Social Psychology exam
questions and answers
2025\2026 update
Practice questions for this set
Terms in this set (70)
The scientific study of how we think
about, influence, and relate to one
Social Psychology another.
Attribution Theory The theory that we explain someone's
behavior by crediting either the
situation (external) or the person's
disposition (internal).
Fundamental Attribution The tendency for observers, when
Error analyzing another's behavior, to
underestimate the impact of the
situation and to overestimate the
impact of personal disposition.
Attitude Feelings, often influenced by our
beliefs, that predispose us to respond in
a particular way to objects, people, and
events.
(ABC)
Attitude change path in which
interested people focus on the
Central Route Persuasion arguments, facts and respond with
favorable thoughts.
, Peripheral Route Attitude change path in which people
Persuasion are influenced by incidental cues,
emotional responses such as a speaker's
attractiveness.
The tendency for people who have first
agreed to a small request to comply
Foot-in-the-Door later with a larger request.
Phenomenon
A set of expectations (norms) about a
social position, defining how those in
Role the position ought to behave.
Cognitive Dissonance The theory that we act to reduce the
Theory discomfort
(dissonance) we feel when two of our
thoughts (cognition) are inconsistent.
For example, when our awareness of
our attitudes and of our actions clash, we can reduce the
resulting discomfort by changing our attitudes.
Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to
coincide with a group standard.
Conformity
Influence (conforming) resulting from a
person's desire to gain approval or
Normative Social avoid disapproval.
Influence
questions and answers
2025\2026 update
Practice questions for this set
Terms in this set (70)
The scientific study of how we think
about, influence, and relate to one
Social Psychology another.
Attribution Theory The theory that we explain someone's
behavior by crediting either the
situation (external) or the person's
disposition (internal).
Fundamental Attribution The tendency for observers, when
Error analyzing another's behavior, to
underestimate the impact of the
situation and to overestimate the
impact of personal disposition.
Attitude Feelings, often influenced by our
beliefs, that predispose us to respond in
a particular way to objects, people, and
events.
(ABC)
Attitude change path in which
interested people focus on the
Central Route Persuasion arguments, facts and respond with
favorable thoughts.
, Peripheral Route Attitude change path in which people
Persuasion are influenced by incidental cues,
emotional responses such as a speaker's
attractiveness.
The tendency for people who have first
agreed to a small request to comply
Foot-in-the-Door later with a larger request.
Phenomenon
A set of expectations (norms) about a
social position, defining how those in
Role the position ought to behave.
Cognitive Dissonance The theory that we act to reduce the
Theory discomfort
(dissonance) we feel when two of our
thoughts (cognition) are inconsistent.
For example, when our awareness of
our attitudes and of our actions clash, we can reduce the
resulting discomfort by changing our attitudes.
Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to
coincide with a group standard.
Conformity
Influence (conforming) resulting from a
person's desire to gain approval or
Normative Social avoid disapproval.
Influence
