Social Psychology

Practice Test: Social Psychology

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Which of the following best defines social psychology?

    • A) The study of how people think about moral issues

    • B) The study of group behaviors in non-social settings

    • C) The study of how individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others

    • D) The study of how individuals behave in isolation

  2. What is the term for the tendency to feel a diminished sense of responsibility when others are present?

    • A) Social loafing

    • B) Diffusion of responsibility

    • C) Normative influence

    • D) Altruism

  3. What percentage of participants in Milgram’s experiment continued to the highest voltage level?

    • A) 45%

    • B) 65%

    • C) 75%

    • D) 90%

  4. In the Solomon Asch experiment, conformity decreased when:

    • A) The participant was alone

    • B) The group size increased beyond 7

    • C) The participant had an ally

    • D) The task became more complex

  5. Which of the following describes the “illusory correlation” phenomenon?

    • A) Overestimating the connection between two events that rarely co-occur

    • B) Underestimating the reliability of social traits

    • C) Believing stereotypes without evidence

    • D) Misattributing personal experiences to group behavior

True/False Questions

  1. Stereotypes are always accurate representations of social groups.

    • True

    • False

  2. Participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment were randomly assigned their roles.

    • True

    • False

  3. Social loafing occurs when people work harder in a group than they would alone.

    • True

    • False

  4. The Kitty Genovese case is often cited as an example of the bystander effect.

    • True

    • False

  5. The presence of an audience can sometimes improve an individual’s performance on a task.

    • True

    • False

Short Answer Questions

  1. What is stereotype threat, and how can it affect performance?

  2. Explain one variation of the Milgram experiment and its effect on obedience rates.

  3. What are two potential ethical issues with the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  4. Describe a situation where normative influence might lead to conformity.

  5. What is the difference between social facilitation and social loafing?

Matching Questions

Match the concept to its definition:

Concepts

Definitions

A) Bystander effect

1) Fear of confirming a negative stereotype about one’s group.

B) Stereotype threat

2) People tend to help less when others are present.

C) Social loafing

3) People expend less effort when working in a group than when working alone.

D) Obedience

4) Following instructions from an authority figure.

E) Social cognition

5) The process of understanding and interpreting others’ behavior.

Essay Question

  1. Discuss the implications of the Milgram experiment and Stanford Prison Experiment on our understanding of authority and social roles. How do these studies inform current ethical guidelines in psychology?


















Answers

Multiple Choice:

  1. C) The study of how individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others

  2. B) Diffusion of responsibility

  3. B) 65%

  4. C) The participant had an ally

  5. A) Overestimating the connection between two events that rarely co-occur

True/False:

  1. False

  2. True

  3. False

  4. True

  5. True

Short Answer:

  1. Stereotype threat occurs when individuals fear confirming negative stereotypes about their group, which can lead to increased anxiety and reduced performance in areas related to the stereotype.

  2. In one variation of the Milgram experiment, the closeness of the confederate (learner) to the participant reduced obedience rates. For example, when the learner was in the same room, participants were less likely to administer the highest shock level.

  3. Two ethical issues with the Stanford Prison Experiment include: (1) psychological harm to participants due to the intense stress and humiliation, and (2) lack of informed consent regarding the full scope of the experiment’s procedures.

  4. Normative influence might lead to conformity in a situation where a person agrees with a group’s opinion during a meeting to avoid being judged negatively, even if they privately disagree.

  5. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better on a task due to the presence of others. In contrast, social loafing is when individuals reduce their effort because they are working as part of a group.

Matching:

  • A) Bystander effect → 2

  • B) Stereotype threat → 1

  • C) Social loafing → 3

  • D) Obedience → 4

  • E) Social cognition → 5

Essay:
(The essay should address how Milgram’s and Zimbardo’s studies highlight the powerful influence of authority and social roles on behavior. It should also discuss how these findings have led to stricter ethical guidelines, such as requiring informed consent, minimizing harm, and ensuring participant well-being.)