Social Animal Exam 3 - Videos and Podcast

Why did the speaker almost get into a fight at a Yankees vs. Red Sox game?]

A. She insulted a Yankees player
B. Her husband was being too loud
C. She wore a Red Sox cap and was treated as part of that group
D. She was yelling at fans the entire time

C: She wore a Red Sox cap and was treated as part of that group

What psychological concept explains the change in behavior when people think in terms of "us" vs. "them"?
A. Self-fulfilling prophecy
B. In-group/out-group dynamics
C. Learned helplessness
D. Cognitive dissonance

B. In-group/out-group dynamics

According to the speaker, what do groups often change about people's behavior?
A. Their diet and sleep patterns
B. Their loyalty to family
C. Their thoughts, feelings, and actions
D. Their financial habits

C. Their thoughts, feelings, and actions

4. What is one benefit our ancestors gained from identifying with a group?
A. Advanced technology
B. Higher IQ scores
C. Access to better education
D. Protection and shared resources

D. Protection and shared resources

5. What region of the brain is associated with self-referential thinking, according to the speaker?
A. Amygdala
B. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)
C. Cerebellum
D. Occipital lobe

B. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)

6. In the experiment, what happened to people who showed reduced mPFC activity in the group context?
A. They got anxious and left the experiment
B. They chose nicer photos of competitors
C. They showed more aggressive behavior
D. They forgot the task entirely

C. They showed more aggressive behavior

7. What does the speaker suggest can reduce aggression in group conflicts?
A. Avoiding group activities altogether
B. Making group members wear the same color
C. Encouraging people to think of themselves as individuals
D. Increasing physical separation between groups

C. Encouraging people to think of themselves as individuals

Which of the following is NOT one of the three factors that contributes to group-based aggression?
A. Reframing immoral behavior as necessary
B. Increasing intelligence
C. Diffusion of responsibility
D. Losing touch with personal morals

B. Increasing intelligence

How did participants behave differently when they believed they were playing the game alone vs. with a team?
A. They made fewer mistakes when in teams
B. They responded faster when in teams
C. They showed less brain activity overall when alone
D. They were less morally engaged when in teams

D. They were less morally engaged when in teams

What message does the speaker leave the audience with?
A. Avoid sports games at all costs
B. Group behavior is always negative
C. Try to see others as individuals, not just group members
D. Trust your group no matter what

C. Try to see others as individuals, not just group members

What was the main idea behind Muzafer Sherif’s Realistic Conflict Theory?
A. People naturally prefer being alone
B. Groups only form when forced
C. Conflict arises between groups when they compete for limited resources
D. Children are more aggressive than adults

C. Conflict arises between groups when they compete for limited resources

Where did the Robbers Cave experiment take place?
A. Yellowstone National Park
B. Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma
C. Rocky Mountain National Park
D. Central Park, New York

B. Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma

How many children participated in the Robbers Cave experiment?
A. 12
B. 22
C. 32
D. 42

B. 22

In the bonding stage, the children:
A. Competed in sports
B. Were taught about prejudice
C. Were encouraged to create group norms through shared activities
D. Stayed in one large group

C. Were encouraged to create group norms through shared activities

What were the names the groups chose for themselves?
A. Wolves and Falcons
B. Snakes and Owls
C. Eagles and Rattlers
D. Hawks and Bears

C. Eagles and Rattlers

During the competition stage, which of the following was not a prize for the winners?
A. Trophy
B. Pocket knives
C. Ice cream
D. Medals

C. Ice cream

What kind of behaviors developed during the competition stage?
A. Cooperation and empathy
B. Aggression and hostility
C. Curiosity and learning
D. Ignorance and avoidance

B. Aggression and hostility

Which of the following best describes the “reducing friction” phase?
A. Groups were kept apart to cool off
B. The children were punished and sent home
C. The groups worked together to complete shared goals
D. One group was forced to apologize to the other

C. The groups worked together to complete shared goals

What is a superordinate goal?
A. A goal that only one group can complete
B. A task with no reward
C. A shared goal that requires cooperation between groups
D. A test to measure intelligence

C. A shared goal that requires cooperation between groups

What was one activity that helped the groups reduce hostility during the last stage?
A. Competing in a spelling bee
B. Writing essays about teamwork
C. Watching a movie using money they had to pool together
D. Going on a hike with a counselor

C. Watching a movie using money they had to pool together

What is the main psychological effect of scarcity discussed in the episode?
A. It improves our decision-making by narrowing focus
B. It increases our IQ over time
C. It reduces our mental bandwidth and impairs judgment
D. It makes people more empathetic and generous

