Social Psychology Quiz 8

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of social psychology?

The study of personality traits

The cognitive processes in decision making

The influence of environment on individual behavior

Understanding social interactions and influences (correct)

What process is referred to when we explain why events or actions occur?

Cognition

Social conformity

Behavioral observation

Attribution (correct)

In making attributions, what are internal attributions based on?

Character traits of the individual (correct)

Social pressure and expectations

The surrounding context of a situation

Observations of physical behavior

Which attribution type involves assessing a situation rather than the individual?

External attribution Signup and view all the answers

What might lead someone to perceive Lexi as an unreliable friend?

Lexi has a history of breaking commitments Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best describes a situation where internal and external attributions can be discussed?

A driver cutting off another in traffic Signup and view all the answers

How might groups affect individual behavior according to social psychology?

Through providing a sense of collective identity Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential external attribution for receiving a failing grade on an exam?

Test material being too difficult Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the effects of deindividuation when individuals are part of a large group?

Lower self-awareness Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario is most likely to lead to groupthink?

A group facing external threats with a strong leader's opinion Signup and view all the answers

How does the presence of others affect performance according to social facilitation?

Enhances performance on well-learned tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is a common consequence of social loafing?

Tendency for individuals to work less hard in a group Signup and view all the answers

In which context is social loafing most likely to occur?

When working on a project without clear accountability Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The tendency to overemphasize traits and underestimate situational factors in explaining others' behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

How does the actor-observer bias differ from the self-serving bias?

Actor-observer bias applies to situational factors, while self-serving bias applies to personal failures. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects an external attribution regarding poverty?

Poverty typically results from structural inequities. Signup and view all the answers

According to social identity theory, how do we perceive ingroups and outgroups?

We often view outgroup members as less varied than ingroup members. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate attribution error characterized by?

Ingroup members getting little blame for negative actions and outgroup members getting little credit for positive actions. Signup and view all the answers

What is ingroup favoritism?

Preferring to support ingroup members regardless of their actions. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of group dynamics, what does the Minimal Groups Paradigm illustrate?

Group identification impacts behavior, even in arbitrary situations. Signup and view all the answers

Why might an observer attribute another’s failure to dispositional traits?

To oversimplify complex social interactions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Information

Social Psychology
Professor Willroth
Introduction to Psychology
October 11, 2023

Week Overview

Monday 11/11: Social Psychology Part 1 (Textbook Modules 40-41), Quiz 8
Wednesday 11/13: Social Psychology Part 2 (Textbook Modules 42-43)
Friday 11/15: No class, Alternative Assignment on Canvas
Looking Ahead: Personality Psychology and Quiz 9 next week

Today's Learning Goals

Describe social psychology and what social psychologists study
Describe processes people use to understand events/actions
Explain how groups influence behavior

Study of social interactions
Examines social influences that lead to different behaviors in various situations

Does the Person or the Situation Cause Behavior?

Questioning the role of individual personality versus the surrounding environment in shaping actions

How Do We Explain People's Behavior?

Attribution: People's explanations for events or actions

Internal Attributions

Focus on personal characteristics/traits explaining behavior

Situational Attributions

Focus on the situation in explaining behavior

Biases in Attributions

Actor-observer bias: Tendency to explain own behavior due to situations, but others' behaviors due to their personalities
Self-serving bias: Taking personal credit for success but blaming outside factors for failure

Our Attributions Matter

Poverty: Internal view (hard work brings success) vs. External view (structural inequalities)

Groups and Their Influence

Ingroups: Groups a person belongs to
Outgroups: Groups a person does not belong to
Social Identity Theory: Group membership influences self-perception.
Ingroup Favoritism: Tendency to favor members of one's own group
Minimal Groups Paradigm: Demonstrates ingroup favoritism even in arbitrary groups
Ultimate Attribution Error: Ingroup members receive less blame for negative actions but little credit for positive actions performed by out-group members.

How Do Groups Affect Behavior?

Deindividuation: Reduced self-awareness and personal standards within a large group. Factors include anonymity, heightened arousal, and low accountability.
Groupthink: Poor decision-making due to group pressure to maintain cohesiveness and harmony. Often occurs under intense external pressure with strong opinions from group leaders.

Social facilitation: Improved performance in the presence of other people for well-rehearsed tasks while poorly practiced skills decline.
Social loafing: People exert less effort in a group setting than when working alone.

Additional Notes

Scenarios: A list of various scenarios provided for practice. Consider internal and external attributions for actions in presented scenarios.
Fundamental Attribution Error: Tendency to overemphasize personality traits while underestimating situational factors when explaining others' behavior.
Poll Everywhere Question (Example): A text-based poll question about fundamental attribution theory.

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Description

Test your understanding of social psychology concepts including group influence on behavior and attribution processes. This quiz covers the material from Textbook Modules 40-41 that highlight the nature of social interactions and the roles of individuals and environments in shaping actions.