PSYC 101 Exam 4 V3 | PSYC 101 General
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSYC101 Exam 4) | Portage Learning
1. Which psychological phenomenon explains why an individual might blame a person’s
character for a mistake while ignoring the situational pressures that contributed to it?
A. Fundamental attribution error
B. Self-serving bias
C. Cognitive dissonance
D. Social facilitation
Correct Answer: A
The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency for observers to underestimate
situational influences and overestimate dispositional influences upon others’ behavior.
This cognitive shortcut helps people make sense of the world quickly but often leads to
inaccurate judgments about others. Understanding this bias is crucial for improving
interpersonal relationships and objective social analysis.
2. According to Freud’s structural model of personality, which component operates based on
the reality principle to mediate between instinctual drives and moral standards?
A. Ego
B. Id
,C. Superego
D. Libido
Correct Answer: A
The ego functions as the executive branch of personality, seeking to satisfy the id’s
impulses in realistic and socially acceptable ways. It serves as a bridge between the
immediate gratification sought by the id and the rigid moral constraints of the superego.
Without a strong ego, an individual would struggle to navigate the complexities of daily
social life and impulse control.
3. In the context of social psychology, what did Stanley Milgram’s famous research primarily
demonstrate regarding human behavior?
A. The power of groupthink in decision making
B. The significant extent to which people obey authority figures
C. The impact of anonymity on deindividuation
D. The limitations of short-term memory capacity
Correct Answer: B
Milgram’s studies revealed that a high percentage of participants were willing to
administer what they believed were lethal electric shocks simply because an authority
figure told them to do so. This research highlighted how situational pressures can override
personal ethics and individual conscience. The findings remain a cornerstone for
,understanding the psychological mechanisms behind historical atrocities and corporate
misconduct.
4. Which theory suggests that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our
thoughts are inconsistent?
A. Social exchange theory
B. Peripheral route persuasion
C. Two-factor theory of emotion
D. Cognitive dissonance theory
Correct Answer: D
Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual holds conflicting beliefs or when their
behavior contradicts their attitudes. To resolve this tension, people often change their
attitudes to align with their actions or justify the inconsistency. This theory explains many
social behaviors, including why people remain committed to difficult or unrewarding
groups.
5. Select All That Apply: Which of the following conditions were found to increase the
likelihood of conformity in Solomon Asch’s studies?
A. The person is made to feel incompetent or insecure
B. The group has at least three people
C. The group is unanimous
, D. The person admires the group’s status and attractiveness
E. The person has made no prior commitment to any response
F. The person is a male in a highly individualistic culture
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Asch’s experiments identified several situational variables that exert pressure on
individuals to align with the group consensus. Factors such as group size, unanimity, and
the public nature of the response significantly heighten the desire to fit in or avoid social
rejection. These findings illustrate the profound impact of social pressure on individual
perception and judgment.
6. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own threatening or unacceptable
impulses to others?
A. Reaction formation
B. Regression
C. Projection
D. Displacement
Correct Answer: C
Projection is a psychological defense where individuals deal with internal conflict by
seeing their own flaws in other people. By externalizing these traits, the ego protects itself
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSYC101 Exam 4) | Portage Learning
1. Which psychological phenomenon explains why an individual might blame a person’s
character for a mistake while ignoring the situational pressures that contributed to it?
A. Fundamental attribution error
B. Self-serving bias
C. Cognitive dissonance
D. Social facilitation
Correct Answer: A
The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency for observers to underestimate
situational influences and overestimate dispositional influences upon others’ behavior.
This cognitive shortcut helps people make sense of the world quickly but often leads to
inaccurate judgments about others. Understanding this bias is crucial for improving
interpersonal relationships and objective social analysis.
2. According to Freud’s structural model of personality, which component operates based on
the reality principle to mediate between instinctual drives and moral standards?
A. Ego
B. Id
,C. Superego
D. Libido
Correct Answer: A
The ego functions as the executive branch of personality, seeking to satisfy the id’s
impulses in realistic and socially acceptable ways. It serves as a bridge between the
immediate gratification sought by the id and the rigid moral constraints of the superego.
Without a strong ego, an individual would struggle to navigate the complexities of daily
social life and impulse control.
3. In the context of social psychology, what did Stanley Milgram’s famous research primarily
demonstrate regarding human behavior?
A. The power of groupthink in decision making
B. The significant extent to which people obey authority figures
C. The impact of anonymity on deindividuation
D. The limitations of short-term memory capacity
Correct Answer: B
Milgram’s studies revealed that a high percentage of participants were willing to
administer what they believed were lethal electric shocks simply because an authority
figure told them to do so. This research highlighted how situational pressures can override
personal ethics and individual conscience. The findings remain a cornerstone for
,understanding the psychological mechanisms behind historical atrocities and corporate
misconduct.
4. Which theory suggests that we act to reduce the discomfort we feel when two of our
thoughts are inconsistent?
A. Social exchange theory
B. Peripheral route persuasion
C. Two-factor theory of emotion
D. Cognitive dissonance theory
Correct Answer: D
Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual holds conflicting beliefs or when their
behavior contradicts their attitudes. To resolve this tension, people often change their
attitudes to align with their actions or justify the inconsistency. This theory explains many
social behaviors, including why people remain committed to difficult or unrewarding
groups.
5. Select All That Apply: Which of the following conditions were found to increase the
likelihood of conformity in Solomon Asch’s studies?
A. The person is made to feel incompetent or insecure
B. The group has at least three people
C. The group is unanimous
, D. The person admires the group’s status and attractiveness
E. The person has made no prior commitment to any response
F. The person is a male in a highly individualistic culture
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Asch’s experiments identified several situational variables that exert pressure on
individuals to align with the group consensus. Factors such as group size, unanimity, and
the public nature of the response significantly heighten the desire to fit in or avoid social
rejection. These findings illustrate the profound impact of social pressure on individual
perception and judgment.
6. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own threatening or unacceptable
impulses to others?
A. Reaction formation
B. Regression
C. Projection
D. Displacement
Correct Answer: C
Projection is a psychological defense where individuals deal with internal conflict by
seeing their own flaws in other people. By externalizing these traits, the ego protects itself
