Social Psychology MCQs Quiz With Answers

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Social Psychology MCQs Quiz With Answers - Quiz

We have brought to you a fantastic Social Psychology MCQs Quiz. Ready to test your knowledge? Social psychology is basically described as the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. Test out how much you understand social psychology and the people around you by taking this MCQ quiz below. So, get ready for this amazing quiz, and you will get to learn from here too. All the best!


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    People who are less likely to help someone because there are a lot of people present would be exhibiting:

    • A.

      Groupthink

    • B.

      Group polarization

    • C.

      Diffusion of responsibility

    • D.

      Mere exposure effect

    • E.

      Ethnocentrism

    Correct Answer
    C. Diffusion of responsibility
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 2. 

    At first, Jimmy did not like his teacher, but after sitting in this teacher's class for a number of weeks, Jimmy started to like his teacher. this new perspective would be an example of:

    • A.

      Diffusion of responsibility

    • B.

      Bystander effect

    • C.

      In-group bias

    • D.

      Ethnocentrism

    • E.

      Mere-exposure effect

    Correct Answer
    E. Mere-exposure effect
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 3. 

    Muszafer Sherif believed that __________ would reduce prejudice behavior.

    • A.

      Working together to solve a problem

    • B.

      Sharing background

    • C.

      Group sharing

    • D.

      Talking out differences

    • E.

      Competitive games

    Correct Answer
    A. Working together to solve a problem
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 4. 

    Jimmy has constantly heard that he is not a good student and starts acting how people perceive him after a while. This recent behavioral change supports the following:

    • A.

      Groupthink

    • B.

      Group polarization

    • C.

      Self-fulfilling prophecy

    • D.

      Social influence

    • E.

      Altruism

    Correct Answer
    C. Self-fulfilling propHecy
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 5. 

    The bystander effect suggests that individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when:

    • A.

      They are in a hurry. 

    • B.

      They feel personally responsible. 

    • C.

      Other people are present. 

    • D.

      The victim is a stranger.

    Correct Answer
    C. Other people are present. 
    Explanation
    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

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  • 6. 

    Jimmy is very quiet at school, but later that night at a party, Jimmy gets 'crazy' and starts to cut the rug on the dance floor. Jimmy's classmates are stunned at this displayed behavior. Jimmy is experiencing:

    • A.

      Group polarization

    • B.

      The power of SSRI's

    • C.

      Deindividuation

    • D.

      Groupthink

    • E.

      Self-fulfilling prophecy

    Correct Answer
    C. Deindividuation
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 7. 

    _____________ set up an experiment, known as the Stanford Prison experiment, where people played the role of a prison guard. The goal was to observe if this authority position would cause them to act differently.

    • A.

      Stanley Milgram

    • B.

      Philip Zimbardo

    • C.

      Soloman Ache

    • D.

      Muzafer Sherif

    • E.

      Mike Mclane "The Mclaniac"

    Correct Answer
    B. pHilip Zimbardo
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 8. 

    Social Facilitation occurs:

    • A.

      To the tendency for people to do less in a group setting

    • B.

      To the tendency to keep personal opinions to themselves for fear of upsetting the group

    • C.

      When the presence of other people watching improves a person's performance

    • D.

      When the presence of other people watching hinders a person's performance

    • E.

      When people listen more attentively to people of authority

    Correct Answer
    C. When the presence of other people watching improves a person's performance
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 9. 

    Believing that all homeless people are responsible for their outcomes or got what they deserved would be an example of which attribution process?

    • A.

      Actor-observer discrepancy

    • B.

      Self-serving bias

    • C.

      Blaming the victim

    • D.

      Fundamental attribution error

    • E.

      Modest bias

    Correct Answer
    C. Blaming the victim
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 10. 

    Groupthink is defined as:

    • A.

      When an attitude becomes stronger in group presence

    • B.

      Thinking that revolves around keeping harmony within a group through not disagreeing with group opinion

    • C.

      The tendency to do less in a group situation

    • D.

      Improved performance when people are watching

    • E.

      The loss of identity due to a group situation

    Correct Answer
    B. Thinking that revolves around keeping harmony within a group through not disagreeing with group opinion
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 11. 

    In Stanley Milgram's experiment on the role of obedience, the ____________ was the person who worked with Milgram and played the part of an authority figure.

    • A.

      Teacher

    • B.

      Learner

    • C.

      Experimenter

    • D.

      Doctor

    • E.

      Dog

    Correct Answer
    C. Experimenter
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 12. 

    The fundamental attribution error occurs when a person underestimates or does not consider ________________ attributes and focuses too much on ________________ attributes or personal factors.

    • A.

      Situational; dispositional

    • B.

      Dispositional; situational

    • C.

      Unconscious; situational

    • D.

      Situational; unconscious

    • E.

      Unconscious; dispositional

    Correct Answer
    A. Situational; dispositional
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 13. 

    According to Soloman Ache, in his experiment on conformity ____% of the subjects gave the wrong answer because the group unanimously also gave the wrong answer.

    • A.

      76

    • B.

      48

    • C.

      32

    • D.

      89

    • E.

      2

    Correct Answer
    A. 76
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 14. 

    When a person experiences guilt or discomfort because he or she realizes that he or she is not being truthful with their friends, then this person may be experiencing:

    • A.

      Blaming the victim

    • B.

      Self-serving bias

    • C.

      Cognitive dissonance

    • D.

      Constipation

    • E.

      Normative social influence

    Correct Answer
    C. Cognitive dissonance
    Explanation
    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).

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  • 15. 

    In Stanley Milgram's experiment on the role of obedience, the ___________ was the subject who was being observed and did not know what the experiment was about or what was being studied.

    • A.

      Learner

    • B.

      Experimenter

    • C.

      Dog

    • D.

      Teacher

    • E.

      Milgram

    Correct Answer
    D. Teacher
    Explanation
    The teacher was the participant who administered electric shocks to the learner (who was actually an actor pretending to receive shocks) under the direction of the experimenter. The learner, experimenter, and Milgram himself were not the subjects of the experiment.

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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Sep 30, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • May 19, 2011
    Quiz Created by
    Mmclane
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