Social Psychology and the Law: Quizzes and Practice Questions

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences jury decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Juror race

Answer

Attorney charisma

Answer

Witness credibility

Answer

Extraneous information

Question 2

Which of the following can increase the likelihood of jurors reaching a hasty verdict?

Accepted Answer

Using emotional appeals in closing arguments

Answer

Unanimous jury instructions

Answer

Voir dire to screen out biased jurors

Answer

Presenting expert testimony that supports the prosecution's case

Question 3

The tendency for people to overestimate the similarity between themselves and others is known as:

Accepted Answer

False consensus effect

Answer

Social comparison theory

Answer

Projection bias

Answer

In-group favoritism

Question 4

Eyewitness testimony can be affected by post-event information. This is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Misinformation effect

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Leading questions bias

Answer

Memory construction bias

Question 5

Which ethical principle requires researchers to obtain participants' voluntary agreement to participate in a study?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent

Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Debriefing

Answer

Anonymity

Question 6

In the study of social influence, 'social norms' refer to:

Accepted Answer

Unwritten rules and expectations governing behavior within a group

Answer

Personal beliefs about what is right and wrong

Answer

Formal laws and regulations

Answer

Cultural values and traditions

Question 7

In the Asch conformity experiments, the purpose of the confederates was to:

Accepted Answer

Provide a source of social pressure to influence participants' responses

Answer

Offer emotional support to participants

Answer

Measure participants' self-confidence

Answer

Distract participants from the main task

Question 8

The distinction between 'prejudice' and 'discrimination' lies in:

Accepted Answer

Prejudice is an attitude, while discrimination is a behavior

Answer

Discrimination is always more severe than prejudice

Answer

Prejudice is inherently negative, while discrimination can sometimes be positive

Answer

There is no meaningful distinction between prejudice and discrimination

Question 9

In the context of legal decision-making, what is the phenomenon known as the 'fundamental attribution error'?

Accepted Answer

The tendency to attribute the behavior of others to internal factors, while disregarding situational influences

Answer

The tendency to underestimate the role of situational factors in shaping behavior

Answer

The tendency to overestimate the role of internal factors in shaping behavior

Answer

The tendency to attribute our own behavior to external factors, while attributing the behavior of others to internal factors

Question 10

Which of the following social psychological theories best explains the phenomenon of obedience to authority?

Accepted Answer

Agentic state theory

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Elaboration likelihood model

Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Question 11

Which of the following is a fundamental principle of social psychology as applied to legal settings?

Accepted Answer

Social biases can influence jury decision-making.

Answer

Witness testimony is inherently reliable.

Answer

Legal processes are unaffected by social psychological factors.

Answer

Social influence plays no role in shaping legal outcomes.

Question 12

The concept of 'representation heuristics' in law suggests that people:

Accepted Answer

Make judgments based on how typical or representative an event seems.

Answer

Rely solely on personal experience to make legal decisions.

Answer

Give excessive weight to emotionally charged information.

Answer

Ignore statistical data when making legal arguments.

Question 13

Which of the following is a common social psychological explanation for jury nullification?

Accepted Answer

Jurors' belief that the law is unjust or unfair.

Answer

Jurors' desire to adhere to the judge's instructions.

Answer

Jurors' fear of negative consequences.

Answer

Jurors' respect for the authority of the legal system.

Question 14

The 'Bystander Effect' is most likely to occur when:

Accepted Answer

The victim is a stranger and there are many other people present.

Answer

There is imminent danger and few other people are present.

Answer

The victim is a friend or family member and there are few other people present.

Answer

There is no clear and present danger.

Question 15

The 'CSI Effect' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The unrealistic expectation that forensic evidence is always conclusive.

Answer

The increased use of forensic evidence in criminal investigations.

Answer

The influence of television shows on public understanding of legal procedures.

Answer

The decreased reliance on witness testimony in criminal trials.

Question 16

How do cultural factors and social norms affect the accuracy and content of eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Cultural norms and expectations can influence what individuals perceive and remember, shaping the content of their eyewitness accounts.

Answer

Cultural factors have no impact on eyewitness testimony, as individuals from different backgrounds perceive and recall events similarly.

