PSYC 325 - Multiple Choice Questions (Chapters 7-11)

After watching several friends order the vegetarian option at a restaurant, Liam decides to do the same—even though he usually prefers meat. He doesn’t want to stand out or risk their disapproval. Liam’s decision is most likely guided by:

a. Informational influence

b. Normative influence

c. Obedience

d. Private conformity

b. Normative influence (influence that produces conformity when a person fears the negative social consequences of appearing deviant)

When taking part in a group quiz, Maria begins to doubt her own correct answers after everyone else confidently picks different ones. She ends up changing her responses to match the group, thinking they might know better. This illustrates:

a. Minority influence

b. Normative influence

c. Informational influence

d. Public conformity

c. Informational influence (influence that produces conformity when a person believes others are correct in their judgments)

An environmental activist asks people to sign a petition supporting environmental protection. Later, those same people agree to a larger request - donating money to an environmental cause. However, when this activist directly asks people to donate money, people tend to turn down the offer more. This example illustrates the:

a. Foot-in-the-door technique

b. Door-in-the-face technique

c. That’s-not-all technique

d. Lowballing technique

a. Foot-in-the-door technique (in which agreement to a smaller request increases the likelihood of a later larger request)

A teenager wears a school uniform every day without protest but secretly thinks the rules are outdated and unfair. She acts in line with expectations but doesn’t actually agree with them. This is best described as:

a. Private conformity

b. Public conformity

c. Normative influence

d. Obedience

b. Public conformity (when behaviour changes to match group norms, but private beliefs don’t change)

In a classroom setting, a student quietly observes everyone putting their phones away before a guest speaker arrives. Though no one says anything directly, she follows suit, assuming it’s the correct thing to do. Her behaviour reflects:

a. Obedience

b. Compliance

c. Conformity

d. Minority influence

c. Conformity (the tendency to change our perceptions, opinions, or behaviour in ways that are consistent with social or group norms)

Elena recently joined a new friend group that’s really into indie horror films. Although she finds them disturbing and hard to follow, she laughs and nods along during movie nights to fit in - while secretly wishing she could watch a rom-com instead. Elena is demonstrating what type of conformity?

a. Implicit

b. Public

c. Explicit

d. Private

b. Public (outwardly conforming to group norms while private beliefs or attitudes remain unchanged)

Devon offers to sell his old car to a friend for $4,000. After the friend agrees, Devon casually mentions that the winter tires, which are essential for safe driving, cost an extra $400. Although surprised, the friend still follows through with the purchase. What technique is Devon using in this scenario?

a. bait and switch

b. foot-in-the-door

c. that’s-not-all

d. lowballing

d. Lowballing (getting someone committed to an attractive deal and then revealing hidden costs or conditions following the initial commitment)

According to Moscovici, what makes majorities and nonconformists powerful in their own respect?

a. Majorities derive power from their large influence, whereas nonconformists derive their power from the rationality of their behaviour

b. Majorities derive power from their sheer numbers, whereas nonconformists derive power from the style of their behaviour

c. Majorities derive power from their rational mind, whereas nonconformists derive power from their persuasive tactics

d. Majorities derive power from their large influence, whereas nonconformists derive power from their persuasive tactics

b. Majorities derive power from their sheer numbers, whereas nonconformists derive power from the style of their behaviour

During a safety drill, an airport employee tells passengers to leave their belongings and immediately evacuate the terminal. Most passengers comply without hesitation, even though some seem confused or reluctant. This behaviour change in response to a direct command from an authority figure is called:

a. Obedience

b. Conformity

c. Suggestibility

d. Compliance

a. Obedience (behaviour produced by the commands of an authority)

In a staff meeting, Maya initially disagrees with the group’s plan for launching a new product. But after hearing everyone else express strong support, she begins to doubt her own view and ends up going along with the majority. This adjustment in her opinion to align with group norms is an example of:

a. Obedience

b. Conformity

c. Suggestibility

d. Compliance

b. Conformity (adjusting one’s behaviour, opinions, or perceptions to align with group norms)

Zaid is trying to choose which laptop to buy for university. He notices that most upper-year students in his program use the same model, so he figures it must be reliable and well-suited for the work he’ll need to do. Trusting their experience, he buys the same one. Zaid is demonstrating what type of influence?

a. Dependent influence

b. Minority influence

c. Informational influence

d. Normative influence

c. Informational influence (influence that produces conformity when a person believes others are correct in their judgments)

At a team retreat, Leah feels pressured to go along with a group decision even though she has reservations. The pressure is especially strong because the suggestion comes from her manager (a high-status individual), she’s sitting right next to him, and several coworkers are already in agreement. This situation best reflects principles from _____ theory, which emphasizes the importance of strength, immediacy, and number in social influence.

a. social impact

b. continuum of influence

c. summative impact

d. normative influence

a. social impact (idea proposed by Latané that influence increases when the source is strong, close in time or space, and part of a larger group)

Ethan is a group member in a social experiment. He interacts with a hostile and antisocial group member in an attempt to befriend him, and mimics some of his movements subconsciously. Given the situation, what is most likely to occur?

