Deck 12: Social Psychology

Question 1

A dispositional attribution is to ________ as a situational attribution is to ________.

A) central route persuasion;peripheral route persuasion
B) high ability;low motivation
C) personality traits;assigned roles
D) politically liberal;politically conservative

Answer 1

personality traits;assigned roles

Question 2

People are especially likely to demonstrate the fundamental attribution error in cultures that value

A) individualism.
B) role playing.
C) collectivism.
D) attributions.

Answer 2

individualism.

Question 3

In explaining our own behavior or the behavior of those we know well,we often resort to

A) dispositional attributions.
B) role playing.
C) cognitive dissonance.
D) situational attributions.

Answer 3

situational attributions.

Question 4

To analyze how people explain others' behavior,Fritz Heider developed

A) cognitive dissonance theory.
B) role-playing theory.
C) attribution theory.
D) attitude theory.

Question 5

Michelle's 6-year-old son is behaving very poorly in a restaurant.Michelle tells her friend that he is behaving badly because he is tired.Michelle's friend thinks the behavior results from poor parenting.Both explanations are examples of

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) an attitude.
C) an attribution.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Question 6

Students who were told that a young woman had been instructed to act in a very unfriendly way for the purposes of the experiment concluded that her behavior

A) reflected her personal disposition.
B) was determined by the situation.
C) demonstrated role playing.
D) illustrated central route persuasion.

Question 7

Sixteen-year-old Gregory wrecked his parent's car on a snowy day.His parents assumed that the accident was caused by his carelessness and lack of concern for their car.Gregory's parents' assumption illustrates

A) a dispositional attribution.
B) an attitude.
C) a situational attribution.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 8

Rhonda has just learned that her neighbor Patricia was involved in an automobile accident at a nearby intersection.The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error may lead Rhonda to conclude

A) "Patricia's brakes must have failed."
B) "Patricia's recklessness has finally gotten her into trouble."
C) "Patricia's children probably distracted her."
D) "The road must have been wet and slippery."

Question 9

The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal dispositions on another's behavior is called

A) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) cognitive dissonance.
D) central route persuasion.

Question 10

Jonah's friend,Julio,is late for their tee time at the golf course.Jonah thinks Julio is late because he is inconsiderate and selfish,when in fact he was late because the battery in his car died.Jonah has just committed

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) an attitude.
C) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Question 11

You would probably be least likely to commit the fundamental attribution error in explaining why

A) you failed a college test.
B) a classmate you don't know was late for class.
C) your professor gave a boring lecture.
D) the college administration decided to raise next year's tuition costs.

Question 12

Professor Hegg conducts research on cultural factors that contribute to the development of romantic love.Which specialty area does the professor's research best represent?

A) cognitive psychology
B) personality psychology
C) clinical psychology
D) social psychology

Question 13

A tendency to overestimate the extent to which a stranger's violent behavior stems from his or her aggressive personality best illustrates

A) peripheral route persuasion.
B) cognitive dissonance.
C) the fundamental attribution error.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 14

According to ________,people explain behavior by crediting either the situation or the person's disposition.

A) attribution theory
B) cognitive dissonance theory
C) psychoanalytic theory
D) social influence theory

Question 15

Caitlin concluded that her husband was late for dinner because he was caught in heavy traffic.Her conclusion best illustrates

A) a dispositional attribution.
B) an attitude.
C) a situational attribution.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 16

The text defines social psychology as the scientific study of how people ________ one another.

A) understand,feel about,and behave toward
B) think about,influence,and relate to
C) observe,understand,and communicate with
D) understand,predict,and control

Question 17

Attribution theory was developed by

A) Walter Mishel.
B) Fritz Heider.
C) Robert Cialdini.
D) Phillip Zimbardo.

Question 18

According to the text,an attribution is

A) the process of utilizing the central route to persuasion.
B) a mental process people use to explain their behavior and the behavior of others.
C) a type of role playing.
D) the process of attitudes causing behavior.

Question 19

Compared with how we explain our own actions,in explaining other people's behavior we are more likely to refer to

A) dispositional influences.
B) role playing.
C) situational influences.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question 20

Recognizing the powerful impact of social influence on others' behaviors is most likely to minimize

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) central route persuasion.
C) attitudes.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Question 21

Cynthia thinks that her new neighbor is mean and snobbish.This ________ will likely influence Cynthia to act negatively toward her neighbor.

