Social Cognition: Master the Art of Understanding Others

Question 1

According to Heider's Attribution Theory, when people observe desirable outcomes, they tend to attribute the behavior to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Internal, stable causes

Answer

External, unstable causes

Answer

Internal, unstable causes

Answer

External, stable causes

Question 2

According to Self-Verification Theory, individuals are motivated to:

Accepted Answer

Maintain their existing self-concept

Answer

Change their self-concept to be more positive

Answer

Seek out information that contradicts their self-concept

Answer

Avoid situations that challenge their self-concept

Question 3

The primary focus of research on social comparison is:

Accepted Answer

How individuals evaluate themselves in relation to others

Answer

How individuals form close relationships

Answer

How individuals influence each other's behavior

Answer

How individuals process information about others

Question 4

Which of the following is a primary function of defense mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the self against negative information about oneself

Answer

Promoting self-growth and development

Answer

Facilitating positive relationships with others

Answer

Improving problem-solving skills

Question 5

Theory of Mind refers to the ability to:

Accepted Answer

Understand and adopt the perspectives of others

Answer

Empathize with the feelings of others

Answer

Control one's own emotions

Answer

Interpret social cues accurately

Question 6

What is the process by which we automatically activate stereotypes and apply them to individuals?

Accepted Answer

Implicit stereotyping

Answer

Explicit stereotyping

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Social priming

Question 7

What is the term for the tendency to see faces in random patterns?

Accepted Answer

Pareidolia

Answer

Prosopagnosia

Answer

Synesthesia

Answer

Gestalt perception

Question 8

What is the term for the tendency to make judgments about others based on their facial expressions?

Accepted Answer

Emotional decoding

Answer

Nonverbal communication

Answer

Face perception

Answer

Implicit stereotyping

Question 9

A fundamental principle in social cognition is that:

Accepted Answer

Individuals construct their own social reality.

Answer

Social interactions are always rational and logical.

Answer

Our perceptions of others are completely objective and unbiased.

Answer

Cognition is not influenced by social factors.

Question 10

The process of forming impressions of others based on their appearance is called:

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Priming

Answer

Attribution

Answer

Heuristics

Question 11

Which theory proposes that we attribute others' behavior to either internal or external factors?

Accepted Answer

Covariation theory

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Actor-observer bias

Question 12

The tendency to attribute our own behaviors to external factors while attributing others' behaviors to internal factors is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Actor-observer bias

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Question 13

The process of changing our attitudes and beliefs to match those of our peers is known as:

Accepted Answer

Conformity

Answer

Compliance

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Groupthink

Question 14

Which social psychology experiment demonstrated the power of obedience to authority?

Accepted Answer

Milgram Shock Experiment

Answer

Stanford Prison Experiment

Answer

Asch Conformity Experiment

Answer

Zimbardo Prison Experiment

Question 15

The tendency to categorize the world into simple groups and exaggerate differences between them is:

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Selective perception

Answer

Attribution error

Answer

Groupthink

Question 16

According to the fundamental attribution error, people tend to:

Accepted Answer

Overestimate the role of personality traits in others' behavior

Answer

Overestimate the role of situational factors in others' behavior

Answer

Underestimate the role of personality traits in their own behavior

Answer

Underestimate the role of situational factors in their own behavior

Question 17

Which theory suggests that people form impressions of others through a process of gradual accumulation of information?

Accepted Answer

Impression formation theory

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Attribution theory

Answer

Elaboration likelihood model

Question 18

Which heuristic involves estimating the probability of an event based on the ease with which instances of that event are recalled?

Accepted Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Representativeness heuristic

Answer

Anchoring heuristic

Answer

Framing effect

Question 19

The process of automatically activating and applying stereotypes in social situations is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Stereotype priming

Answer

Stereotype threat

Answer

Stereotype activation

Answer

Stereotype suppression

Question 20

Which perspective in social cognition emphasizes the impact of culture and context on social behavior and cognition?

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural psychology

Answer

Cognitive psychology

Answer

Social psychology

Answer

Evolutionary psychology

Question 21

According to social identity theory, individuals' self-esteem is derived primarily from:

Accepted Answer

Their membership in social groups

Answer

Their personal accomplishments

Answer

Their physical appearance

Answer

Their social status

Question 22

Attribution theory predominantly focuses on:

Accepted Answer

How individuals interpret the actions of others

Answer

How individuals interpret their own behavior

Answer

How individuals perceive the characteristics of others

Answer

How individuals engage in effective communication

Question 23

According to social identity theory, what serves as a basis for our self-concept?

