Psychology Terms Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the Asch effect?

A method of measuring conformity through written tests

The tendency for people to resist peer pressure

Group majority influences an individual's judgment, even when that judgment is inaccurate (correct)

A phenomenon where individuals behave independently of group influence

What are attributions?

Explanations for the behavior of other people.

What does the term 'biases' refer to?

Cognitive inclinations or prejudices that affect judgment.

What is bystander intervention?

The act of helping someone in distress when others are present. Signup and view all the answers

What does diffusion of responsibility mean?

Responsibility spread among bystanders, reducing the likelihood of intervention. Signup and view all the answers

What is discrimination?

Negative actions toward individuals based on their group membership. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental attribution error?

Tendency to overemphasize internal factors for behavior and underestimate situational influences. Signup and view all the answers

Attitudes describe our ________ of people, objects, and ideas.

evaluations Signup and view all the answers

It makes Stetson happy to see women excelling in what used to be seen as male-dominated jobs. This is an example of the ________ component of an attitude.

affective Signup and view all the answers

What is groupthink?

Group members modifying their opinions to match what they believe is the group consensus. Signup and view all the answers

What is homophily?

Tendency for people to form relationships with others who are similar. Signup and view all the answers

What is informational conformity?

Conformity due to belief that the group possesses the correct information. Signup and view all the answers

Trevor votes for gun control laws and supports organizations that want to restrict access to guns. This is an example of a ________ component of an attitude.

behavioral Signup and view all the answers

Phillip believes that affirmative action is an unfair policy that gives minorities preferential treatment. This is an example of the ________ component of an attitude.

cognitive Signup and view all the answers

Shaquallah gets upset if she sees anyone litter. This is an example of the ________ component of an attitude.

affective Signup and view all the answers

Cognitive dissonance causes discomfort because it disrupts our sense of ________.

consistency Signup and view all the answers

What is instrumental aggression?

Aggression motivated by achieving a goal, not necessarily involving intent to cause pain. Signup and view all the answers

What is outgroup?

Group that we don't belong to, viewed as fundamentally different from us. Signup and view all the answers

What is persuasion?

Process of changing our attitude toward something based on communication. Signup and view all the answers

What is pluralistic ignorance?

Misconception that others possess different beliefs or behaviors, leading to inaction. Signup and view all the answers

What is cognitive dissonance?

Psychological discomfort arising from conflicts in beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is a script?

A person's knowledge about the sequence of events in a specific setting. Signup and view all the answers

Self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when we treat stereotyped group members according to our biased expectations, leading them to act according to those expectations.

self-fulfilling prophecy Signup and view all the answers

What is confirmation bias?

Seeking out information that supports our stereotypes while ignoring inconsistent information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the actor-observer bias?

Phenomenon where we attribute others' behaviors to internal factors and our own behaviors to situational forces. Signup and view all the answers

According to the frustration aggression theory, after Mekayla bombs her performance at the piano recital, she is likely to ________.

kick her cat Signup and view all the answers

What does scapegoating mean?

Act of blaming an out-group when the in-group experiences frustration. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Asch Effect: Illustrates how group majority can sway an individual's judgment, even leading to incorrect decisions.
Attributions: Refers to the explanations made for the behaviors displayed by others, crucial for social cognition.
Biases: These influence perceptions and judgments, often leading to systematic deviations from standard rationality.
Bystander Intervention: The phenomenon where the presence of others affects one's likelihood to help someone in distress.
Diffusion of Responsibility: Describes how individuals feel less compelled to act in emergencies when others are present, spreading the responsibility among the group.
Discrimination: Involves negative behaviors directed at individuals based on their group membership.
Fundamental Attribution Error: The tendency to overemphasize internal characteristics in explaining others' behaviors while undervaluing situational factors.
Social Norms: Rules and expectations of behavior that are considered acceptable within a group.
Social Roles: Defined behaviors expected from individuals in specified contexts, influencing behavior significantly.
Stereotypes: Widely held beliefs attributing certain traits or characteristics to all members of a group, often leading to oversimplifications.

Components of Attitude

Affective Component: Reflects feelings or emotional responses towards a person, object, or idea.
Behavioral Component: Involves the actions or behaviors exhibited in relation to an attitude.
Cognitive Component: Represents a person’s beliefs or thoughts that typically influence their attitudes and responses.

Theories and Effects

Cognitive Dissonance: Occurs when an individual experiences discomfort from conflicting beliefs or behaviors, pushing for a change toward consistency.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: When expectations about a person cause the person to behave in a way that confirms the expectations.
Scapegoating: The act of blaming an out-group for the frustrations experienced by an in-group, often leading to prejudice and discrimination.
Confirmation Bias: The tendency to seek out information that supports one's preexisting beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Aggression Types

Instrumental Aggression: Aggression used as a means to achieve a specific goal, not primarily driven by anger.
Hostile Aggression: Driven by feelings of anger and a desire to cause pain or injury.

Important Phenomena

Bystander Effect: Individuals are less likely to offer help in emergencies when others are present, highlighting social and situational influences on behavior.
Social Loafing: The tendency for individuals in a group to exert less effort due to their individual contributions being less identifiable.
Groupthink: Involves members of a group conforming to the perceived consensus, which can lead to poor decision-making.

Prejudice and Discrimination

Prejudice: Negative attitudes or feelings directed at individuals based solely on their group identity.
Discrimination: Actual harmful actions towards individuals due to their group affiliation.
Ageism, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia: Specific forms of prejudice and discrimination based on age, race, sex, and sexual orientation, respectively.

The Stanford Prison Experiment

Conducted to explore the impact of social roles and normative influences on behavior, emphasizing the power dynamics that can arise in structured environments.

Strategies of Persuasion

Central Route: Involves a factual and logical approach to persuasion, generally leading to lasting attitude change.
Peripheral Route: Relies on superficial cues, such as attractiveness or emotional appeals, for persuasion without deep understanding.

Application and Consequences

Cognitive Dissonance Theory: Explains how individuals reconcile conflicting attitudes and behaviors, often leading to attitude shifts.
Actor-Observer Bias: Suggests individuals explain others’ actions through personal traits while attributing their own actions to situational factors.
Bullying: Defined as persistent negative treatment, revealing the dynamics of aggression, particularly between genders.

These concepts provide a foundational understanding of social psychology, highlighting the intricate interplay between individual behavior, social contexts, and group dynamics.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key psychology concepts such as the Asch effect, attributions, and biases. This quiz covers essential terms related to social psychology and group dynamics. Challenge yourself and see how much you really know!