- According to Erving Goffman's dramaturgical approach, an individual's 'back stage' self is characterized by:
Answer: spontaneous and private behavior where the individual can relax and drop their public persona.
In Goffman's dramaturgical analysis, the 'back stage' is where an individual is free from the expectations and scrutiny of their 'audience' and can therefore drop their 'front stage' performance. It is a private region where they can be their authentic self, relax, and prepare for future public performances. Options A, B, and D all describe aspects of the 'front stage' self.
- The feeling of 'us' that defines an in-group is typically strengthened most by:
Answer: the presence of a perceived out-group.
According to social identity theory, a key part of defining who 'we' are is defining who 'we' are not. The existence of an out-group provides a basis for social comparison, which can enhance in-group cohesion, identity, and favoritism. The perception of an external threat or competitor often serves to unify an in-group.
- An employee works hard to impress her boss by staying late, agreeing with all of the boss's opinions, and offering compliments frequently. This form of impression management is best categorized as:
Answer: ingratiation.
Ingratiation is an impression management strategy that uses flattery or conformity to win favor from someone else. The employee's actions—agreeing with opinions, giving compliments, and demonstrating commitment by staying late—are all attempts to make herself more likable to her boss.
- The shift in the board's attitude as described in the passage is best explained by:
Answer: group polarization.
Group polarization is the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their members. The discussion reinforced the initially dominant viewpoint (support for the project), causing the group's collective attitude to shift to a more extreme position. The members' initial moderate support became unanimous, enthusiastic support.
- Which of the following is a key distinction between a primary group and a secondary group?
Answer: Primary groups consist of direct, intimate relationships, while secondary groups are more impersonal and temporary.
The core distinction lies in the nature of the relationships. Primary groups (e.g., family, close friends) are characterized by close, personal, enduring relationships (expressive ties). Secondary groups (e.g., a sociology class, a workplace) are larger, more impersonal, and often temporary, formed to achieve a specific goal (instrumental ties).
- Which of the following social groups is most likely to be classified as a secondary group?
Answer: The members of a large introductory psychology lecture course.
Secondary groups are characterized by being large, impersonal, and goal-oriented, with relationships that are often temporary. A large lecture course fits this description perfectly; students are there for a specific purpose (to pass the class) and relationships are typically formal and transient. The other options describe primary groups, which are small, intimate, and long-lasting.
- A researcher uses the minimal group paradigm to study intergroup relations. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups based on a trivial criterion, such as their preference for a particular painter. The most likely outcome of this experiment is that participants will:
Answer: allocate more resources and positive ratings to members of their own group.
The minimal group paradigm, developed by Henri Tajfel, demonstrates that in-group favoritism can be triggered by minimal, arbitrary, and meaningless distinctions between groups. Even when assigned to a group based on a coin toss, individuals tend to favor their in-group and allocate more rewards to its members compared to out-group members.
- A person who is typically quiet and reserved attends a large, energetic political rally. Caught up in the excitement of the crowd, they find themselves shouting slogans and chanting along with everyone else, behaviors they would never engage in alone. This change in behavior can be best attributed to:
Answer: deindividuation.
Deindividuation is a concept in social psychology that is generally thought of as the loss of self-awareness and personal responsibility in groups. The anonymity provided by the large crowd can lead individuals to engage in behaviors that are not typical for them, as their individual identity is submerged in the group identity.
- Out-group derogation is most likely to occur under which of the following conditions?
Answer: When the in-group's identity or status feels threatened by the out-group.
According to social identity theory, out-group derogation (negatively evaluating the out-group) is a strategy used to maintain a positive social identity and boost in-group self-esteem. This tendency is exacerbated when the in-group perceives a threat from the out-group, whether to its resources, values, or status. The threat enhances the need to see the in-group as superior.
- The concept of Gemeinschaft, as described by Ferdinand Tönnies, refers to a society in which social identity is most likely to be shaped by:
Answer: direct, personal, and intimate social ties with a shared sense of community.
Ferdinand Tönnies distinguished between two types of social groups. Gemeinschaft (community) is characterized by close-knit, personal relationships, strong family ties, and a shared collective identity, typical of rural or traditional societies. In contrast, Gesellschaft (society) is characterized by impersonal, instrumental relationships, as described in the distractors.
