Which concept does the finding that more than 50% of incoming college students haven't had a drink in two weeks best illustrate in the context of stress and college life?

• A. The social norms approach
• B. The bystander effect
• C. The false consensus effect
• D. Cognitive dissonance

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key finding: More than 50% of incoming college students haven't had a drink in two weeks. This suggests a behavior pattern among the majority of students.
2. Step 2: Review the concepts provided: The social norms approach, the bystander effect, the false consensus effect, and cognitive dissonance. Each relates differently to perceptions and behaviors in social psychology.
3. Step 3: Analyze the social norms approach, which involves how individuals' behavior is influenced by their perceptions of what is typical or normal within a group. This approach often addresses misconceptions about peer behavior.
4. Step 4: Consider the false consensus effect, which is the tendency to overestimate how much others share our beliefs or behaviors. This contrasts with the social norms approach, which corrects misperceptions about others' behaviors.
5. Step 5: Connect the finding to the social norms approach by recognizing that the data reveals the actual norm (majority not drinking), which may differ from students' perceptions, thus illustrating how correcting these misperceptions can influence behavior.