Social psychology worksheet with answers

Free printable Social psychology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

A student goes out partying the night before an exam so that a poor grade can be blamed on tiredness. This is:

  1. ASelf-fulfilling prophecy
  2. BStereotype threat
  3. CSelf-handicapping
  4. DSocial loafing
2.Easy

Blaming an innocent out-group for one's own frustrations and problems is called:

  1. AScapegoating
  2. BSocial loafing
  3. CGroupthink
  4. DReactance
3.Easy

Sternberg's triangular theory of love has which three components?

  1. AIntimacy, passion and commitment
  2. BAffect, behaviour and cognition
  3. CAttraction, proximity and similarity
  4. DTrust, respect and loyalty
4.Medium

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to:

  1. AAssume others agree with us
  2. BOverestimate the role of luck in success
  3. COverestimate personality and underestimate the situation when explaining others' behaviour
  4. DBlame the situation for one's own failures while taking personal credit for one's successes
5.Medium

On Halloween, children who were anonymous and in groups took more sweets than allowed, compared with children who had been asked their names. This illustrates:

  1. ASocial facilitation
  2. BDeindividuation
  3. CThe foot-in-the-door effect
  4. DGroup polarisation
6.Medium

Tom says he tripped because the floor was wet, but when he sees someone else trip he thinks they are clumsy. This is the:

  1. AFalse consensus effect
  2. BHalo effect
  3. CActor–observer bias
  4. DSelf-serving bias
7.Hard

Zanna and Cooper gave participants a placebo pill, telling some it would make them tense. After writing a counter-attitudinal essay, those told the pill causes tension showed little attitude change. This supports the idea that:

  1. ASelf-perception theory explains all attitude change
  2. BDissonance involves arousal that people try to explain
  3. CWriting essays never changes people's attitudes
  4. DPlacebo pills themselves cause attitude change
8.Hard

In Tajfel's minimal group studies, boys allocated points between an in-group and an out-group member. They often preferred options that:

  1. ASplit the points exactly equally between both groups
  2. BMaximised the gap in their group's favour, even at a cost
  3. CGave more to the out-group member so as to appear fair
  4. DGave both boys the highest possible joint total of reward points

Answer key

  1. 1. C · Self-handicapping
  2. 2. A · Scapegoating
  3. 3. A · Intimacy, passion and commitment
  4. 4. C · Overestimate personality and underestimate the situation when explaining others' behaviour
  5. 5. B · Deindividuation
  6. 6. C · Actor–observer bias
  7. 7. B · Dissonance involves arousal that people try to explain
  8. 8. B · Maximised the gap in their group's favour, even at a cost

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