Social Psychology MCQs Quiz With Answers

The correct answer is mere-exposure effect. This is because the mere-exposure effect refers to the phenomenon where people tend to develop a preference or liking for things or people that they are repeatedly exposed to. In this case, Jimmy initially did not like his teacher, but after spending a number of weeks in the teacher's class, he started to develop a liking for the teacher. This change in perspective can be attributed to the mere-exposure effect, as Jimmy's repeated exposure to the teacher led to his increased liking.

Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals feel less responsible to take action or help others in a group setting, assuming that someone else will step in or that their individual contribution is not necessary. In this scenario, people who are less likely to help someone because there are a lot of people present are exhibiting diffusion of responsibility, as they rely on others to take action or feel less accountable for their own actions due to the presence of a larger group.

The bystander effect is a social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency when others are around. This occurs due to diffusion of responsibility (assuming someone else will help) and social influence (looking to others for cues on how to act).  Sources and related content

Social facilitation refers to the phenomenon where the presence of other people watching enhances an individual's performance. This is because the individual becomes more alert and motivated to perform well in order to impress or meet the expectations of the audience. The presence of an audience can create a sense of arousal, which can lead to improved performance in tasks that the individual is already skilled at. However, it is important to note that social facilitation may not occur in tasks that are complex or unfamiliar, as the presence of others may lead to increased anxiety and hinder performance.

Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort or tension that arises when a person holds conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. In this scenario, the person is feeling guilt or discomfort because they are aware that they are not being truthful with their friends. This conflict between their behavior (not being truthful) and their belief in honesty creates cognitive dissonance. The person may experience discomfort and may attempt to resolve it by either changing their behavior (being truthful) or changing their beliefs (rationalizing their dishonesty).

Groupthink is a phenomenon where individuals prioritize consensus and harmony within a group over critical thinking and independent judgment. It occurs when members of a group suppress their own dissenting opinions or ideas in order to maintain agreement and avoid conflict. This can lead to flawed decision-making and a lack of creativity or innovation within the group. Groupthink is characterized by a strong emphasis on conformity and a tendency to ignore or downplay alternative viewpoints.

The fundamental attribution error occurs when a person underestimates or does not consider situational attributes and focuses too much on dispositional attributes or personal factors. This means that individuals tend to attribute someone's behavior to their internal characteristics or traits (dispositional factors) rather than considering the external circumstances or situations (situational factors) that might have influenced their behavior.

Muszafer Sherif believed that working together to solve a problem would reduce prejudice behavior. This is because when individuals from different backgrounds come together to collaborate and find a solution, they are able to see each other's strengths, build trust, and develop a sense of common purpose. By focusing on a shared goal, prejudices and biases can be minimized as people learn to value each other's contributions and work towards a common objective.

The given scenario describes how Jimmy starts acting in a way that aligns with the perception of him being a bad student. This aligns with the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy, where a person's belief or expectation about themselves influences their behavior in a way that ultimately confirms that belief or expectation. In this case, Jimmy's belief that he is a bad student influences his behavior, causing him to act accordingly and fulfill the prophecy.

Deindividuation refers to a psychological phenomenon where individuals lose their sense of individual identity and personal responsibility when they are part of a larger group or crowd. In this case, Jimmy's behavior at the party is unexpected and different from his usual quiet demeanor at school. This sudden change in behavior can be attributed to the anonymity and reduced self-awareness that comes with being in a social setting like a party, leading to deindividuation.

Philip Zimbardo is the correct answer because he is the psychologist who set up the Stanford Prison experiment. This experiment involved participants playing the role of either a prison guard or a prisoner to observe the effects of authority on behavior. Zimbardo wanted to see if the authority position would cause the participants to act differently, and the experiment revealed the powerful influence of social roles and situations on human behavior.

In Soloman Ache's experiment on conformity, 76% of the subjects gave the wrong answer because they were influenced by the unanimous wrong answer given by the group. This suggests that individuals are more likely to conform to the opinions or behaviors of a group, even if they know it is incorrect.

In Stanley Milgram's experiment on the role of obedience, the experimenter was the person who worked with Milgram and played the part of an authority figure. The experimenter was responsible for instructing the participants to deliver electric shocks to the learner whenever they answered a question incorrectly. This role was crucial in the experiment as it helped to establish the power dynamic and measure the participants' willingness to obey authority, even when it involved potentially harmful actions.

Blaming the victim is an attribution process where the fault for a misfortune is attributed to the individuals experiencing the misfortune themselves, rather than considering external factors or situational influences that may have contributed. In this case, assuming that homeless people are solely responsible for their circumstances without considering factors like economic conditions, mental health, or systemic issues reflects this bias.