Social Psychology Review

After purchasing an expensive car, Alex experiences discomfort because he believes he should be saving money. To reduce this discomfort, he convinces himself that the car's fuel efficiency will save him money in the long run. Which psychological concept best explains Alex's behavior?

• Self-perception theory

• Cognitive dissonance theory

• Social exchange theory

• Attribution theory

A teacher expects that certain students will excel in class. As a result, she provides them with more attention and encouragement, leading these students to perform better. This scenario exemplifies:

• Fundamental attribution error

• Self-fulfilling prophecy

• Halo effect

• Confirmation bias

John decides to help his colleague with a project, anticipating that she will assist him in the future. This decision-making process aligns with which theory?

• Social exchange theory

• Reciprocity norm

• Altruism

• Social responsibility norm

During a crowded event, a person collapses, but no one steps forward to help, assuming someone else will. This phenomenon is known as:

• Diffusion of responsibility

• Bystander effect

• Social loafing

• Pluralistic ignorance

Emily initially dislikes a new song on the radio, but after hearing it multiple times, she begins to enjoy it. This change in preference illustrates the:

• Mere exposure effect

• Self-serving bias

• Central route to persuasion

• Habituation

Individuals often derive a sense of pride and self-esteem from their group memberships. This concept is central to:

• Social identity theory

• Attribution theory

• Equity theory

• Self-perception theory

When economic conditions worsen, a community begins to blame a minority group for their hardships, leading to increased prejudice against that group. This behavior is explained by:

• Realistic conflict theory

• Scapegoat theory

• Social learning theory

• Frustration-aggression hypothesis

Despite personally disliking a fashion trend, Maria adopts it to fit in with her friends. This behavior exemplifies:

• Informational social influence

• Normative social influence

• Compliance

• Obedience

In an unfamiliar situation, individuals look to others' behaviors to guide their own actions, assuming others have more information. This is known as:

• Normative social influence

• Informational social influence

• Conformity

• Social facilitation

When explaining his own tardiness, Jack attributes it to heavy traffic, but when explaining his colleague's tardiness, he attributes it to laziness. This discrepancy illustrates:

• Self-serving bias

• Actor-observer bias

• Fundamental attribution error

• False consensus effect