Social Psychology: fun facts and quiz

When lots of people see an emergency, each one may feel less responsible for helping. It’s called the bystander effect.

Key fact
Pointing at one person, “You, call for help!”, cuts through it.

When someone cuts us off in traffic, we assume they’re rude, not that they’re rushing to hospital. We over-blame character and under-blame situations.

Key fact
We tend to excuse our own mistakes by pointing to the situation.

Social norms are unwritten rules about how to behave, like facing the door in a lift or joining the back of a queue. Breaking them feels surprisingly uncomfortable.

Key fact
Hotel guests reused towels more when told most guests do.

We form first impressions in a split second, from faces, voices and clothes. They can stick even when later evidence disagrees.

Key fact
In one study, a tenth of a second was enough to judge trustworthiness.

In Stanley Milgram’s 1960s experiments, many people obeyed orders to give what they thought were painful shocks to a stranger. None of the shocks were real.

Key fact
About two-thirds went all the way to the highest level.

Groupthink happens when a group wants harmony so much that nobody challenges bad ideas. Doubters stay quiet, and the group feels more certain than it should.

Key fact
Naming a “devil’s advocate” can help groups avoid it.

People quickly favour their own group, even one assigned at random, like a team colour. Psychologists call it in-group bias.

Key fact
Working on a shared goal can bring rival groups together.