There Have Been Great Examples of Social Influence and Terrible

question 106

Multiple Choice

There have been great examples of social influence and terrible examples of social influence. For instance, what do the Heaven's Gate followers and the "Freedom Riders" in the American civil rights movement have in common?

• A) They fell under the spell of strong, punitive, charismatic leaders.
• B) They were frustrated, and this frustration caused them to behave aggressively.
• C) They confronted extreme and confusing situations, and looked to others to decide how to behave.
• D) They lacked independence, and thus surrendered control to powerful others.

---

Definitions:

Attribution

The process by which individuals explain the causes of behavior and events.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to explain personal success by internal causes and personal failures by external causes.

Fundamental Attribution Error

A cognitive bias where individuals attribute others' actions to their character rather than external factors.

Spillover Effect

The influence of an event or behavior in one context spreading into another area, often unintentionally.