20 MCQs on Social Psychology: Key Concepts, History & Applications
Test your knowledge with 20 multiple-choice questions on social psychology, covering key assumptions, history (including India), and applications in health, law, and the workplace. Perfect for students and psychology enthusiasts!
1. What does the term ‘social’ primarily refer to in social psychology?
a) Individual cognitive processes
b) Interaction between individuals and groups
c) Psychological disorders
d) The study of the brain
Answer: b) Interaction between individuals and groups
Explanation: Social psychology studies how people influence and are influenced by others in a social context.
2. Which of the following is a key assumption of social psychology?
a) Behavior is solely determined by personality traits
b) Social context influences individual behavior
c) Social behavior is unaffected by cultural differences
d) Individual actions are independent of external factors
Answer: b) Social context influences individual behavior
Explanation: Social psychology emphasizes how situational factors and group dynamics shape individual behaviors.
3. Who is considered one of the founding figures of social psychology?
a) Sigmund Freud
b) Kurt Lewin
c) B.F. Skinner
d) Jean Piaget
Answer: b) Kurt Lewin
Explanation: Lewin, known as the "father of social psychology," introduced the field theory emphasizing interaction between individuals and environments.
4. The earliest social psychology experiments were conducted on which phenomenon?
a) Groupthink
b) Social loafing
c) Social facilitation
d) Cognitive dissonance
Answer: c) Social facilitation
Explanation: Norman Triplett's study in 1898 on cyclists showed that people perform tasks better in the presence of others.
5. Social psychology in India gained prominence with research on:
a) Caste and social identity
b) Artificial intelligence
c) Psychoanalysis
d) Behavioral genetics
Answer: a) Caste and social identity
Explanation: Indian social psychology has focused on issues like caste, group identity, and social justice.
6. How does social psychology differ from sociology?
a) Social psychology focuses on individual behavior in social settings, while sociology studies groups and institutions
b) Sociology only studies modern societies
c) Social psychology does not use scientific methods
d) Sociology ignores cultural influences
Answer: a) Social psychology focuses on individual behavior in social settings, while sociology studies groups and institutions
Explanation: Social psychology is concerned with individual interactions, whereas sociology examines broader social structures.
7. What is the primary focus of social psychology?
a) Understanding unconscious desires
b) Investigating social influences on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
c) Studying human genetics
d) Examining the nervous system
Answer: b) Investigating social influences on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Explanation: Social psychology examines how people’s behaviors and attitudes are shaped by social interactions.
8. The term "social constructionism" in social psychology refers to:
a) The biological basis of behavior
b) How social realities are created through interactions
c) The process of genetic transmission of traits
d) The development of artificial intelligence
Answer: b) How social realities are created through interactions
Explanation: Social constructionism argues that our perceptions of reality are shaped by social and cultural contexts.
9. Which of the following is a real-world application of social psychology in the workplace?
a) Analyzing brain scans
b) Designing fair hiring practices
c) Studying animal behavior
d) Developing new pharmaceutical drugs
Answer: b) Designing fair hiring practices
Explanation: Social psychology informs policies to reduce bias and improve organizational behavior.
10. In the context of law, social psychology is used to study:
a) The effectiveness of punishment
b) Jury decision-making and eyewitness testimony
c) Genetic influences on crime
d) The structure of the legal system
Answer: b) Jury decision-making and eyewitness testimony
Explanation: Social psychology examines how biases and group influences affect legal proceedings.
11. What psychological phenomenon occurs when people conform to group norms despite personal disagreement?
a) Cognitive dissonance
b) Social loafing
c) Groupthink
d) Self-actualization
Answer: c) Groupthink
Explanation: Groupthink occurs when a desire for harmony leads to poor decision-making.
12. The "bystander effect" is most likely to occur when:
a) Many people are present, but no one takes action
b) An individual is alone
c) A reward is offered for helping
d) There is a clear authority figure
Answer: a) Many people are present, but no one takes action
Explanation: The diffusion of responsibility in groups reduces the likelihood of intervention.
13. Sustainable social behavior refers to:
a) Environmental actions motivated by social norms
b) Individual consumer choices
c) Corporate advertising strategies
d) Economic growth strategies
Answer: a) Environmental actions motivated by social norms
Explanation: Social psychology helps in promoting sustainability by understanding social influences on behavior.
14. Which concept explains why individuals work less hard in a group?
a) Social facilitation
b) Social loafing
c) Deindividuation
d) Altruism
Answer: b) Social loafing
Explanation: Social loafing occurs when individuals exert less effort in group tasks due to shared responsibility.
15. The self-fulfilling prophecy in social psychology refers to:
a) Genetic determinism
b) Beliefs that lead to their own fulfillment
c) Random occurrences in life
d) Biological constraints on behavior
Answer: b) Beliefs that lead to their own fulfillment
Explanation: If people believe something will happen, their actions may unconsciously make it come true.
16. In health psychology, social psychology contributes to:
a) Treating genetic disorders
b) Understanding health behaviors like smoking and exercise
c) Identifying brain abnormalities
d) Studying neural activity
Answer: b) Understanding health behaviors like smoking and exercise
Explanation: Social psychology explores how peer pressure and societal norms influence health choices.
17. What is the relationship between anthropology and social psychology?
a) Both study human behavior in social contexts
b) Anthropology ignores individual behavior
c) Social psychology does not consider culture
d) They are unrelated disciplines
Answer: a) Both study human behavior in social contexts
Explanation: While anthropology focuses on cultural patterns, social psychology examines behavior within social settings.
18. What role does social psychology play in conflict resolution?
a) It increases aggression
b) It helps understand biases and stereotypes
c) It prevents all conflicts
d) It only applies to personal relationships
Answer: b) It helps understand biases and stereotypes
Explanation: Social psychology aids in reducing conflicts by addressing prejudice and group dynamics.
19. The "foot-in-the-door" technique refers to:
a) A method of persuasion
b) A type of bias
c) A cognitive disorder
d) A legal strategy
Answer: a) A method of persuasion
Explanation: This technique involves getting people to agree to small requests before making larger ones.
20. In social psychology, what is "attitude change" influenced by?
a) Genetics alone
b) Social persuasion and exposure to new information
c) Fixed personality traits
d) The weather
Answer: b) Social persuasion and exposure to new information
Explanation: Attitude change occurs due to persuasive communication, social influences, and personal experiences.
Comments