Psychology of Social Situations (College Board AP® Psychology): Exam Questions

10 mins4 questions
1
1 mark

In a study, participants were asked to judge which of three lines matched a target line in length. When confederates unanimously gave the wrong answer, many participants gave the same incorrect answer despite it being clearly wrong.

Which of the following best explains why participants conformed?

  • Informational social influence

  • Normative social influence

  • Obedience

  • Deindividuation

2
1 mark

A novice tennis player practices her serve alone in a park and makes very few errors. When she plays in her first competitive match in front of an audience, her serve deteriorates significantly. An experienced professional, by contrast, serves more accurately in matches than in solo practice.

Which of the following concepts best explains this difference in how the presence of an audience affects the two players?

  • Groupthink

  • Deindividuation

  • Social facilitation

  • Conformity

3
1 mark

A woman collapses in a busy city square during rush hour. Despite dozens of people walking past over several minutes, nobody stops to help. When the same woman collapses in a quiet side street where only one other person is present, that person immediately helps.

Which of the following best explains the difference in helping behavior?

  • Social loafing

  • Deindividuation

  • Diffusion of responsibility

  • Conformity