a. Group members will perceive Ethan as being empathetic

b. Group members will perceive the hostile group member as being friendlier

c. Group members will not change their perceptions on Ethan

d. Group members will develop unfavourable perceptions of Ethan

d. Group members will develop unfavourable perceptions of Ethan

While browsing at a tech kiosk, Kamal is about to walk away from a $60 phone stand when the salesperson suddenly adds, “And if you buy it today, I’ll throw in a wireless charging pad and a screen cleaner—at no extra cost!” Feeling like he’s getting a better deal, Kamal reconsiders and makes the purchase. What technique is the salesperson using?

a. Lowballing

b. Door-in-the-face

c. that’s-not-all

d. bait and switch

c. That’s-not-all (a two-step compliance technique in which the influencer begins with an inflated request, then decreases its apparent size by offering a discount or bonus)

Priya always dreamed of becoming an artist, but her close-knit family strongly believes that success comes only from traditional careers like law or medicine. Not wanting to disappoint them, she enrolls in law school - even though her heart isn’t in it. Priya’s decision reflects _____ influence.

a. dependent

b. conformative

c. informational

d. normative

d. normative (influence that produces conformity when a person fears the negative social consequences of appearing deviant)

While walking through the mall, Tarek is approached by a fundraiser who politely asks if he’d be willing to sign a petition supporting clean water initiatives. He agrees, even though he hadn’t planned to stop. This change in behaviour in response to a direct request is known as:

a. Obedience

b. Conformity

c. Suggestibility

d. Compliance

d. Compliance (direct changes in behaviour resulting from a request)

After dinner, your grandmother politely asks you to clean your plate. Once you finish cleaning it, she asks if you could clean all of the dishes while you’re at it. You decide that because you already agreed to clean your plate, you might as well do all of the dishes. What persuasion technique did your grandmother use?

a. Foot-in-the-door technique

b. That’s-not-all technique

c. Door-in-the-face technique

d. Self-victimization

a. Foot-in-the-door technique (a two-step compliance technique in which an influencer sets the stage for the real request by first getting a person to comply with a much smaller request)

In a school committee meeting, most members support extending the school day. However, one student presents a calm, well-reasoned case against the idea. Although outnumbered, her consistency and logic gradually shift the group’s thinking. This scenario best reflects the power of:

a. Informational influence

b. Compliance

c. Minority influence

d. Obedience

c. Minority influence (the process by which dissenters produce change within a group)

Jared, a longtime member of his social group, has always followed the group’s norms. One day, he expresses a controversial opinion that goes against the group’s typical stance. Rather than being rejected, the group tolerates his view. This is likely due to Jared’s:

a. Public conformity

b. Informational influence

c. Central route processing

d. Idiosyncrasy credits

d. Idiosyncrasy credits (interpersonal “credits” that a person earns by following group norms, leading to a higher tolerance of group deviation later on)

When asked about their views on conformity, members of Culture A express pride in standing out and challenging norms. Meanwhile, members of Culture B emphasize harmony and fitting in. Culture A most likely reflects _____, while Culture B reflects _____.

a. Collectivism; individualism

b. Compliance; resistance

c. Individualism; collectivism

d. Independence; obedience

c. Individualism; collectivism (cultures high in individualism value uniqueness and independence, whereas those high in collectivism emphasize social harmony and group cohesion)

Sherif’s study using the autokinetic effect demonstrated:

a. The role of informational influence on conformity

b. The role of normative influence on conformity

c. The role of informational influence on obedience

d. The role of normative influence on obedience

a. The role of informational influence on conformity (when people were unsure of their estimates, they relied on other people in order to make judgements about how far the stationary point of light moved)

What did the results from Asch’s line judgement study reveal?

a. That people will only conform to high amounts of social pressure (e.g., five confederates)

b. That people will publicly conform if they fear judgement (e.g., normative influence)

c. That people who display volatility in their responses are perceived by in-group members as less trustworthy

d. That people will rely on other people’s responses if they are uncertain of their own judgements (e.g., informational influence)

b. That people will publicly conform if they fear judgement (e.g., normative influence) (participants changed their answers to conform with the confederate answers because they didn’t want to feel socially rejected)

In a study on littering, researchers observed people’s behaviours change depending on their environment and the actions of the people they were observing (Cialdini et al., 1991). When the environment was littered, participants were more likely to litter, and when participants saw a passerby confederate litter, they were also more prone to littering. This illustrates:

a. The influence of individual beliefs on behaviour

b. The power of social norms on behaviour

c. The Hawthorne effect in action

d. The lack of exterior observation facilitates immoral behaviour

b. The power of social norms on behaviour

While waiting in line at his local cafe, someone taps Felix on the shoulder and says, “Excuse, me, may I cut ahead because I need to buy a coffee?” Even though the reason seems obvious and unnecessary, Felix agrees without much thought. This response is best explained by research showing that:

a. People comply when they feel obligated to comply with social norms

b. Compliance increases when a request uses the word “because”, even without a meaningful justification

c. Individuals tend to conform when others model the same behaviour

d. Lowballing techniques are most effective in casual, public settings

b. Compliance increases when a request uses the word “because”, even without a meaningful justification (According to Langer et al.’s research in 1978, mindless compliance can occur when a request sounds like it includes a reason even if that reason is meaningless)

