Social Influence and Group Dynamics MCQs 2026

Conformity is best defined as:

1. AChanging behavior to match group norms✓
2. BDirectly commanding another person✓
3. CHelping with no expectation of benefit✓
4. DPerforming better on a simple task✓

Asch line experiments showed that:

1. APeople never conform in public✓
2. BNormative pressure can produce conformity✓
3. CAuthority always eliminates judgment✓
4. DGroups always improve accuracy✓

Normative social influence occurs because people want to:

1. AUse others as accurate evidence✓
2. BReduce biological hunger✓
3. CBe liked or accepted by others✓
4. DImprove long-term memory✓

Informational social influence is strongest when a situation is:

1. ACompletely private and simple✓
2. BFree of any uncertainty✓
3. CUnrelated to group behavior✓
4. DAmbiguous and others seem knowledgeable✓

Obedience refers to:

1. AFollowing commands from an authority✓
2. BSpontaneous helping by strangers✓
3. CAttraction based on similarity✓
4. DPrivate dislike of an outgroup✓

Milgram studies most clearly demonstrated that:

1. AGroups always make moral decisions✓
2. BOrdinary people may obey harmful commands under authority pressure✓
3. CSocial norms prevent all cruelty✓
4. DOnly hostile people obey authority✓

Compliance means changing behavior in response to:

1. AA genetic reflex✓
2. BA change in lighting✓
3. CA direct request from another person✓
4. DUnrelated memory decay✓

Social facilitation refers to:

1. AReduced prejudice after equal contact✓
2. BA decline in all group productivity✓
3. CA refusal to obey any order✓
4. DImproved performance on easy tasks in the presence of others✓

Social loafing occurs when people:

1. AExert less effort in a group task✓
2. BPerform faster on individual tasks✓
3. CBecome more attracted to strangers✓
4. DAlways accept minority arguments✓

Deindividuation involves:

1. AMore careful private decision making✓
2. BLoss of self-awareness and restraint in groups✓
3. CIncreased personal accountability✓
4. DStable companionate attachment✓

Group polarization means group discussion tends to:

1. ARemove every difference in opinion✓
2. BAlways create moderate decisions✓
3. CShift members toward more extreme positions✓
4. DPrevent risky choices completely✓

Groupthink is best described as:

1. ARandom behavior in a crowd✓
2. BA form of operant conditioning✓
3. CA measure of social distance✓
4. DFaulty decision making caused by pressure for unanimity✓

The bystander effect predicts that helping decreases as:

1. AThe number of witnesses increases✓
2. BThe victim becomes more visible✓
3. CResponsibility becomes personal✓
4. DThe emergency becomes clearer✓

Diffusion of responsibility means that:

1. AOne person accepts all blame✓
2. BResponsibility is spread across group members✓
3. CLeaders always punish free riders✓
4. DGroups become more physically attractive✓

Altruism is helping that is motivated by:

1. AFear of all authority✓
2. BA wish to harm an outgroup✓
3. CConcern for another person✓
4. DAvoidance of every cost✓

Internalization means:

1. APrivate acceptance of a group norm or belief✓
2. BPretending agreement only in public✓
3. CAvoiding all social contact✓
4. DLosing status in a group✓

Identification occurs when a person adopts behavior to:

1. AReduce visual illusions✓
2. BMaintain a relationship with an admired group or person✓
3. CPunish unrelated strangers✓
4. DMeasure social distance✓

Public compliance occurs when a person:

1. APrivately accepts a belief fully✓
2. BRefuses every group rule✓
3. CActs without any social pressure✓
4. DOutwardly agrees without private acceptance✓

Emergent norm theory argues that crowd behavior is guided by:

1. AFixed instincts only✓
2. BFormal classroom rules✓
3. CNorms that develop within the situation✓
4. DUnrelated memory limits✓

As group size increases, individual participation generally:

1. AAlways becomes equal✓
2. BTends to decrease✓
3. CBecomes impossible to measure✓
4. DEliminates social loafing✓

In the performing stage, a group:

1. AWorks effectively toward its goals✓
2. BHas no agreed purpose✓
3. CRejects all coordination✓
4. DOnly experiences initial uncertainty✓

During the norming stage, group members:

1. AFirst meet without structure✓
2. BCompete without any rules✓
3. CEnd the group permanently✓
4. DAgree on roles and expectations✓

In Tuckman model, the conflict stage is:

1. AForming✓
2. BNorming✓
3. CStorming✓
4. DAdjourning✓

In Tuckman model, the first stage of group development is:

1. AStorming✓
2. BForming✓
3. CNorming✓
4. DPerforming✓

Process loss means:

1. AReduced group efficiency due to coordination problems✓
2. BHigher accuracy from every group discussion✓
3. CA stronger attraction to similar partners✓
4. DFaster memory encoding in crowds✓

