Social Psych Review Questions

What is the term for how people explain behavior and mental processes of themselves and others?

• Attributions

• Cognitive dissonance

• Implicit attitudes

• Social norms

Answer explanation

The term 'attributions' refers to how individuals explain their own and others' behaviors and mental processes. It encompasses the reasons people give for actions, making it the correct choice for this question.

Which type of attribution relates to internal qualities such as intelligence or personality?

• Explanatory style

• Dispositional attribution

• Situational attribution

• Social comparison

Answer explanation

Dispositional attribution refers to explaining behavior based on internal qualities like intelligence or personality, making it the correct choice for this question.

What is the term for the mental discomfort that occurs when actions or attitudes conflict?

• Social loafing

• Cognitive dissonance

• Belief perseverance

• Self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer explanation

Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort experienced when a person's beliefs, attitudes, or actions are in conflict. This term specifically captures the essence of the discomfort described in the question.

What effect occurs when people are exposed to a stimulus repeatedly over time, causing them to like it more?

• False consensus effect

• Foot-in-the-door technique

• Mere exposure effect

• Halo effect

Answer explanation

The mere exposure effect describes how repeated exposure to a stimulus increases an individual's preference for it. This psychological phenomenon explains why familiarity often leads to increased liking.

Which bias involves overestimating the levels to which others agree with us?

• Actor/observer bias

• Self-serving bias

• False consensus effect

• Fundamental attribution error

Answer explanation

The false consensus effect is a cognitive bias where individuals overestimate the extent to which others share their beliefs and behaviors. This leads to the assumption that their views are more common than they actually are.

What is the term for a generalized concept about a group that can reduce cognitive load?

• Superordinate goal

• Social trap

• Social facilitation

• Stereotype

Answer explanation

A stereotype is a generalized concept about a group that simplifies our understanding and reduces cognitive load by allowing us to categorize individuals based on perceived traits.

Which phenomenon describes the tendency to cling to a belief despite contrary evidence?

• Confirmation bias

• Belief perseverance

• Ingroup bias

• Out-group homogeneity bias

Answer explanation

Belief perseverance is the phenomenon where individuals maintain their beliefs even when faced with contradictory evidence, making it the correct choice for this question.

What is the term for the degree to which people believe they have control over the outcomes of events in their lives?

• Social comparison

• Explanatory style

• Social influence

• Locus of control

Answer explanation

The term 'locus of control' refers to the extent to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them. A strong internal locus indicates a belief in personal control over outcomes, while an external locus suggests reliance on outside forces.

Which theory proposes that social pressure to behave or think in certain ways can be normative or informational?

• Social responsibility norm

• Social influence theory

• Elaboration likelihood model

• Social reciprocity norm

Answer explanation

Social influence theory explains how social pressure can lead individuals to conform in their behavior or thoughts, distinguishing between normative (peer pressure) and informational (seeking guidance) influences.

What is the term for selfless behavior that some researchers suggest is due to incurring social debt?

• Social loafing

• Deindividuation

• Groupthink

• Altruism

Answer explanation

Altruism refers to selfless behavior aimed at benefiting others, often linked to the idea of incurring social debt, where individuals feel compelled to help those who have helped them.