Psychology of Attraction, Cults, and Social Influence

What will eventually happen to an over-crowded society, according to Calhoun's experiments?

Social collapse and extinction.

What affect does having opposing characteristics have on attraction?

It generally does not sustain long-term attraction.

Which of the following is not a way the media affects standards of attractiveness?

Media does not create permanently fixed, universally biologically identical standards.

Why does similarity of looks and personality lead to attraction?

It validates our choices and beliefs, lowers conflict risk, and provides familiarity.

What is the source of a person's tendency to be attracted to those with similar physical characteristics?

Evolutionary programming; features like symmetry signal health and genetic fitness.

What type of attraction is based on a desire to become engaged in a romantic liaison?

Romantic attraction.

According to the Dance Study conducted by the University of Minnesota, what is the biggest factor in determining attraction?

Physical attractiveness.

What term refers to the human need to reveal intimate personal details to companions?

Self-disclosure.

What type of attraction is based on a desire to 'hang out' with another person?

Social attraction.

According to Reward Theory, what keeps people in relationships longer than they probably should?

The perception that current rewards outweigh the costs.

What theory says that people are attracted to those they are around?

Proximity effect.

What are the common biologically-directed characteristics women look for in men?

Signs of resources, status, maturity, and physical strength.

What are the common characteristics men look for in women?

Signs of youth, physical health, and symmetry.

According to a study conducted in the 1950s, which person did housewives universally find attractive?

The reliable, well-groomed, and resourceful 'family provider' archetype.

Why do standards of attractiveness change as time goes on?

Cultural shifts, economic conditions, and changing media representations.

According to reward theory, what is the key to a stable, successful relationship?

An equitable balance where both partners feel rewards outweigh costs.

What popular term is more commonly used to refer to 'thought reform'?

Brainwashing.

What are the three basic methods of thought reform?

Unfreezing, Changing, and Refreezing.

What common characteristic do all potential cult members have?

A period of high vulnerability or psychological distress.

Why are most cult leaders men?

Societal power structures and historic gender roles.

Why is it important for cults to be isolated from the outside world?

To eliminate competing perspectives and make members dependent on the group.

Why is forcing a person to commit acts that violate their personal beliefs important in thought reform?

It creates cognitive dissonance, forcing belief system alterations.

Which of the multiple intelligences do cult leaders generally have in abundance?

Interpersonal intelligence.

What causes cult leaders to develop increasingly bizarre doctrines?

The feedback loop of absolute power and isolation from critical feedback.

What is the goal of psychoanalytic therapy?

To bring unconscious conflicts into conscious awareness.

What are the Freudian defense mechanisms?

Psychological strategies like repression and denial.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Individual therapy?

Strengths: Personalized attention; Weaknesses: Expensive and time-consuming.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of group therapy?

Strengths: Peer support; Weaknesses: Less individualized attention.

What is Gestalt theory?

A humanistic therapy focusing on the 'here and now'.

How does a therapist practice active listening?

By reflecting, paraphrasing, and clarifying what the client says.

What is unconditional positive regard?

An attitude of total acceptance toward a client.

What is the study of mental health medications and their effects?

Psychopharmacology.

Which category of psychopharmaceuticals have tripled in use over the past 3 decades?

Antidepressants.

How do antipsychotics work?

By blocking dopamine receptors in the brain.

What are the muscle tics that come from taking heavy amounts of antipsychotics?

Tardive dyskinesia.

What method has been shown to successfully treat a phobia?

Systematic desensitization.

What is it called when someone pushes themselves to deal with a perceived inadequacy?

Compensation.

What is the collective unconscious?

A shared reservoir of memory traces common to all human beings.

What type of therapy tries to get someone to stop doing unwanted behavior?

Aversion therapy.

What are the only mental health disorders that improve through ECT?

Severe, treatment-resistant depression.

What is the tendency of a person to favor the group they're in?

In-group bias.

What is it called when a person acts at a higher level in the presence of others?

Social facilitation.

What is the tendency of a person to act out due to anonymity in a crowd?

Deindividuation.

What is it called when we attribute a person's behavior to events occurring at the time?

Situational attribution.

What is the meaning of NIMBY?

Not In My Back Yard.

What is it called when we attribute a person's behavior to their personality?

Dispositional attribution.

What is the belief that a group suffers inequality due to something wrong with them?

Just-world fallacy.

Video games are an example of what process in creating aggression?

Desensitization.

What is the tendency for a person to change their beliefs to fit those of the group?

Conformity.

What is the tendency for people to not act to help someone when a crowd is present?

The bystander effect.

Which of the following is not one of the factors of conformity Milgram identified?

Personal moral strength.

What is it called when a person is aggressive because society believes the situation calls for it?

Social scripts.

What is a person's tendency to quickly take on the characteristics of a group?

Social contagion.

What is the process whereby groups become increasingly different over time?

Group polarization.

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Prejudice is a negative attitude; discrimination is negative action.

What is the tendency for people who have agreed to small requests to later agree to larger ones?

The foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Why did the people of Le Chambon resist Nazi orders while those of Jozefow cooperated?

Le Chambon had strong leadership promoting moral resistance.

According to Asch's experiment, what amount of people agree with the group even when wrong?

About one-third of the participants.

What is it called when people tend to work less when part of a group effort?

Social loafing.