Psych Vocab Quiz 2

What is conformity?

Adjusting to one’s behavior to line up with a group’s unspoken rules, norms, and expectations.

What is obedience?

Following direct commands usually from authority figures.

What characterizes an individualistic culture?

Culture that places value on the individual, such as many European societies and the USA.

What is a collectivist culture?

Culture that places value on the group, such as society or family, commonly found in many Asian societies.

Define multiculturalism.

The idea that multiple cultures can coexist in a society, with both majority and minority groups supporting these cultural differences.

What is group polarization?

The phenomenon in which group interaction reinforces the majority point of view and shifts that view to a more extreme position.

What does groupthink refer to?

Faulty decision-making that occurs when a highly cohesive group tries to stay in agreement and avoids critical thinking.

What is social loafing?

The tendency for people to exert less effort in a group than when they are individually accountable.

Define deindividuation.

The loss of self-restraint when group members feel anonymous; being in a crowd reduces guilt and self-awareness.

What is diffusion of responsibility?

The phenomenon where, in the presence of multiple people, each individual feels less responsibility to act.

What is social facilitation?

Performing in front of a group causes well-known tasks to be done better than performing them alone.

What is the false consensus effect?

People often overestimate the extent to which others agree with them.

Define a superordinate goal.

A goal that requires people of different backgrounds to work together, reducing stereotyping and negative attitudes.

What is a social trap?

A situation where individuals acting in their own self-interest cause the entire group to be worse off.

What do industrial-organizational psychologists study?

The study of how people act at work, including effects of management practices, workplace relationships, and burnout.

What is prosocial behavior?

Behavior that benefits other people.

Define altruism.

Unselfish actions that benefit others.

What is the social reciprocity norm?

The unwritten rule that if people do something nice for you, you feel obligated to return the favor.

What is the social responsibility norm?

The unwritten rule that one should assist those in need, especially vulnerable groups, when possible.

What is the bystander effect?

The more people who witness a negative event, the less likely they are to help the person in need.