Q.1 Which of the following best defines self-concept?
A person's perception of their abilities, traits, and characteristics
The way a person behaves in social situations
A person's moral and ethical values
The unconscious desires and instincts of a person
Explanation - Self-concept refers to how individuals perceive themselves, encompassing traits, abilities, and attributes they believe they possess.
Correct answer is: A person's perception of their abilities, traits, and characteristics
Q.2 Which theory suggests that self-esteem is influenced by how we believe others perceive us?
Social Identity Theory
Looking-Glass Self
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Self-Perception Theory
Explanation - The Looking-Glass Self, proposed by Charles Cooley, emphasizes that individuals shape their self-concept based on their perception of others' judgments.
Correct answer is: Looking-Glass Self
Q.3 When a person identifies strongly with a particular social group, which aspect of identity is most relevant?
Personal identity
Social identity
Cultural identity
Gender identity
Explanation - Social identity theory suggests that part of an individual's self-concept derives from membership in social groups, such as ethnicity, nationality, or clubs.
Correct answer is: Social identity
Q.4 Which process explains why people sometimes adopt the behaviors or opinions of a group they belong to?
Social facilitation
Conformity
Obedience
Attribution
Explanation - Conformity occurs when individuals adjust their behavior or beliefs to match the group norms, often to fit in or gain approval.
Correct answer is: Conformity
Q.5 Which term describes the awareness of oneself as a distinct individual with unique traits?
Self-awareness
Self-esteem
Self-concept
Ego
Explanation - Self-awareness is the recognition of oneself as an individual separate from others, including knowledge of one’s own feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Correct answer is: Self-awareness
Q.6 What is the difference between self-esteem and self-concept?
Self-esteem is an evaluative aspect, while self-concept is descriptive
Self-esteem is how others see us, while self-concept is internal
Self-concept is only about abilities, self-esteem is about values
There is no difference; they are identical
Explanation - Self-concept is the overall view of oneself (descriptive), whereas self-esteem is the evaluative judgment about oneself (positive or negative).
Correct answer is: Self-esteem is an evaluative aspect, while self-concept is descriptive
Q.7 Which psychologist is best known for studying identity development during adolescence?
Sigmund Freud
Erik Erikson
B.F. Skinner
Albert Bandura
Explanation - Erik Erikson proposed the psychosocial stages of development, highlighting identity formation as a key task during adolescence.
Correct answer is: Erik Erikson
Q.8 The concept of 'multiple selves' refers to:
Everyone having a single, unchanging identity
The existence of different identities in different social contexts
A disorder where a person has two distinct personalities
The conflict between conscious and unconscious mind
Explanation - People often present different aspects of themselves depending on the social situation, such as family, work, or peer groups.
Correct answer is: The existence of different identities in different social contexts
Q.9 Which phenomenon occurs when individuals act in ways that reinforce others’ expectations of them?
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Cognitive bias
Groupthink
Reciprocity
Explanation - A self-fulfilling prophecy happens when a person’s behavior conforms to others’ expectations, making those expectations come true.
Correct answer is: Self-fulfilling prophecy
Q.10 Which of the following influences self-concept the most during early adolescence?
Parental expectations
Peer feedback
Media representations
Innate personality
Explanation - During early adolescence, peers play a critical role in shaping self-concept through feedback, approval, or criticism.
Correct answer is: Peer feedback
Q.11 The term 'social comparison' refers to:
Comparing oneself to others to evaluate one’s own abilities
Comparing social groups in society
Ranking one's social status
Evaluating friendships based on popularity
Explanation - Social comparison theory suggests that individuals determine their own social and personal worth by comparing themselves to others.
Correct answer is: Comparing oneself to others to evaluate one’s own abilities
Q.12 Which of the following best describes a collective self?
Self-definition based on personal achievements
Self-definition based on group membership
Self-definition based on physical appearance
Self-definition independent of social context
Explanation - The collective self refers to how individuals define themselves in terms of their social group memberships and shared identities.
Correct answer is: Self-definition based on group membership
Q.13 Identity diffusion, according to Erikson, occurs when:
An individual explores multiple roles but remains undecided
An individual is fully committed to one identity
A person rejects all social roles
A person has a strong sense of self
Explanation - Identity diffusion is characterized by a lack of commitment and direction in identity formation, often seen in adolescence.
Correct answer is: An individual explores multiple roles but remains undecided
Q.14 Which aspect of identity emphasizes gender, ethnicity, and religion?
Personal identity
Social identity
Cognitive identity
Moral identity
Explanation - Social identity highlights the part of self-concept derived from group memberships, including gender, ethnicity, religion, and culture.
Correct answer is: Social identity
Q.15 Which psychological concept explains why people may present an idealized version of themselves online?
Self-discrepancy theory
Attachment theory
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Explanation - Self-discrepancy theory states that differences between the actual self, ideal self, and ought self can motivate behaviors, including idealized self-presentation.
Correct answer is: Self-discrepancy theory
Q.16 A person who defines themselves primarily through their achievements is emphasizing which part of self-concept?
Physical self
Social self
Agentic/personal self
Relational self
Explanation - The agentic or personal self focuses on individual traits, abilities, and accomplishments rather than relational or social aspects.
Correct answer is: Agentic/personal self
Q.17 Which term refers to the tendency to attribute successes to oneself and failures to external factors?
Fundamental attribution error
Self-serving bias
Actor-observer bias
Social facilitation
Explanation - Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute personal successes to internal factors and failures to external causes, protecting self-esteem.
Correct answer is: Self-serving bias
Q.18 Which factor most strongly influences self-concept stability over time?
Consistent social feedback
Changing peer groups
Life transitions
Random experiences
Explanation - Consistent feedback from significant others helps maintain a stable self-concept, even amid life changes.
Correct answer is: Consistent social feedback
Q.19 In social psychology, 'role identity' refers to:
The internalized expectations of specific social roles
A person's overall personality
The part of identity that is biological
The unconscious desires affecting behavior
Explanation - Role identity is the internalization of social role expectations, such as being a student, parent, or leader.
Correct answer is: The internalized expectations of specific social roles
Q.20 Which concept explains why individuals may behave differently at work and at home?
Cognitive dissonance
Multiple selves
Self-esteem
Self-efficacy
Explanation - The idea of multiple selves describes how people adapt different behaviors or identities in different social contexts to fit expectations.
Correct answer is: Multiple selves
Q.21 Which type of identity is explored most during the 'identity vs. role confusion' stage?
Personal and social identities
Moral identity only
Cultural identity only
Occupational identity only
Explanation - During Erikson's stage, adolescents explore both personal traits and social affiliations to form a coherent sense of self.
Correct answer is: Personal and social identities
Q.22 Which of the following is an example of an internal self-reference influencing behavior?
Acting according to personal values
Following peer pressure
Obeying authority
Copying media trends
Explanation - Internal self-references involve behavior guided by one’s own beliefs, values, and self-concept rather than external cues.
Correct answer is: Acting according to personal values
Q.23 Which is NOT a common influence on self-concept?
Peer feedback
Family environment
Media exposure
Random luck
Explanation - While many social and environmental factors shape self-concept, random luck has little consistent influence on one’s self-perception.
Correct answer is: Random luck
Q.24 Which process involves evaluating oneself by comparing with others in the same group?
Upward social comparison
Downward social comparison
In-group social comparison
Out-group social comparison
Explanation - In-group social comparison occurs when individuals evaluate themselves relative to others within the same social group to maintain or enhance self-esteem.
Correct answer is: In-group social comparison