Question 1

Tim is a nice,quiet boy,except when he roams the streets as a member of a gang.While with the gang,Tim acts in a violent,vulgar fashion.His antisocial behavior is likely the result of:

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity. Tim's behavior while in the gang is more likely due to deindividuation, as he is acting in a violent and vulgar manner while with the group, not adhering to his personal standards of behavior.

Question 2

According to Irving Janis,the mindguard in a group:

Accepted Answer

Janis defines mindguards as members of a group who actively discourage dissenting opinions or ideas that could potentially threaten group harmony or unity. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 3

Researchers have discovered that the direction of a group's risky shift is dependent on:

Accepted Answer

The direction of a group's risky shift is dependent on how conservative or liberal the group was to begin with. If the group was already more inclined towards risk-taking behaviors and decisions, the shift would be towards even riskier choices. On the other hand, if the group was more conservative, the shift would be towards more cautious decisions.

Question 4

Katy swims faster when there are large crowds at the swim meet than when she practices and no one is around.Her faster times may be due to:

Accepted Answer

Katy's faster times at swim meets when there are large crowds suggest social facilitation, whereby the presence of others increases her arousal and enhances her performance on simple, well-learned tasks like swimming. This is in contrast to social inhibition, where the presence of others leads to a decrease in performance on tasks that are more complex or require more conscious attention. Deindividuation and diffusion of responsibility are not relevant concepts in this scenario.

Question 5

Adam is driving past the scene of an automobile accident.He sees that there are a lot of other people around,so he doesn't feel that he needs to stop.This is an example of the ____ theory.

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility is the phenomenon where individuals feel less responsibility to take action or intervene in emergency situations when other people are present. In this scenario, Adam may assume that someone else will take care of the situation, leading to his decision to not stop.

Question 6

We use the reactions of other people to judge the seriousness of a situation,according to which of the following theories?

Accepted Answer

The theory of informational influence suggests that people use the behavior of others to judge the seriousness of a situation. This is because people assume that others' behavior reflects a more accurate perception of the situation than their own, especially when they are uncertain about how to act. Therefore, people look to others to guide their own behavior and decisions.

Question 7

Burt witnesses a mugging on a crowded bus,but does nothing to help the victim.When later asked by the police to explain his inaction,Burt says that he figured someone else would help the victim.Burt has cited which explanation for the bystander effect?

Accepted Answer

diffusion of responsibility

Question 8

A group of executives meet to decide on cost-cutting options for the company.They eventually decide to fire 15 percent of the employees,a decision more extreme than any of the executives had previously advocated.The decision is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when a group makes a more extreme decision than any individual member would have made on their own. In this scenario, the decision to fire 15 percent of employees is more extreme than any individual executive had previously advocated for, suggesting that the group as a whole became polarized towards this decision through their discussions and interactions.

Question 9

Ingroup is to outgroup as ____ is to ____.

Accepted Answer

Ingroup refers to the group to which an individual belongs, while outgroup refers to any group to which an individual does not belong. Therefore, the relationship between ingroup and outgroup is one of "us" versus "them." The best answer choice is C, which represents the relationship between ingroup and outgroup as "us" and "them." The other answer choices, A, B, and D, do not accurately represent the relationship between ingroup and outgroup.

Question 10

Jimmy usually beats Ivan in practice tennis matches,but when he plays Ivan again before a packed house during a tournament,Jimmy plays badly and loses.Jimmy's poor performance is likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Social inhibition occurs when the presence of an audience or others watching causes an individual to perform worse on a task than they would during private practice. This is likely what happened to Jimmy during the tournament match with Ivan - the added pressure and attention caused him to perform poorly.

Question 11

What does deindividuation provide an individual in a crowd?

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation provides an individual in a crowd with anonymity, as it reduces personal identity and accountability. This can lead to disinhibited and impulsive behavior, as norms and social constraints are inhibited.

