Social and Group Behavior Flashcards
7 cards from real Psychology Degree practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Social and Group Behavior flashcards as text
In social identity theory, which process involves comparing one's ingroup favorably to outgroups to maintain positive self-esteem?
Answer: Social comparison
Social comparison is the process in SIT where people evaluate their group against other groups, and favorably biased comparisons enhance collective self-esteem.
Research on prosocial behavior suggests that the most reliable predictor of helping in emergencies is:
Answer: The number of bystanders present
The number of bystanders is the strongest predictor of helping, with more bystanders leading to less helping due to diffusion of responsibility.
The 'risky shift' phenomenon in group decision-making was eventually reframed as part of a broader concept because groups were found to also:
Answer: Sometimes shift toward more cautious positions
The risky shift was reframed as 'group polarization' when researchers discovered groups can shift toward greater caution as well as greater risk, depending on members' initial inclinations.
Which factor did Robert Cialdini NOT identify as one of his six principles of influence?
Answer: Similarity
Cialdini's six principles are reciprocity, commitment/consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity—similarity per se is not one of the six (though it contributes to liking).
Self-categorization theory extends social identity theory by explaining how people shift between:
Answer: Personal and collective identities depending on context
Self-categorization theory (Turner et al.) proposes that people can categorize themselves at different levels of abstraction, shifting between personal identity and various social identities based on context.
The phenomenon where group members withhold unique information they possess because they focus on shared information is called:
Answer: The common knowledge effect
The common knowledge effect (also called the hidden profile paradigm) describes how groups spend more time discussing information everyone already knows than unique information held by only one member.
Stereotype threat, as described by Steele and Aronson, refers to the concern that:
Answer: One's performance will confirm a negative stereotype about one's group
Stereotype threat is the apprehension that one's performance will confirm a negative stereotype about one's group, which ironically impairs performance through increased anxiety and cognitive load.