Social Psychology: Definition and History | Graduate Education

Question 1

The birthplace of social psychology is widely considered to be:

Accepted Answer

Leipzig, Germany

Answer

London, England

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New York, United States

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Paris, France

Question 2

Wilhelm Wundt is often referred to as the 'father of social psychology' because he:

Accepted Answer

Established the first laboratory dedicated to the experimental study of social phenomena

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Developed the concept of social identity

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Conducted pioneering research on unconscious mental processes

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Proposed the theory of social exchange

Question 3

Social facilitation refers to the phenomenon where:

Accepted Answer

Performance on simple tasks improves in the presence of others

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People are more likely to conform to group norms

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Performance on complex tasks deteriorates in the presence of others

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Individuals experience increased stress in social situations

Question 4

Obedience refers to the tendency to:

Accepted Answer

Follow the instructions of an authority figure, even if they conflict with personal beliefs

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Experience psychological discomfort when beliefs and behaviors are inconsistent

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Attribute behavior to internal factors

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Change one's behavior to match group expectations

Question 5

Which of the following is a key tenet of social identity theory?

Accepted Answer

Individuals derive a sense of self from their membership in social groups

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People are motivated to maintain a positive self-image

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Interpersonal attraction is based on physical attractiveness

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Prejudice is caused by competition for resources

Question 6

Social psychology is most closely aligned with which of the following disciplines?

Accepted Answer

Sociology

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Computer science

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Biology

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Economics

Question 7

What is the primary goal of social psychology?

Accepted Answer

To understand and explain how social factors influence human behavior and mental processes.

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To study the biological basis of human behavior.

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To provide therapeutic interventions for psychological disorders.

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To promote social justice and equality.

Question 8

Which of the following is a key subfield within social psychology?

Accepted Answer

Social cognition

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Clinical psychology

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Developmental psychology

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Educational psychology

Question 9

Which famous social psychological experiment demonstrated the power of authority to influence behavior?

Accepted Answer

Milgram's obedience study

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Bandura's Bobo doll experiment

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Festinger's cognitive dissonance experiment

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Asch's conformity experiment

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a social psychological phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Social loafing

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Depression

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Anxiety

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Phobia

Question 11

Who is credited with founding experimental social psychology?

Accepted Answer

Kurt Lewin

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William James

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Gordon Allport

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Wilhelm Wundt

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a major subfield of social psychology?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive Psychology

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Social Development

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Social Cognition

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Social Influence

Question 13

The tendency to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of others is known as:

Accepted Answer

Conformity

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Social facilitation

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Attitude change

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Obedience

Question 14

Social psychology is primarily concerned with:

Accepted Answer

The social context of human behavior

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The individual's cognitive processes

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The biological basis of behavior

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the primary focus of social psychology?

Accepted Answer

The scientific study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others.

Answer

The study of social structures and institutions.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a key concept typically explored in social psychology?

Accepted Answer

Economic decision-making.

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Aggression.

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Prejudice.

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Conformity.

Question 17

The 'sociocultural perspective' in social psychology emphasizes:

Accepted Answer

The impact of social norms, cultural values, and social groups on individual behavior.

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The biological basis of social behavior.

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The role of unconscious processes in shaping behavior.

Question 18

The 'social cognition perspective' in social psychology focuses on:

Accepted Answer

How people process, store, and use information about themselves and others in social situations.

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The role of emotions in shaping social interactions.

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The evolutionary origins of social behavior.

Question 19

The 'social learning perspective' in social psychology highlights the importance of:

Accepted Answer

Observational learning and reinforcement in shaping social behavior.

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The impact of unconscious drives on social interactions.

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The role of innate biological factors in social behavior.

Question 20

Which of the following figures is considered a pioneer of social psychology, known for his work on conformity?

Accepted Answer

Solomon Asch.

Answer

Philip Zimbardo.

Answer

Stanley Milgram.

Answer

Leon Festinger.

Question 21

The 'obedience to authority' experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram aimed to study:

Accepted Answer

The extent to which individuals would obey orders from an authority figure, even if they were morally questionable.

Answer

The factors influencing conformity to group norms.

Question 22

The Stanford Prison Experiment, led by Philip Zimbardo, demonstrated:

Accepted Answer

The powerful influence of social roles and situational factors on individual behavior.

Answer

The effectiveness of punishment in deterring crime.

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The innate aggression of human beings.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good social psychology research question?

Accepted Answer

It is based solely on personal opinion or belief.

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It is testable and falsifiable.

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It is relevant to existing theories and research.

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It has the potential to contribute to our understanding of social behavior.

Question 24

Which of the following research methods is commonly used in social psychology to study the relationship between variables?

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies.

Answer

Case studies.

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Anecdotal evidence.

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Introspection.

Question 25

Which of the following best defines social psychology?

Accepted Answer

The scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of others.

Answer

The study of how individuals interact with each other in social groups.

Question 26

The early roots of social psychology can be traced back to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Philosophical inquiries into human nature and social interaction.

Answer

The development of the first experimental laboratories in the late 19th century.

Answer

The emergence of the behaviorist movement in the early 20th century.

Question 27

The first social psychology textbook, published in 1908, was authored by:

Accepted Answer

William McDougall

Answer

Kurt Lewin

Answer

Gordon Allport

Answer

Floyd Allport

Question 28

Which of the following events significantly influenced the development of social psychology in the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

World War II

Answer

The Civil Rights Movement

Answer

The Vietnam War

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The Cold War

Question 29

The idea that people's behavior is influenced by their social environment is known as:

Accepted Answer

Social influence

Answer

Social interaction

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Social cognition

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Social perception

Question 30

A researcher studying how people conform to group pressure is likely to be interested in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Social norms

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Social comparison

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Social attribution

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Social identity

Question 31

Which of the following research methodologies is commonly used in social psychology?

Accepted Answer

Experimental methods

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Case studies

Answer

Phenomenological studies

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Ethnographic research

Question 32

The idea that people tend to explain their own behavior by focusing on internal factors (e.g., personality traits) while attributing others' behavior to external factors (e.g., situational influences) is known as:

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error

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The self-serving bias

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The actor-observer bias

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The halo effect

Question 33

The study of how people perceive, interpret, and remember social information is known as:

Accepted Answer

Social cognition

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Social development

Answer

Social influence

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Social interaction

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a major area of research within social psychology?

Accepted Answer

Animal behavior

Answer

Prosocial behavior and aggression

Answer

Intergroup relations

Answer

Attitudes and persuasion