A) attitude
B) foot-in-the-door phenomenon
C) social norm
D) role playing

Question 22

Which of the following individuals is least likely to cheat on his income tax returns?

A) Jake,who loves his country
B) Jonas,who admires personal honesty
C) Mikhail,who positively values paying his full income tax
D) Fabio,who cares little about personal wealth

Question 23

A television commercial for a fast-food restaurant shows three women in bikinis eating the restaurant's triple-decker hamburger.This commercial best illustrates

A) central route persuasion.
B) peripheral route persuasion.
C) cognitive dissonance.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 24

Opinion change resulting from incidental cues such as a speaker's attractiveness illustrates

A) central route persuasion.
B) peripheral route persuasion.
C) cognitive dissonance.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 25

First agreeing to a small request tends to make it more likely that you will later agree to a larger request.This is known as

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) central route persuasion.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 26

Sixteen-year-old Jessica is pressured by her friends into drinking alcohol.Later she also gives in to them and tries heroin.Her experience best illustrates

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) attribution theory.
C) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D) central route persuasion.

Question 27

Feelings,often influenced by our beliefs,that predispose us to respond in particular ways to objects,people,and events are called

A) roles.
B) dissonance.
C) attitudes.
D) attributions.

Question 28

To brainwash captured American soldiers during the Korean war,Chinese communists made effective use of

A) attribution theory.
B) role playing.
C) central route persuasion.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 29

A life insurance salesperson who takes advantage of the foot-in-the-door phenomenon would be most likely to

A) emphasize that his company is one of the largest in the insurance industry.
B) promise a free gift to those who agree to purchase an insurance policy.
C) ask customers to respond to a brief survey of their attitudes regarding life insurance.
D) address customers by their first names.

Question 30

One explanation for the fundamental attribution error involves observers'

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) limited visual perspective.
C) role playing.
D) central route persuasion.

Question 31

Reversing the perspectives of actor and observer reduces ________ among observers.

A) central route persuasion
B) cognitive dissonance
C) role playing
D) the fundamental attribution error

Question 32

Poverty and unemployment are likely to be explained in terms of ________ by political liberals and in terms of ________ by political conservatives.

A) personal dispositions;situational constraints
B) role playing;personal dispositions
C) situational constraints;personal dispositions
D) situational influences;role playing

Question 33

The tendency for initial compliance with a small request to facilitate subsequent compliance with a larger request is known as

A) peripheral route persuasion.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) role playing.
D) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 34

Our attitudes about another person are most likely to influence the way we treat that person if our attitudes are

A) negative.
B) positive.
C) unconscious.
D) stable.

Question 35

The fundamental attribution error is most likely to lead observers to conclude that unemployed people

A) are victims of discrimination.
B) are irresponsible and unmotivated.
C) have parents who provided poor models of social responsibility.
D) attended schools that provided an inferior education.

Question 36

Magazine computer ads seldom feature endorsements from Hollywood stars or great athletes.Instead,they offer detailed information for consumers to develop more positive opinions about the company's products.This advertising strategy best illustrates

A) peripheral route persuasion.
B) central route persuasion.
C) attributions.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question 37

Central route persuasion is most likely when people

A) are naturally analytical.
B) are uninvolved in an issue.
C) make snap judgments.
D) have difficulty paying attention.

Question 38

An adult's attitude toward church attendance is most likely to predict his or her likelihood of attending church if

A) the attitude is implicit rather than explicit.
B) the attitude first developed during adulthood.
C) the attitude is moderately positive rather than extremely positive.
D) the attitude is stable and enduring.

Question 39

Researchers have filmed two people interacting face-to-face with cameras located just behind each person.Showing each person a replay of their interaction filmed from the other person's perspective increased their tendency to attribute the other person's behavior to

A) dispositional influences.
B) situational influences.
C) personality traits.
D) role playing.

Question 40

Our attitudes are more likely to guide our actions when we

A) experience the fundamental attribution error.
B) feel incompetent or insecure.
C) can easily recall our attitudes.
D) are exposed to cognitive dissonance.

Question 41

Juanita is a new second-grade teacher who believes that when correcting the behavior of a child you should explain why the behavior is wrong and how to change the behavior.Her teaching mentor believes that focusing on discipline and correcting each mistake harshly will help avoid behavior problems in the future.Juanita is now using the same harsh discipline.Based on the findings of Zimbardo's prison study,Juanita's change in attitude about her job illustrates the impact of

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) peripheral route persuasion.
C) attributions.
D) role playing on attitudes.

