Practice Exam Social Psychology

This an English translation of an actual exam for this course a few years ago. The style of
questioning is representative for the upcoming exam.

A few disclaimers, however:

- Note that when this exam took place, additional articles played a less prominent role
in the course. The practice exam therefore contains only one question about the
articles (Q. 17). In the actual, upcoming exam you can expect more questions about
the additional articles.
- For a teacher it is always notoriously difficult to ascertain beforehand what questions
students will find ‘easy’ or ‘difficult’. I strive to make an exam of about equal
difficulty as the practice exam, but at the same time, you can derive no rights on that
matter from this practice exam. The actual exam may be slightly more, or less, difficult
than the practice exam, depending on natural variation and chance.
- This practice exam is the only one that will be made available during the course. My
advice is therefore to use it wisely, and make sure you first have studied all the
materials.
1 You need to give a short speech for a large audience. You are poorly prepared, and
very nervous. Your biggest fear is that everyone will see just how nervous you are.
This is an example of…..
a. The spotlight effect
b. Audience inhibition
c. The transparency effect
d. Paranoia

2 When Thomas receives his exam grades he has the tendency to also carefully look at
the grades of his fellow students. He wants to know if he did better, worse, or the same
as other students. What do psychologists call this tendency?
a. Social competition
b. Social comparison
c. Social rank
d. Social contrast

3 Linda received a 3.0 for her exam social psychology. She demands an additional
retake, because she believes that her low grade is attributable to the teacher, who in
her eyes made the exam way too difficult. What “locus of control” does Linda
display?
a. A high locus of control
b. A low locus of control
c. An internal locus of control
d. An external locus of control

4 Steven and Anna end their relationship after 5 years. Steven feels miserable and thinks
that he will never recover. But after only 4 weeks he realizes that he is doing fine, and
that he is actually glad to finally be rid of Anna. What psychological phenomenon
explains Stevens’ inability to predict his own future emotions?
a. The impact bias
b. The fundamental attribution error
c. Self-discrepancy theory
d. The self-fulfilling prophecy

5 What is the ‘false uniqueness effect’?

a. The tendency to think that one’s beliefs are relatively unique, and that many
people will therefore disagree with those beliefs
b. The tendency to think that one’s talents and moral behaviors are relatively
unique
c. The tendency to think that one will have an unrealistic and unique amount of
success in the future
d. The tendency to see oneself as superior to others
6 As you arrive for the first lecture of a new course, you see a man of about 50 years old
talking to a man of about 28 years old. Instantly you assume that the older man is the
teacher, and the younger man a student. On what heuristic are you relying with this
judgment?
a. The availability heuristic
b. The representativeness heuristic
c. Anchoring
d. Counterfactual thinking

7 Research revealed that participants who had just read a story about elderly people
subsequently walked slower on their way out of the research laboratory, as compared
to participants who had not read this story. What process can explain this finding?
a. Initiation
b. Galvanization
c. Deliberate processing
d. Priming

8 What term refers to observers’ tendency to underestimate the influence of situational

factors, and overestimate the role of dispositional factors, when making attributions
for behavior?
a. The false consensus effect
b. The misinformation effect
c. The dispositional bias
d. The fundamental attribution error

9 Male research participants held a telephone conversation with a woman and were led
to believe that she was either very attractive, or very unattractive. Independent
observers subsequently rated a recording of the conversation. What did the results
show?
a. When male participants believed the woman was attractive, observers rated the
woman as warmer
b. When male participants believed the woman was unattractive, the woman tried
harder to be liked
c. When male participants believed the woman was attractive, observers rated the
woman as more arrogant and less friendly
d. When male participants believed the woman was unattractive, the woman
spoke slower and with a higher level of language abstraction

