Question 1

Behavior that is initiated or changed in response to a request,as opposed to a command or direct order,is an example of _______.

Accepted Answer

Compliance refers to behavior change in response to a request, which is different from obedience that involves following a direct order, conformity which involves adapting to social norms, and persuasion which involves changing attitudes and beliefs.

Question 2

Marco accepts a request to play the piano at his church's Sunday services,even though he is still learning how to play the piano.He plays a well-learned,simple piece.Happily,he performs very well in front of his congregation.Marco's behavior illustrates ________.

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better on tasks in the presence of others than when alone. Marco's improved performance in front of his congregation is a classic example of this phenomenon.

Question 3

After agreeing to Nat's request to share her lecture notes from one class,Maria now agrees to Nat's request to share her notes from three classes.This example illustrates the ________technique.

Accepted Answer

The given example is of the foot-in-the-door technique, where a small request is made first, followed by a larger one. In this case, Nat initially requested just one set of notes, and after Maria agreed to that, he requested three sets.

Question 4

An example of ________ is the decision by NASA to launch the space shuttle Challenger despite widespread concerns about parts of the shuttle being unacceptable.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon in which group members prioritize group harmony and conformity over critical evaluation of information and decision-making. In the case of the Challenger launch, there were concerns raised by engineers about the safety of the O-ring seals on the rocket boosters. However, NASA officials ignored these concerns and went ahead with the launch in order to meet the deadline. This decision led to the tragic explosion of the Challenger and the loss of seven lives. The decision to ignore dissenting opinions in favor of group agreement is an example of groupthink.

Question 5

On the 72^nd hole of the U.S.Open golf tournament,Phil Mickelson misses a one-foot putt that would have won the championshi

Accepted Answer

Social impairment refers to the tendency for people to perform worse on tasks when they are in the presence of others, especially if the task is complex or not well-practiced. In this case, the pressure and presence of an audience may have negatively impacted Mickelson's performance on the putt.

Question 6

______ is a change of behavior in response to an explicit request.

Accepted Answer

Compliance refers to a change in behavior in response to a direct request or instruction from another person or group, even though the individual may not necessarily agree with the request or instruction. It is different from conformity, which involves changing one's behavior to match the norms of a group, and obedience, which involves following authority figures. Deindividuation involves a loss of self-awareness and individual identity in a group setting.

Question 7

Many people hang up on telemarketers,but others will listen politely to their pitches even if they are not interested in the product.Telemarketers know that anyone who agrees to listen to a pitch is more likely to buy the product,thanks to the ________ phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

The foot-in-the-door phenomenon is the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request. In the case of telemarketers, by agreeing to listen to their pitch, individuals have already made a small commitment, which makes them more likely to make a larger commitment (i.e. buying the product). The risky shift, polarization, and door-in-the-face phenomena do not apply to this situation.

Question 8

During the NBA Finals,LeBron James misses a foul shot that would have given his team the lead with 10 seconds left in the game.Even though LeBron usually makes those shots during practice,he missed it at a crucial time.Why do you think this might have happened?

Accepted Answer

Social impairment refers to a decrease in performance that can occur when an individual is observed or evaluated by others. LeBron James may have felt pressure due to the high-stakes situation and the expectation placed on him by his team and fans, leading to heightened anxiety and a decrease in performance. This can happen even to experienced athletes who may usually perform well in practice.

Question 9

An individual who exerts less effort when working on a group task if individual contributions will not be evaluated is engaging in what is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the phenomenon where an individual exerts less effort when working in a group as they believe their individual contribution will not be evaluated or recognized. Social idleness and the goof-off phenomenon are colloquial terms and not established concepts in social psychology. Social facilitation, on the other hand, refers to the tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an example of "groupthink"?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group of people prioritize consensus and conformity over critical thinking and objective analysis, often leading to poor decision-making or disastrous outcomes. The Challenger disaster, the Titanic, and the Bay of Pigs are all examples of groupthink because members of each group ignored warning signs and did not voice their concerns in order to maintain group harmony and avoid conflict. However, the Boston Red Sox is not an example of groupthink because it is a sports team and not a decision-making group.

