Social Psychology: Attitudes, Prejudice and Attraction MCQs 2026

Cognitive dissonance is most likely when:

1. AAttitudes and behavior are inconsistent✓
2. BA stimulus is repeated many times✓
3. CA group has high cohesion✓
4. DA leader gives a direct order✓

In the elaboration likelihood model, the central route depends mainly on:

1. AAttractiveness of the speaker✓
2. BCareful evaluation of message arguments✓
3. CRepeated exposure without attention✓
4. DFear with no suggested response✓

The affective component of prejudice refers to:

1. ALegal barriers against a group✓
2. BBeliefs about group traits✓
3. CNegative feelings toward a group✓
4. DDirect commands by authorities✓

A stereotype is best defined as:

1. AA refusal to help in emergencies✓
2. BA tendency to obey authority✓
3. CA close romantic attachment✓
4. DA belief about characteristics of group members✓

Discrimination in social psychology means:

1. AUnfair behavior based on group membership✓
2. BUnconscious memory for an event✓
3. CPrivate acceptance of a norm✓
4. DAn increase in task performance✓

The contact hypothesis predicts reduced prejudice when contact includes:

1. ACompetition for scarce rewards✓
2. BEqual status and common goals✓
3. CAnonymous interaction only✓
4. DA large status difference✓

Implicit attitudes are commonly assessed by the:

1. AThematic Apperception Test✓
2. BMinnesota Multiphasic Inventory✓
3. CImplicit Association Test✓
4. DStanford-Binet Scale✓

The mere exposure effect states that liking often increases through:

1. APunishment after a response✓
2. BCompetition between groups✓
3. CSudden role conflict✓
4. DRepeated contact with a stimulus✓

The halo effect occurs when:

1. AOne positive trait shapes an overall evaluation✓
2. BA person avoids all social contact✓
3. CA group becomes less cohesive✓
4. DA crowd develops new norms✓

The matching hypothesis in attraction suggests that people often choose partners who are:

1. AOpposite in every attitude✓
2. BSimilar in physical attractiveness✓
3. CHighest in formal authority✓
4. DLeast familiar to them✓

Proximity promotes interpersonal attraction mainly because it:

1. AAlways prevents conflict✓
2. BCreates obedience to authority✓
3. CIncreases opportunities for interaction✓
4. DRemoves all social comparison✓

Reciprocity in attraction means people tend to like those who:

1. AHold formal power over them✓
2. BAre never available✓
3. CPunish their opinions✓
4. DShow liking toward them✓

The foot-in-the-door technique involves:

1. AA small request followed by a larger request✓
2. BA large request followed by no request✓
3. CA threat followed by punishment✓
4. DA reward after group failure✓

The door-in-the-face technique works by first making:

1. AA small request that is hidden✓
2. BA large request that is refused, then a smaller target request✓
3. CA neutral statement without a request✓
4. DA command from an expert authority✓

The elaboration likelihood model proposes two routes called:

1. AClassical and operant routes✓
2. BIntrinsic and extrinsic routes✓
3. CCentral and peripheral routes✓
4. DAuthoritarian and democratic routes✓

The cognitive component of an attitude consists of:

1. AOnly facial expressions✓
2. BMuscle tension during fear✓
3. CDirect group punishment✓
4. DBeliefs and thoughts about the attitude object✓

The affective component of an attitude is represented by:

1. AFeelings linked with the attitude object✓
2. BFormal rank in a group✓
3. CThe number of bystanders✓
4. DThe size of a reward✓

The behavioral component of an attitude refers to:

1. AThe genetic source of emotion✓
2. BIntended or actual actions toward the object✓
3. CThe sensory threshold for a stimulus✓
4. DThe memory span for digits✓

Scapegoat theory explains prejudice as:

1. AA result of high self-actualization✓
2. BLearning that happens only by insight✓
3. CFrustration displaced onto an outgroup✓
4. DA decline in cognitive ability✓

Social identity theory states that self-esteem partly comes from:

1. AThe absolute pitch of sounds✓
2. BUnconditioned reflexes✓
3. CShort-term memory limits✓
4. DMembership in social groups✓

In-group bias is the tendency to:

1. AFavor members of own group✓
2. BForget recently learned information✓
3. CReject all group norms✓
4. DAvoid similarity in partners✓

Out-group homogeneity means perceiving outsiders as:

1. AMore expert than authorities✓
2. BMore alike than they really are✓
3. CLess visible in crowds✓
4. DMore obedient to leaders✓

The fundamental attribution error is:

1. AAssuming all attitudes are inherited✓
2. BHelping more when more witnesses are present✓
3. COveremphasizing personal traits when explaining the behavior of others✓
4. DChanging opinions only after rewards✓

Actor-observer bias refers to explaining:

1. AGroup success only by chance✓
2. BAttraction only by physical distance✓
3. CPrejudice only by hormones✓
4. DOwn actions by situations more than traits✓

Self-serving bias is shown when people:

1. ACredit success to themselves and failure to external causes✓
2. BAlways blame themselves for group conflict✓
3. CRefuse all positive feedback✓
4. DIgnore personal achievements✓

