Modules 4.3a, 4.3b, & 4.2 Reading/Vocab Quiz (AP Psych)

During a group project, Tyson finds himself in a team where everyone is advocating for a particular idea on how to structure their presentation. Although Tyson initially has a different perspective and believes another approach might work better, he notices that everyone else seems confident in their choice. Not wanting to disrupt the harmony of the group or stand out, Tyson decides to support the majority decision, even though he still privately believes his idea might be more effective. Which concept best explains Tyson’s behavior in this situation?

• Conformity

• Social loafing

• Social facilitation

• Obedience

A large tech company is preparing to launch a new smartwatch. The leadership team holds a meeting to discuss the final go-ahead. The CEO, excited about the product, expresses strong confidence that it will revolutionize the market. The marketing director has concerns about negative early feedback from test users, but seeing the CEO’s enthusiasm, decides to stay quiet. The engineering lead knows the battery life is much shorter than competitors’, but assumes the others have already considered this issue, so he doesn’t mention it. The financial analyst worries that production costs are too high, making the smartwatch overpriced for consumers, but everyone else seems on board, so she nods along. The junior product manager notices the flaws but fears speaking up will make her look like she’s not a team player. Because no one challenges the CEO, the team proceeds with the launch. When the smartwatch is released, customers complain about its short battery life, poor pricing, and lack of innovation. Sales plummet, and the company faces backlash from investors and consumers.

• Groupthink

• Social facilitation

• Bystander effect

• Social norms

A local environmental club meets to discuss the issue of plastic waste in their community. Initially, the members have varying opinions on how strongly they feel about the need for immediate action, with some supporting moderate measures and others advocating for stronger actions. However, after a lengthy discussion where members share their concerns and ideas, the group collectively decides to push for a complete ban on all single-use plastics in the community, a more extreme stance than anyone had originally suggested. Which concept best explains the shift in the group’s decision?

• Group polarization

• Social loafing

• Obedience

• Social facilitation

While waiting at a crowded bus stop, Laila notices an elderly man stumble and fall to the ground, appearing to need assistance. She glances around and sees that many people have also noticed the man, but no one moves to help him. Laila feels unsure whether she should intervene, assuming that someone else in the crowd will step up if help is truly needed. After a few moments, she decides not to act, as the other bystanders continue to look on without approaching. Which concept best explains Laila’s decision to refrain from helping?

• Groupthink

• Conformity

• Bystander Effect

• Social loafing

During a group project in his psychology class, Ben notices that he doesn’t need to put in as much effort as he normally would when working alone. Since there are several other group members, he feels confident that they will cover his part if he doesn’t contribute as much. As the project progresses, Ben becomes less engaged and assumes that his teammates will pick up any slack to ensure a good grade. Meanwhile, his teammates also assume that everyone else is handling their tasks, resulting in a final project that is not as well-executed as they had hoped. Which concept best explains Ben’s lack of effort in the group project?

• Bystander Effect

• Social loafing

• Conformity

• Group polarization

Jeremy, a high school track athlete, has been practicing his sprinting technique alone and typically runs at a moderate pace during these sessions. However, during a track meet with a large audience and his teammates cheering from the sidelines, he finds himself running significantly faster than he usually does in practice. The excitement and presence of others seem to push him to perform at his best. Which concept best explains the improvement in Jeremy’s performance during the meet?

• Social loafing

• Social facilitation

• Groupthink

• Conformity

Nina is watching television when a commercial for a new sports drink comes on. The ad features a famous athlete endorsing the product, highlighting a bright, eye-catching logo and playing upbeat music in the background. Although the commercial doesn’t provide much information about the actual health benefits of the drink, Nina feels more inclined to buy it because she admires the athlete and is drawn to the exciting visuals. Which concept best explains why Nina is persuaded by the commercial?

• Central route persuasion
• Cognitive dissonance
• Social proof
• Peripheral route persuasion

Jasmine’s friend, Alex, asks if she could help him by proofreading a short paragraph of his essay. She agrees and spends a few minutes reviewing it. The next day, Alex asks Jasmine if she could review the entire essay and offer feedback on each section. Since Jasmine has already helped with a small portion, she feels more inclined to help with the larger request, even though it requires much more time and effort. Which concept best explains why Jasmine is more willing to fulfill the second request?

• Foot-in-the-door technique

• Social Exchange Theory

• Reciprocity Norm

• Door-in-the-face technique

Aaliyah has always considered herself an environmentally conscious person who believes strongly in reducing waste and protecting nature. Recently, however, she bought a new car with low fuel efficiency because it was affordable and convenient. After the purchase, she begins to feel uneasy and conflicted, as her choice doesn’t align with her values about environmental protection. To ease this discomfort, she tells herself that the car was a practical choice given her budget and that she’ll find other ways to reduce her carbon footprint. Which concept best explains Aaliyah’s internal conflict and her attempt to resolve it?

• Fundamental Attribution Error

• Cognitive dissonance
• Confirmation bias
• Self-serving bias

Lupita recently started a new job where she met her colleague, Marcus, who is known for being exceptionally friendly and charming. Because of his warm personality, Lupita assumes that Marcus must also be highly competent and reliable in his work, even though she hasn’t seen any evidence of his job performance. When a project comes up, she automatically trusts Marcus to handle a critical part of it without questioning his qualifications or experience. Which concept best explains Lupita’s assumption about Marcus’s abilities based on her impression of his friendliness?

• Confirmation bias
• Self-fulfilling prophecy
• Stereotype

• Halo effect