BAPSY Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Social and Behavioral Psychology Questions and Answers Flashcards

Which concept describes the tendency for individuals to perform better on simple tasks and worse on complex tasks when others are present?

Answer: Social facilitation

Social facilitation theory, established by Zajonc, explains that the presence of others enhances dominant responses, improving simple task performance while impairing complex task performance.

In Bandura's Bobo doll experiment, what key principle of social learning was demonstrated?

Answer: Observational learning through modeling

Bandura's experiment showed that children who observed an adult behaving aggressively toward a Bobo doll imitated that behavior, demonstrating observational learning.

What does the bystander effect predict about helping behavior?

Answer: People are less likely to help when more bystanders are present

The bystander effect, studied by Darley and Latané, shows that diffusion of responsibility in larger groups reduces the likelihood of any single individual offering help.

Which term refers to adjusting one's behavior or thinking to match a group standard?

Answer: Conformity

Conformity involves changing behavior or beliefs to align with group norms, as demonstrated in Asch's line judgment experiments.

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer: Psychological discomfort from holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors

Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory states that people experience mental discomfort when their attitudes and behaviors conflict, motivating them to reduce the inconsistency.

Which psychological phenomenon occurs when group members prioritize consensus over critical evaluation of alternatives?

Answer: Groupthink

Groupthink, identified by Janis, occurs when a cohesive group's desire for harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives, often leading to poor decisions.