In public situations, _____ conform more than _____.

a. women; men

b. men; women

c. shy individuals; extraverted individuals

d. extraverted individuals; shy individuals

a. women; men

In modern studies, what has been identified as influencing conformity?

a. Age and gender

b. Familiarity and expertise of topic

c. Familiarity and interest of topic

d. Only gender

b. Familiarity and expertise of topic

Your friend Janine is a salesperson and has trouble with engaging her clients with her sales pitch. As a social psychologist, you might suggest that Janine tries:

a. The that’s-not-all technique

b. The pique technique

c. The door-in-the-face technique

d. All of the above

e. All of the above, except for b

d. All of the above (all of these are techniques that can improve persuasiveness)

After giving his coworker a free coffee, Sam casually asks for help moving a few boxes later that day. His coworker agrees without hesitation. However, when Sam asks another coworker - who received a free coffee from him the previous week - the response is lukewarm and noncommittal. This pattern of responses is most consistent with research showing that:

a. People are more likely to comply when requests are framed as favours

b. Feelings of reciprocity are strong but tend to fade over time, especially for small gestures

c. Compliance increases when the request is made before the favour

d. Reciprocity works only when paired with verbal gratitude

b. Feelings of reciprocity are strong but tend to fade over time, especially for small gestures (according to Burger et al.’s study in 1997, the urge to reciprocate fades over time)

According to research, which group is more likely to accept favours?

a. Individuals from collectivist cultures

b. Individuals from individualist cultures

c. Women over the age of 30

d. Men over the age of 30

b. Individuals from individualist cultures (individuals from collectivist cultures deny favours because they don’t want to feel indebted to others)

According to Moscovici, a dissenter who is consistent, unwavering, and forceful, while appearing flexible and open-minded, will likely:

a. Produce a leadership effect within the group

b. Make other dissenters appear weaker

c. Encourage group members to reassess their views

d. Become more likeable than majority members

c. Encourage group members to reassess their views

In a classic field study, nurses in a hospital received a phone call from an unfamiliar doctor instructing them to administer a dose of a medication that exceeded the clearly labeled maximum. Despite hospital rules and visible warnings, 21 out of 22 nurses complied and prepared to give the drug. This study best illustrates the power of:

a. Informational influence in ambiguous situations

b. Conformity due to social norms

c. Obedience to perceived authority figures

d. Compliance driven by reciprocity

c. Obedience to perceived authority figures (Hofling’s 1966 study showed that people - even trained professionals - often obey authority figures, even when doing so violates safety protocols or ethical standards)

During a hiring committee meeting, all five members have reviewed the applicants’ files individually. Although each person noticed different strengths and weaknesses among the candidates, the discussion centers mostly on the few qualifications they all happened to notice. As a result, unique and potentially important insights are left unmentioned, and the group favors the most “obvious” candidate. This is an example of:

a. Groupthink

b. Biased sampling

c. Evaluation apprehension

d. Group depolarization

b. Biased sampling (when group discussions disproportionately focus on information already known by all members)

A group of engineers meets to generate creative solutions to a technical problem. They’re encouraged to express ideas freely without judgment or criticism. Despite their enthusiasm, the group’s ideas aren’t much more original than what individuals might have produced alone. This illustrates a limitation of:

a. Groupthink

b. Group polarization

c. Brainstorming

d. Transactive memory

c. Brainstorming (a technique that attempts to increase the production of creative ideas by encouraging group members to speak freely without criticizing their own or others’ contributions)

What did results did Zajonc’s research on social facilitation yield?

a. The presence of others inhibits performance on difficult tasks

b. The presence of others improves performance on easy tasks

c. The presence of other has no effect on task performance

d. a & b

e. None of the above

d. a & b

Sam struggles at tug of war against his friend, one-on-one. Later, friends of his join in and are split into teams. Sam struggles less against the other team, and finds that he doesn’t have to put as much effort as he did when he was alone. What does Sam’s situation represent?

a. Process loss

b. Evaluation apprehension

c. How group norms reduce task effort

d. Social loafing

d. Social loafing (people will put less effort into a task if their efforts are less noticeable or are perceived as less important for task completion)

Jonathan is talking to members of a small, tightly-knit facebook group about politics. After discussing their shared views on the topic at hand, each member of the group adopts an even more extreme view than they held before. This change to a more radical view reflects:

a. Group polarization

b. Social facilitation

c. Deindividuation

d. Social loafing

a. Group polarization (the tendency for group discussion to amplify the initial leanings of its members - making attitudes more extreme

Arisha is usually quiet and polite during social gatherings. However, when participating in an anonymous online group discussion to organize a protest for a united cause, Arisha finds herself echoing the group’s slogans, using harsher language, and being more defensive towards people with differing views than her own. Her shift in behaviour is best explained by:

a. Deindividuation resulting from a lack of self-awareness

b. Social facilitation triggered by the presence of others

c. The social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE)

d. Groupthink caused by pressure to agree

c. The social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) (a model of group behaviour that explains deindividuation effects as the result of a shift from personal identity to social identity)