Accepted Answer

The social groups to which we belong

Answer

Our unique personal qualities

Answer

Our past experiences and accomplishments

Answer

Our current emotional state

Question 24

The self-serving bias refers to the tendency for people to:

Accepted Answer

Attribute their successes to internal factors and their failures to external factors

Answer

Attribute their failures to internal factors and their successes to external factors

Answer

Attribute both successes and failures to external factors

Answer

Attribute both successes and failures to internal factors

Question 25

Which psychological theory postulates that we make swift judgments and decisions using mental shortcuts?

Accepted Answer

Heuristic Theory

Answer

Social Identity Theory

Answer

Schema Theory

Answer

Attribution Theory

Question 26

What is the process by which we assign the behavior of others to either internal or external causes?

Accepted Answer

Attribution

Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Impression Formation

Answer

Priming

Question 27

According to cognitive dissonance theory, individuals are driven to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce the inconsistency between their beliefs and actions, seeking cognitive harmony.

Answer

Maintain consistency between their beliefs and actions, avoiding cognitive dissonance.

Answer

Embrace cognitive dissonance as a source of personal growth and self-awareness.

Answer

Ignore any inconsistencies between their beliefs and actions, preserving their cognitive equilibrium.

Question 28

Which of the following is not an essential element of the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Accepted Answer

External validation of the belief from others, reinforcing its perceived accuracy.

Answer

An initial belief or expectation about a person or situation.

Answer

Behavior influenced by the initial belief.

Answer

Confirmation of the initial belief, leading to a cycle of self-reinforcement.

Question 29

What is the primary function of schemas in the context of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

To simplify and categorize information about others, aiding in perception and understanding.

Answer

To create rigid stereotypes and biases about others, leading to inaccurate judgments.

Answer

To prevent us from fully comprehending and empathizing with others' experiences and perspectives.

Answer

To make social interactions more challenging and less efficient due to over-reliance on preconceived notions.

Question 30

Implicit attitudes are characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Being unconscious, automatic, and difficult to control or change.

Answer

Being fully conscious, intentional, and easily modifiable.

Answer

Having little to no influence on behavior or social interactions.

Answer

Developing solely through explicit learning and direct exposure to information.

Question 31

Attributional theory primarily aims to:

Accepted Answer

Explain how people make inferences about the causes of behavior, both their own and others'.

Answer

Predict how individuals will behave in various situations based on their attributions.

Answer

Describe the range of cognitive biases that influence social perception and judgment.

Answer

Identify the biological and genetic factors that contribute to the formation of attributions.

Question 32

One potential consequence of social conformity includes:

Accepted Answer

Loss of individual identity and diminished creativity due to pressure to conform to group norms.

Answer

Enhanced accuracy in decision-making, as individuals benefit from the collective wisdom of the group.

Answer

Increased feelings of self-esteem and confidence, resulting from alignment with the group.

Answer

Improved relationships with others, as conformity fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance.

Question 33

The primary function of social identity theory is to:

Accepted Answer

Explain how individuals construct their self-concept and identity based on their membership in social groups.

Answer

Predict how people will behave in different social contexts, depending on their social identities.

Answer

Describe the psychological processes underlying prejudice, discrimination, and intergroup conflict.

Answer

Identify the cultural and societal factors that shape social identity and its impact on behavior.

Question 34

Which of the following is not considered a key factor contributing to social influence?

Accepted Answer

Intelligence, which is directly correlated with social influence and effectiveness.

Answer

Power, which can compel individuals to comply with requests or demands.

Answer

Status, which gives individuals social authority and the ability to persuade others.

Answer

Attractiveness, which can enhance the impact of persuasive messages and increase compliance.

Question 35

The primary goal of social cognition research is to:

Accepted Answer

Understand the complex processes involved in how people perceive, interact, and influence others.

Answer

Predict and control human behavior for social engineering purposes or manipulation.

Answer

Categorize and label individuals based on their social characteristics and group affiliations.

Answer

Promote social harmony and reduce conflict within society by fostering understanding and empathy.