10 Some people believe that if a person is physically attractive, that person in all
likelihood is also social, talkative, sensible, perhaps slightly egocentric, but in general
fun to hang out with. This is an example of….
a. An implicit personality theory
b. A self presentation strategy
c. An attribution theory
d. A central “trait” theory
11 What do social psychologists call a set of norms that jointly describe the expected
behavior of someone holding a particular formal position in society (e.g., a medical
doctor, a lecturer, a politician)?
a. An attitude
b. A self-schema
c. A role-schema
d. A stereotype

12 What do you predict will happen after a person is persuaded (without using rewards or
punishment) to write an essay in favor of an opinion that this person actually is not so
sure of?
a. This person will be more likely to offer an apology for the essay
b. There is a relatively high likelihood that this person genuinely starts to believe
what he/she has written
c. There is a relatively high likelihood that this person will become even more
doubtful about the opinion in question
d. This person will be inclined to, if possible, deny ever writing the essay

13 The central concept of attitude formation through classical conditioning…..

a. Is based on rewards and punishments for behavior relevant to the attitude
b. Refers to the attributions that people make about their behavior relevant to the
attitude
c. Is based on the associations between the attitude object and positive or
negative feelings
d. Is based on regular contact with the attitude object over a prolonged period of
time

14 Paul is a teenager who loves to exercise. To stimulate this further, his parents decide to
give him money for each time he goes to the gym. What does self-perception theory
predict about the consequences of this decision for Paul’s motivation to go the gym?
a. This decision will increase Paul’s intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
b. This decision will decrease Paul’s intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
c. This decision will increase Paul’s intrinsic motivation but decrease his
extrinsic motivation
d. This decision will decrease Paul’s intrinsic motivation but increase his
extrinsic motivation

15 Some attitudes contain both positive and negative evaluations. Such attitudes are
known as:
a. Incorrect attitudes
b. Inconsistent attitudes
c. Confused attitudes
d. Ambivalent attitudes
16 If behavior differs between cultures, it is often an indicator that:
a. The behavior in question evolved through natural selection
b. The behavior in question emerged through socialization
c. Culture is a subjective concept
d. Human behavior in general has been shaped more strongly by culture than by
natural selection

17 The additional article by van Van Vugt (2006) addresses the evolutionary roots of
leadership. What can you say about leadership based on the evidence described in this
article?
a. Leadership largely has been shaped by natural selection because this social
structure was useful to coordinate groups when solving collective problems
b. Leadership largely has been shaped by natural selection because leaders had a
higher chance of reproducing than followers
c. Leadership has been partly shaped by natural selection, but the role of culture
has increased through time, as an increasing number of countries started to
choose their leaders democratically
d. The role of natural selection to explain leadership is widely overestimated in
the literature, and leadership is mostly a cultural phenomenon

18 In our modern society, men and women increasingly have similar roles. How does this
influence psychological differences between men and women?
a. There is no influence of role similarity on such psychological differences
b. The psychological differences increase
c. The psychological differences decrease
d. The influence of role similarity on such psychological differences is
ambivalent

19 Patterson, Iizuka, and colleagues (2007) studied responses of Japanese and American
citizens in encounters with strangers. Results revealed that, as compared to Americans,
a. Japanese were less inclined to answer a smile with a smile
b. Japanese were more inclined to answer a smile with a smile
c. Japanese were equally inclined to answer a smile with a smile
d. Japanese were more inclined to look angry in response to a smile

20 According to evolutionary psychology, men are sexually more assertive, and women
more selective in their choice for sexual partners, because…
a. There are more men than women
b. Both strategies are functional to optimize the chances that one’s genes will
continue to exist
c. Men and women learn different norms
d. Men and women display different brain activity
21 Chartrand and Bargh (1999) showed that participants in an experiment were more
likely to scratch their own face if they worked together with a participant who also
regularly scratched his or her own face. What is this effect called?
a. The chameleon effect
b. The mood linkage effect
c. The compliance effect
d. The facial feedback effect

