Social Cognition: Attitudes, Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Social Influence

Question 1

Which of the following does NOT influence the formation of attitudes?

Accepted Answer

Biological factors

Answer

Personal experiences

Answer

Social and cultural norms

Answer

Personality traits

Question 2

Stereotypes can be defined as:

Accepted Answer

Overgeneralized beliefs about a group of people

Answer

Prejudiced attitudes towards a particular group

Answer

Automatic and unconscious biases

Answer

Cognitive shortcuts that simplify social interactions

Question 3

The Milgram experiment primarily demonstrated the power of:

Accepted Answer

Authority

Answer

Conformity

Answer

Social influence

Answer

Prejudice

Question 4

The contact hypothesis predicts that:

Accepted Answer

Prejudice decreases with increased contact between groups

Answer

Prejudice increases with increased contact between groups

Answer

Prejudice is unaffected by contact between groups

Answer

Contact only reduces prejudice if it is intergroup contact

Question 5

According to the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), persuasion is most effective when:

Accepted Answer

The audience is highly motivated to process the message

Answer

The message is simple and straightforward

Answer

The audience has strong prior attitudes

Answer

The communicator is an expert in the topic

Question 6

Which of these factors does NOT significantly influence the formation of attitudes?

Accepted Answer

Genetic predispositions

Answer

Personal experiences

Answer

Cultural norms

Answer

Media exposure

Question 7

Which aspect of social cognition is significantly shaped by cultural influences?

Accepted Answer

Formation of attitudes

Answer

Personality traits

Answer

Cognitive abilities

Answer

Physiological responses

Question 8

In social identity theory, which factor plays a crucial role in shaping an individual's self-concept?

Accepted Answer

Social comparison

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Heuristics

Answer

Attribution

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a cognitive bias that can influence our decision-making and judgment?

Accepted Answer

Logical reasoning

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Belief perseverance

Question 10

What is a potential negative outcome of prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Social inequality

Answer

Increased self-esteem

Answer

Improved decision-making

Answer

Enhanced creativity

Question 11

How do our emotions affect our perception and interpretation of social situations?

Accepted Answer

Emotions influence which aspects of a situation we focus on and notice.

Answer

Emotions have no impact on our social cognition.

Answer

Emotions only affect our behaviors, not our cognitive processes.

Answer

Emotions are always logical and rational.

Question 12

In social cognition research, which ethical principle is paramount?

Accepted Answer

Protecting participants' privacy and confidentiality

Answer

Prioritizing efficiency over scientific integrity

Answer

Ensuring positive outcomes for participants

Answer

Waiving informed consent

Question 13

To reduce the discomfort of cognitive dissonance, which action is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Alter beliefs to align with actions

Answer

Seek information that supports existing beliefs

Answer

Ignore or avoid conflicting information

Answer

Seek support from others with similar beliefs

Question 14

Who is credited with establishing social cognition as a separate field of study?

Accepted Answer

Fritz Heider

Answer

Carl Rogers

Answer

Solomon Asch

Answer

Kurt Lewin

Question 15

How do cultural factors shape the development and expression of social stereotypes?

Accepted Answer

Culture influences how people perceive and interpret social cues, leading to variations in stereotype formation and expression.

Answer

Culture has no influence on the development or expression of social stereotypes.

Answer

Culture only affects the expression of stereotypes, not their underlying formation.

Answer

Social stereotypes are universal and remain unaffected by cultural factors.

Question 16

According to the Elaboration Likelihood Model, which route to persuasion involves more thoughtful consideration and is likely to result in more enduring attitude change?

Accepted Answer

Central route

Answer

Subliminal route

Answer

Peripheral route

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to stereotype formation?

Accepted Answer

Accurate and unbiased information about the outgroup

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Social categorization

Answer

Outgroup homogeneity bias

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of social influence?

Accepted Answer

Changing one's behavior to match the behavior of others in a group

Answer

Making a decision independently of others

Answer

Following your own values and beliefs

Answer

Choosing a different movie than your friend

Question 19

What is the term for the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our own beliefs and opinions?

Accepted Answer

False consensus effect

Answer

Illusion of control

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Self-serving bias

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a component of an attitude?

Accepted Answer

Instinct

Answer

Behavioral tendencies

Answer

Beliefs

Answer

Feelings

Question 21

What is the name of the theory that proposes that people are motivated to reduce inconsistencies between their beliefs and behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Answer

Self-perception theory

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Attribution theory

Question 22

What is the name of the phenomenon where individuals tend to seek out and interpret information that supports their existing beliefs, while ignoring or discounting information that contradicts them?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Illusion of control

Answer

Hindsight bias

Question 23

Which of the following is a fundamental aspect of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

Making inferences and predictions about the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of others

Answer

Applying social psychology to real-world events

Answer

Memorizing social psychology theories

Question 24

Which of the following accurately describes the nature of unconscious bias?

Accepted Answer

Unconscious assumptions and judgments based on social categories

Answer

Intentional discrimination based on prejudice

Answer

Consciously held stereotypes

Question 25

What is the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

Tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal factors, while attributing own behavior to external factors

Answer

Tendency to overestimate the influence of genetics on behavior

Question 26

Select the best example of social influence:

Accepted Answer

Conforming to group norms

Answer

Adhering to traffic laws

Answer

Voting independently

Answer

Sharing similar interests as a friend group

Question 27

Explain the difference between explicit and implicit attitudes:

Accepted Answer

Explicit attitudes are consciously held and easily expressed, while implicit attitudes are unconscious and revealed through indirect measures

Answer

Explicit attitudes are positive and desirable, while implicit attitudes are negative and undesirable

Question 28

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Negative attitude towards a social group

Answer

Empathy towards a social group

Answer

Objective evaluation of a social group

Answer

Accurate perception of a social group

Question 29

What is the self-serving bias?