A corporate team quickly agrees on a marketing plan for their newest beauty product, brushing aside concerns and discouraging dissent. Some members privately question the timeline and slogan, but nobody wants to “rock the boat.” Later the product is rushed to market and fails. This flawed decision-making process is best explained by:

a. Group polarization

b. Biased sampling

c. Groupthink

d. Social loafing

c. Groupthink (a group decision-making style characterized by an excessive desire for group consensus, often leading to poor decisions, suppression of dissent, and a lack of critical thinking)

During a complex research project, members of a science team naturally fall into different roles: one member researches past studies, another tracks the project’s timeline, and another handles data analysis. Together, they function more effectively than any one member could alone. This division of mental labor illustrates:

a. Collective effort

b. Transactive memory

c. Process gain

d. Group cohesiveness

b. Transactive memory (a shared system for remembering information that enables multiple people to remember information together more efficiently than they could do so alone)

Group A communicates poorly, which makes problem-solving more difficult. Although they are good at group research, they are not well-coordinated with project deadlines, and frequently argue about task division during group meetings.

Group B communicates optimally, adopting an empathetic and team-oriented approach to solving issues. This group cooperates well for a variety of tasks, and resolve disagreements quickly with their effective communication skills.

What component of Group B makes them supersede Group A’s task performance?

a. Process loss

b. Biased sampling

c. Group support systems

d. Collective intelligence

d. Collective intelligence (the general ability of a group to perform well across a wide range of different tasks)

At a study hall, Malik tries to solve math problems while surrounded by classmates chatting and scrolling on their phones. He feels distracted but also tense, knowing others are nearby. According to distraction-conflict theory, this tension:

a. Improves performance for cognitive tasks, but not physical ones

b. Leads to evaluation apprehension

c. Leads to arousal that may help or hurt performance

d. Leads to deindividuation

c. Leads to arousal that may help or hurt performance (conflict between focusing on a task and others’ presence can either improve or hurt performance)

Two roommates are each offered a deal: if one lowers their utility usage while the other doesn’t, they’ll receive a reward. But if both lower usage, they split a smaller reward. If neither does, they get nothing. Though cooperation benefits both, each is tempted to act selfishly to maximize gain. This is an example of:

a. Resource dilemma

b. Groupthink

c. Social facilitation

d. Prisoner’s dilemma

d. Prisoner’s dilemma (a social dilemma in which people must choose between self-interest and cooperation)

During a group project at an international university, Wei, a student from Taiwan, notices that one of his teammates from a Western country consistently avoids contributing. While others seem mildly annoyed, Wei feels especially frustrated and starts thinking about ways to make sure the teammate is held accountable. Research suggests this reaction may be due to:

a. Higher tolerance for norm violations in collectivist cultures

b. Increased emphasis on equality in individualist cultures

c. Greater sensitivity to group harmony and fairness in collectivist cultures

d. A stronger tendency toward deindividuation in collectivist settings

c. Greater sensitivity to group harmony and fairness in collectivist cultures (individuals from collectivist cultures are less likely to socially loaf themselves and more offended by loafing than others, due to strong norms around mutual obligation and group harmony)

A nonprofit team has become extremely close over several months of fundraising work. They socialize outside of work, feel proud of their group, and are deeply committed to their cause. As they succeed in meeting their goals, their bond becomes even stronger. However, when a new member suggests a different approach to donor outreach, the group resists the idea and quickly shuts it down. This scenario illustrates that group cohesiveness:

a. Always leads to better decision-making regardless of team dynamics

b. Has no clear connection to task performance

c. Can both improve performance and increase resistance to new ideas

d. Is only beneficial when based solely on interpersonal liking

c. Can both improve performance and increase resistance to new ideas

Residents in a drought-stricken region are asked to conserve water. If everyone limits their use, there will be enough for all. But many people continue to overuse, thinking their personal impact is small. As a result, the entire community suffers. This is an example of a:

a. Social loafing scenario

b. Resource dilemma

c. Prisoner’s dilemma

d. Group polarization effect

b. Resource dilemma (social dilemmas involving how two or more people will share a limited resource)

Zoe is preparing for a piano recital and finds herself practicing more intensely when others are watching. She wants to do well, but also doesn’t want to embarrass herself. According to evaluation apprehension theory, her arousal is caused by:

a. The mere presence of others

b. Competition with others

c. Cognitive dissonance

d. Fear of being judged by others

d. Fear of being judged by others (performance is affected by the worry about being evaluated)

An international team is struggling to collaborate effectively, so they implement a digital tool that allows anonymous idea-sharing, organized voting, and real-time collaboration. The team becomes more engaged and productive. This technological support is an example of a:

a. Collective effort model

b. Group support system

c. Transactive memory boost

d. Social identity framework

b. Group support system (specialized interactive computer programs that are used to guide group meetings, collaborative work, and decision-making processes)

Two business partners have opposing views on how to restructure their company. Instead of compromising, they discuss their underlying goals and come up with a creative plan that satisfies both their interests. This mutually beneficial outcome is known as a(n):

a. Integrative agreement

b. Cooperative compliance

c. Groupthink resolution

d. Resource compromise

a. Integrative agreement (a negotiated resolution to a conflict in which all parties obtain outcomes that are superior to what they would have obtained from an equal division of the contested resources)

