GRE Psychology Subject Test UPDATED
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Attitudes - CORRECT ANSWER - An opinion or general feeling about cognitions, beliefs,
feelings, or behavioral predisposition.
Consistency Theories - CORRECT ANSWER - Theoretical perspectives from social
psychology that hold that people prefer consistency between attitudes and behaviors, and that
people will change or resist changing attitudes based upon this preference.
balance theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory that is concerned with the way 3 elements
are related: the person whom we're talking about (symbolized as P), some other person
(symbolized as O), and a thing, idea, or some other person (symbolized by X). Balance exists
when all three fit together harmoniously. When there isn't balance, there will be stress, and a
tendency to remove this stress by achieving balance; Fritz Heider
cognitive dissonance theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory that the conflict or
inconsistency between internal attitudes and external behaviors which may result in a change of
attitude; Leon Fistinger
What does increased dissonance lead to? - CORRECT ANSWER - Increased pressure to
decrease dissonance.
free choice & forced compliance - CORRECT ANSWER - two types of dissonance
free choice dissonance - CORRECT ANSWER - dissonance where a person decides
between several desirable outcomes
forced compliance dissonance - CORRECT ANSWER - dissonance where a person is
forced into behaving in an inconsistent manner from their beliefs
,post-decision dissonance - CORRECT ANSWER - dissonance where a person has a
feeling of anxiety over whether the correct decision was made
spreading of alternatives - CORRECT ANSWER - when alternatives are seen as different
after choice is made (the one we chose as better, the one we rejected as worse)
minimal justification effect - CORRECT ANSWER - effect studied by Participants who
did a boring task, then were asked to tell next person it was fun for $1 or $20
- Results: $1 participants reported enjoying task more than $20 participants
- Explanation: $20 participants could attribute behavior (saying it was fun) to the $20 they
received, but $1 isn't enough to justify the dissonant behavior. So, $1 participants instead
changed their attitudes about the task
- Festinger and Carlsmith (1959)
self-perception theory - CORRECT ANSWER - The theory that when our attitudes and
feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these states by observing our behavior and the
situation in which it occurs; Daryl Bem
overjustification effect - CORRECT ANSWER - the effect of bribing people to do what
they already like doing; they may then see their actions as externally controlled rather than
intrinsically appealing
Model of persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - model described by an attitude change as a
process of communicating a message with the intent to persuade someone; Carl Hovland
communicator, communication, and situation - CORRECT ANSWER - Hovland's model
of persuasion components
sleeper effect - CORRECT ANSWER - effect where persuasive communication from a
source of low credibility may become more acceptable later while communication from high
credibility source may decrease; source credibility study on era controversial topics (one written
by an American physicist & another by a Russian newspaper)
,Russain newspaper persuaded 0%, American physicist persuaded 36%; Hovland & Weiss (1951)
two sided messages - CORRECT ANSWER - arguments for and against a position; often
used for persuasion since such seems to be "balanced" communication. (News reporting)
Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - model that suggests
2 routes of persuasion; central & peripheral; Petty & Cacioppo
central route persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - persuasion that occurs when interested
people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
peripheral route persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - persuasion that occurs when non-
interested people do not clearly understand an argument and can be influenced by incidental
cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness
analogy of inoculation, belief perseverance, and reactance - CORRECT ANSWER -3
ways to resist persuasion
Analogy of inoculation - CORRECT ANSWER - analogy where people can resist
persuasive communications as seen in physical inoculation (flu shot); William McGuire
cultural truisms & refuted counterarguments - CORRECT ANSWER - 2 ways to rest the
analogy of inoculation
cultural truisms - CORRECT ANSWER - beliefs that are seldom questioned, but rarely
attacked even though they are vulnerable to attack.
refuted counterarguments - CORRECT ANSWER - when a person is first presenting
arguments against the truisms and then refuting them; motivates people to practice defending
beliefs.
, belief perseverance phenomenon - CORRECT ANSWER - phenomenon where there's a
tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them
reactance effect - CORRECT ANSWER - effect that occurs if we try hard to persuade
someone, they may believe the opposite.
social comparison theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory that we seek to evaluate our
abilities and beliefs by comparing them with those of others;
people prefer to evaluate themselves objectively, and then in comparison to others
less similarities in opinions = less of a tendency to make comparisons
discrepancy existing = change in opinions to be a part of the group
Leon Festinger
Stanley Schachter - CORRECT ANSWER - person who stated greater anxiety = greater
need to affiliate
Reciprocity Hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER - Hypothesis where we tend to like people
who indicate that they like us, dislike those who indicate they don't like us
Gain-Loss Principle - CORRECT ANSWER - principle where an evaluation that changes
will have more of an impact than an evaluation that remains constant; increased interest shown,
we show increased interest; Arison & Linder
social exchange theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory where a person weighs rewards &
costs of interactions, increased rewards = decreased cost = increased interest
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Attitudes - CORRECT ANSWER - An opinion or general feeling about cognitions, beliefs,
feelings, or behavioral predisposition.
