ASSESSMENT QUIZ

1. In one of the first social psychological experiments ever conducted, researcher Norman Triplett
built a ‘competition machine’, in which children wind up a fishing reel. He found that the
children were able to wind more quickly when ____.

they were explicitly asked to work as fast as possible

they worked alone than when they worked as a group side by side

they were explicitly asked to take their time to ‘get it right’

they worked as a group side by side than when they worked alone

Answer: they worked as a group side by side than when they worked alone."

2. Suppose that you own a rowboat and enjoy going rowing on a nearby dam in the summer. In
December, you are planning to go rowing with two of your friends (three people total in the
boat), and in January, you are planning to go rowing with just one friend (two people total in the
boat). Will you put in more effort (row harder) on the three-person trip or on the two-person
trip?

You will put in more effort on the three-person trip

You will put in more effort on the two-person trip

It is impossible to say – no research has examined this question

You will put in the same amount of effort on both trips

Answer: "You will put in more effort on the two-person trip.

3. Given Max Ringelmann’s early research looking at group size and individual effort, should we
expect Student X to put in a different amount of effort depending on whether she worked on a
history project in a five-person group rather than a two-person group?

No, we should expect her to work equally hard in both groups.

It is impossible to say; it appears group size effects depend on other variables.

Yes, we should expect her to work harder in the five-person group.

Yes, we should expect her to work harder in the two-person group.

Answer: Yes, we should expect her to work harder in the two-person group."
 4. Early research in social psychology conducted by Max Ringelmann revealed that people ____
when they work as part of a group (e.g., pushing a car off of the road with two other people)
compared to when they work alone at the same task.

do not work as hard

feel like they are doing less work

work harder

feel like they are doing more work

Answer: not harder

5. The first social psychological experiments and the publication of the first book to bear the title
Social Psychology both occurred around ____.
6. 1900
7. 1750
8. 1965
9. 400 AD

Answer: 1900.

6. Culture is best defined as ____, involving both ____ that allows people to live together and satisfy
each other’s needs.

an information-based system; shared ideas and praxis

a language-based system; praxis and laws

a language-based system; shared ideas and customs

an information-based system; morals and customs

answer: a language-based system, shared ideas and customs

7. Vegetarianism is best described as an example of ____.

a genetic mutation

ideas, or culture, affecting human behaviour

social, rather than cultural, behaviour

an American praxis

answer: ideas, or culture, affecting human behavior.

many; few

few; many

few; few

many; many

Answer: many; few

9. Compared to animals such as birds, humans have ____.

to struggle more to find sustenance

a simpler time finding a place to live among others

to figure out what others in their species prefer and expect of them

straightforward rules on how to find a mate

Answer: to figure out what others in their species prefer and expect of them.

10. Humans most likely evolved the capacity for interpersonal affection and love ____.

because these traits made life more enjoyable

because these traits improved their ability to find meaning in life

simply as a byproduct of other evolved traits

because these traits improved their ability to connect with one another

Answer: because these traits improved their ability to connect with one another

11. ___ have social roles; ____ are the only animals where individuals take on different roles
during the course of a lifetime.

Various animals; humans

Humans are the only animals who; humans

Mammals are the only animals who; humans

Mammals and some insects; humans and other primates

Answer: Various animals; humans

extrinsic motivation

narcissism

intrinsic motivation

self-handicapping

Answer: intrinsic motivation

13. Research suggests that if you really want to change your self-concept, you should ____.

try out numerous different personalities one at a time, in order to see which ‘fits’ best

temporarily isolate yourself from social contexts as much as possible

be sure to stay in a stable social environment

either change your social environment or enlist support for your self-concept change from those
in your existing social network

Answer: either change your social environment or enlist support for your self-concept change from
those in your existing social network

14. Dumi is asked how he is feeling as he gets ready to write an exam. He says he is really ‘calm’
but also ‘nervous’. Dumi’s response suggests that he has ____.

moderate self-esteem

high self-esteem

no self-esteem

low self-esteem

answer: moderate self-esteem

15. Which of the following is MOST likely capable of behaving based on extrinsic motivation?

A human

A crocodile

A monkey

A bird

Answer: a human
 16. William James, the father of American psychology, once wrote: ‘Thinking is for doing’. What
did he mean by this?

People typically engage in conscious thought only when engaged in a task (e.g., only when
solving a puzzle, trying to construct an argument, or making a decision about something).

Every behaviour that a person engages in implies a particular thought or set of thoughts;
researchers can therefore infer thoughts from behaviours.

The human brain probably developed its current cognitive abilities in large part to enable
effective decision-making and to facilitate behaviour.

Because the primary role of thoughts is simply to plan behaviours, the proper focus of study for
psychologists is behaviours themselves (and not thoughts).

Answer: The human brain probably developed its current cognitive abilities in large part to enable
effective decision-making and to facilitate behavior

17. Both parts of the duplex mind play a role in navigating through a hierarchy of goals. The
automatic system helps to ____, while the conscious system ____.

monitor whether or not progress through the hierarchy is satisfactory; initiates new goals

keep track of and initiate specific goals; revises plans when goals are blocked

assess progress; carries out the plans

evaluate opportunities that are in line with goals; acts on plans associated with these goals

answer: keep track of and initiate specific goals; revises plans when goals are blocked, assess progress;
carries out the plans

18. Social psychologists use the term ____ to self’s capacity to alter its own responses.

self-monitoring

prosocial behaviour

response modification

self-regulation

answer: self-regulation
 19. According to the textbook, children’s capacity to delay gratification is increased when ____.

they have already weakened and given in to temptation once

they are with other children who weaken and give in to temptation

they do not have to look at the desired object

they are distracted

answer: they do not have to look at the desired object

20. Of the following people, who is at greatest risk for suicide?

Mbali, who is looking forward to a date this weekend

Victor, who doesn’t enjoy studying law but wants to own his own practice

Vusi, who plans to specialise as a surgeon when he finishes his medical degree next year

Danitha, a second-year student in college who hates college and can’t see its usefulness

Answer: Danitha, a second-year student in college who hates college and can’t see its usefulness