Brainstorming groups may produce fewer ideas because of:

1. AMere exposure and proximity✓
2. BClassical conditioning and extinction✓
3. CAttachment and equity✓
4. DProduction blocking and evaluation apprehension✓

The risky shift is the tendency for group decisions to become:

1. AAlways safer than any member choice✓
2. BUnrelated to discussion✓
3. CRiskier than individual averages✓
4. DIdentical to authority commands✓

Collective behavior refers to:

1. AOnly individual intelligence testing✓
2. BActions of people in crowds or masses✓
3. CPrivate attitudes about food✓
4. DLearning by reinforcement alone✓

Social impact theory says influence depends on:

1. AStrength, immediacy, and number of sources✓
2. BDream content and repression✓
3. CReward size only✓
4. DPhysical attractiveness only✓

Conformity usually decreases when:

1. AThe task becomes more public✓
2. BThe group is unanimous✓
3. CThe person feels incompetent✓
4. DOne ally dissents from the majority✓

Conformity tends to increase when the group is:

1. ADivided by a clear dissenter✓
2. BCompletely absent✓
3. CUnanimous✓
4. DUnknown to the person✓

Obedience is usually reduced when:

1. AThe authority wears official symbols✓
2. BAuthority appears less legitimate or less close✓
3. CThe victim is distant and unseen✓
4. DThe setting appears prestigious✓

A foot-in-the-door compliance strategy starts with:

1. AA small request before a larger request✓
2. BAn impossible demand only✓
3. CA punishment before asking✓
4. DComplete silence from the requester✓

Conversion in social influence means:

1. AOnly public agreement without belief✓
2. BLoss of all group identity✓
3. CA decrease in task performance✓
4. DPrivate change in belief after influence✓

Minority influence is strongest when the minority is:

1. ASilent and uncertain✓
2. BAlways aggressive✓
3. CConsistent, confident, and flexible✓
4. DCompletely anonymous✓

A reference group is used as a standard for:

1. AMeasuring absolute hearing✓
2. BSelf-evaluation and comparison✓
3. CDiagnosing memory disease✓
4. DAvoiding all social influence✓

Group norms are:

1. AShared rules for acceptable behavior✓
2. BPrivate dreams with no social meaning✓
3. CPhysical rewards given by leaders✓
4. DOnly biological reflexes✓

Status in a group is:

1. AA temporary memory trace✓
2. BA fear response✓
3. CA measure of visual acuity✓
4. DRecognized rank or prestige✓

Role ambiguity refers to:

1. AExcessive rewards for performance✓
2. BStrong attraction among members✓
3. CUnclear expectations for a position✓
4. DObedience to a clear order✓

Role conflict occurs when:

1. AA role has no expectations✓
2. BExpectations from different roles are incompatible✓
3. CA person has no social status✓
4. DA crowd becomes anonymous✓

Group cohesion is the degree to which members:

1. AFeel attracted and committed to the group✓
2. BAvoid all group goals✓
3. CIgnore shared identity✓
4. DReject every norm✓

Laissez-faire leadership provides:

1. AStrict daily supervision✓
2. BConstant corrective feedback✓
3. CHigh pressure for unanimity✓
4. DMinimal direction or control✓

Autocratic leadership means the leader:

1. AAlways avoids responsibility✓
2. BHas no formal authority✓
3. CMakes decisions with little member input✓
4. DFollows every minority view✓

Democratic leadership is characterized by:

1. ANo communication with members✓
2. BParticipation of members in decisions✓
3. CAbsolute control by one person✓
4. DRandom obedience to strangers✓

Transactional leadership relies mainly on:

1. ARewards and punishments✓
2. BUnconditional affection✓
3. CAnonymous crowd behavior✓
4. DSimilarity in attitudes✓

Transformational leadership is marked by:

1. AComplete absence of guidance✓
2. BRigid punishment without purpose✓
3. CRandom assignment of roles✓
4. DInspiring vision and motivating change✓

A task-oriented leader mainly focuses on:

1. AAvoiding all decisions✓
2. BOnly emotional disclosure✓
3. CGoals, roles, and performance✓
4. DReducing social distance✓

The social responsibility norm encourages helping:

1. AOnly high-status leaders✓
2. BThose who depend on us✓
3. COnly physically similar people✓
4. DPeople who never need help✓

The reciprocity norm says that people should:

1. AHelp those who have helped them✓
2. BIgnore previous favors✓
3. CConform only in private✓
4. DReject all group rules✓

Social exchange theory explains helping through:

1. AInherited intelligence only✓
2. BClassical conditioning alone✓
3. CVisual depth cues✓
4. DPerceived costs and rewards✓