Question 1

Michael is exceptionally good at Ping-Pong. According to research on social facilitation, when good players such as Michael know they are being watched while they play, they perform
A) better than good players who do not know they are being watched.
B) worse than bad players who do not know they are being watched.
C) the same as good players who do not know they are being watched.
D) the same as bad players who know they are being watched.

Accepted Answer

According to research on social facilitation, the presence of others can enhance a person's performance in a task if they are already skilled at that task. This is called the "audience effect" or "social facilitation." Therefore, it is likely that Michael will perform better when he knows he is being watched because he is already a skilled Ping-Pong player.

Question 2

Evaluation apprehension can ________ a task, and thereby leads to more pronounced social facilitation effects.
A) increase how much effort we put into
B) decease how much effort we put into
C) increase how aroused we are during
D) decrease how aroused we are during

Accepted Answer

Evaluation apprehension can increase arousal, which enhances performance on simple or well-learned tasks, leading to more pronounced social facilitation effects.

Question 3

According to research on group polarization, people who make decisions in groups tend to make more ________ decisions than people who make decisions on their own.
A) extreme
B) divided
C) conservative
D) accurate

Accepted Answer

Research on group polarization has consistently found that people who make decisions in groups tend to make more extreme decisions than people who make decisions on their own. This is because when people are in a group, they are more likely to be exposed to arguments and opinions that reinforce their own views, and less likely to encounter dissenting views or information that challenges their beliefs. This can lead to a phenomenon known as "groupthink," in which members of a group become overly confident in their decisions and fail to consider alternative viewpoints or possibilities.

Question 4

Kari is practicing lines for a school play. According to the research reviewed in the textbook, under what conditions will the presence of others detract from her ability to learn the lines?
A) if the other people are blindfolded
B) if Kari finds the task easy
C) if Kari knows the lines well
D) if Kari finds the task difficult

Accepted Answer

The presence of others can be distracting and lead to social inhibition, especially when the task is difficult. If Kari finds the task easy or already knows the lines well, the presence of others may not be as distracting. Blindfolding the other people would not necessarily have an impact on Kari's ability to learn the lines.

Question 5

Who will likely perform better on an upcoming test?
A) Shannon, who is studying primarily alone
B) Kelly, who is studying only in a group of ten
C) Brad, who is studying only in a group of two
D) There will be no difference in test performance regardless of the context of studying.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that studying alone is more effective than studying in a group, as it allows for personalized study methods and minimizes distractions.

Question 6

Norman Triplett conducted what is widely regarded as social psychology's first experiment. He found that children tended to perform a relatively easy task better while in the presence of another child doing the same task. This finding set the stage for research on
A) social facilitation.
B) social loafing.
C) groupthink.
D) dissonance.

Accepted Answer

Norman Triplett's experiment is widely regarded as the first experiment in social psychology, discovering the phenomenon of social facilitation. Social facilitation refers to the tendency for individuals to perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others.

Question 7

Recall that Robert Zajonc placed cockroaches in either a complex maze or a simple maze. He created three other conditions as well. Any given cockroach was induced to navigate the maze (a) entirely alone; (b) in the presence of an "audience" of cockroaches; or (c) simultaneously with another cockroach (but without an audience). The audience condition (b) permitted Zajonc to demonstrate whether
A) audiences pay attention to competitors.
B) the mere presence of others can facilitate or hinder performance.
C) complex tasks are performed less well than simple tasks.
D) competitive situations are preferred over solitary situations.

Accepted Answer

The audience condition (b) allowed Zajonc to test whether the mere presence of others (the audience of cockroaches) can facilitate or hinder performance in navigating the maze.

Question 8

Imagine you are playing a video game when five strangers arrive to watch you. According to Robert Zajonc's work on social facilitation, the ________ created by the presence of these strangers would impair your performance if you ________ this particular video game.
A) dissonance; are unfamiliar with
B) dissonance; dislike
C) arousal; dislike
D) arousal; are unfamiliar with

Accepted Answer

According to Robert Zajonc's work on social facilitation, the presence of others creates arousal, which can enhance performance on familiar or easy tasks but impair performance on unfamiliar or difficult tasks. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with this particular video game, the arousal created by the presence of the five strangers would impair your performance.