Question 12

A liberal group is discussing a possible tax increase to fund Medicare.When the group has finished their discussion,their views are even more liberal than they were when the group started.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the phenomenon where a group's initial attitudes and viewpoints become more extreme after discussing them within the group. In this scenario, the group's discussion about a possible tax increase to fund Medicare resulted in their views becoming even more liberal than they were initially, which is an example of group polarization. The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for others' behavior instead of situational (external) factors, while diffusion of responsibility refers to the idea that individuals may feel less responsibility to act when they are part of a larger group. Social comparison theory explains how individuals evaluate themselves in comparison to others in their social group or community.

Question 13

Which of the following is associated with a greater likelihood of taking on an antisocial role?

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity. When individuals feel anonymous, they are more likely to take on an antisocial role, such as committing acts of vandalism, theft, or violence. Therefore, deindividuation is associated with a greater likelihood of taking on an antisocial role. Social facilitation and altruism are not necessarily associated with antisocial behavior, and while informational influence can lead to conformity, it does not necessarily lead to antisocial behavior.

Question 14

"I'm not sure what to do.I'm at the shopping mall and I see someone who looks like he needs help.But,I don't know how serious the situation is." According to the informational influence theory,to determine the seriousness of the situation,we use:

Accepted Answer

According to the informational influence theory, we use the reactions of others to help determine the seriousness of the situation. This is because we often assume that others' behaviors and reactions are indicative of the appropriate response to a situation. Therefore, if others around us seem concerned or are offering assistance, we are more likely to interpret the situation as serious and in need of intervention.

Question 15

As you browse the Internet and read posts on various discussion boards and forums,you notice that people are very willing to discuss personal intimate details about their lives.What is the best explanation of this?

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation theory suggests that people may feel more anonymous and therefore more willing to disclose personal information online without fear of judgment or negative consequences.

Question 16

"Whenever I am trying to play a complex piano piece that I've never seen before,my friend usually sits down to listen." Make a likely prediction of the piano player's performance based upon your understanding of social and group influence:

Accepted Answer

Social inhibition occurs when an individual's performance is negatively affected by the presence of others, especially in tasks that are complex or unfamiliar. In this scenario, the complexity of the piano piece and its unfamiliarity to the player are likely to lead to increased anxiety or self-consciousness due to the friend's presence, thus impairing performance.

Question 17

Your songwriter friend has written a song on deindividuation.Now you have to give it a title.What is the best title?

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of individual identity and sense of self when a person is part of a larger group. The phrase "Just Another Face in the Crowd" accurately reflects this concept by highlighting how an individual can become anonymous and unrecognizable among a larger group.

Question 18

Lori is being interviewed by a college professor regarding her circle of friends.Lori says that she enjoys her friends because "they give me support and love." To what type of group does Lori belong?

Accepted Answer

Lori's description of her friends as giving her "support and love" suggests that she values their companionship and emotional connection, which are characteristic of a socially oriented group. Facilitative groups focus on achieving goals or problem-solving, diffused groups lack clear boundaries or purposes, and task-oriented groups prioritize achieving a specific objective over socializing.

Question 19

Which statement is most related to the diffusion of responsibility theory?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility refers to the phenomenon where individuals feel less responsibility for taking action in a situation when others are present, assuming that someone else will take action instead. Choice C reflects this mentality of assuming that someone else will help.

Question 20

Tina needs some help in one of her classes.She decides to join a task-oriented study group.In Group A,the members have specific duties to perform,like writing practice questions and writing an outline of each lecture.In Group B,there is more emphasis on developing relationships,like making sure everyone shows up to the review sessions.Which group should Tina join?

Accepted Answer

Tina needs help in a specific class, which requires a strong focus on academic tasks. Group A is more task-oriented and will provide Tina with the necessary support to improve her performance in the class. Group B is more social and may not prioritize academic success as strongly. Therefore, Group A is the better choice for Tina's needs.

Quiz 25: Social Psychology