Social Psychology & Group Influence 2026 Exam Prep

1. What is the primary focus of Social Psychology? A) Diagnosing and treating mental health disorders B) Understanding how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others C) Studying the physical and biological structures of the brain D) Analyzing historical demographic data Correct Answer: B) Understanding how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others 2. "Conformity" is best defined as: A) Forcing others to follow your rules B) Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard C) blindly obeying a figure of authority D) Rebelling against societal norms Correct Answer: B) Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard 3. Solomon Asch’s classic line-length experiments primarily demonstrated the power of: A) Obedience to authority B) Normative social influence C) The bystander effect D) Social loafing Correct Answer: B) Normative social influence 4. "Normative Social Influence" occurs when people conform because they: A) Believe the group has better information than they do B) Want to gain approval or avoid disapproval from the group C) Are threatened with physical harm D) Are paid to do so Correct Answer: B) Want to gain approval or avoid disapproval from the group 5. "Informational Social Influence" occurs when people conform because they: A) Want to be liked by the group B) Believe the group is competent and has the correct information in an ambiguous situation C) Are afraid of being bullied D) Are forced by an authority figure Correct Answer: B) Believe the group is competent and has the correct information in an ambiguous situation 6. Stanley Milgram’s classic "shock" experiments investigated: A) Why people conform to peers B) How far people will go in obeying an instruction from an authority figure to harm another person C) How children learn aggression D) The dynamics of romantic relationships Correct Answer: B) How far people will go in obeying an instruction from an authority figure to harm another person 7. In Milgram's original experiment, approximately what percentage of participants administered the maximum shock (450 volts)? A) 1% B) 10% C) 35% D) 65% Correct Answer: D) 65% 8. Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment primarily demonstrated the psychological power of: A) Social roles and the situational context B) Genetic predispositions to violence C) The bystander effect D) Cognitive dissonance Correct Answer: A) Social roles and the situational context 9. "Social Facilitation" is the tendency for people to: A) Work less hard when in a group B) Perform better on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others C) Become more aggressive in crowds D) Forget information when speaking publicly Correct Answer: B) Perform better on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others 10. "Social Loafing" occurs when individuals: A) Exert less effort when working in a group toward a common goal than when working individually B) Work significantly harder when placed in a group C) Take credit for others' work D) Socialize instead of working Correct Answer: A) Exert less effort when working in a group toward a common goal than when working individually 11. "Deindividuation" refers to: A) Developing a highly unique personality B) The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity C) A therapeutic technique to build self-esteem D) The process of leaving a cult Correct Answer: B) The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity 12. "Group Polarization" is the phenomenon where: A) A group splits into two opposing factions B) Group discussions lead to more extreme positions than the initial inclinations of its members C) A group refuses to make a decision D) One leader dominates the entire group Correct Answer: B) Group discussions lead to more extreme positions than the initial inclinations of its members 13. "Groupthink" (Irving Janis) is a decision-making flaw where: A) The desire for harmony and consensus in a cohesive group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives B) A group uses highly logical and mathematical models C) Everyone works independently D) The group relies heavily on external experts Correct Answer: A) The desire for harmony and consensus in a cohesive group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives 14. Which of the following is a classic symptom of Groupthink? A) Encouraging dissenting opinions B) An illusion of invulnerability and unanimity C) Seeking outside criticism D) Extending deadlines to ensure accuracy Correct Answer: B) An illusion of invulnerability and unanimity 15. "Bystander Effect" (Latane and Darley) states that: A) People are more likely to help if there is a large crowd B) The presence of other bystanders greatly decreases the likelihood that any one individual will offer help C) Bystanders always film crimes instead of helping D) Bystanders only help people they know Correct Answer: B) The presence of other bystanders greatly decreases the likelihood that any one individual will offer help 16. The Bystander Effect is primarily driven by the psychological mechanism of: A) Malice B) Diffusion of responsibility C) Cognitive dissonance D) Social facilitation Correct Answer: B) Diffusion of responsibility 17. "Altruism" in social psychology is defined as: A) Helping others to gain a reward B) Unselfish regard for the welfare of others C) Helping only family members D) Helping others out of a sense of guilt Correct Answer: B) Unselfish regard for the welfare of others 18. The "Social Exchange Theory" proposes that human interactions are transactions aiming to: A) Maximize rewards and minimize costs B) Maximize genetic survival C) Ensure equality for everyone D) Build long-term friendships Correct Answer: A) Maximize rewards and minimize costs 19. The "Reciprocity Norm" is the expectation that people will: A) Hurt those who have hurt them B) Help, not hurt, those who have helped them C) Only help people richer than them D) Ignore strangers Correct Answer: B) Help, not hurt, those who have helped them 20. "Fundamental Attribution Error" (FAE) is the tendency to: A) Overestimate the impact of the situation and underestimate personal disposition when analyzing others' behavior B) Overestimate personal disposition and underestimate the impact of the situation when analyzing others' behavior C) Blame oneself for all failures D) Attribute success to luck Correct Answer: B) Overestimate personal disposition and underestimate the impact of the situation when analyzing others' behavior 21. The "Actor-Observer Bias" suggests that we attribute our own behavior to _______ and others' behavior to . _______ A) Situational factors; dispositional factors B) Dispositional factors; situational factors C) Luck; hard work D) Genetics; environment Correct Answer: A) Situational factors; dispositional factors 22. "Self-Serving Bias" is the tendency to: A) Serve oneself food before others B) Attribute our successes to internal factors and our failures to external factors C) Blame oneself for everything D) Believe we are worse than average Correct Answer: B) Attribute our successes to internal factors and our failures to external factors