22 Joel is frequently confronted with information that smoking is dangerous. In his direct
social environment, many of his friends quit smoking. Eventually Joel gets persuaded
that smoking is not a good habit, and decides to quit. What type of social influence
took place here?
a. Obedience
b. Acceptance
c. Reactance
d. Compliance

23 In 1963 Milgram tried to replicate his experiment about obedience to authority at a

different university, of lower academic standing. What did the results show?
a. Obedience of participants was higher at the university of lower standing
b. Obedience of participants was the same, although participants did protest more
at the university of lower standing
c. Obedience of participants was the same, although participants did protest less
at the university of lower standing
d. Obedience of participants was lower at the university of lower standing

24 Marco has always thought that he would never use drugs. At a party, however, he lets
himself be persuaded by his friends to take an XTC pill, as he is afraid to feel like an
outsider otherwise. Marco’s conformity is a consequence of:
a. Acceptance
b. Compliance
c. Normative influence
d. Informational influence

25 What does the term “the banality of evil” refer to?

a. It refers to the fact that cruelty often has banal features
b. It refers to the fact that cruelty is far more common in the world than most
people realize
c. It refers to the insight that normal people, without personality disorder, can
commit cruelty if they are exposed to situational pressure
d. It refers to the insight that perpetrators of cruelty often suffer from a
personality disorder
26 In a busy shopping street, a young lady in a purple dress approaches you. She
compliments you with your beautiful and spiritual appearance, ties a flower to your
coat, and then asks for a financial contribution for her religious organization. How is
this lady trying to influence you?
a. She uses the ‘door-in-the-face’ technique
b. She uses the ‘foot-in-the-door’ technique
c. She uses the ‘that’s not all’ technique
d. She uses the norm of reciprocity

27 Through which route are people mostly persuaded if they are distracted?
a. The central route
b. The controlled route
c. The peripheral route
d. The inductive route

28 Katy wants to ask her boss for a salary increase, but the truth is that she does not have
very strong arguments for this. What strategy do you recommend to nevertheless
increase her chances?
a. She needs to elicit a moderate sense of fear in her boss
b. She needs to ask the question when her boss happens to be in a good mood
c. She needs to try and persuade her boss of her arguments
d. She needs to make an appointment and email the question in advance, to give
her boss some proper time to carefully think it through

29 What is Cialdini’s (2000) principle called that people are persuaded by taking an
example in how others think, feel, and behave?
a. Social proof
b. Liking
c. Authority
d. Low-balling

30 According to Kiesler (1971), what is an effective method to make people more

‘committed’ to their own beliefs (and therefore less vulnerable to persuasion):
a. To mildly attack the belief in question
b. To forcefully attack the belief in question
c. To mildly support the belief in question
d. To forcefully attack the belief in question

31 The perception that someone is worse off than others is referred to as:
a. The adaptation level phenomenon
b. Relative deprivation
c. Parkinson’s second law
d. The unjust-world principle
32 What does research on the relationship between heat and aggression show?
a. There is no relationship between heat and aggression
b. Heat increases the chance of aggression between groups but decreases the
chance of aggression between individuals
c. Heat decreases the chance of aggression
d. Heat increases the chance of aggression

33 A well-known folk wisdom says “When people get to release their anger (for instance
by hitting a boxing ball) they will become less aggressive”. What does research show?
a. This folk wisdom is true: When participants first hit a boxing ball, they
subsequently behaved less aggressive towards a person that had insulted them
b. This folk wisdom is partially true: When participants first hit a boxing ball,
they subsequently behaved less aggressive towards a person that had insulted
them—unless the insult was very severe
c. This folk wisdom is partially true: When participants first hit a boxing ball,
they subsequently behaved less aggressive towards a person that had insulted
them—unless the participant came from a ‘culture of honor’
d. This folk wisdom is not true: When participants first hit a boxing ball, they
subsequently behaved more aggressive towards a person that had insulted them

