Psychology Degree Social and Group Behavior 2

Question 1

Which phenomenon describes the tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks but worse on complex tasks when others are watching?

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Social facilitation refers to the enhancement of dominant responses in the presence of others, improving simple task performance but impairing complex task performance.

Question 2

The 'bystander effect' is best explained by which two psychological processes?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance

Answer

The bystander effect occurs because diffusion of responsibility makes each person feel less accountable, while pluralistic ignorance leads people to assume others have assessed the situation as non-emergency.

Question 3

In Muzafer Sherif's Robbers Cave experiment, intergroup conflict was most effectively reduced through:

Accepted Answer

Superordinate goals requiring cooperation

Answer

Sherif found that superordinate goals—shared objectives requiring intergroup cooperation—were the most effective method for reducing intergroup hostility.

Question 4

Which theory proposes that people are motivated to maintain consistency between their attitudes and behaviors, and will change one to match the other?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Answer

Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory states that inconsistency between cognitions creates psychological discomfort that motivates attitude or behavior change.

Question 5

The foot-in-the-door technique works primarily because of:

Accepted Answer

Commitment and consistency principles

Answer

Once people agree to a small request, they are motivated by commitment and consistency to agree to a larger related request to remain self-consistent.

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Social and Group Behavior 2