Question 36

Clearly define the process by which we categorize and interpret social information based on our existing beliefs and expectations.

Accepted Answer

Social perception

Answer

Social attribution

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 37

Identify the tendency to attribute others' behaviors to internal factors such as their personality traits.

Accepted Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Actor-observer effect

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Question 38

Describe the theory that suggests humans process social information in a two-step process beginning with automatic, unconscious reactions.

Accepted Answer

Dual-process theory

Answer

Information-processing model

Answer

Social comparison theory

Answer

Social exchange theory

Question 39

Name the tendency to evaluate ourselves in relation to others' achievements.

Accepted Answer

Social comparison

Answer

Social loafing

Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Social influence

Question 40

Identify the theory that explains how our membership in groups affects our behavior.

Accepted Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Social role theory

Answer

Social norms theory

Answer

Theory of planned behavior

Question 41

Which cognitive bias leads us to overestimate the prevalence of our own beliefs and views?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Representativeness heuristic

Answer

Illusion of control

Question 42

Define the process of altering our behavior to adhere to group norms.

Accepted Answer

Conformity

Answer

Norms

Answer

Socialization

Answer

Obedience

Question 43

Identify the tendency to decrease effort when working as part of a group.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing

Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Groupthink

Answer

Bystander effect

Question 44

According to social cognitive theory, which factor is crucial in shaping our beliefs and behaviors through exposure and observation of others' actions, outcomes, and reactions?

Accepted Answer

Observation

Answer

Culture

Answer

Reward

Answer

Instinct

Question 45

Which cognitive bias is characterized by our tendency to believe that specific events are more probable than they actually are due to their high visibility in our memories?

Accepted Answer

Availability bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Actor-observer bias

Answer

Self-serving bias

Question 46

In the context of social perception, what is the process of attributing internal traits to others based on their observable actions called?

Accepted Answer

Attribution

Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Priming

Answer

Labeling

Question 47

Which social psychological phenomenon refers to the tendency for individuals in groups to conform to established norms, even if they privately disagree with them?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink

Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Social loafing

Answer

Social influence

Question 48

According to self-perception theory, how do we develop attitudes and beliefs about ourselves?

Accepted Answer

By observing our own behavior and drawing conclusions

Answer

By inferring them from our emotions

Answer

By constantly comparing ourselves to others

Answer

By accepting societal norms

Question 49

Which research method, commonly used in social cognition, allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating specific variables?

Accepted Answer

Experiment

Answer

Survey

Answer

Correlation

Answer

Observation

Question 50

In the context of interpersonal relationships, what is the process of developing a close emotional bond with another person called?

Accepted Answer

Attachment

Answer

Liking

Answer

Trust

Answer

Rapport

Question 51

Which social cognitive theory emphasizes the influence of mental structures, known as schemas, in organizing and interpreting social information?

Accepted Answer

Schema theory

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Social exchange theory

Answer

Social constructivism

Question 52

In the context of social interaction, what is the tendency for individuals to interact with others who share similar beliefs and attitudes called?

Accepted Answer

Social homophily

Answer

Social attraction

Answer

Social comparison

Answer

Social support

Question 53

Which theory proposes that individuals strive to maintain a stable and positive self-concept?

Accepted Answer

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Answer

Attribution Theory

Answer

Social Identity Theory

Answer

Impression Management Theory

Question 54

Which bias refers to the tendency to attribute one's own positive behaviors to internal factors and negative behaviors to external factors?

Accepted Answer

Self-Serving Bias

Answer

Fundamental Attribution Error

Answer

Actor-Observer Bias

Answer

Confirmation Bias

Question 55

Which principle suggests that interpersonal attraction is influenced by the similarity in attitudes and beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Similarity-Attraction Hypothesis

Answer

Proximity Principle

Answer

Reciprocity Norm

Answer

Social Exchange Theory

Question 56

Which is a persuasion technique that relies on fear to motivate individuals to change behavior?

Accepted Answer

Fear Appeal

Answer

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Answer

Elaboration Likelihood Model

Answer

Central Route Processing

Question 57

According to the Elaboration Likelihood Model, which processing route involves careful consideration and evaluation of information?

Accepted Answer

Central Route Processing

Answer

Peripheral Route Processing

Answer

Heuristic Processing

Answer

Cognitive Dissonance Processing