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

When everyone in a group looks calm in an unclear situation, each person may conclude that nothing is wrong. This is called:

  1. ADiffusion of responsibility
  2. BPluralistic ignorance
  3. CSocial loafing
  4. DGroup polarisation
2.Easy

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

  1. AStereotype threat
  2. BSelf-handicapping
  3. CSocial loafing
  4. DSelf-fulfilling prophecy
3.Easy

Which study is known for assigning students to the roles of guards and prisoners?

  1. AAsch's conformity study
  2. BMilgram's obedience study
  3. CThe Robbers Cave experiment
  4. DThe Stanford prison experiment
4.Medium

Berkowitz and LePage found that angered participants gave more electric shocks when a gun was lying nearby than when a badminton racket was. This is called:

  1. ADisplacement
  2. BThe weapons effect
  3. CSocial facilitation
  4. DCatharsis
5.Medium

A smoker who knows smoking is harmful tells himself "the research isn't really conclusive". In dissonance terms, he is reducing dissonance by:

  1. AIncreasing the importance of the conflict
  2. BChanging one of the conflicting cognitions
  3. CChanging his behaviour
  4. DConforming to a group norm
6.Medium

LaPiere travelled across the USA with a Chinese couple in the 1930s. Almost every hotel and restaurant served them, but most later replied by letter that they would not serve Chinese guests. This shows:

  1. AA gap between stated attitudes and behaviour
  2. BThat general attitudes always predict behaviour
  3. CThat written replies are more honest than actions
  4. DThat prejudice against Chinese people did not exist
7.Hard

Social loafing in a group shouting task disappeared when participants believed their individual output could be identified. This shows loafing is driven mainly by:

  1. AReduced evaluation of individual effort
  2. BPoor coordination only
  3. CFear of the experimenter
  4. DPhysical tiredness in larger groups
8.Hard

Which variation in Asch's study reduced conformity most dramatically?

  1. AHaving participants answer first
  2. BMaking the task easier
  3. CIncreasing the majority from 3 to 15 people
  4. DOne other confederate giving the correct answer

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Pluralistic ignorance
  2. 2. B · Self-handicapping
  3. 3. D · The Stanford prison experiment
  4. 4. B · The weapons effect
  5. 5. B · Changing one of the conflicting cognitions
  6. 6. A · A gap between stated attitudes and behaviour
  7. 7. A · Reduced evaluation of individual effort
  8. 8. D · One other confederate giving the correct answer

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