A nonprofit team has become extremely close over several months of fundraising work. They socialize outside of work, feel proud of their group, and are deeply committed to their cause. As they succeed in meeting their goals, their bond becomes even stronger. However, when a new member suggests a different approach to donor outreach, the group resists the idea and quickly shuts it down. This scenario illustrates that group cohesiveness:

a. Always leads to better decision-making regardless of team dynamics

b. Has no clear connection to task performance

c. Can both improve performance and increase resistance to new ideas

d. Is only beneficial when based solely on interpersonal liking

c. Can both improve performance and increase resistance to new ideas

During an international business meeting, an American negotiator insists on sticking to a tight deadline, citing the importance of getting a written contract signed quickly. Meanwhile, her counterpart from a non-Western culture seems more focused on building rapport, offers indirect responses, and expresses hesitation toward the formal contract, favouring ongoing conversation and mutual understanding. This clash is most likely due to:

a. Cultural differences in assumptions about negotiation practices

b. American misconceptions about communication practices in non-Western cultures

c. Language-related communication barriers

d. Group polarization between the Western negotiator and her non-Western counterpart

a. Cultural differences in assumptions about negotiation practices (Western negotiators tend to prioritize logic, contracts, and efficiency, whereas non-Western negotiators often emphasize relationships, context, and indirect communication—leading to misunderstandings when these styles clash)

On Halloween night, researchers observed children who came to houses to trick-or-treat. Some came in groups wearing masks and were not asked for their names, while others came alone or were identified. When told to take just one piece of candy, the children who were anonymous and in a group were most likely to take more than allowed. This behaviour is best explained by:

a. Social facilitation

b. Deindividuation

c. Group polarization

d. Informational influence

b. Deindividuation (occurs when people feel less identifiable and less accountable, especially in groups)

Which of the following factors influence deindividuation effects, according to the trick-or-treat study (Diener et al., 1976)?

a. Group size and anonymity

b. Group size, anonymity, and group cohesion

c. Group size

d. None of the above

a. Group size and anonymity

A group of marketing interns is asked to pitch a new campaign idea. Although each member has unique insights, the discussion is dominated by two louder voices. Some team members with valuable ideas stay quiet, and the final pitch lacks innovation. The group ends up performing worse than any one member might have done alone. This is an example of:

a. Groupthink

b. Biased sampling

c. Process loss

d. Social facilitation

c. Process loss (the reduction in group performance due to obstacles created by group processes, such as problems of coordination and motivation)

A group of nurses meets to solve a patient care problem. Each person brings different medical knowledge, from lab testing to patient counseling to post-op care. Together, they come up with a solution that no single nurse could have devised alone. This successful collaboration illustrates:

a. Process gain

b. Transactive memory failure

c. Group cohesiveness

d. Distraction–conflict theory

a. Process gain (the increase in group performance so that the group outperforms the individuals who make up the group)

At a university, students are asked to conserve electricity in their dorms during a power shortage. In one dorm with a small, tight-knit group of 8 students, most comply and reduce their usage. In another dorm with 50 residents, many leave lights and electronics on as usual, despite receiving the same request. One likely explanation for the selfish behaviour in the larger group is:

a. Social facilitation in larger groups increases carelessness

b. The presence of strong injunctive norms

c. Biased sampling of individual preferences

d. A greater sense of anonymity leading to reduced accountability

d. A greater sense of anonymity leading to reduced accountability

Scenario A: A team of urban planners is designing a new city park. They divide the task into specialized subgroups: one focuses on layout, another on accessibility, and another on sustainability. During a brainstorming session, someone suggests an idea that clearly solves several design issues, and the rest of the team immediately recognizes its value.

Scenario B: A different group of planners is assigned to design a city park but works as one large group without dividing up the task. Multiple ideas are shared, but none stand out as clearly superior, and discussions go in circles without reaching consensus.

Which scenario is more likely to result in process gain, and why?

a. Scenario B, because group consensus usually leads to the best outcome

b. Scenario A, because the task was divisible and the best solution was recognizable once presented

c. Scenario A, because small groups reduce biased sampling

d. Scenario A, because structured group work encourages groupthink

b. Scenario A, because the task was divisible and the best solution was recognizable once presented

After a group of parents meets to discuss school safety, many walk away feeling even more strongly that the school should implement strict security measures—including metal detectors and daily bag checks. Before the meeting, most parents supported only moderate precautions. This shift toward more extreme positions after discussion is an example of group:

a. Distortion

b. Polarization

c. Extremism

d. Facilitation

b. Polarization

During a group project, Sam is organizing tasks, assigning responsibilities, and keeping the group on schedule. Meanwhile, Giulia helps maintain group morale, helps diffuse tension during disagreements, and checks in on how everyone is feeling. Sam illustrates a ______ role, while Giulia demonstrates a ______ role.

a. Stereotypical; empathetic

b. Entitative; interactive

c. Instrumental; expressive

d. Gender; racial

c. Instrumental; expressive

At a high school, students are divided into two groups. Each group is asked to complete a creative writing assignment while following certain guidelines provided by the teacher. The first group decides to get together in a circle and discuss potential ideas for the assignments, while the second group has individuals come up with ideas on their own before coming together to discuss what to write about. According to research, the first group will be _____ productive as the second group.

