question 3

In Asch's classic study of conformity,about _____% of the participants conformed and gave an obviously incorrect answer on at least one of the trials.

Accepted Answer

In Asch's classic study of conformity, 75% of the participants conformed and gave an obviously incorrect answer on at least one of the trials. This shows the powerful influence of social pressure on individual behavior.

Question 4

Research has confirmed that the reason why teachers obeyed the experimenter and delivered what they believed were potentially lethal shocks to completely innocent learners was because of:

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is normative pressure. The Milgram experiment showed that participants were willing to deliver shocks up to lethal levels to innocent learners because they felt pressured to obey the experimenter's instructions, even though it violated their own moral code. This normative pressure came from the perceived authority of the experimenter and the social context of the situation. Fear of punishment was one factor, but it was not the primary reason why participants obeyed. The door-in-the-face technique and systematic persuasion are not relevant to this particular study.

Question 5

Which example illustrates the use of "social norming" to reduce alcohol abuse on university campuses?

Accepted Answer

Social norming involves providing information about what is actually typical behavior, rather than assuming what is normal based on personal assumptions or stereotypes. By providing information about how much the average university student drinks, students may realize that excessive alcohol consumption is not as common as they thought and may be more likely to limit their own intake. This can be more effective than simply increasing penalties or providing alcohol-free events, which may not address the underlying social pressure to drink.

Question 6

Political candidates are eager for endorsements from movie stars and famous athletes,knowing that these endorsements will evoke emotional arousal and influence people to vote for them.This technique is termed _____ persuasion.

Accepted Answer

Heuristic persuasion involves using simple cues or shortcuts (like endorsements from well-known personalities) to influence decisions or opinions, rather than detailed information or logical arguments.

Question 7

When a person's behaviour is guided by the behaviour of those believed to know something about what is true,the person is acting according to _____ influence.

Accepted Answer

Informational influence occurs when a person's behaviour is guided by the belief that others know something about what is true. This happens when people are uncertain or ambiguous about a situation and look to others, who they perceive as more knowledgeable or experienced, for guidance or information. The person may adopt the beliefs or behaviors of the group as their own, and this can lead to conformity. Thus, option A) is the best choice.

Question 8

The enduring evaluation of an object or event,positive or negative,is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

Attitude refers to a person's lasting evaluation or feeling about an object or event, which can be positive or negative. Beliefs refer to a person's conviction or acceptance of something as true or real, while norms are shared expectations or rules of behavior in a group. Opinion refers to a particular view, judgment, or assessment of something, which can be influenced by a person's attitudes, beliefs, or norms.

Question 9

What did the experimenter in the Milgram obedience studies do to get the participants to continue shocking the learner?

Accepted Answer

In the Milgram obedience studies, the experimenter calmly instructed the participants to continue with statements such as "please continue" or "the experiment requires that you continue." This authoritative but persuasive tone appealed to the participants' sense of obligation to follow instructions from an authority figure.

Question 10

Producers of TV comedy shows sometimes use laugh tracks.These producers are subjecting viewers to:

Accepted Answer

The use of laugh tracks is an example of informational influence, as it is an attempt to shape viewers' perceptions of what is funny by providing social cues (i.e. the sound of laughter) to guide their reactions.

Question 11

Political candidates often vow to win your vote by using _____ but spend most of their time and money trying to win your vote by using _____.

Accepted Answer

Heuristic persuasion involves using mental shortcuts or simple cues to influence behavior, while systematic persuasion involves presenting detailed and logical arguments to change attitudes. Political candidates often promise to use systematic persuasion in their campaigns, but they actually rely heavily on heuristic persuasion, such as using emotional appeals, catchy slogans, and personal attractiveness.

Question 12

Which "message card" would be MOST effective in influencing hotel guests to reuse their bathroom towels?

Accepted Answer

Social proof, as indicated by stating that 75% of guests reuse their towels, is a powerful motivator because people are influenced by the actions of others, especially when they are uncertain about how to behave.

Question 13

Print ads for cars are more likely to present a lot of facts about the car,whereas print ads for clothing typically show an attractive model.The car manufacturers are relying on _____ persuasion.

Accepted Answer

The car manufacturers are more likely to use systematic persuasion, which involves presenting logical arguments and detailed information to persuade the audience. On the other hand, print ads for clothing usually rely on heuristic persuasion, which involves using attractive models or celebrities to form associations and emotions with the product. Hedonic persuasion is more related to appealing to emotions and pleasure, which can be seen in ads for luxury or lifestyle products. Automotive is not a relevant choice in this context.

Question 14

What percentage of Milgram's teachers delivered the highest possible voltage of "shock" to the learner?

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original study, 62% of the teachers delivered the highest possible voltage of "shock" to the learner, suggesting that a majority of participants were willing to obey authority even if it meant causing harm to another person.

Question 15

A salesperson who tells a car buyer that most people pay the extra money to purchase an extended warranty is making use of:

Accepted Answer

The salesperson is using informational influence, which is when someone uses information to persuade others to take a certain action or adopt a certain attitude. By telling the car buyer that most people opt for an extended warranty, the salesperson is providing information that may influence the buyer's decision. The door-in-the-face technique involves making a large request first, then following up with a smaller request, while the foot-in-the-door technique involves making a small request first, then following up with a larger request. The norm of reciprocity is the idea that people are more likely to comply with a request if they feel that they owe something to the person making the request. None of these techniques apply to the situation described in the question.

Question 16

The classic study on obedience was done by:

Accepted Answer

The classic study on obedience refers to Stanley Milgram's study on obedience to authority, which is known as the Milgram experiment.

Question 17

When actors in Asch's line-judging study all gave the wrong answer on the third trial after providing correct answers on the first and second trials,the real participant provided the:

Accepted Answer

When actors in Asch's line-judging study all gave the wrong answer on the third trial, the real participant provided an incorrect answer in order to conform to the group's incorrect response. It did not depend on whether the participant had discerned that the other participants were actors or was confused about which answer was correct.

Question 18

One person stands on the sidewalk,looks up,and stares at the top of a tall building.Other people then do the same.This phenomenon is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is an example of informational influence, which occurs when people look to others for guidance about how to behave in ambiguous situations. In this case, the tall building may be unfamiliar or appear daunting, so people look to others for cues on how to react.

Question 19

In the Milgram obedience studies,participants rarely obeyed the instructions when the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Milgram obedience studies,participants rarely obeyed...

Question 20

The tendency to do what powerful people tell us to do simply because they tell us to do it is known as:

Accepted Answer

Obedience refers to the tendency to comply with the commands or requests of people who are in positions of authority, even if they go against our own beliefs or values. This was famously demonstrated in Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments, where participants were ordered by an authority figure to administer increasingly painful electric shocks to an innocent person.

Quiz 13: Social Psychology

The enduring piece of knowledge about an object or event is called a(n) :