C. It reduces our mental bandwidth and impairs judgment

In the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, what major change did researchers observe in participants?
A. They became physically aggressive
B. They became obsessed with food and stopped caring about everything else
C. They became more productive and focused
D. They wanted to return to normal life immediately

B. They became obsessed with food and stopped caring about everything else

What does the term "tunneling" refer to in the context of scarcity?
A. Finding hidden opportunities to escape scarcity
B. Blocking out distractions to increase productivity
C. A survival instinct that helps people focus
D. Hyper-focusing on immediate needs while ignoring other important factors

D. Hyper-focusing on immediate needs while ignoring other important factors

According to Mullainathan and Shafir, how does scarcity affect cognitive performance?
A. It strengthens memory over time
B. It lowers cognitive capacity similarly to missing a night of sleep
C. It has no effect on intelligence
D. It only affects people with low income or education

B. It lowers cognitive capacity similarly to missing a night of sleep

Why did Brandy Drew's situation spiral out of control after she lost her job?
A. She refused to look for work
B. She gave away her money to friends
C. The psychological toll of financial stress led to impulsive decisions
D. She spent too much time on social media

C. The psychological toll of financial stress led to impulsive decisions

What does the term “scarcity trap” refer to?
A. A trap set for animals when food is scarce
B. A situation where scarcity improves logical thinking
C. A cycle where scarcity leads to poor choices that create more scarcity
D. A marketing technique to encourage spending

C. A cycle where scarcity leads to poor choices that create more scarcity

What cognitive burden is created by scarcity, according to the episode?
A. Emotional detachment
B. Reduced empathy toward others
C. A constant mental tax that limits bandwidth
D. A sharpened ability to multitask

C. A constant mental tax that limits bandwidth

Which of the following is an example of scarcity unrelated to money?
A. Getting a paycheck early
B. Having no time to complete your work
C. Winning a lottery
D. Buying food on sale

B. Having no time to complete your work

What is a major implication of the scarcity research discussed?
A. People in poverty need more discipline
B. Scarcity is only a matter of mindset
C. Structural changes are needed to reduce the cognitive burden of scarcity
D. IQ tests are the best way to measure poverty’s effects

C. Structural changes are needed to reduce the cognitive burden of scarcity

Which quote best captures the theme of the episode?
A. “Time is money, and money is time.”
B. “Scarcity breeds innovation.”
C. “What if it’s not that poor people are somehow deficient, but that poverty makes everyone less capable?”
D. “People get what they deserve.”

C. “What if it’s not that poor people are somehow deficient, but that poverty makes everyone less capable?”

In Paul Piff’s Monopoly experiment, how was the “rich player” determined?

A) Based on income
B) Based on appearance
C) By a coin flip
D) By academic performance

C) By a coin flip

What advantages were given to the rich player in the rigged Monopoly game?

A) Extra property and immunity from rent
B) Two times the money, double salary for passing Go, and rolling two dice
C) Unlimited turns and free houses
D) An extra player on their team

B) Two times the money, double salary for passing Go, and rolling two dice

What behavioral change did researchers notice in rich players during the game?

A) Increased cooperation with poor players
B) Reduced competitiveness
C) Increased displays of dominance and rudeness
D) Decreased interest in the game

C) Increased displays of dominance and rudeness

What did the pretzel bowl in the experiment represent?

A) A reward system
B) A test of memory
C) A measure of consummatory behavior
D) A distraction for players

C) A measure of consummatory behavior

How did rich players explain their success at the end of the game?

A) They credited the game design
B) They acknowledged their initial advantage
C) They emphasized their own strategy and decisions
D) They thanked the other player

C) They emphasized their own strategy and decisions

According to Paul Piff’s research, as wealth increases, what tends to decrease?

A) Risk-taking behavior
B) Feelings of compassion and empathy
C) Intelligence
D) Social skills

B) Feelings of compassion and empathy

What is “pro-social behavior” as defined in the talk?

A) Behavior that increases social status
B) Actions taken to harm others in competition
C) Helping behavior towards others
D) Avoidance of strangers

C) Helping behavior towards others

In the study where participants were given $10, who gave away more money?

A) Rich participants
B) Poor participants
C) Participants in the middle-income range
D) The experimenters

B) Poor participants

In the rigged computer dice game, what did richer participants do more frequently?

A) Lose on purpose
B) Skip turns
C) Cheat to increase their score
D) Report technical issues

C) Cheat to increase their score

In the candy jar experiment, which group took more candy?