34 Because of a conflict with her boss, Claire has had a rough day at work. When she
comes home her dog jumps on her lap, enthusiastically licks her face, and starts to
bark really loud. Frustrated, Claire kicks her dog really hard. What theoretical idea
about aggression can explain Claire’s behavior?
a. Catharsis
b. The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis
c. Triggered Displaced Agression
d. Social learning

35 Albert Bandura studied aggression among children using a ‘Bobo-doll’. According to

this line of research, what factor has a strong impact on children’s aggressive
behaviors?
a. Hormones
b. Observational learning
c. Genetic dispositions
d. Emotion regulation

36 What do psychologists call the human motivation to form groups and start long-term
relationships?
a. Attachment anxiety
b. The need for attachment
c. The need to belong
d. Affiliative predisposition
37 What factor increases the chance that two people of the same gender become friends?
a. The number of times that they—coincidentally or not—happen to meet each
other
b. The extent to which they complement each other’s weaknesses
c. The question whether it concerns two men or two women
d. The extent to which these two people communicate by using abstract language

38 Research by Gangestad and colleagues (2003) shows that during ovulation,

heterosexual women have a preference for:
a. Men with masculine features
b. Men with feminine features
c. Men with androgynous features
d. Charismatic men

39 According to the two-factor theory of emotion, what is a necessary precondition for

passionate love?
a. Mere exposure
b. Secure attachment
c. Physical Arousal
d. Matching

40 When two people are in the process of developing a romantic relationship, they tend to
increase feelings of intimacy by gradually, and in turns, tell each other more personal
secrets of themselves. What is this called?
a. The Matching phenomenon
b. Self-disclosure reciprocity
c. Reciprocal exchange
d. Mutual self-revelation

41 A study organization holds a lottery in order to donate the benefits to charity. The
main prize is a weekend to Paris for two persons. Daniel buys a few lottery tickets
because he would love to see Paris together with his girlfriend. Daniels behavior
classifies as….
a. Being unhelpful
b. Altruistic helping
c. Egoistic helping
d. Reciprocal helping

42 What effect does helping have on the mood of the helper?

a. Helping decreases a negative mood, and prolongs a positive mood
b. Helping does not have an effect on negative mood, and amplifies a positive
mood
c. Helping amplifies a negative mood, and decreases a positive mood
d. Helping does not influence mood
43 Josh has helped Bill to paint his house. Bill now feels obligated to help Josh with a
water leakage in his house. What social norm causes this feeling of obligation?
a. The norm of social responsibility
b. The norm of social justice
c. The equal status norm
d. The norm of reciprocity

44 The presence of other people in an emergency situation can decrease people’s feeling
that they are personally responsible to help. What is this phenomenon called?
a. The audience-inhibition effect
b. The empathy-altruism hypothesis
c. The illusion of transparency
d. Diffusion of responsibility

45 What feeling can stimulate helping?

a. Guilt
b. Sadness
c. Superiority
d. Depression

46 What process is NOT an explanation for group polarization?

a. Informational influence
b. Normative influence
c. Social facilitation
d. The need to belong

47 A group of students work jointly on a group assignment. The teacher decides to make
all individual contributions visible and gives each student an individual grade. What is
the teacher trying to prevent?
a. Social inhibition
b. Social loafing
c. Minority influence
d. Group polarization

48 What strategy is NOT a good idea if the goal is to prevent ‘groupthink’?

a. To give one of the group members the role of ‘Devil’s advocate’, and instruct
that person to ask critical questions about the majority opinion
b. To make group members discuss like one cohesive group, and to prevent
multiple subgroups from emerging that discuss independently
c. Allowing outsiders to give occasional feedback on the opinions and decisions
of the group
d. To create an atmosphere in which group members feel free to express doubts
about the group’s position
49 What do psychologists call people’s tendency to worry about the impression that they
leave on others?
a. Distraction
b. Arousal
c. Mere presence
d. Evaluation apprehension