Accepted Answer

Tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors

Answer

Tendency to exaggerate personal accomplishments

Answer

Tendency to view oneself as superior to others

Question 30

Which of the following is a cognitive explanation for stereotyping?

Accepted Answer

Categorization

Answer

Social learning

Answer

Emotion

Answer

Motivation

Question 31

Which of the following is an effective strategy for confronting unconscious bias?

Accepted Answer

Education and training

Answer

Strict punishment

Answer

Subconscious messaging

Answer

Individual willpower alone

Question 32

Which of the following factors does NOT influence attitude formation?

Accepted Answer

Instinct

Answer

Media influence

Answer

Direct experience

Answer

Social learning

Question 33

Prejudice and discrimination are common consequences of:

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes

Answer

Heuristics

Answer

Schemas

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Question 34

The idea that our expectations can shape the behavior of others is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer

Attribution error

Answer

Cognitive distortion

Answer

Social facilitation

Question 35

Which of these is a fundamental principle of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

Individuals strive to comprehend their social environment

Answer

Social cognition is solely focused on individual thoughts

Answer

Social cognition operates independently of cultural influences

Answer

Social cognition is immune to biases and errors

Question 36

Cognitive shortcuts that can lead to inaccurate judgments are called:

Accepted Answer

Heuristics

Answer

Schemas

Answer

Prototypes

Answer

Algorithms

Question 37

Which of the following explains the tendency to perceive others as similar to ourselves?

Accepted Answer

Similarity-attraction hypothesis

Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Answer

Social comparison theory

Answer

Halo effect

Question 38

When individuals modify their beliefs and attitudes to align with those of a group, it is known as:

Accepted Answer

Conformity

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Compliance

Answer

Groupthink

Question 39

Which of the following best describes prosocial behavior?

Accepted Answer

Voluntary and intended to help others

Answer

Limited to interactions with close friends

Answer

Only observed in emergency situations

Answer

Always self-serving in nature

Question 40

Which of the following is a major component of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

Attitudes

Answer

Motor skills

Answer

Intelligence

Answer

Physiology

Question 41

The tendency to perceive and evaluate people based on preconceived notions is known as:

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Discrimination

Answer

Prejudice

Answer

Implicit bias

Question 42

Which of the following is an example of a positive attitude?

Accepted Answer

Liking a particular activity

Answer

Disgust towards insects

Answer

Fear of heights

Answer

Anger toward injustice

Question 43

The process by which our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are affected by others is known as:

Accepted Answer

Social influence

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Social learning

Answer

Conformity

Question 44

Which of the following is a technique used to combat prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Contact hypothesis

Answer

Attribution theory

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Question 45

The tendency to adjust our behavior to match group norms, even against our own beliefs, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Normative social influence

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Informational social influence

Answer

Social loafing

Question 46

Which of the following is a characteristic of implicit bias?

Accepted Answer

It operates unconsciously.

Answer

It is not influenced by social norms

Answer

It is easily changed

Answer

It is only directed toward minority groups

Question 47

The tendency to seek out and interpret information that supports our existing beliefs is known as:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Hindsight bias

Question 48

Which of the following is a factor that can contribute to prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Social categorization

Answer

Positive intergroup contact

Answer

Economic equality

Answer

Education

Question 49

The process by which we acquire the values, beliefs, and behaviors of our culture is known as:

Accepted Answer

Socialization

Answer

Moral development

Answer

Cognitive development

Answer

Language acquisition

Question 50

A person is more likely to help someone in need if they are in a good mood. This illustrates the influence of which factor on helping behavior?

Accepted Answer

Mood

Answer

Bystander Effect

Answer

Social Norms

Answer

Diffusion of Responsibility

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of stereotypes?

Accepted Answer

They are always accurate.

Answer

They can lead to prejudice.

Answer

They can be based on group membership.

Answer

They are oversimplified generalizations.

Question 52

The tendency for people to attribute their own failures to external factors, but attribute the failures of others to internal factors is called:

Accepted Answer

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer

Self-Serving Bias

Answer

Confirmation Bias

Answer

Actor-Observer Bias

Question 53

A group of students are asked to complete a task, but they are told that they are being individually assessed. Which social influence phenomenon is likely to occur in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Social Loafing

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Conformity

Answer

Groupthink

Question 54

You meet a new person and immediately form an opinion about them based on their appearance. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

First Impressions

Answer

Central Route Persuasion

Answer

Cognitive Dissonance

Answer

Social Comparison

Question 55

The process of changing our attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to align with the opinions or behaviors of others is called:

Accepted Answer

Conformity

Answer

Social Norms

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Compliance

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences persuasion?

Accepted Answer

The persuader's attractiveness

Answer

The audience's characteristics

Answer

The source of the message

Answer

The message itself

Question 57

The tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, while avoiding information that contradicts them, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation Bias

Answer

Availability Heuristic

Answer

Representativeness Heuristic

Answer

Hindsight Bias

Question 58

A student who performs well on an exam attributes their success to their hard work and intelligence. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Self-Serving Bias

Answer

Just-World Hypothesis

Answer

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer

Actor-Observer Bias

Question 59

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'attitude'?

Accepted Answer

An enduring evaluation of a person, object, or idea.

Answer

A temporary emotional state.

Answer

A learned behavior.