You Are Sitting in Your Psychology Class, and You Do

question 162

Multiple Choice

You are sitting in your psychology class, and you do not understand what the professor is saying. You would like to ask a question, but as you look around the room, you see others quietly taking notes, and it looks like they understand. Nobody is asking questions, so you don't either. As it turns out, the majority of the students are thinking just as you are, so nobody asks any questions. This situation illustrates the concept of

• A) the diffusion of responsibility.
• B) pluralistic ignorance.
• C) social loafing.
• D) group polarization.

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Definitions:

Academic Departments

Structured divisions within universities or colleges that focus on a particular field of study or academic discipline.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A theoretical approach in psychology that emphasizes unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping personality and behavior.

Ego Suppression

The deliberate or unconscious effort to control or diminish the influence of the ego, often to reduce conflict or promote psychological growth.

Sweat-Gland Activity

The physiological function of producing and secreting sweat through the skin's glands, often in response to heat or stress.