PSY 102 Exam 4 V3 | PSY 102 General Psychology | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (PSY102 Exam 4) | Grand Canyon University
1. Which social psychology concept explains the tendency for people to overemphasize
internal characteristics rather than external factors when judging the behavior of others?
A. Fundamental attribution error
B. Self-serving bias
C. Cognitive dissonance
D. Social facilitation
Answer: A
Rationale: The fundamental attribution error occurs when an observer underestimates the
impact of the situation and overestimates the impact of personal disposition. This cognitive
bias leads people to assume that a person’s actions are solely a reflection of their
personality. It is a central concept in social psychology that helps explain human
interaction and judgment.
2. In Solomon Asch’s classic study on conformity, what percentage of participants conformed
to a wrong answer at least once?
A. About 75%
B. About 33%
C. About 10%
D. About 95%
Answer: A
Rationale: Asch found that while most people did not conform on every trial, about 75% of
participants gave in to the group pressure at least one time. This experiment demonstrated
the powerful influence that a unanimous group can have on an individual’s judgment. It
highlights the tension between personal conviction and the desire for social acceptance.
3. Which of the following describes the ‘foot-in-the-door’ phenomenon?
A. Decreasing effort when working in a group setting
B. Refusing a small request after a large one was denied
C. Changing one’s behavior to match a group’s standards
D. Complying with a large request after agreeing to a small one
Answer: D
,Rationale: The foot-in-the-door phenomenon is a compliance tactic that involves getting a
person to agree to a large request by first having them agree to a modest request. This
works because the initial agreement creates a commitment that influences the person’s
self-image. Subsequent requests are then more likely to be accepted to maintain
consistency in behavior.
4. Stanley Milgram’s experiments were primarily designed to investigate which of the
following?
A. Obedience to authority figures
B. Altruistic behavior in emergencies
C. The effects of punishment on learning
D. Stereotype threat in academic settings
Answer: A
Rationale: Milgram conducted his famous experiments to see how far people would go in
obeying an instruction if it involved harming another person. He found that a high
percentage of participants would administer what they believed were lethal shocks simply
because an authority figure told them to do so. This study remains a cornerstone in
understanding the dark side of social influence and ethical research boundaries.
5. What is the psychological term for the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in
group situations that foster arousal and anonymity?
A. Groupthink
B. Deindividuation
C. Social loafing
D. Group polarization
Answer: B
Rationale: Deindividuation occurs when people feel less like individuals and more like
part of a faceless crowd. This state often leads to behaviors that the individual would not
typically perform alone, such as rioting or online trolling. It is driven by a combination of
high emotional arousal and a reduced sense of personal responsibility.
6. Which of the following is a symptom of the ‘bystander effect’?
A. Decreased helping when more people are present
B. Increased helping when more people are present
C. The tendency to blame the victim for their misfortune
D. The desire to join a group to avoid being a bystander
, Answer: A
Rationale: The bystander effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less
likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. This occurs because of a
diffusion of responsibility, where each person assumes someone else will take action.
Research suggests that the more witnesses there are, the less likely any single one of them
is to intervene.
7. Cognitive dissonance theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that we act to reduce
the discomfort we feel when:
A. Our biological needs are not being met
B. Two of our thoughts are inconsistent
C. We are forced to conform to group norms
D. We experience high levels of stress
Answer: B
Rationale: Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual holds two or more
contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time. To reduce this tension, the
individual will typically change their attitude or behavior to align their thoughts. This
theory explains why people often justify their actions even when those actions contradict
their previous beliefs.
8. Which disorder is characterized by a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity,
or situation?
A. Panic disorder
B. Specific phobia
C. Generalized anxiety disorder
D. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: A specific phobia involves an intense and irrational fear of something that poses
little or no actual danger. Common examples include fear of heights, spiders, or flying. The
individual often realizes the fear is excessive but feels unable to control the resulting
anxiety or avoidance behavior.