a. Half as

b. Twice as

c. A third more

d. Equally as

a. Half as

During a company fundraiser, Marcus is highly motivated to contribute ideas and stay late to help, because he believes his individual efforts will increase the group’s success—and that success will lead to a bonus he personally values. His behaviour is best explained by the _____ model.

a. Goal-seeking

b. Evaluation monitoring

c. Conflict reduction

d. Collective effort

d. Collective effort (suggests that people are more motivated to put effort into group tasks if they believe their personal effort will influence group success, and if that success is meaningful to them)

Steven Prentice-Dunn and Ronald Rogers state that _____ cues influence a person’s cost-reward analysis while considering a deviant act, while _____ cues deviate attention from the self.

a. Accountability; attentional

b. Cost-benefit; attentional

c. Moral; monitoring

d. Goal-seeking; monitoring

a. Accountability; attentional

According to Zajonc’s conceptualization of the social facilitation effect, who would you expect to perform the best in front of an audience?

a. Lena, who just started learning to juggle and is performing in front of her class for the first time

b. Tyrese, an experienced barista, demonstrating how to make a latte during a company event

c. Sofia, a shy but talented writer, reading one of her poems aloud for the first time at a public event

d. Miguel, who recently started learning Italian, reciting a memorized paragraph in front of native speakers

b. Tyrese, an experienced barista, demonstrating how to make a latte during a company event (he is doing a well-practiced, familiar task, so the presence of others will boost his performance by activating his dominant response)

After a first date, Sam finds herself unusually giddy and excited. What she doesn’t realize is that they had just finished riding a rollercoaster, which elevated her heart rate. She attributes this physiological arousal to her date rather than the ride. This is an example of:

a. Companionate love

b. Reciprocity

c. Excitation transfer

d. Equity theory

c. Excitation transfer (the process whereby arousal caused by one stimulus is added to arousal from a second stimulus and the combined arousal is attributed to the second stimulus)

Marjorie is feeling guilty and stressed about having stolen a candy bar from the department store. She tells her father about it, who responds with gratitude that she told him, and a heartfelt discussion about why she shouldn’t steal. This mutual exchange of openness and acceptance helped to deepen their connection. Marjorie’s confession is best characterized as:

a. Companionate love

b. Need for affiliation

c. Self-disclosure

d. Reciprocity

c. Self-disclosure (revelations about the self that a person makes to others)

Karim often finds himself attracted to someone in his class. He befriends them, and he gets really excited and wants to spend all of his time with this person. However, when this person refuses to go on a date because of an approaching project deadline, Karim gets upset and figures that they don’t really want to hang out with him at all. This thought process is characteristic of which attachment style?

a. Secure

b. Anxious

c. Avoidant

d. Disorganized

b. Anxious (“I find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me or won’t want to stay with me. I want to merge completely with another person, and this desire sometimes scares people away.” - although they crave intimacy, they are hyperaware of rejection signs)

In a long-term relationship, Alice and Jon don’t keep track of who does what for whom. They focus on responding to each other’s needs, without expecting direct repayment. Their relationship reflects:

a. Communal relationship

b. Exchange relationship

c. Equity theory

d. Social exchange theory

a. Communal relationship (a relationship in which the participants expect and desire mutual responsiveness to each other’s needs, without regard for whether they have given or received benefit)

Lena is on a dating show, and is asked to pick between three potential partners to go on a date with. She has seen Louis more during the show’s downtime, and has sort of taken a liking to him despite not having talked to him or any of the other candidates. So, her and Louis go on a date that night. This situation illustrates:

a. Mere exposure effect

b. Passionate love

c. Hard-to-get effect

d. Matching hypothesis

a. Mere exposure effect (refers to the tendency to develop a preference for things or people simply because they are familiar)

Carmen and Leo’s relationship includes emotional closeness, physical attraction, and a strong long-term commitment to one another. According to Sternberg’s triangular theory of love, their relationship is best described as:

a. Companionate love

b. Passionate love

c. Infatuation

d. Consummate love

d. Consummate love (a type of love involving all three components of Sternberg’s model: intimacy, passion, and commitment)

Tom and Kira are both considered physically attractive by their peers. When they start dating, people comment that they “make sense together.” This reflects which principle of attraction?

a. Equity theory

b. Mere exposure effect

c. Matching hypothesis

d. Reciprocity

c. Matching hypothesis (suggests that people tend to form relationships with others who are similar in physical attractiveness)

In their relationship, Jade feels like she gives more than she gets - she spends more time doing emotional labor, housework, and initiating plans. Over time, this imbalance creates resentment. This scenario reflects which theory?

a. Triangular theory of love

b. Equity theory

c. Social facilitation

d. Passionate love theory

b. Equity theory (states that people are happiest in relationships where both partners feel their contributions are fairly balanced)