Question 42

Feeling responsible for behavior that violates our conscience is most likely to contribute to

A) central route persuasion.
B) cognitive dissonance.
C) the fundamental attribution error.
D) attributions.

Question 43

Cognitive dissonance theory emphasizes that we seek to reduce the discomfort we feel when we become aware that

A) our attitudes and actions clash.
B) our efforts to achieve a goal have been blocked.
C) we have overestimated the impact of personal dispositions on behavior.
D) others' pursuit of their self-interest can harm our well-being.

Question 44

Cognitive dissonance refers to the discomfort we feel when our thoughts and behaviors are

A) implicit.
B) conciliatory.
C) inconsistent.
D) reciprocated.

Question 45

Cognitive dissonance theory is most helpful for understanding

A) central route persuasion.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D) peripheral route persuasion.

Question 46

When no weapons of mass destruction were found following the U.S.invasion of Iraq,some Americans revised their memories of the main rationale for going to war.This suggests that we can best explain why people changed their memories in terms of

A) the fundamental attribution error.
B) role-playing theory.
C) central route persuasion.
D) cognitive dissonance theory.

Question 47

The ideas,attitudes,values,and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next is called

A) conformity.
B) collectivism.
C) division of labor.
D) culture.

Question 48

The practice of covering your mouth when you cough best illustrates the impact of

A) genetic predispositions.
B) informational social influence.
C) division of labor.
D) norms.

Question 49

By inventing the custom of using leaves to clean their bodies and passing it on to their peers and offspring,chimpanzees have exhibited a rudiment of

A) mood linkage.
B) collectivism.
C) division of labor.
D) culture.

Question 50

In atrocious situations such as Zimbardo's simulated prison,some people succumb to the situation and others do not.This best illustrates

A) central route persuasion.
B) peripheral route persuasion.
C) attribution theory.
D) the interactive influence of persons and situations.

Question 51

Unlike our ancestors of centuries past,humans today rely heavily on personal computers and electronic communications.This best illustrates the impact of

A) conformity.
B) mood linkage.
C) collectivism.
D) culture.

Question 52

The rules of a culture for accepted and expected behavior are

A) attributions.
B) norms.
C) division of labor.
D) normative social influences.

Question 53

In the years immediately following the introduction of school desegregation in the United States and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,White Americans expressed diminishing racial prejudice.According to the text author,this best illustrated the impact of

A) role playing.
B) actions on attitudes.
C) the fundamental attribution error.
D) attributions.

Question 54

Studies of role playing most directly highlight the effects of

A) group size on persuasion.
B) actions on cognitive dissonance.
C) an audience on central route persuasion.
D) actions on attitudes.

Question 55

College professors are typically expected to teach courses,engage in scholarly activity,and serve on a variety of college committees.These professional duties are best described as requirements associated with a specific

A) attribution.
B) attitude.
C) role.
D) disposition.

Question 56

Someone from the European community,which requires 20 paid vacation days each year,may experience ________ when working in the United States,which does not guarantee workers any paid vacation.

A) division of labor
B) mood linkage
C) colliding cultures
D) conformity

Question 57

During a test,Abe impulsively copied several answers from a nearby student's paper.He felt very uncomfortable about having done this until he convinced himself that copying answers is not wrong if classmates are careless enough to expose their test sheets.Which theory best explains why Abe adopted this new attitude?

A) role-playing theory
B) attribution theory
C) persuasion theory
D) cognitive dissonance theory

Question 58

Social norms have been found to

A) facilitate smooth social interaction.
B) vary from one culture to another.
C) free people from uncertainty about how they ought to behave.
D) do all of these things.

Question 59

If one student in a classroom begins to cough,others are likely to do the same.This best illustrates

A) mood linkage.
B) mood contagion.
C) informational social influence.
D) the chameleon effect.

Question 60

In Philip Zimbardo's simulated prison study

A) the participants were assigned the role of prisoner or guard on the basis of their personality test scores.
B) the participants found it very difficult to play the role of prison guard.
C) the participants were so endangered by their role-playing experience that the study was discontinued after six days.
D) the fair guards protected the prisoners from the "bad" guards..

Question 61

Ten-year-old Maria finds that her 6-month-old sister Anna will smile when Maria smiles and laugh when Maria laughs.Anna's imitation of Maria's facial expressions is an example of

A) informational social influence.
B) automatic mimicry.
C) cognitive dissonance.
D) personal control.