9. A person who experiences sudden, intense episodes of dread, often accompanied by chest
pain or choking sensations, likely suffers from:
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Schizophrenia
C. Panic disorder
Rationale (PSY102 Exam 4) | Grand Canyon University
1. Which social psychology concept explains the tendency for people to overemphasize
internal characteristics rather than external factors when judging the behavior of others?
A. Fundamental attribution error
B. Self-serving bias
C. Cognitive dissonance
D. Social facilitation
Answer: A
Rationale: The fundamental attribution error occurs when an observer underestimates the
impact of the situation and overestimates the impact of personal disposition. This cognitive
bias leads people to assume that a person’s actions are solely a reflection of their
personality. It is a central concept in social psychology that helps explain human
interaction and judgment.
2. In Solomon Asch’s classic study on conformity, what percentage of participants conformed
to a wrong answer at least once?
A. About 75%
B. About 33%
C. About 10%
D. About 95%
Answer: A
Rationale: Asch found that while most people did not conform on every trial, about 75% of
participants gave in to the group pressure at least one time. This experiment demonstrated
the powerful influence that a unanimous group can have on an individual’s judgment. It
highlights the tension between personal conviction and the desire for social acceptance.
3. Which of the following describes the ‘foot-in-the-door’ phenomenon?
A. Decreasing effort when working in a group setting
B. Refusing a small request after a large one was denied
C. Changing one’s behavior to match a group’s standards
D. Complying with a large request after agreeing to a small one
Answer: D
,Rationale: The foot-in-the-door phenomenon is a compliance tactic that involves getting a
person to agree to a large request by first having them agree to a modest request. This
works because the initial agreement creates a commitment that influences the person’s
self-image. Subsequent requests are then more likely to be accepted to maintain
consistency in behavior.
4. Stanley Milgram’s experiments were primarily designed to investigate which of the
following?
A. Obedience to authority figures
B. Altruistic behavior in emergencies
C. The effects of punishment on learning
D. Stereotype threat in academic settings
Answer: A
Rationale: Milgram conducted his famous experiments to see how far people would go in
obeying an instruction if it involved harming another person. He found that a high
percentage of participants would administer what they believed were lethal shocks simply
because an authority figure told them to do so. This study remains a cornerstone in
understanding the dark side of social influence and ethical research boundaries.
5. What is the psychological term for the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in
group situations that foster arousal and anonymity?
A. Groupthink
B. Deindividuation
C. Social loafing
D. Group polarization
Answer: B
Rationale: Deindividuation occurs when people feel less like individuals and more like
part of a faceless crowd. This state often leads to behaviors that the individual would not
typically perform alone, such as rioting or online trolling. It is driven by a combination of
high emotional arousal and a reduced sense of personal responsibility.
6. Which of the following is a symptom of the ‘bystander effect’?
A. Decreased helping when more people are present
B. Increased helping when more people are present
C. The tendency to blame the victim for their misfortune
D. The desire to join a group to avoid being a bystander
, Answer: A
Rationale: The bystander effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less
likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. This occurs because of a
diffusion of responsibility, where each person assumes someone else will take action.
Research suggests that the more witnesses there are, the less likely any single one of them
is to intervene.
7. Cognitive dissonance theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that we act to reduce
the discomfort we feel when:
A. Our biological needs are not being met
B. Two of our thoughts are inconsistent
C. We are forced to conform to group norms
D. We experience high levels of stress
Answer: B
Rationale: Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual holds two or more
contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time. To reduce this tension, the
individual will typically change their attitude or behavior to align their thoughts. This
theory explains why people often justify their actions even when those actions contradict
their previous beliefs.
8. Which disorder is characterized by a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity,
or situation?
A. Panic disorder
B. Specific phobia
C. Generalized anxiety disorder
D. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: A specific phobia involves an intense and irrational fear of something that poses
little or no actual danger. Common examples include fear of heights, spiders, or flying. The
individual often realizes the fear is excessive but feels unable to control the resulting
anxiety or avoidance behavior.
9. A person who experiences sudden, intense episodes of dread, often accompanied by chest
pain or choking sensations, likely suffers from:
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Schizophrenia
C. Panic disorder