A) Participants who felt poor
B) Children
C) Participants who felt rich
D) Participants who were watched

C) Participants who felt rich

What pattern was observed among wealthier drivers in the crosswalk study?

A) They always followed traffic rules
B) They stopped more frequently for pedestrians
C) They were less likely to yield at crosswalks
D) They avoided expensive cars

C) They were less likely to yield at crosswalks

Which statement reflects Piff’s conclusion about the effects of wealth?

A) Wealth leads to universal happiness
B) Wealth has no impact on ethical behavior
C) Wealth often leads to a greater pursuit of self-interest
D) Poor people are always more unethical

C) Wealth often leads to a greater pursuit of self-interest

What happened when wealthy participants watched a video about childhood poverty?

A) They became more greedy
B) Their generosity levels matched those of poor participants
C) They ignored the video
D) Their behavior did not change

B) Their generosity levels matched those of poor participants

According to the talk, what societal issue is made worse by rising inequality?

A) Education levels
B) Mental acuity
C) Obesity, violence, and lack of social trust
D) Interest in politics

C) Obesity, violence, and lack of social trust

What does Paul Piff suggest about changing behavior?

A) People cannot change; these traits are fixed
B) Only poor people are capable of change
C) Small psychological interventions can increase empathy
D) Inequality must be ignored

C) Small psychological interventions can increase empathy

What is meant by "social belonging" in this context?

A) Feeling superior to others
B) Having positive relationships and feeling accepted
C) Being popular in college
D) Having good grades in school

B) Having positive relationships and feeling accepted

What negative effects can a lack of social belonging have on students?

A) Improved academic achievement
B) Increased motivation and participation
C) Loneliness, isolation, and lower intellectual performance
D) More free time and independence

C) Loneliness, isolation, and lower intellectual performance

What was the main goal of the social-belonging intervention?

A) Teach students to manage money
B) Help students study more effectively
C) Foster a sense of connection and belonging among marginalized students
D) Encourage students to transfer schools

C) Foster a sense of connection and belonging among marginalized students

What physical and mental benefits were reported by Black students who received the intervention?

A) Less sleep and more partying
B) Fewer doctor visits and higher happiness ratings
C) Lower grades but more friends
D) Increased competitiveness and stress

B) Fewer doctor visits and higher happiness ratings

What was a surprising finding about the students’ awareness of the intervention's effect?

A) They were fully aware and remembered all parts of it
B) They denied participating in the study
C) Most forgot the details of the intervention but still showed improved outcomes
D) They thought it was a survey about academic majors

C) Most forgot the details of the intervention but still showed improved outcomes

How did the intervention affect social behavior in Black students?

A) They withdrew from campus life
B) They became less social
C) They built stronger relationships and engaged more socially
D) They changed majors

C) They built stronger relationships and engaged more socially

When asked to guess the purpose of the intervention, what did Black students report?

A) It helped them find a job
B) It improved their fashion sense
C) It likely helped improve their social experiences in college
D) It taught them better math skills

C) It likely helped improve their social experiences in college

What impact did the intervention have on academic performance by senior year?

A) No change in performance
B) The performance gap between Black and White students widened
C) The gap in academic performance was reduced by 79%
D) Black students dropped out more often

C) The gap in academic performance was reduced by 79%

Why might increased confidence in social belonging lead to better health?

A) Because students study less
B) Because it lowers their self-esteem
C) Because it promotes social engagement and emotional support
D) Because they skip meals and rest more

C) Because it promotes social engagement and emotional support

What general conclusion can be drawn from the intervention study?

A) Social belonging only affects physical health
B) Brief psychological interventions can have long-term benefits for marginalized students
C) Academic performance is unrelated to social factors
D) Only White students benefit from belonging

B) Brief psychological interventions can have long-term benefits for marginalized students

What is the central theme of the Hidden Brain episode "In The Air We Breathe"?

A) The physiological effects of air pollution on human health
B) The role of unconscious bias in shaping societal behaviors and decisions
C) The evolution of respiratory systems in mammals
D) The impact of climate change on urban air quality

B) The role of unconscious bias in shaping societal behaviors and decisions

Which psychological concept is primarily explored in the episode?

A) Cognitive dissonance
B) Implicit bias
C) Confirmation bias
D) Groupthink

B) Implicit bias

The episode discusses a specific incident involving Terence Crutcher. What was the significance of this case in the context of the episode?

A) It highlighted the dangers of air pollution in urban areas
B) It served as an example of how implicit biases can influence police actions
C) It showcased advancements in forensic science
D) It demonstrated the effectiveness of community policing strategies

B) It served as an example of how implicit biases can influence police actions

According to the episode, how can individuals become more aware of their unconscious biases?

