Test Bank Social Psychology 2026/2027 | Social Psychology Test Bank & Exam Prep |
Social Cognition, Social Perception, Attitudes, Persuasion, Conformity, Group
Processes, Interpersonal Relationships, Prejudice, Discrimination, Aggression,
Helping Behavior & Social Influence | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Explanations
Question 1: According to social identity theory, which of the following is the correct sequence
of processes through which individuals develop a sense of belonging to a group and act upon
that belonging?
A. Social comparison, social categorization, and positive distinctiveness
B. Social categorization, social identification, and social comparison
C. Social identification, social comparison, and positive distinctiveness
D. Social categorization, positive distinctiveness, and social comparison
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Social categorization, social identification, and social comparison
Rationale: Social identity theory posits that individuals first categorize themselves as members
of a group (social categorization). This leads to identifying with the group and adopting its
norms (social identification). To boost self-esteem, they then engage in social comparison,
favorably comparing their in-group to relevant out-groups to achieve positive distinctiveness.
The correct sequence is categorization, identification, and comparison.
Question 2: What is the term for the tendency of individuals to exert less effort when working
collectively on a task than when working individually?
A. Social loafing
B. Deindividuation
C. Groupthink
D. Social facilitation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Social loafing
Rationale: Social loafing is the phenomenon where individuals put in less effort in a group
setting than they would if working alone, often because their individual contribution is less
identifiable. Deindividuation is a loss of self-awareness in groups, groupthink is a flawed
decision-making process, and social facilitation is the enhancement of performance in the
presence of others.
Question 3: A researcher is studying how stereotypes can unconsciously influence a person's
behavior and judgments. This area of study is known as:
A. Implicit cognition
B. Explicit cognition
C. Attribution theory
D. Cognitive dissonance
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Implicit cognition
,Rationale: Implicit cognition refers to the unconscious, automatic aspects of social thought,
including stereotypes and attitudes that operate outside of conscious awareness and control.
Explicit cognition involves conscious and deliberate processes. Attribution theory deals with
how we explain causes of behavior, and cognitive dissonance is the discomfort from holding
conflicting cognitions.
Question 4: The conviction that we can perform the specific behaviors necessary to produce a
desired outcome is known as:
A. Self-esteem
B. Self-efficacy
C. Self-concept
D. Self-monitoring
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Self-efficacy
Rationale: Self-efficacy, a concept introduced by Albert Bandura, is an individual's belief in their
own capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. It is
distinct from self-esteem (general self-worth), self-concept (overall perception of self), and self-
monitoring (ability to regulate behavior based on social cues).
Question 5: In the context of attitude formation, which route to persuasion relies on the
attractiveness and credibility of the communicator, rather than the strength of the
argument?
A. Central route
B. Peripheral route
C. Direct route
D. Systematic route
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Peripheral route
Rationale: The Elaboration Likelihood Model posits two routes to persuasion. The peripheral
route involves superficial cues like the communicator's attractiveness or credibility, leading to
persuasion without deep thought. The central route involves careful consideration of the
argument's merits, which is the direct or systematic route.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the fundamental attribution error?
A. Overestimating the impact of situational factors when explaining others' behavior
B. Overestimating the impact of dispositional factors when explaining others' behavior
C. Underestimating the impact of dispositional factors when explaining our own behavior
D. Overestimating the impact of situational factors when explaining our own behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Overestimating the impact of dispositional factors when explaining
others' behavior
,Rationale: The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize personal
(dispositional) characteristics and underestimate situational influences when explaining the
behavior of others. The actor-observer bias, a related concept, involves the opposite tendency
for our own behavior.
Question 7: The phenomenon where people are less likely to help someone in need when
other people are also present is known as:
A. Pluralistic ignorance
B. Audience inhibition
C. Diffusion of responsibility
D. Ambiguity of the situation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Diffusion of responsibility
Rationale: Diffusion of responsibility is a key component of the bystander effect. It refers to the
reduction in the sense of personal responsibility to act when others are present, as individuals
assume someone else will or should help. Pluralistic ignorance, audience inhibition, and
situational ambiguity are other factors contributing to the bystander effect.