After just two weeks of dating, Jordan and Erin feel intensely drawn to one another. Their conversations are emotional and intense, and they feel as if they’ve known each other forever. This overwhelming emotional and physical connection is best described as:

a. Passionate love

b. Reciprocal bonding

c. Companionate love

d. Attachment

a. Passionate love (characterized by high arousal, attraction, and emotional absorption, especially in early-stage relationships)

Right before interviewing a beautiful woman, interviewers automatically assume that she is competent, friendly, and successful, despite not initially having stood out in her resume. This snap judgement best reflects:

a. The hard-to-get effect

b. Social linkage theory

c. The matching hypothesis

d. The what-is-beautiful-is-good stereotype

d. The what-is-beautiful-is-good stereotype (assumption that attractiveness is linked to other positive traits, even in the absence of supporting evidence)

After moving to a new city, Riley feels disconnected and has no one to talk to or spend time with. Although surrounded by people at work, they still feel emotionally isolated and yearn for meaningful connection. Riley is most likely experiencing:

a. Social anxiety

b. Loneliness

c. Anxious attachment

d. Low equity

b. Loneliness (subjective feeling of isolation or lack of intimacy)

Mark comes home from a long day at school, and finds himself wishing his parents or younger brother was there to talk to. Although he doesn’t feel particularly sad or lonely, he would like to share his experiences with someone. His desire reflects a(n):

a. Need for affiliation

b. Attachment anxiety

c. Anxious-avoidant attachment style

d. Reciprocity

a. Need for affiliation (the desire to establish and maintain many rewarding interpersonal relationships)

After a coworker helps helps him move into his new apartment, Xavier goes out of his way to offer help when the coworker needs a ride to the airport. His response is an example of:

a. Equity theory

b. Reciprocity

c. Matching hypothesis

d. Companionate exchange

b. Reciprocity (the social norm that encourages people to return help or kindness they have received)

According to Baumeister & Leary (1995), which of the following scenarios would best fulfill one’s need to belong?

a. A prison inmate who maintains a good relationship with his wife and children, seeing them once every three months

b. A married couple who see each other every day, but don’t really enjoy each other’s company that much anymore

c. A stay-at-home dad who regularly plays with his children and whose wife enjoys family game nights every week

d. A prostitute who sees different clients on a regular basis, and sometimes encounters a previous client every six months or so

c. A stay-at-home dad who regularly plays with his children and whose wife enjoys family game nights every week (has meaningful connections which are repeated on a regular basis)

After moving to a new city, Devon finds himself missing his old friend group. He has coworkers and acquaintances, but none of the relationships feel especially close or emotionally supportive. Devon is likely experiencing:

a. Collective loneliness

b. Attachment anxiety

c. Relational loneliness

d. Intimate loneliness

d. Intimate loneliness (absence of close, emotionally meaningful relationships)

According to research by Cacioppo and colleagues (2014), loneliness is considered a functional emotion because:

a. It causes people to avoid rejection and protect their ego

b. It allows people to become more emotionally independent

c. It motivates people to seek out new social connections

d. It reinforces the idea that close relationships are not necessary

c. It motivates people to seek out new social connections

In a large first-year psychology course, students are randomly assigned seats on the first day and must keep them for the semester. By the end of the term, friendships are more likely to have formed between students sitting in neighboring seats than between those sitting far apart. This pattern of friendship formation is best explained by:

a. The matching hypothesis

b. The proximity effect

c. Reciprocity

d. Relational loneliness

b. The proximity effect (physical nearness increases the chance of interaction and attraction, making nearby peers more likely to become your friend or romantic partner)

Marcus has a strong bond with his romantic partner, but ever since switching jobs and moving away from his hometown, he’s struggled to build new friendships with coworkers or neighbours. He feels disconnected from his daily social surroundings. Marcus is most likely experiencing:

a. Intimate loneliness

b. Relational loneliness

c. Attachment insecurity

d. Collective loneliness

b. Relational loneliness (lack of connection with peers and casual friends, such as in school or work settings)

Despite having a close partner and a few good friends, Morgan often feels like she doesn’t “belong” to any larger community. She misses the sense of identity and belonging she used to feel from being part of a cultural club during university. This form of disconnection points to:

a. Intimate loneliness

b. Relational loneliness

c. Collective loneliness

d. Social exclusion

c. Collective loneliness (feeling disconnected from broader social groups, like religious, cultural, or political communities)

Janine wants but is missing friendships from school, work, and family connections. What kind of loneliness is Janine experiencing?

a. Intimate

b. Relational

c. Interpersonal

d. Collective

b. Relational

When it comes to romantic relationships, people tend to prefer someone who is:

a. Highly selective

b. More selective than we are

c. Moderately selective

d. Less selective than we are

c. Moderately selective

According to research done across various countries, men value _____ more, and women value _____ more.

a. Good looks; being ambitious and industrious

b. No previous experience in sexual intercourse; good looks

c. Being ambitious and industrious; no previous experience in sexual intercourse

d. Having good financial prospects; being ambitious and industrious

a. Good looks; being ambitious and industrious

What is the single best predictor of whether two people will get together?

a. Religious similarities

b. Socioeconomic compatibility

c. Attractiveness

d. Physical proximity

d. Physical proximity

According to studies, shy individuals _____ evaluate themselves, and expect _____ in their social interactions.

