complete Test Bank Social Psychology questions and answers 2023

The branch of psychology that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought in social situations is ________. A) general psychology B) social psychology C) organizational psychology D) applied psychology E) interpersonal psychology Answer: B Page Ref: 5 - 6 2) Social psychologists focus their attention mainly on individuals because ________. A) our behavior is influenced by the actions of other individuals in social situations B) the behavior of groups is too difficult to study in laboratory conditions C) cultural differences have a strong effect on the behavior of groups but only a weak effect on individuals D) some individuals are more strongly affected by society than are others E) society doesn't have much influence over how individuals should behave in most situations Answer: A Page Ref: 5 - 6 3) As a scientific discipline, social psychology strives for ________. A) a non-skeptical understanding of unobservable forces B) a unified theory of group behavior C) an objective understanding of behavior D) a narrow focus on the determinants of group behavior E) a subjective understanding of group functions Answer: C Page Ref: 6 4) Social Psychology embraces ________ as core scientific values. A) accuracy, objectivity, skepticism, and open-mindedness B) accuracy, objectivity, statistical support, and open-mindedness C) objectivity, theoretical coherence, open-mindedness, and skepticism D) theoretical coherence, participant-observer approach, client-centered stance, skepticism E) open-mindedness, skepticism, statistical support, theoretical coherence Answer: A Page Ref: 6 5) The focus of social psychology is on ________. A) the processes society use to direct and control the behavior of individuals B) how groups define and shape society C) the behavior and thoughts of individuals D) the actions of small groups of individuals E) the effects that society may have on group behavior Answer: C Page Ref: 6 1 Social Psychology, 12th Edition 6) Why take a scientific approach? Part of the answer lies in the ________ nature of proverbs, axioms, maxims and the like. A) contradictory B) anecdotal C) medieval D) Socratic E) rhetorical Answer: A Page Ref: 6 - 7 7) Kim knows she needs to go take summer courses, but worries about leaving her new boyfriend for 3 months. She wonders, will "absence make the heart go stronger" be true, or is "Out of sight, out of mind" more applicable. This is an example of ________. A) the unscientific nature of conventional wisdom B) confusion regarding an interpersonal problem C) the seductive nature of jealousy D) the need for female advice E) the need for better communication with her boyfriend Answer: A Page Ref: 7 8) One reason that social scientists put their faith in the scientific method is that ________. A) the scientific method produces incontrovertible proof of the accuracy of their theories B) the scientific method assures acceptance of their conclusions by the general public C) the scientific method substantiates the status quo D) the scientific method allows scientists to rely on their own intuition E) the scientific method produces more conclusive evidence than other methods Answer: E Page Ref: 7 - 8 9) The planning fallacy is ________. A) a tendency for individuals to believe that projects will take less time than they actually do B) a bias that some people have in planning for worst-case scenarios C) a tendency to rely on our memories of previous similar activities when planning future projects D) the mistaken belief that one can completely plan for social encounters E) a technique used by some social psychologists when studying group interactions Answer: A Page Ref: 8 10) Armando, based on his estimate of how long it would take him to complete his mid-term essay, told his instructor he would turn in the paper on Tuesday, but was late turning it in, causing his instructor to deduct a letter grade from the paper. Next time Armando makes such a promise based on a plan, he will likely ________. A) remember the negative consequence he experienced, and turn the paper in on time B) more carefully examine how to go about doing the paper on time C) base his estimate on an outline of the paper D) make arrangements to work away from his noisy roommates E) make the same planning error, and be late again Answer: E Page Ref: 8 2 Chapter 1: Social Psychology: The Science of the Social Side of Life 11) Social psychologists are primarily interested in understanding the many factors and conditions that shape the social ________ and ________ of individuals. A) behavior; thought B) behavior; planning C) emotion; cognition D) emotion; addiction E) thought; judgment Answer: A Page Ref: 8 - 9 12) Which of the following categories is NOT one of the five categories mentioned in your text regarding factors affecting social interaction? A) none of these categories were mentioned B) perceptual processes C) cognitive processes D) environmental variables E) biological factors Answer: B Page Ref: 8 - 11 13) The ways we think about other people and the things we remember about them may have an effect on our behavior. These thoughts and memories are examples of ________. A) social processes B) cultural processes C) interpersonal processes D) historical processes E) cognitive processes Answer: E Page Ref: 9 - 10 14) LaShawna meets another girl at a party who is not from LaShawna's ethnic group, and whom LaShawna judges, based on her stereotype of that group, is probably shallow and a gossip. The best description of LaShawna's judgment is that she is engaged in ________. A) a social cognitive process B) cultural norming C) prejudice D) judging a book by its cover E) a typical interaction between young females Answer: A Page Ref: 9 - 10 15) Radha is from India and is Jana's friend. In making a judgment about Radha's reason for being late for coffee, Jana may infer that Radha was late because she had a confusing day, or Jana may decide that Radha doesn't really have much respect for her schedule. This is best explained as an example of a ________. A) cognitive process B) environmental variable C) cultural context D) biological factor E) personality trait Answer: A Page Ref: 9 - 10