50 In a classical experiment of Ingham (1974), participants conducted a rope-pulling task

while being blindfolded. What happened when participants believed they were pulling
the rope alone?
a. They pulled harder than when they thought they were pulling together with
someone else
b. They pulled less hard than when they thought they were pulling together with
someone else
c. They pulled equally hard as when they thought they were pulling together with
someone else
d. The influence of personality traits on how hard participants pulled was bigger
than when they thought they were pulling together with someone else

51 Hans is from Rotterdam, and a major supporter of the local soccer team (Feyenoord).
“People from Amsterdam are all the same” is his firm conviction. What does Hans
show?
a. Ingroup bias
b. Group entitativity
c. Schism
d. Outgroup homogeneity

52 People who find a certain group membership very important, but are not particularly
representative for that group’s central norms…….
a. Will quickly find a different group where they fit in better
b. Will inevitably be excluded from the group
c. Will be inclined to change their ways in order to conform to the group norms
d. Will rarely be truly accepted by the group

53 What is the ‘linguistic intergroup bias’?

a. People describe behavior of ingroup members with relatively abstract language
and of outgroup members with relatively concrete language
b. People describe behavior of ingroup members with relatively concrete
language and of outgroup members with relatively abstract language
c. People use relatively concrete language to describe positive behavior of
ingroup members and negative behavior of outgroup members; but people use
relatively abstract language to describe negative behavior of ingroup member
and positive behavior of outgroup members
d. People use relatively abstract language to describe positive behavior of ingroup
members and negative behavior of outgroup members; but people use
relatively concrete language to describe negative behavior of ingroup member
and positive behavior of outgroup members
54 How is respect related to group membership?
a. People find it more important to be treated with respect by ingroup members
than by outgroup members
b. People find it more important to be treated with respect by outgroup members
than by ingroup members
c. People find it equally important to be treated with respect by ingroup and
outgroup members
d. Whether people prefer to be treated with respect by ingroup or outgroup
members depends on strength of ingroup identification

55 Rosenblatt and colleagues (1989) showed that, as compared to a control condition,

participants who were reminded of their own mortality….
a. Started to deviate more from the group norm
b. Expressed a stronger desire to be promoted to a higher status group
c. Expressed a relatively high level of depression
d. Favored harsher punishments for ingroup deviants

56 What is according to Tajfel and colleagues (1971) necessary to cause discriminatory

behavior between groups?
a. Competition over scarce resources
b. Clearly visible differences between groups
c. Status differences between groups
d. The simple presence of two groups (that barely differ) is sufficient

57 How do people perceive themselves and their fellow group members in a situation
where their cohesive group membership is very salient?
a. People will perceive fellow group members as threat for the group’s identity
b. People will mostly perceive themselves and fellow group members as unique
individuals
c. People are mostly inclined to think of themselves and fellow group members in
terms of group stereotypes
d. People are mostly inclined to think of how they differ from fellow group
members.

58 People with an authoritarian personality have a number of characteristics. What option

is NOT among them?
a. A high level of superstititon
b. Tolerance for outgroups
c. Problems with intimacy
d. An obsession with status
59 Donald believes that immigrants mostly are criminals. In the news he only reads
articles about immigrants who committed a crime. He skips articles highlighting
immigrants who have been very successful and made terrific contributions to society.
Through what mechanism does Donald maintain his stereotypes about immigrants?
a. The hindsight bias
b. Subtyping
c. The confirmation bias
d. The self-fulfilling prophecy

60 What was the main conclusion of Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment?

a. A prison uniform can cause cruelty towards prisoners
b. A high level of attitudinal ambivalence can cause cruelty towards prisoners
c. Cruelty towards prisoners is a result of ‘excitation transfer’
d. Decreased self-awareness and deindividuation can cause cruelty towards
prisoners