Question 9

Which of the following scenarios best captures the definition of a group, as described in the textbook?
A) people who stand together during an elevator ride
B) people who wait together in the same room for a job interview
C) people who decide how to help a stranded motorist
D) people who watch someone get stabbed while they are sitting on the same bus

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, a group is "two or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships." People who decide how to help a stranded motorist best capture this definition, as they are actively working together and connected by the common goal of assisting the stranded motorist. The other scenarios (standing together in an elevator, waiting in the same room for a job interview, and watching someone get stabbed) do not necessarily involve social relationships or active cooperation among individuals.

Question 10

According to ________ theory, being aware of another person's presence divides our attention between this person and the task at hand. This division of attention is arousing, which explains why people perform better on well-learned tasks in the presence of others.
A) deindividuation
B) mere presence
C) evaluation apprehension
D) distraction-conflict

Accepted Answer

The distraction-conflict theory suggests that the presence of others creates a conflict between focusing on the task and the people present, which can enhance performance on simple tasks due to increased arousal.

Question 11

In which of the following scenarios is social loafing most likely to occur?
A) during a competitive bike race such as the Tour de France
B) while moving large furniture with a group of friends
C) during a group project where each group member's work will be graded individually
D) when trick-or-treaters are asked to provide their names

Accepted Answer

Social loafing occurs when individuals feel less accountable for their contributions to a group task. In a competitive bike race or a group project with individual grading, there is a high level of accountability and individual effort is more essential. When moving large furniture with a group of friends, there is less individual accountability and participants may feel their contribution is less necessary, leading to social loafing. Trick-or-treaters providing their names is not a situation that would typically involve group work or effort, so social loafing is not likely to be a factor.

Question 12

As discussed in the textbook, social psychological research on culture and valuing risk shows that
A) citizens of the United States tend to endorse riskier solutions than do citizens of Uganda and Liberia.
B) group discussion leads to riskier decisions among Africans than among Americans.
C) collectivist cultures value risky decisions, whereas individualist cultures value cautious decisions.
D) Both a and c are correct.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that citizens of the United States, which is considered an individualist culture, tend to endorse riskier solutions compared to citizens of collectivist cultures like Uganda and Liberia.

Question 13

Robert Zajonc found that the mere presence of others tends to facilitate performance ________, but to hinder performance ________.
A) on novel tasks; on well-learned tasks
B) on well-learned tasks; on novel tasks
C) among women; among men
D) among men; among women

Accepted Answer

Zajonc's social facilitation theory suggests that the presence of others enhances performance on well-learned tasks but impairs performance on novel tasks.

Question 14

In which of the following situations can the presence of others mask the typical social facilitation effects?
A) when employees have powerful norms against working too hard, and "rate busters" are chastised
B) when African American students put out less effort in the presence of other African American students to avoid "acting white"
C) when adolescent boys want to convey a lack of interest in a childlike task when others are present
D) All of the above are correct.

Accepted Answer

All of the given situations involve the presence of social norms or pressures that can override the typical effects of social facilitation. In the first scenario, employees may not want to be seen as working too hard in front of their coworkers, even if it would improve their performance on a task. In the second scenario, African American students may feel pressure to conform to stereotypes about academic underachievement and avoid standing out among their peers. In the third scenario, adolescent boys may feel pressure to conform to gender norms that discourage interest in activities seen as childish. In all of these cases, the presence of others can inhibit the social facilitation effect that would typically lead to improved performance on a task in front of an audience.

Question 15

Tom finds solving math problems easy. According to the research reviewed in the textbook, when Tom solves math problems in the presence of others (as opposed to alone), his
A) performance is likely to suffer.
B) inhibitions are likely to decrease.
C) performance is likely to improve.
D) fear of negative evaluation is likely to increase.

Accepted Answer

According to the research reviewed in the textbook, the presence of others can improve performance on simple or well-learned tasks, such as solving math problems, due to the phenomenon known as social facilitation.