A) By avoiding diverse social interactions
B) Through meditation and mindfulness practices
C) By taking the Implicit Association Test and reflecting on the results
D) By relying solely on personal experiences

C) By taking the Implicit Association Test and reflecting on the results

What broader societal implication does the episode suggest about unconscious bias?

A) It is limited to individual prejudices and has minimal societal impact
B) It can permeate institutions and cultural norms, affecting systemic structures
C) It is primarily a concern in non-Western societies
D) It has been largely eradicated through modern education systems

B) It can permeate institutions and cultural norms, affecting systemic structures

What metaphor does psychologist Mahzarin Banaji use to describe unconscious bias?

A) A disease of the mind
B) A software glitch in the brain
C) A cultural smog we all breathe
D) A genetic flaw in human evolution

C) A cultural smog we all breathe

According to the episode, what is one reason unconscious bias is difficult to detect?

A) It is only present in people with certain personality types
B) It operates automatically and beneath our conscious awareness
C) It affects only a small percentage of the population
D) It is a recent phenomenon tied to social media

B) It operates automatically and beneath our conscious awareness

What does research suggest about how children absorb bias?

A) Children are born with fully developed racial preferences
B) Children are immune to bias until adolescence
C) Children learn bias early through cultural exposure and observation
D) Bias develops only if children are explicitly taught prejudice

C) Children learn bias early through cultural exposure and observation

The episode describes a study in which participants viewed photos of Black and White faces. What did the results reveal?

A) Participants showed equal responses regardless of race
B) Participants more quickly associated White faces with positive concepts
C) Participants were unable to make any associations
D) Participants rated Black faces as more trustworthy overall

B) Participants more quickly associated White faces with positive concepts

What is one strategy mentioned in the episode for reducing the effects of unconscious bias?

A) Avoiding exposure to unfamiliar people or situations
B) Increasing positive exposure to counter-stereotypical examples
C) Participating in debates about racial issues
D) Repressing emotions when interacting with others

B) Increasing positive exposure to counter-stereotypical examples

What is the primary goal of diversity science interventions?

A) To eliminate all forms of bias permanently
B) To understand and reduce the impact of bias on behavior and decision-making
C) To promote cultural assimilation
D) To enforce strict diversity quotas

B) To understand and reduce the impact of bias on behavior and decision-making

According to the video, why is it important to test diversity interventions scientifically?

A) To ensure they are cost-effective
B) To validate their effectiveness and avoid unintended consequences
C) To comply with legal requirements
D) To make them more appealing to the public

B) To validate their effectiveness and avoid unintended consequences

Which of the following is a common method used in diversity science to assess interventions?

A) Anecdotal evidence
B) Randomized controlled trials
C) Focus groups
D) Social media polls

B) Randomized controlled trials

The video mentions that some interventions can backfire. What does this imply?

A) They are too expensive to implement
B) They can reinforce the very biases they aim to reduce
C) They are universally effective
D) They are outdated and irrelevant

B) They can reinforce the very biases they aim to reduce

What role does organizational context play in the success of diversity interventions?

A) It has no significant impact
B) It determines the budget for interventions
C) It influences how interventions are received and their effectiveness
D) It dictates the legal framework for implementation

C) It influences how interventions are received and their effectiveness

Which of the following is highlighted as a key factor in designing effective diversity interventions?

A) Popularity among employees
B) Alignment with organizational branding
C) Evidence-based approach tailored to specific contexts
D) Use of high-profile spokespersons

C) Evidence-based approach tailored to specific contexts

The video emphasizes the importance of measuring outcomes. What is one reason for this?

A) To create marketing materials
B) To adjust interventions for better results
C) To satisfy stakeholder curiosity
D) To publish in academic journals

B) To adjust interventions for better results

According to the video, what is a potential risk of poorly designed diversity training?

A) Increased employee turnover
B) Legal repercussions
C) Reinforcement of stereotypes
D) Decreased productivity

C) Reinforcement of stereotypes

What is a recommended practice when implementing diversity interventions?

A) One-size-fits-all approach
B) Ignoring feedback
C) Continuous evaluation and adaptation
D) Keeping the process confidential

C) Continuous evaluation and adaptation

The overarching message of the video suggests that effective diversity interventions require:

A) Mandatory participation
B) Scientific testing and contextual sensitivity
C) Immediate results
D) External consultants

B) Scientific testing and contextual sensitivity