MCAT Practice Problem Set Lecture: Social Processes, Attitudes, and Behaviors
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Problem 1: Stanford Prison Experiment
Question: The behavior of individuals in the Stanford Prison Experiment is best explained by which term?
A: Bystander effect
B: Deindividuation
C: Internalization
D: Social loafing
Explanation
Stanford Prison Experiment: A study on the effects of perceived power and the struggle between prisoners and prison officers, conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971 at Stanford University.
Participants were male college students assigned roles as guards or prisoners.
Guards: Given uniforms, whistles, sunglasses to establish authority and anonymity.
Prisoners: Fake arrested, fingerprinted, strip-searched, given prison clothes and numbers.
The environment simulated a real-life prison, and participants were instructed to behave accordingly.
Resulted in extreme stress, emotional disturbance, abusive behavior from guards, and submissiveness from prisoners.
Outcomes & Ethical Concerns:
The experiment was terminated after 6 days instead of 2 weeks due to distressing participant reactions.
Raised significant ethical concerns regarding participant well-being and informed consent.
Key Terms:
Bystander effect: Less likely to respond to need in a group.
Deindividuation: Loss of self-awareness in large groups, leading to drastic behavior changes.
Relevant to the guards' and prisoners' behaviors due to uniforms and assigned roles.
Internalization: Adopting beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and values of a group into one's identity.
Evident as participants integrated their roles deeply.
Social loafing: Less effort in a group setting.
Answer: C. Multiple factors of internalization and deindividuation.
Problem 2: Group Polarization
Question: A jury member initially against strict penalties votes for stricter penalties after discussion. Which social phenomenon explains this?
A: Social facilitation
B: Group polarization
C: Assimilation
D: Socialization
Key Terms:
Social facilitation: Performance level changes due to presence of others.
Group polarization: More extreme decisions in a group.
Assimilation: Culture melting into another.
Socialization: Developing and spreading norms, customs, and beliefs.
Answer: B. Group polarization
Problem 3: Bystander Effect
Question: Which would decrease the likelihood of a bystander helping a victim?
A: Increasing number of people in the room
B: Increasing danger to the victim
C: Making the victim an acquaintance
D: Being alone with the victim
Explanation:
Bystander Effect: Less likely to help in presence of others.
Factors: Number of bystanders, noticing danger, taking cues from others, degree of danger.
Answer: A. Increasing number of people in the room decreases likelihood of aid.
Problem 4: Groupthink
Question: During groupthink, members do all except?
A: Stereotype members outside the group
B: Withhold opposing views
C: Ignore warnings against group ideas
D: Create negativity against risk-taking
Explanation:
Groupthink:
Desire for harmony/conformity leading to poor decisions.
Isolation of external viewpoints.
Eight indicative factors include stereotyping, self-censorship, and ignoring warnings.
Answer: D. Groupthink encourages risk-taking, not negativity against it.
Problem 5: Socialization in Prison
Question: Adult prisons use all mechanisms of socialization except?
A: Primary
B: Secondary
C: Anticipatory
D: Resocialization
Explanation:
Primary Socialization: During childhood.
Secondary Socialization: Learning behavior within smaller sections of society.
Anticipatory Socialization: Preparing for future changes.
Resocialization: Discarding old behaviors for new ones via retraining.
Answer: A. Primary socialization occurs in childhood.
Problem 6: Compliance Technique
Question: Neighbor asks for two small favors sequentially. Which compliance technique?
A: Low ball
B: That's not all
C: Foot in the door
D: Door in the face
Explanation:
Foot in the Door: Small request followed by a larger one.
Door in the Face: Large request followed by a smaller target request.
Lowball: Initial commitment followed by increasing cost.
That's not all: Improved deal before decision.
Answer: C. Foot in the door
Problem 7: Attitude Component
Question: Which statement reflects the affective component of an attitude?
A: I love action movies
B: Going to see an action movie
C: Action movies are better than comedies
D: Renting an action movie tomorrow
Explanation:
Affective: Emotional component.
Behavioral: Acts with respect.
Cognitive: Thinks about something.
Answer: A. I love action movies.
Problem 8: Elaboration Likelihood Model
Question: Judging a professor based on attire and speech is using which type of processing?
A: Central route processing
B: Peripheral route processing
Explanation:
Central route processing: Persuaded by message content, critical thinking.
Peripheral route processing: Persuaded by external cues (attractiveness, authority).
Answer: B. Peripheral route processing
Problem 9: Milgram Shock Experiment
Question: Participants give maximum shock due to which psychological principle?
A: Deviance
B: Obedience
C: Conformity
D: Compliance
Explanation:
Obedience: Change in behavior based on authority commands.
Conformity: Change beliefs to fit into a group.
Compliance: Behavior change based on others' requests.
Deviance: Violation of norms, rules.
Answer: B. Obedience
Problem 10: Type of Conformity
Question: Which conformity type when agreeing with group about tree height estimate?
A: Identification
B: Internalization
Explanation:
Internalization: Changing behavior to fit with group and personally agreeing.
Identification: Outward acceptance without internal agreement.
Answer: B. Internalization
Problem 11: Functional Attitude Theory
Question: Which is not a component of the functional attitude theory?
Question: Swimmers' best times at public meets illustrate which social phenomenon?
A: Social facilitation
B: Peer pressure
C: Identification
D: Group polarization
Explanation:
Social facilitation: Better performance on known tasks in presence of others.
Answer: A. Social facilitation
Problem 13: Anticipatory Socialization
Question: Preparing for army life illustrates which type of socialization?
A: Primary
B: Secondary
C: Anticipatory
D: Resocialization
Explanation:
Anticipatory Socialization: Preparing for future changes.
Answer: C. Anticipatory socialization
Problem 14: Social Action vs Social Interaction
Question: Difference between social action and social interaction?
A: Social action refers to positive changes in society.
B: Social action refers to effects of a group on individual behavior.
Social interaction refers to the effects that multiple individuals have on each other.
C: Social action refers to changes in behavior caused by internal factors.
D: Social action refers to changes benefitting only the individual.
Explanation:
Social Action: Effects of a group on individual behavior.
Social Interaction: Effects that individuals have on each other.
Answer: B. Social action refers to the effects of a group on individual behavior. Social interaction refers to the effects that multiple individuals have on each other.
Problem 15: Groupthink Factor
Question: Mentality of 'if you aren't with us, you're against us' reflects which groupthink factor?
A: Illusion of invulnerability
B: Illusion of morality
C: Pressure for conformity
D: Self-censorship
Explanation:
Illusion of invulnerability: Encouragement of risk-taking.
Illusion of morality: Belief that group's decisions are morally correct.
Pressure for conformity: Pressure on dissenters, viewing opposition as disloyal.
Self-censorship: Withholding opposing views.
Answer: C. Pressure for conformity
Conclusion
Problems recap: Insights into social processes, attitudes, and behaviors.
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