Question 11

In order to reduce groupthink,which of the following strategies would NOT be employed?

Accepted Answer

Finding holes in all arguments that go against the group's desires would actually promote groupthink rather than reduce it, as it suggests that the group's desires are the only valid ones and other perspectives or ideas are not worth considering. The other options would help reduce groupthink by encouraging impartiality, seeking diverse opinions, and avoiding pressure to conform.

Question 12

What is the term for an improvement in performance caused by the perception that others are watching?

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation refers to the phenomenon where the mere presence of others enhances an individual's performance on a task. This effect is particularly evident in tasks where the individual is already skilled or familiar with the task. However, social facilitation can also have the opposite effect of decreasing performance on tasks where the individual is less skilled or where the presence of others is distracting.

Question 13

A teacher decides against assigning group projects in which all group members get the same grade.What social psychological phenomenon might the teacher be concerned about?

Accepted Answer

The teacher may be concerned about social loafing, a phenomenon in which individuals in a group reduce their effort and contribution compared to when they work alone. If all group members receive the same grade, it may encourage some individuals to "free-ride" on the work of others, knowing that their grade will not be affected. By assigning individual grades, each person is responsible for their own work and may be more motivated to contribute fully to the project.

Question 14

Kwan really doesn't feel like riding the stationary bicycle today,but he doesn't want the people around him to think he is a slacker.If he decides to continue exercising,what concept might explain his actions?

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation refers to the tendency for people to perform better on simple, well-learned tasks in the presence of others. In this scenario, Kwan is not necessarily trying to perform better, but he is motivated to continue exercising because of the presence of others and the desire to avoid the perception of being a slacker. Therefore, social facilitation is the most applicable concept. The other options (social loafing, social idleness, and social productivity) do not accurately describe Kwan's situation.

Question 15

People who exert less effort on a task when working in a group than they do when working individually are engaging in ___________.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing refers to the phenomenon where individuals put in less effort when working in a group than they would if working alone. This phenomenon occurs because individuals feel a reduced sense of responsibility for the outcome of the task and believe that the effort of others will compensate for their own reduced effort.

Question 16

The prime minister notices that her closest advisors never seem to disagree with her or with each other on a lot of important issues,such as arms control.She worries that she is not getting the pros and cons of different issues because her advisors are engaging in ______.

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the scenario is indicative of groupthink, which is a phenomenon where a group of people put a higher value on preserving group harmony and unanimity than on realistically appraising alternative options. This often leads to a lack of critical evaluation and consideration of alternative perspectives or solutions. As a result, the prime minister may not be receiving a full range of pros and cons from her advisors, as they may be suppressing dissenting opinions to avoid disrupting group harmony.

Question 17

How can a coach get his football team to perform better if he suspects they are exhibiting social loafing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can a coach get his football...

Question 18

John has practiced his difficult trumpet solo over and over before his performance.He has played it perfectly in his practice room.However,when he performs in public,he makes mistakes due to his anxiety.John is a victim of ______.

Accepted Answer

Social impairment occurs when an individual's performance is hindered in the presence of others, often due to anxiety or pressure, which is what John experiences.

Question 19

All of the following are causes for groupthink EXCEPT ____________.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group of people conform to a consensus without critically evaluating alternative viewpoints. The other options all describe beliefs or attitudes that are commonly associated with groupthink. Option D, openness to differing opinions, is the opposite of groupthink and actually helps to prevent it by encouraging constructive debate and discussion.

Question 20

In both social facilitation and social impairment,the key factor is ___________.

Accepted Answer

The key factor in both social facilitation and social impairment is arousal, or the level of excitement or nervousness that a person experiences in the presence of others. Social facilitation occurs when arousal enhances performance on a relatively simple or well-learned task, while social impairment occurs when arousal hinders performance on a more complex or unfamiliar task. The number of people present and task difficulty may also play a role, but arousal is the primary factor.

Quiz 12: Psychological Disorders