A just-world belief is the assumption that people:

1. ACannot change attitudes✓
2. BGet what they deserve✓
3. CAlways conform under pressure✓
4. DPrefer dissimilar partners✓

Source credibility in persuasion mainly depends on:

1. APhysical distance and noise✓
2. BGroup size and anonymity✓
3. CExpertise and trustworthiness✓
4. DHunger and thirst✓

A fear appeal is most persuasive when it includes:

1. AOnly a frightening image✓
2. BNo information about prevention✓
3. CA denial of personal risk✓
4. DA specific feasible action to reduce the threat✓

Attitude inoculation builds resistance by:

1. AExposing people to weak counterarguments✓
2. BRemoving all opposing views✓
3. CIncreasing group size✓
4. DPunishing disagreement✓

Which is a typical peripheral cue in persuasion?

1. AQuality of statistical evidence✓
2. BSpeaker attractiveness✓
3. CLogical consistency of arguments✓
4. DDetailed cost-benefit analysis✓

A person may reduce cognitive dissonance by:

1. AIncreasing incompatible evidence✓
2. BSeeking only neutral stimuli✓
3. CChanging an attitude to fit behavior✓
4. DForgetting all social norms✓

In the lowball technique, compliance is increased after:

1. AA reward is removed before any offer✓
2. BThe target is left without information✓
3. CA group becomes anonymous✓
4. DCommitment is gained and then the cost is raised✓

The cognitive basis of prejudice is most closely linked to:

1. AStereotypes✓
2. BCompanionate love✓
3. CSocial facilitation✓
4. DFormal punishment✓

Realistic conflict theory explains prejudice as arising from:

1. AExcessive exposure to beauty✓
2. BCompetition over scarce resources✓
3. CVery low sensory thresholds✓
4. DShort-term memory decay✓

A superordinate goal reduces group conflict because it:

1. AIncreases social distance✓
2. BEliminates all group identity✓
3. CRequires cooperation for a shared outcome✓
4. DMakes one group anonymous✓

Social distance scales measure:

1. AThe time needed to learn a list✓
2. BThe level of visual acuity✓
3. CThe speed of motor reflexes✓
4. DWillingness to interact with members of a group✓

Passionate love is characterized by:

1. AIntense arousal and longing✓
2. BOnly formal commitment✓
3. CIndifference toward closeness✓
4. DAbsence of emotion✓

Companionate love is best described as:

1. AA brief response to novelty✓
2. BDeep affection, trust, and commitment✓
3. CObedience to group command✓
4. DFear of rejection by strangers✓

Sternberg triangular theory identifies love through:

1. ANorms, roles, and status✓
2. BReward, punishment, and extinction✓
3. CIntimacy, passion, and commitment✓
4. DEncoding, storage, and retrieval✓

Equity in close relationships means that partners perceive:

1. ANo need for communication✓
2. BAll conflicts as impossible✓
3. CAttraction as unrelated to rewards✓
4. DContributions and rewards as fair✓

Modern forms of prejudice are often expressed when:

1. ASocial norms allow bias to be disguised✓
2. BPeople have no group identity✓
3. CThere is complete information about everyone✓
4. DAll stereotypes are publicly rejected✓

The Bogardus scale is used to assess:

1. ADepth perception in vision✓
2. BSocial distance toward groups✓
3. CObedience to commands✓
4. DOperant reinforcement schedules✓

The similarity-attraction effect means that liking increases when people share:

1. AOnly different languages✓
2. BUnequal status positions✓
3. CAttitudes and values✓
4. DNo opportunity for contact✓

The physical attractiveness stereotype is the tendency to assume attractive people:

1. AAre always poor leaders✓
2. BCannot persuade others✓
3. CNever receive social support✓
4. DHave other positive qualities✓

The sleeper effect in persuasion refers to:

1. ADelayed persuasion after the source is forgotten✓
2. BImmediate rejection of every argument✓
3. CLoss of attraction after proximity✓
4. DRapid obedience to authority✓

Selective exposure is the tendency to:

1. AChoose partners only by height✓
2. BSeek information consistent with existing attitudes✓
3. CAccept every opposing argument✓
4. DAvoid all familiar stimuli✓

Attitude accessibility refers to:

1. AThe number of people in a crowd✓
2. BFormal status in a group✓
3. CHow quickly an attitude comes to mind✓
4. DThe strength of a conditioned reflex✓

Ambivalent prejudice contains:

1. AOnly complete acceptance✓
2. BNo emotional component✓
3. COnly physical attraction✓
4. DBoth positive and negative evaluations of a group✓

Dehumanization in prejudice means:

1. ADenying full human qualities to outgroup members✓
2. BIncreasing cooperation through common goals✓
3. CReducing dissonance by attitude change✓
4. DChoosing partners with similar attractiveness✓

A person high in need for cognition is more likely to:

1. ADepend only on speaker appearance✓
2. BEnjoy effortful thinking and argument evaluation✓
3. CAvoid all complex information✓
4. DConform only under threat✓