Question 62

The understood rules for accepted and expected behavior are called

A) automatic mimicry.
B) social norms.
C) personal control.
D) mood linkage.

Question 63

Mood linkage refers to

A) sharing the moods of those around us.
B) attributing others' moods to personal control.
C) changing our mood to gain social approval.
D) associating low levels of physical arousal with positive moods.

Question 64

Jason has the ability to mimic the facial gestures of his friends and mirror their moods and emotional states.For this reason,his friends look to him for emotional support.Jason's behavior illustrates

A) empathy.
B) subjectivity.
C) authenticity.
D) prejudice.

Question 65

Toby publicly agrees with his fraternity brothers that Ahmed,a senior,would make the best student senate president.On the secret ballot,however,he actually votes for Yoram.Toby's public conformity to his fraternity brothers' opinion best illustrates the power of

A) social facilitation.
B) informational social influence.
C) normative social influence.
D) the chameleon effect.

Question 66

We are likely to conform to group pressure when

A) we have observed another group member voice dissent.
B) we admire the group's status and attractiveness.
C) our opinions and behaviors are private rather than public.
D) our culture encourages a lack of respect for social norms.

Question 67

Professor Maslova attends faculty meetings simply to gain the approval of the college dean.His behavior exemplifies the importance of

A) personal control.
B) informational social influence.
C) normative social influence.
D) deindividuation.

Question 68

The chameleon effect involves

A) informational social influence.
B) automatic mimicry.
C) cognitive dissonance.
D) personal control.

Question 69

Cathy's friends see her as an emotional "downer." When she arrives at a party where everyone is laughing,the laughing and fun end.This change in her friends' behavior illustrates

A) groupthink.
B) informational social influence.
C) mood linkage.
D) deindividuation.

Question 70

Conformity is best described as

A) performing simple tasks more quickly in the presence of others.
B) adjusting one's behavior or thinking toward a group standard.
C) neglecting critical thinking in order to preserve group harmony.
D) losing self-awareness in group situations that foster anonymity.

Question 71

The practice of covering your mouth when you cough best illustrates the impact of

A) social loafing.
B) deindividuation.
C) social facilitation.
D) social norms.

Question 72

Danielle is happy to learn that her best friend from her hometown is on the phone.However,the sadness in her friend's voice causes Danielle's mood to change from happy to sad.This change in mood resulting from the tone of her friend's voice is called

A) group polarization.
B) mood contagion.
C) social loafing.
D) deindividuation.

Question 73

The text indicates that the clusters of suicides that sometimes follow a highly publicized suicide may be the result of

A) suggestibility.
B) social control.
C) deindividuation.
D) social facilitation.

Question 74

Conformity resulting from a person's desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval is said to be a response to

A) group polarization.
B) social facilitation.
C) normative social influence.
D) informational social influence.

Question 75

Solomon Asch asked people to identify which of three comparison lines was identical to a standard line.His research was designed to study

A) deindividuation.
B) social loafing.
C) social facilitation.
D) conformity.

Question 76

Just hearing someone reading a neutral text in a sad voice creates "mood contagion" in listeners.This best illustrates

A) conformity.
B) informational social influence.
C) the chameleon effect.
D) deindividuation.

Question 77

Naseeb disagrees with his classmates on an issue.During a class discussion,Naseeb is most likely to conform to his classmates' opinion on the issue if he

A) has a high level of self-esteem.
B) does not have to reveal his personal opinion at the close of the class discussion.
C) believes the rest of the class is unanimous in their position.
D) verbally expresses his own unique opinion early in the class discussion.

Question 78

Emma wants to ask Robert out,but decides to wait for him to ask her out.Emma's behavior illustrates the importance of

A) groupthink.
B) mood linkage.
C) social norms.
D) social facilitation.

Question 79

Hearing someone talk in a happy or sad voice can elicit the corresponding mood in the listener.This phenomenon is called

A) group polarization.
B) mood contagion.
C) social loafing.
D) deindividuation.

Question 80

Carissa just broke up with her boyfriend,but she agrees to join her friends at the local pizza parlor.When she arrives,everyone is laughing and having a good time,so she finds herself laughing and enjoying everyone's company.Carissa's reaction to her friends illustrates

A) mood linkage.
B) informational social influence.
C) social facilitation.
D) social loafing.