Answer

Social pressures do not influence the accuracy or reliability of eyewitness testimony.

Answer

Eyewitness testimony is completely objective and unaffected by cultural or social factors.

Question 17

Which of the following social psychology principles is known to influence jury decision-making, especially in lengthy and complex trials?

Accepted Answer

Primacy effect: the tendency to give more weight to information presented early in a trial

Answer

Social loafing: the tendency to exert less effort when working in a group

Answer

Group polarization: the tendency for group discussions to lead to more extreme positions

Answer

Cognitive dissonance: the psychological discomfort that arises when beliefs and behaviors conflict

Question 18

The 'availability heuristic' is a cognitive shortcut that can influence our judgments and decision-making. How does the availability heuristic affect our perceptions?

Accepted Answer

It leads us to overestimate the likelihood of events that are easily recalled

Answer

It leads us to underestimate the likelihood of events that are difficult to recall

Answer

It helps us to make more accurate judgments about the likelihood of events

Answer

It makes us ignore information that is irrelevant to the judgment

Question 19

In social dilemmas, cooperation is essential. Which factor plays a key role in promoting cooperation?

Accepted Answer

Increased communication and interaction among individuals, fostering trust and understanding

Answer

Punishment for non-cooperative behavior, deterring individuals from acting selfishly

Answer

Anonymity of participants, reducing social pressure and allowing for more honest behavior

Answer

Low levels of trust among individuals, encouraging them to prioritize their own interests

Question 20

Who is recognized as a pioneer in forensic psychology, renowned for their research on the psychology of criminal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Hans Gross

Answer

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer

Carl Jung

Answer

Alfred Binet

Question 21

The 'hindsight bias' in eyewitness testimony refers to:

Accepted Answer

The tendency for people to overestimate the accuracy of their memory after the event

Answer

The tendency for people to forget relevant details over time

Answer

The tendency for people to recall more information when they are under stress

Answer

The tendency for people to confabulate memories to fill in gaps

Question 22

Research on social loafing suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Individuals are more likely to free ride on the efforts of others when working in a group

Answer

Individuals are more likely to exert effort when working in a group

Answer

Individuals are more likely to conform to group norms when working in a group

Answer

Individuals are more likely to experience performance anxiety when working in a group

Question 23

The 'fundamental attribution error' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal factors while attributing our own behavior to external factors

Answer

The tendency to underestimate the role of situational factors in influencing behavior

Answer

The tendency to overestimate the role of personal factors in influencing behavior

Answer

The tendency to attribute ambiguous behavior to negative intentions

Question 24

Which research design is most suitable for studying the effects of social psychology interventions in legal settings?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled trial

Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Naturalistic observation

Answer

Correlation study

Question 25

Which of the following is a legal application of social psychology research on obedience to authority?

Accepted Answer

Developing training programs to reduce excessive use of force by police

Answer

Designing jury instructions to minimize bias

Answer

Creating eyewitness identification procedures that are less susceptible to error

Answer

Developing policies to prevent workplace discrimination

Question 26

Which technique is ineffective in reducing bias in jury selection?

Accepted Answer

Prosecutorial peremptory challenge

Answer

Random jury selection

Answer

Stratified jury selection

Answer

Challenge for cause

Question 27

How does social loafing impact the efficiency of group work in legal settings?

Accepted Answer

It reduces the productivity of individual group members.

Answer

It enhances the quality of group decisions.

Answer

It improves communication among group members.

Answer

It has no significant effect on group work.

Question 28

Which ethical principle requires psychologists working in legal settings to maintain confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Objectivity

Answer

Competence

Answer

Beneficence

Question 29

Which social psychological principle is most likely to influence jury decision-making, particularly by swaying jurors to conform to the majority opinion?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink

Answer

Social norms

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Impression management

Question 30

Eyewitness testimony is often unreliable due to the influence of which cognitive bias, where individuals tend to interpret new information in a way that confirms their existing beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Leading questions

Answer

Implicit memory

Question 31

According to social identity theory, an individual's self-concept is primarily shaped by their:

Accepted Answer

Membership in various social groups

Answer

Unique personality traits

Answer

Personal life experiences

Answer

Cultural background and upbringing

Question 32

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is primarily designed to measure:

Accepted Answer

Implicit biases that may operate unconsciously

Answer

Explicit biases consciously held by individuals

Answer

Cognitive abilities such as problem-solving and memory

Answer

Personality traits like extroversion and introversion

Question 33

The social psychological principle known as _____ suggests that individuals are more likely to conform to group norms, especially when they perceive pressure to do so.