a. Negatively; failure

b. Negatively; mediocrity

c. Positively; failure

d. Rationally; success

a. Negatively; failure

Caleb and Vivianne have been on several dates, and have been spending more and more time together over the past several months. They have not had sexual intercourse yet. Caleb tells Vivianne that he loves her; what does research say about Caleb’s intentions?

a. Caleb likely wants to explore the possibility of an enduring relationship

b. Caleb likely wants to commit to Vivianne in a long-term relationship

c. Caleb likely wants to advance the relationship to include sexual activity

d. Caleb likely wants a more exclusive relationship with a future

c. Caleb likely wants to advance the relationship to include sexual activity

The matching hypothesis states that individuals tend to become involved romantically with those who are equally as:

a. Physically attractive

b. Intelligent

c. Financially stable

d. Educated

a. Physically attractive

Jonathan is part of a study in which he will be injected with a needle. He has never been injected with a needle before, so he is kind of afraid. According to research, John is likely to:

a. Get the needed resources to cope with his fear

b. Find emotional support to face his fear by talking to an authority

c. Try and distract himself by fidgeting with an object

d. Seek others out for cognitive clarity

d. Seek others for cognitive clarity

A(n) _____ relationship involves some combination of feelings of attachment, affection and love; fulfillment of psychological needs; and interdependence between partners, each of whom has a meaningful influence on the other.

a. Romantic

b. Intimate

c. Passionate

d. Compassionate

b. Intimate

The need for _____ refers to the desire to establish and maintain many rewarding interpersonal relationships.

a. Intimacy

b. Codependent connection

c. Collaboration

d. Affiliation

d. Affiliation

During periods of conflict, happy couples usually:

a. Attribute undesirable behaviour to the partner’s character

b. Attribute undesirable behaviour to the situation

c. Perceive undesirable behaviour as unchanging

d. Perceive undesirable behaviour as generalizable

b. Attribute undesirable behaviour to the situation

Recent research on speed-dating revealed that:

a. Both men and women tend to overperceive sexual interest

b. Both men and women tend to underperceive sexual interest

c. Men tend to underperceive sexual interest and women tend to overperceive sexual interest

c. Men tend to overperceive sexual interest and women tend to underperceive sexual interest

c. Men tend to overperceive sexual interest and women tend to underperceive sexual interest

_____ theory dictates that people in a relationship are most satisfied when the benefits and contributions of both partners is similar.

a. Conflict resolution

b. Equity

c. Balance

d. Social exchange

b. Equity (equity theory posits that fair relationships with a more-or-less equal balance of benefits and contributions for each partner makes the relationship more satisfying for both partners)

Lisa has met a new guy, and determines whether or not she will pursue the relationship by making a pros and cons list of either pursuing the relationship on a romantic level or keeping it as a friendship. This behaviour fits most appropriately with the _____ framework.

a. Equity

b. Social dominance

c. Stereotyping

d. Social exchange

d. Social exchange (states that people are motivated to maximize benefits and minimize costs in their relationships with others)

Researchers conduct a survey asking people who attend the same church whether they would help various relatives (e.g., second cousin vs. brother) in different situations (e.g., picking up something at the grocery store vs. saving them from a burning building). This type of survey is likely meant to assess:

a. Religiosity and empathetic attitudes

b. The bystander effect

c. The concept of kin selection

d. The contrast between religious populations’ giving attitudes versus atheistic populations’ giving attitudes

c. The concept of kin selection (the likelihood of helping a distant relative vs. close relative in different risk situations assesses kin selection)

A study (Carter et al., 2017) found that bats share their food with _____ under safe conditions; however, bats only share food with _____ under more dangerous conditions.

a. kin and non kin; kin

b. all members of their social circle; potential mates

c. family members; siblings

d. animals of different species; other bats

a. kin and non kin; kin

Jonathan helps a coworker of his draft an announcement for an upcoming work meeting, despite having a heavy workload himself. When asked why he helped his coworker out, Jonathan replied by saying that he does it because he might get help from others in the future if he helps them out now. Based on this description, he is likely working under the principle of:

a. Kin selection

b. Social dominance

c. Normative influence

d. Reciprocal altruism

d. Reciprocal altruism (the evolutionary principle stating that those who help others will be more likely to receive help in return later on, making them more likely to survive and reproduce)

At the zoo, a chimp named Lucy grooms a chimp named Carl. When the zookeepers forget to feed Lucy, Carl shares his food with Lucy. This situation illustrates:

a. Reciprocal altruism in primates

b. A primitive form of negotiation tactics

c. The increased likelihood of sharing with someone with whom you have an intimate relationship with

d. A resource dilemma

a. Reciprocal altruism in primates

What can correctly be said about Warneken & Tomasello’s work on infants observing adult behaviour (2006)?

a. Human infants are unable to recognize human emotions until the age of three, but then they are adept with social cues

b. Human infants can recognize when people are having difficulty achieving a goal, but usually don’t choose to help

c. Human infants can recognize when people are having difficulty achieving a goal, and often choose to help

d. Human infants fare just as well as chimps in terms of recognizing mental distress and helping others

c. Human infants can recognize when people are having difficulty achieving a goal, and often choose to help