Answer each question in 200- 300 words. Use in-text citations in complete 6th
edition APA format and include a references page in APA format.
1. Explain two major differences between common sense understandings and social
psychological theories. Illustrate with an example. What is the danger in relying on
common sense or intuition in learning about the relationship between the individual and
his or her environment?
2. There is a debate within social psychology about the person vs. the situation. What is
your opinion on this issue? Is the fundamental message of social psychology (i.e., the
power of the situation) at odds with a Christian understanding of the causes of behavior?
What are some of the negative consequences of our tendency to underestimate the power
of the social situation? Explain.
3. What are the most important characteristics of scientific theory? What is the purpose of
theory? What is the relationship between theory and research? Why are both important to
science?
4. From your perspective, how does the material in your textbook on the topics of selfpresentation and social perception relate to the passage from Matthew 7:3-5, in which
Jesus asks: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers' eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take
the speck out of your eyes when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye."
5. Describe three important functions of the self. Give examples of each.
6. How do our attributions regarding the causes of another person’s plight influence our
willingness to help that person? Is this “typical response” justified within a Christian
framework? Why? Why not?
7. How do our attributions regarding the causes of another person’s plight influence our
willingness to help that person? Is this “typical response” justified within a Christian
framework? Why? Why not?
8. Is impression management duplicitous (hypocritical, cunning, and deceptive), or can it be
sincere?
9. Research on the relation between religion and prejudice is well summarized by Gordon
Allport: "The role of religion is paradoxical. It makes prejudice and it unmakes prejudice." In your opinion, do you agree, and, if so, why might this be true? If you do
not agree, explain your reasoning.
10. Assume that an individual engages in behaviors that are in conflict with their stated
religious beliefs, and they experience dissonance. What impact might this have on their
beliefs? What might allow people to productively resolve that dissonance?
11. Prejudice has traditionally been assumed to be the product of some form of malice,
brought about by social or emotional forces. In recent years; however, there has been
increasing research on how prejudice can result from cognitive processes, without
malicious intent. Discuss how and why cognitive processes can produce prejudice. Once
stereotypes and prejudices are formed, how do they come to be self-perpetuating?
12. What is your favorite commercial and why? Do you think this commercial is successful?
If so, what “elements of persuasion” do you think make it especially effective?
13. To what groups do you belong? Describe a situation when you experienced
deindividuation, social loafing, or social facilitation while performing a task?
14. How are both the power of the situation and the power of the person evident in the results
of Asch's conformity research? Explain.
15. What is groupthink? How does it affect the decisions made by a group? Identify the
critical factors believed to lead to groupthink. Explain how you could reduce groupthink
in terms of these factors.
16. In general, do you think personality indicators are good or poor predictors of an
individual’s behavior? In the case of conformity, who conforms? Identify two personal
characteristics that are important to understanding who conforms.
17. What are Robert J. Sternberg's (in "Construct Validation of a Triangular Love Scale")
three components of intimate relationships? Is it necessary for all three to be present in an
intimate relationship? How do relationships that vary on these components differ from
each other?
18. Using social exchange or equity theory, what are the elements that affect our willingness
to stay in a relationship? Explain how these elements affect our choices.
19. Identify and describe the three main explanations of why the presence of others inhibits
helping behavior.
20. What is the relationship between mood and personality on one hand and willingness to
help?
21. What effect do you think television violence has on children, adolescents, and adults?
What effect do you think it has on society? Go to some of the websites on this topic and
include their findings in your answer; please do not forget to cite the source. Here are a couple suggested sites to view on the topic:
http://www.abelard.org/tv/tv.php
http://kff.org/other/fact-sheet/children-health-and-the-media-report-and/
22. How do you define aggression? How aggressive do you think humans usually are? How
aggressive do you think they are by nature? Are these the same or different? Why and
how? How is acting aggressively different from acting assertively?
23. Does religion influence an individual's occupational choice, social network, and views on
marriage? Explain.
24. What is the direction of religion in the United States? How is it evolving? How is the role
of religion changing, are more people becoming more religious or less religious in our
country?
25. What types of steps can churches take to reduce teen pregnancy, domestic violence, child
abuse, and juvenile delinquency?
26. How does religion contribute to improving physical health?
27. What issues within contemporary society do you think require the attention of social
psychologists? Why do you believe these exist in contemporary society? Explain.
28. In thinking about the future of our society, what issues do you believe will emerge as a
field of focus for social psychologists? Explain.
29. Describe the current trends in social psychology today.
30. Describe the factors involved in social impact theory.

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• 1505999301-PSYchology assignment.docx