Accepted Answer

Normative social influence

Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Social loafing

Answer

Social comparison

Question 34

In the context of legal proceedings, what is the primary purpose of a 'voir dire'?

Accepted Answer

To select impartial and unbiased jurors for a trial.

Answer

To present evidence for determining guilt or innocence.

Answer

To negotiate plea agreements between the prosecution and defense.

Answer

To make rulings on motions and objections raised during a trial.

Question 35

Studies have demonstrated that the presence of a weapon during legal proceedings can lead to:

Accepted Answer

Both A and B.

Answer

Increased perception of the defendant's dangerousness.

Answer

Reduced empathy for the victim.

Answer

Faster decision-making by jurors.

Question 36

According to social identity theory, individuals tend to:

Accepted Answer

Exhibit both A and B.

Answer

Strongly identify with the groups to which they belong.

Answer

Favor members of their own group over individuals from other groups.

Answer

Hold prejudiced views towards members of out-groups.

Question 37

How can social psychological research contribute to the improvement of jury selection procedures?

Accepted Answer

Both A and B.

Answer

Identifying potential biases and stereotypes that may influence juror decisions.

Answer

Developing methods to assess the impartiality and fairness of potential jurors.

Answer

Determining the optimal number of jurors for a fair and effective trial.

Question 38

The concept of 'groupthink' refers to a phenomenon in which:

Accepted Answer

Individuals conform to group norms, even when they disagree

Answer

Individuals become more polarized in their views after group discussion

Answer

Individuals become more open to considering alternative viewpoints after group discussion

Answer

Individuals become more critical of their own views after group discussion

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT typically considered when examining jury decision-making from a social psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Answer

Heuristics and biases

Question 40

Which of the following research methods is most commonly used to study the impact of social psychology on the law?

Accepted Answer

Meta-analyses

Answer

Laboratory experiments

Answer

Field studies

Answer

Case studies

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT a potential ethical concern when conducting research in legal settings?

Accepted Answer

Using deceptive research methods without fully disclosing their nature to participants

Answer

Maintaining participant confidentiality

Answer

Obtaining informed consent

Answer

Protecting participants from psychological harm

Question 42

Which ethical concern is primarily associated with the use of psychological profiling in law enforcement?

Accepted Answer

Potential for bias and discrimination

Answer

Accuracy of profiling techniques

Answer

Cost-effectiveness of profiling

Answer

Informed consent of suspects

Question 43

Restorative justice emphasizes which key principle?

Accepted Answer

Involving victims and offenders in resolving the harm caused by the crime.

Answer

Punishing offenders to the maximum extent possible

Answer

Removing offenders from society

Question 44

What term describes the tendency for people to conform to the opinions of others, even when they privately disagree?

Accepted Answer

Social conformity

Answer

Groupthink

Answer

Social facilitation

Question 45

Increased access to information and evidence is a potential benefit of using social media in legal proceedings. What is another potential benefit?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced ability to locate witnesses and defendants

Answer

Reduced risk of witness intimidation

Answer

Guaranteed accuracy of evidence

Answer

Elimination of bias

Question 46

What is the primary purpose of administering a polygraph test?

Accepted Answer

To detect deception

Answer

To diagnose mental illness

Answer

To identify potential criminals

Answer

To assess personality traits

Question 47

When applying social psychological research to legal settings, which factor presents a significant challenge to the validity of the findings?

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity

Answer

Methodological rigor

Answer

Ethical considerations

Answer

Generalizability

Question 48

What is the term for the tendency to perceive a causal relationship between two events despite no actual connection?

Accepted Answer

Illusory correlation

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Self-serving bias