Psych 379 Unit 1 UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
social psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and
behave in a social context.
Impact of social media - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychologists study how frequent use of
social networking sites can affect feelings of loneliness, depression, or social connection.
Influences on helping behavior - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychologists explore how group
dynamics, social support, and peer pressure impact our behavior in social situations, such as helping
others or conforming to group expectations.
Difference between social psychology and sociology - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology
focuses on the individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in social contexts, while sociology studies
groups like nationalities, races, and classes.
Scientific study - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology uses observation, description, and
measurement to understand human behavior.
Individual vs. group focus - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology emphasizes individual
behavior within groups, whereas sociology is more concerned with the group as a whole.
Interaction vs. broader patterns - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology asks questions about
how we interact with and influence each other, whereas sociology looks at broader social patterns and
structures.
Common-sense saying: Beauty and brains don't mix - CORRECT ANSWER - This saying suggests
that physically attractive people are seen as less intelligent, but research proves this is false.
Common-sense saying: Large rewards increase enjoyment - CORRECT ANSWER - Common
sense might say that big rewards increase enjoyment, but research shows this is not true.
, Common-sense saying: People think they are more unique - CORRECT ANSWER - Many believe
their opinions or interests are more unique than they actually are, which social psychologists have found
is a common false belief.
Common-sense saying: Playing violent games releases aggression - CORRECT ANSWER - The
common idea that aggressive activities reduce anger is incorrect based on research findings.
Contradictory sayings: Birds of a feather flock together vs. Opposites attract - CORRECT
ANSWER - These sayings offer contradictory explanations for why people get along, which shows
the limits of relying on common sense for understanding social behavior.
Complexity of human behavior - CORRECT ANSWER - Common sense often relies on intuition
and may offer contradictory ideas, while social psychology uses the scientific method to test theories.
Predictive power of social psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology provides
predictive power by testing ideas before assuming they are true.
Influence of complex factors - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology helps to reveal how
complex factors such as emotion, culture, and unconscious biases influence behaviors.
Birth and Infancy of Social Psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - This period (1880s-1920s)
includes key figures like Norman Triplett and Max Ringelmann, who contributed foundational research.
Norman Triplett's contribution - CORRECT ANSWER - Often credited as the founder of social
psychology, Triplett studied how people perform better in the presence of others.
Max Ringelmann's finding - CORRECT ANSWER - Found that people sometimes perform worse
in groups, such as pulling a rope less effectively when others are involved.
First textbooks in social psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - Written by William McDougall
(1908), Edward Ross (1908), and Floyd Allport (1924), these texts helped establish the field.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
social psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - The scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and
behave in a social context.
Impact of social media - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychologists study how frequent use of
social networking sites can affect feelings of loneliness, depression, or social connection.
Influences on helping behavior - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychologists explore how group
dynamics, social support, and peer pressure impact our behavior in social situations, such as helping
others or conforming to group expectations.
Difference between social psychology and sociology - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology
focuses on the individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in social contexts, while sociology studies
groups like nationalities, races, and classes.
Scientific study - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology uses observation, description, and
measurement to understand human behavior.
Individual vs. group focus - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology emphasizes individual
behavior within groups, whereas sociology is more concerned with the group as a whole.
Interaction vs. broader patterns - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology asks questions about
how we interact with and influence each other, whereas sociology looks at broader social patterns and
structures.
Common-sense saying: Beauty and brains don't mix - CORRECT ANSWER - This saying suggests
that physically attractive people are seen as less intelligent, but research proves this is false.
Common-sense saying: Large rewards increase enjoyment - CORRECT ANSWER - Common
sense might say that big rewards increase enjoyment, but research shows this is not true.
, Common-sense saying: People think they are more unique - CORRECT ANSWER - Many believe
their opinions or interests are more unique than they actually are, which social psychologists have found
is a common false belief.
Common-sense saying: Playing violent games releases aggression - CORRECT ANSWER - The
common idea that aggressive activities reduce anger is incorrect based on research findings.
Contradictory sayings: Birds of a feather flock together vs. Opposites attract - CORRECT
ANSWER - These sayings offer contradictory explanations for why people get along, which shows
the limits of relying on common sense for understanding social behavior.
Complexity of human behavior - CORRECT ANSWER - Common sense often relies on intuition
and may offer contradictory ideas, while social psychology uses the scientific method to test theories.
Predictive power of social psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology provides
predictive power by testing ideas before assuming they are true.
Influence of complex factors - CORRECT ANSWER - Social psychology helps to reveal how
complex factors such as emotion, culture, and unconscious biases influence behaviors.
Birth and Infancy of Social Psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - This period (1880s-1920s)
includes key figures like Norman Triplett and Max Ringelmann, who contributed foundational research.
Norman Triplett's contribution - CORRECT ANSWER - Often credited as the founder of social
psychology, Triplett studied how people perform better in the presence of others.
Max Ringelmann's finding - CORRECT ANSWER - Found that people sometimes perform worse
in groups, such as pulling a rope less effectively when others are involved.
First textbooks in social psychology - CORRECT ANSWER - Written by William McDougall
(1908), Edward Ross (1908), and Floyd Allport (1924), these texts helped establish the field.