Question 8: According to Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, which of the
following is a primary method people use to reduce dissonance?
A. Increasing the importance of the consonant belief
B. Adding more consonant beliefs to outweigh the dissonant belief
C. Changing one of the dissonant cognitions or beliefs
D. Avoiding the source of the dissonant information
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Changing one of the dissonant cognitions or beliefs
Rationale: Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions. To reduce
this discomfort, individuals can change one of the conflicting beliefs, add new consonant
beliefs, or reduce the importance of the dissonant belief. Changing a cognition is a direct and
common method of resolution.
Question 9: A group of people is making a poor decision because members are so focused on
maintaining group harmony and consensus that they fail to critically evaluate alternative
viewpoints. This condition is called:
A. Group polarization
B. Risky shift
C. Groupthink
D. Normative social influence
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Groupthink
, Rationale: Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which the desire for harmony in a
group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Members suppress
dissenting opinions to maintain cohesion, leading to a failure to consider alternatives. Group
polarization is the tendency for groups to make more extreme decisions than individuals.
Question 10: What is the term for the initial belief that leads to behaviors that cause the
belief to come true, thereby confirming the original belief?
A. Self-fulfilling prophecy
B. Confirmation bias
C. Self-serving bias
D. Belief perseverance
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Self-fulfilling prophecy
Rationale: A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to
become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief
and behavior. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek information that confirms pre-existing
beliefs. Belief perseverance is the tendency to maintain a belief even after it has been
disconfirmed.
Question 11: An individual performs better on a simple, well-rehearsed task when they are in
the presence of an audience. This phenomenon is known as:
A. Social loafing
B. Social inhibition
C. Social facilitation
D. Deindividuation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Social facilitation
Rationale: Social facilitation is the tendency for people to perform better on simple or well-
learned tasks when in the presence of others. The presence of others increases arousal, which
enhances the dominant response. For complex or novel tasks, this can lead to social inhibition
(poorer performance).
Question 12: Which of the following is NOT a core component of Sternberg's Triangular
Theory of Love?
A. Passion
B. Intimacy
C. Commitment
D. Attachment
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Attachment
Social Cognition, Social Perception, Attitudes, Persuasion, Conformity, Group
Processes, Interpersonal Relationships, Prejudice, Discrimination, Aggression,
Helping Behavior & Social Influence | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Explanations
Question 1: According to social identity theory, which of the following is the correct sequence
of processes through which individuals develop a sense of belonging to a group and act upon
that belonging?
A. Social comparison, social categorization, and positive distinctiveness
B. Social categorization, social identification, and social comparison
C. Social identification, social comparison, and positive distinctiveness
D. Social categorization, positive distinctiveness, and social comparison
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Social categorization, social identification, and social comparison
Rationale: Social identity theory posits that individuals first categorize themselves as members
of a group (social categorization). This leads to identifying with the group and adopting its
norms (social identification). To boost self-esteem, they then engage in social comparison,
favorably comparing their in-group to relevant out-groups to achieve positive distinctiveness.
The correct sequence is categorization, identification, and comparison.
Question 2: What is the term for the tendency of individuals to exert less effort when working
collectively on a task than when working individually?
A. Social loafing
B. Deindividuation
C. Groupthink
D. Social facilitation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Social loafing
Rationale: Social loafing is the phenomenon where individuals put in less effort in a group
setting than they would if working alone, often because their individual contribution is less
identifiable. Deindividuation is a loss of self-awareness in groups, groupthink is a flawed
decision-making process, and social facilitation is the enhancement of performance in the
presence of others.
Question 3: A researcher is studying how stereotypes can unconsciously influence a person's
behavior and judgments. This area of study is known as:
A. Implicit cognition
B. Explicit cognition
C. Attribution theory
D. Cognitive dissonance
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Implicit cognition
,Rationale: Implicit cognition refers to the unconscious, automatic aspects of social thought,
including stereotypes and attitudes that operate outside of conscious awareness and control.
Explicit cognition involves conscious and deliberate processes. Attribution theory deals with
how we explain causes of behavior, and cognitive dissonance is the discomfort from holding
conflicting cognitions.