Consistency Theories - CORRECT ANSWER - Theoretical perspectives from social
psychology that hold that people prefer consistency between attitudes and behaviors, and that
people will change or resist changing attitudes based upon this preference.
balance theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory that is concerned with the way 3 elements
are related: the person whom we're talking about (symbolized as P), some other person
(symbolized as O), and a thing, idea, or some other person (symbolized by X). Balance exists
when all three fit together harmoniously. When there isn't balance, there will be stress, and a
tendency to remove this stress by achieving balance; Fritz Heider
cognitive dissonance theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory that the conflict or
inconsistency between internal attitudes and external behaviors which may result in a change of
attitude; Leon Fistinger
What does increased dissonance lead to? - CORRECT ANSWER - Increased pressure to
decrease dissonance.
free choice & forced compliance - CORRECT ANSWER - two types of dissonance
free choice dissonance - CORRECT ANSWER - dissonance where a person decides
between several desirable outcomes
forced compliance dissonance - CORRECT ANSWER - dissonance where a person is
forced into behaving in an inconsistent manner from their beliefs
,post-decision dissonance - CORRECT ANSWER - dissonance where a person has a
feeling of anxiety over whether the correct decision was made
spreading of alternatives - CORRECT ANSWER - when alternatives are seen as different
after choice is made (the one we chose as better, the one we rejected as worse)
minimal justification effect - CORRECT ANSWER - effect studied by Participants who
did a boring task, then were asked to tell next person it was fun for $1 or $20
- Results: $1 participants reported enjoying task more than $20 participants
- Explanation: $20 participants could attribute behavior (saying it was fun) to the $20 they
received, but $1 isn't enough to justify the dissonant behavior. So, $1 participants instead
changed their attitudes about the task
- Festinger and Carlsmith (1959)
self-perception theory - CORRECT ANSWER - The theory that when our attitudes and
feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these states by observing our behavior and the
situation in which it occurs; Daryl Bem
overjustification effect - CORRECT ANSWER - the effect of bribing people to do what
they already like doing; they may then see their actions as externally controlled rather than
intrinsically appealing
Model of persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - model described by an attitude change as a
process of communicating a message with the intent to persuade someone; Carl Hovland
communicator, communication, and situation - CORRECT ANSWER - Hovland's model
of persuasion components
sleeper effect - CORRECT ANSWER - effect where persuasive communication from a
source of low credibility may become more acceptable later while communication from high
credibility source may decrease; source credibility study on era controversial topics (one written
by an American physicist & another by a Russian newspaper)
,Russain newspaper persuaded 0%, American physicist persuaded 36%; Hovland & Weiss (1951)
two sided messages - CORRECT ANSWER - arguments for and against a position; often
used for persuasion since such seems to be "balanced" communication. (News reporting)
Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - model that suggests
2 routes of persuasion; central & peripheral; Petty & Cacioppo
central route persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - persuasion that occurs when interested
people focus on the arguments and respond with favorable thoughts
peripheral route persuasion - CORRECT ANSWER - persuasion that occurs when non-
interested people do not clearly understand an argument and can be influenced by incidental
cues, such as a speaker's attractiveness
analogy of inoculation, belief perseverance, and reactance - CORRECT ANSWER -3
ways to resist persuasion
Analogy of inoculation - CORRECT ANSWER - analogy where people can resist
persuasive communications as seen in physical inoculation (flu shot); William McGuire
cultural truisms & refuted counterarguments - CORRECT ANSWER - 2 ways to rest the
analogy of inoculation
cultural truisms - CORRECT ANSWER - beliefs that are seldom questioned, but rarely
attacked even though they are vulnerable to attack.
refuted counterarguments - CORRECT ANSWER - when a person is first presenting
arguments against the truisms and then refuting them; motivates people to practice defending
beliefs.
, belief perseverance phenomenon - CORRECT ANSWER - phenomenon where there's a
tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them
reactance effect - CORRECT ANSWER - effect that occurs if we try hard to persuade
someone, they may believe the opposite.
social comparison theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory that we seek to evaluate our
abilities and beliefs by comparing them with those of others;
people prefer to evaluate themselves objectively, and then in comparison to others
less similarities in opinions = less of a tendency to make comparisons
discrepancy existing = change in opinions to be a part of the group
Leon Festinger
Stanley Schachter - CORRECT ANSWER - person who stated greater anxiety = greater
need to affiliate
Reciprocity Hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER - Hypothesis where we tend to like people
who indicate that they like us, dislike those who indicate they don't like us
Gain-Loss Principle - CORRECT ANSWER - principle where an evaluation that changes
will have more of an impact than an evaluation that remains constant; increased interest shown,
we show increased interest; Arison & Linder
social exchange theory - CORRECT ANSWER - theory where a person weighs rewards &
costs of interactions, increased rewards = decreased cost = increased interest
