Chapter 12, Problem 1PT

a.

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Human beings are social creatures. In order to survive, they need to depend on fellow beings. They realized the benefits of cooperation and social interaction when they started to live in groups. Groups give a kind of social identity to every individual. People define themselves in terms of social groups and easily differentiate others who don’t fit to those groups. Based on this, social psychology defines two types of groups- ingroup and outgroup. Ingroups are the social groups to which one belong and outgroups are those social groups to which one does not belong.

Answer to Problem 1PT

Correct answer:

A first year college student states, “Students at our college are so unique! Each person has his or her own passions and aptitudes”.

This statement is an example of ingroup favoritism.

Explanation of Solution

Ingroup favoritism is the concept where the members of one’s ingroup are more favored and privileged than members of an outgroup. To the first year college student, all members or his or her college forms her ingroup. So, she favors them by praising their uniqueness and portrays them as efficient people with their own passions and aptitudes.

b.

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Human beings are social creatures. In order to survive, they need to depend on fellow beings. They realized the benefits of cooperation and social interaction when they started to live in groups. Groups give a kind of social identity to every individual. People define themselves in terms of social groups and easily differentiate others who don’t fit to those groups. Based on this, social psychology defines two types of groups- ingroup and outgroup. Ingroups are the social groups to which one belong and outgroups are those social groups to which one does not belong.

Answer to Problem 1PT

Correct answer:

A professor mistakenly comments to a colleague, “The athletes in my class always seem to ask for extensions on their homework; none of my other students ever ask for extensions”.

This statement is an example of illusory correlation.

Explanation of Solution

Illusory correlation is the concept in psychology where one assumes that there is a relation between two variables that are not actually related. In this example, professor makes a wrong conclusion about the athletes of his class. The athletes asked for extensions on their homework which made him conclude that they always do that. He may have had the same experience with other students also. He might have forgot or other students might have escaped somehow.

c.

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Human beings are social creatures. In order to survive, they need to depend on fellow beings. They realized the benefits of cooperation and social interaction when they started to live in groups. Groups give a kind of social identity to every individual. People define themselves in terms of social groups and easily differentiate others who don’t fit to those groups. Based on this, social psychology defines two types of groups- ingroup and outgroup. Ingroups are the social groups to which one belong and outgroups are those social groups to which one does not belong.

Answer to Problem 1PT

Correct answer:

A senior at College A tells her friend, “Whatever you do, don’t go to parties at College B. They all drink way too much, and the guys can’t keep their hands off the women at their parties”.

This statement is an example of outgroup homogeneity.

Explanation of Solution

Outgroup homogeneity effect is the tendency to see members of the outgroup as less varied than members of the ingroup. To a student of College A, students of College B are an outgroup and they appear to be less varied than them. This is why the senior of College A tends to have a common opinion about the guys of College B.