- A university residence hall assigns students to floors and encourages floor pride through banners and competitions. After a minor conflict, residents on one floor circulate a message describing the other floor as "always causing problems," citing a few incidents. Residents then avoid shared lounges when the other floor is present and interpret neutral behaviors (e.g., loud laughter) as disrespect. The residence hall culture emphasizes loyalty to one's floor and publicly compares floors' conduct records. Which outcome is most consistent with the described group dynamics?
Answer: Escalation of intergroup bias through selective recall and negative stereotyping of the out-group
This question evaluates outcomes of intergroup bias escalation. Social identity can escalate bias through selective recall and stereotyping, especially in competitive settings. Residents circulate negative messages and interpret behaviors disrespectfully, fueled by floor pride. Choice A is correct as it captures bias escalation via stereotyping. Choice B is incorrect because competition does not increase empathy here; it heightens conflict. For analogous dynamics, identify bias amplification cues like avoidance. Consider how comparisons reinforce negative out-group perceptions.
- According to social identity theory, which of the following processes is the first step in the formation of an individual's social identity?
Answer: Social categorization, where the individual sees themselves as belonging to a particular group.
Social identity theory posits a three-step process. The first step is social categorization, where an individual categorizes themselves and others into social groups (e.g., 'I am a student'). This is followed by social identification, where they adopt the identity of the group, and then social comparison, where they compare their group favorably to others to maintain self-esteem. Social mobility is a strategy for dealing with a low-status group identity, not an initial step in its formation.
- A job applicant, worried about their performance in an upcoming interview, tells the interviewer that they were up all night with a sick family member. Even if this is an exaggeration, it could be an impression management strategy known as:
Answer: self-handicapping.
Self-handicapping is a cognitive strategy by which people avoid effort in order to have an excuse ready should they perform poorly. By creating an external impediment (lack of sleep), the applicant provides a reason for potential failure that is not related to their actual ability, thus protecting their self-esteem and the interviewer's impression of their competence.
- A high school student who is not a member of the popular clique nevertheless begins to dress, speak, and act like them. The student hopes to be accepted into this group in the future. For this student, the popular clique serves as:
Answer: an aspirational reference group.
A reference group is a group that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behavior. An aspirational reference group is a group that an individual is not a part of but hopes to join. The student is using the popular clique as a standard and emulating their behavior with the goal of future membership.
- If the board's decision-making process was characterized by a desire for harmony that overrode a realistic appraisal of alternatives, leading to the overlooking of risks, this would be a symptom of:
Answer: groupthink.
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Key symptoms include ignoring alternatives, suppressing dissent, and an illusion of unanimity, which aligns with the board's behavior of overlooking risks to reach a consensus.
- A social network differs from a traditional social group in that a network is typically:
Answer: a web of social ties, including weaker and more diffuse connections, that links people who may not interact frequently.
While a social group involves a sense of unity and regular interaction, a social network is a broader concept that includes all the direct and indirect connections between individuals. Networks include not just the strong ties of primary groups but also the weak ties (e.g., acquaintances, friends of friends) that can be instrumental in providing new information or opportunities.
- A young doctor is struggling to balance the demands of her profession, which require long hours at the hospital, with her responsibilities as a new mother. This situation is a classic example of:
Answer: role conflict.
Role conflict occurs when there is a clash between the responsibilities and expectations associated with two or more different statuses held by the same person. In this case, the individual's status as a 'doctor' conflicts with her status as a 'mother.' Role strain, in contrast, involves conflicting expectations within a single status.
- The difference in the sense of belonging between the two communities can be best explained by the fact that Community A functions more like a:
Answer: primary group, while Community B functions as a social network.
Community A, with its strong common interest, frequent interaction, and close bonds, exhibits the characteristics of a primary group, which is highly influential on social identity. Community B, with its large number of weaker, more instrumental connections, is best described as a social network. The stronger sense of belonging in Community A is consistent with the nature of primary groups.
- An individual in Community B who models their career trajectory after a highly successful senior member whom they have never met is using that member as part of their:
Answer: aspirational reference group.
An aspirational reference group is a group or individual that a person admires and wishes to be like. By modeling their career path after the successful senior member, the individual is using that person as a standard for their own aspirations and behavior, which is the function of a reference group.
- The strategy of having the two groups work together to fix the water supply is an example of using:
Answer: a superordinate goal.
A superordinate goal is a goal that is worth completing but requires two or more social groups to cooperatively achieve. By introducing a shared problem that neither group could solve alone, the researchers forced the boys to work together, breaking down intergroup barriers and fostering a new, more inclusive group identity.