Question 16

Research on social facilitation warrants some practical advice. All of the following recommendations are supported by this research EXCEPT when
A) students want to memorize unfamiliar information, they should do it alone.
B) students want to review material they have already learned, they should not do it in a study group.
C) supervisors want their employees to do simple tasks well, they should have the employees do them in the presence of others.
D) supervisors want their employees to complete challenging tasks, they should give employees some privacy.

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation research suggests that the presence of others can improve performance on simple or well-learned tasks but can hinder performance on complex or new tasks. Therefore, reviewing material already learned (a well-learned task) could actually benefit from being in a study group, contrary to the suggestion in option B.

Question 17

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the phenomenon of social loafing?
A) exerting minimal effort on a group project
B) showing minimal concern over other people's desires or problems
C) avoiding social interactions that require complex thought
D) losing one's motivation to be liked by other people

Accepted Answer

Social loafing refers to the tendency for people to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. Choosing option A, exerting minimal effort on a group project, best illustrates this phenomenon.

Question 18

Jason is getting ready to give the first lecture of his teaching career. As he steps up to the podium and looks out at the lecture hall, he is struck by the fear that he will appear incompetent in front of his students. Jason is experiencing
A) distraction conflict.
B) deindividuation.
C) evaluation apprehension.
D) groupthink.

Accepted Answer

Evaluation apprehension is the fear of looking incompetent or performing poorly in front of others. It can cause anxiety and distract the person from performing at their best. This is exactly what Jason is experiencing as he steps up to the podium to give his first lecture.

Question 19

Research on social ________ suggests that performance ________when novel tasks are performed in the presence of others.
A) facilitation; improves
B) facilitation; suffers
C) loafing; improves
D) loafing; suffers

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research on social ________ suggests that performance...

Question 20

According to the textbook, which of the following statements about group living is correct?
A) Group living gave our human ancestors protection from predators, efficiency in acquiring food, and help with child rearing.
B) All mammalian species live in groups.
C) Humans have a physical but not psychological need to belong in groups.
D) All of the above are correct.

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that group living gave our human ancestors protection from predators, efficiency in acquiring food, and help with child rearing. However, it is not true that all mammalian species live in groups and humans do have a psychological need to belong in groups.

Quiz 12: Groups

Michael is exceptionally good at Ping-Pong. According to research on social facilitation, when good players such as Michael know they are being watched while they play, they perform

Evaluation apprehension can ________ a task, and thereby leads to more pronounced social facilitation effects.

According to research on group polarization, people who make decisions in groups tend to make more ________ decisions than people who make decisions on their own.

Kari is practicing lines for a school play. According to the research reviewed in the textbook, under what conditions will the presence of others detract from her ability to learn the lines?

Who will likely perform better on an upcoming test?

Norman Triplett conducted what is widely regarded as social psychology's first experiment. He found that children tended to perform a relatively easy task better while in the presence of another child doing the same task. This finding set the stage for research on

Imagine you are playing a video game when five strangers arrive to watch you. According to Robert Zajonc's work on social facilitation, the created by the presence of these strangers would impair your performance if you this particular video game.

Which of the following scenarios best captures the definition of a group, as described in the textbook?

According to ________ theory, being aware of another person's presence divides our attention between this person and the task at hand. This division of attention is arousing, which explains why people perform better on well-learned tasks in the presence of others.

In which of the following scenarios is social loafing most likely to occur?

As discussed in the textbook, social psychological research on culture and valuing risk shows that

Robert Zajonc found that the mere presence of others tends to facilitate performance , but to hinder performance .

In which of the following situations can the presence of others mask the typical social facilitation effects?

Tom finds solving math problems easy. According to the research reviewed in the textbook, when Tom solves math problems in the presence of others (as opposed to alone) , his

Research on social facilitation warrants some practical advice. All of the following recommendations are supported by this research EXCEPT when

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the phenomenon of social loafing?

Jason is getting ready to give the first lecture of his teaching career. As he steps up to the podium and looks out at the lecture hall, he is struck by the fear that he will appear incompetent in front of his students. Jason is experiencing

Research on social suggests that performance when novel tasks are performed in the presence of others.

According to the textbook, which of the following statements about group living is correct?