Exam 13: Behaviour in a Social Context

Self-perception theory appears to offer a better explanation of attitude change than dissonance theory when the counterattitudinal behaviour does not threaten a person's self-worth and when our attitudes are _________ to begin with.

Recent research on the "shooter bias" has demonstrated that ________.

Which of the following concepts specifically asserts that prejudicial attitudes create fear and self-consciousness among stereotyped group members and that they will confirm other people's negative attitudes?

During rush hour one afternoon, Tabitha sees a van on fire at the side of the road. Though normally she would drive on by assuming that someone else had already called for help, she learned in her psychology class that people often walk or drive past emergencies, due to __________. When she calls 911, she is nonetheless shocked to learn that nobody else has called in the fire.

What is the difference between group polarization and groupthink? For group polarization, discuss two processes that may explain its occurrence. For groupthink, discuss some of its symptoms and several factors that make it more likely to occur.

Gerri's boyfriend wants her to type his term paper for him, so he first asks her to type the cover page. After she does this, he then asks her to type the whole paper. Gerri appears to be a potential victim of

The assumption that life is fair and that people get what they deserve and also deserve what they get is the ___________.

A man shows little or no reaction when other individuals provoke him. This continues for many years until finally one evening, he almost kills his neighbour after she unlocks the door to her apartment "too loudly." According to Megargee, this man would be said to have overcontrolled hostility and provides evidence most consistent with the __________ model of aggression.

Discuss three broad conditions under which attitudes best predict behaviour.

While Allyson is considering her options in a computer store, a sales representative finishes helping a male client and asks if he can help her. When she says her router is not working, he asks her very basic questions that he never bothered to ask the male customer. Before the conversation is over, it is clear that Allyson knows far more about routers than the sales representative. The representative's behaviour suggests that he has a generalized belief

When people are persuaded by an argument because they have thought carefully about it and find it compelling, the _______________ occurs.

The principal has just told Mrs. Snyder, a kindergarten teacher, that a new little girl will be joining her kindergarten class. The little girl is African-American and Mrs. Snyder believes that African-American children are not as bright as European-American children. Consequently, when speaking to the little girl, Mrs. Snyder speaks slower and tends not to explain answers to the little girls questions in as much detail as she does to other children. In fact, the little girl is very bright but in responding to Mrs. Snyder in the way Mrs. Snyder expects, the little girl's grades begin to slip downward. The little girl appears to have entered into a __________________.

The matching effect refers to people's tendency to prefer romantic partners whose major personality traits are similar to their own.

Sally is walking down the street when she comes upon a man who appears to be having a seizure. Approximately 15 other people stop as well and all appear genuinely concerned about the man's health and well-being. However, nobody calls for help because, like Sally, they all assume that someone else has already made a call to the paramedics. In this instance, the lack of help appears to be the product of

What methodology did Richard LaPiere use to investigate the relation between attitudes and behaviour and what results did he obtain? List and discuss the conditions under which attitudes are good predictors of behaviour.

What is social facilitation and how does it work? Describe two hypothetical situations, one in which the presence of others would increase your performance and another where the presence of others would decrease your performance.

Imagine that someone asks you for a large favour and you refuse. Then, they ask you for a smaller favour. What technique might they be using?

All of the following were mentioned as factors that increase the influence of a minority opinion EXCEPT

Identify cognitive processes that foster prejudice.

Shawn saw a woman slip on the ice and fall to the ground. He felt quite distressed and after helping her, he felt a lot better. Shawn's altruism could be explained by