Question 4: The conviction that we can perform the specific behaviors necessary to produce a
desired outcome is known as:
A. Self-esteem
B. Self-efficacy
C. Self-concept
D. Self-monitoring
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Self-efficacy
Rationale: Self-efficacy, a concept introduced by Albert Bandura, is an individual's belief in their
own capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. It is
distinct from self-esteem (general self-worth), self-concept (overall perception of self), and self-
monitoring (ability to regulate behavior based on social cues).
Question 5: In the context of attitude formation, which route to persuasion relies on the
attractiveness and credibility of the communicator, rather than the strength of the
argument?
A. Central route
B. Peripheral route
C. Direct route
D. Systematic route
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Peripheral route
Rationale: The Elaboration Likelihood Model posits two routes to persuasion. The peripheral
route involves superficial cues like the communicator's attractiveness or credibility, leading to
persuasion without deep thought. The central route involves careful consideration of the
argument's merits, which is the direct or systematic route.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the fundamental attribution error?
A. Overestimating the impact of situational factors when explaining others' behavior
B. Overestimating the impact of dispositional factors when explaining others' behavior
C. Underestimating the impact of dispositional factors when explaining our own behavior
D. Overestimating the impact of situational factors when explaining our own behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Overestimating the impact of dispositional factors when explaining
others' behavior
,Rationale: The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize personal
(dispositional) characteristics and underestimate situational influences when explaining the
behavior of others. The actor-observer bias, a related concept, involves the opposite tendency
for our own behavior.
Question 7: The phenomenon where people are less likely to help someone in need when
other people are also present is known as:
A. Pluralistic ignorance
B. Audience inhibition
C. Diffusion of responsibility
D. Ambiguity of the situation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Diffusion of responsibility
Rationale: Diffusion of responsibility is a key component of the bystander effect. It refers to the
reduction in the sense of personal responsibility to act when others are present, as individuals
assume someone else will or should help. Pluralistic ignorance, audience inhibition, and
situational ambiguity are other factors contributing to the bystander effect.
Question 8: According to Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, which of the
following is a primary method people use to reduce dissonance?
A. Increasing the importance of the consonant belief
B. Adding more consonant beliefs to outweigh the dissonant belief
C. Changing one of the dissonant cognitions or beliefs
D. Avoiding the source of the dissonant information
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Changing one of the dissonant cognitions or beliefs
Rationale: Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions. To reduce
this discomfort, individuals can change one of the conflicting beliefs, add new consonant
beliefs, or reduce the importance of the dissonant belief. Changing a cognition is a direct and
common method of resolution.
Question 9: A group of people is making a poor decision because members are so focused on
maintaining group harmony and consensus that they fail to critically evaluate alternative
viewpoints. This condition is called:
A. Group polarization
B. Risky shift
C. Groupthink
D. Normative social influence
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Groupthink
, Rationale: Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which the desire for harmony in a
group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Members suppress
dissenting opinions to maintain cohesion, leading to a failure to consider alternatives. Group
polarization is the tendency for groups to make more extreme decisions than individuals.
Question 10: What is the term for the initial belief that leads to behaviors that cause the
belief to come true, thereby confirming the original belief?
A. Self-fulfilling prophecy
B. Confirmation bias
C. Self-serving bias
D. Belief perseverance
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Self-fulfilling prophecy
Rationale: A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to
become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief
and behavior. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek information that confirms pre-existing
beliefs. Belief perseverance is the tendency to maintain a belief even after it has been
disconfirmed.
Question 11: An individual performs better on a simple, well-rehearsed task when they are in
the presence of an audience. This phenomenon is known as:
A. Social loafing
B. Social inhibition
C. Social facilitation
D. Deindividuation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Social facilitation
Rationale: Social facilitation is the tendency for people to perform better on simple or well-
learned tasks when in the presence of others. The presence of others increases arousal, which
enhances the dominant response. For complex or novel tasks, this can lead to social inhibition
(poorer performance).
Question 12: Which of the following is NOT a core component of Sternberg's Triangular
Theory of Love?
A. Passion
B. Intimacy
C. Commitment
D. Attachment
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Attachment
