Deck 10: Social Psychology

Question 1

Fran was recently treated very kindly by a man from Cuba. As a result, Fran feels at ease around people from Cuba. Fran's emotional response to Cubans is most likely the result of ____.

A) classical conditioning
B) mere exposure
C) habituation
D) social learning

Answer 1

classical conditioning

Question 2

Cognitive dissonance is most associated with ____.

A) cognitive inconsistency
B) an unchanged attitude
C) the fundamental attribution error
D) the self-serving bias

Answer 2

cognitive inconsistency

Question 3

Which condition is least likely to foster strong attitude-behavior consistency?

A) When an attitude is difficult to retrieve from memory
B) When we are very certain about our attitude
C) When we have learned an attitude through direct experience with the attitude object
D) When the cognitive and affective (emotional) aspects of the attitude are both negative

Answer 3

When an attitude is difficult to retrieve from memory

Question 4

Attitudes can be influenced by operant conditioning through the power of ____, whereas they can be influenced by classical conditioning through the power of ____.

A) nature; nurture
B) consequences; emotions
C) feeling; thinking
D) cognition; behavior

Question 5

Raul has begun to form a negative attitude toward the steady diet of violent programming on network television. His parents have noticed the attitude change and encouraged it by subscribing to more environmental channels. Raul's avoidance of violent television is being affected by ____.

A) classical conditioning
B) operant conditioning
C) habituation
D) respondent conditioning

Question 6

The liking or disliking we have for people, places, and things in our world are known as ____.

A) prejudices
B) attributions
C) attitudes
D) impressions

Question 7

The attitudes that people hold tend to be ____ the attitudes held by their parents.

A) similar to
B) more conservative than
C) more liberal than
D) the exact opposite of

Question 8

Throughout his childhood, Brett saw his father watching football every Monday night. Now that Brett is an adult, he also loves football and watches it every Monday night. Which of the following best explains Brett's football watching behavior?

A) Classical conditioning
B) Operant conditioning
C) Habituation
D) Observational learning

Question 9

Rick sees himself as athletic. He works out, eats right, and takes vitamins. According to dissonance theory, Rick is in a state of ____.

A) dissonance
B) discord
C) consonance
D) harmony

Question 10

Cognitive dissonance theory is an attempt to explain ____.

A) attitude inconsistency
B) behavior inconsistency
C) behavior constancy
D) attitude and/or behavior change

Question 11

Which statement would be most likely to create a state of cognitive dissonance, as defined by social psychologists?

A) Believing that "honesty is the best policy," but cheating on a test
B) Learning that you were right about something
C) Finding out that your partner is buying you a nice anniversary present
D) Wanting something particular for a birthday gift and not getting it

Question 12

Which of the following is a situation in which the person would likely feel dissonance?

A) Jack, who loves roller coasters, decides to ride one.
B) Madge, who wants an A in a class, decides to study this weekend.
C) Tyrone, who dislikes Millie, decides not to ask her to the movies this weekend.
D) Kenitha, who loves camping, decides to go shopping instead of camping this weekend.

Question 13

Which of the following is an attitude?

A) Liking spinach soufflé and parsnips
B) Knowing how to bake cookies
C) Recognizing the color green
D) Believing that El Salvador is in Central America

Question 14

Cognitive dissonance theory most directly explains ____.

A) attitude and/or behavior change as a result of external persuasion
B) conformity to a social norm
C) obedience to an authority figure
D) attitude and/or behavior change as a result of internal motivation

Question 15

Cognitive consistency theories refer to people being ____.

A) comfortable with inconsistencies between their attitudes and behavior
B) comfortable with inconsistencies between their attitudes and other attitudes
C) uncomfortable with inconsistencies between their attitudes and behaviors
D) able to model their behaviors after the attitudes of others they observe

Question 16

Psychologists who study attitude-behavior consistency point out that ____.

A) men and women show great differences in this area
B) people often engage in behaviors that go against their attitudes
C) children show inconsistency between their attitudes and behaviors, but adults rarely do
D) people rarely behave inconsistently with their attitudes

Question 17

The study of how people think and behave in social situations we experience is called ____.

A) social psychology
B) social cognition
C) attitude psychology
D) group psychology

Question 18

Cognitive consistency theories are specifically used to explain ____.

A) how we come to know ourselves
B) how we resolve conflict between ourselves and others with whom we interact
C) why and when we change our attitudes
D) the steps we go through when developing logical thinking skills

Question 19

Classical conditioning most often explains the ____ aspect of an attitude.

A) emotional
B) conscious
C) cognitive
D) informational

Question 20

The formation of attitudes is influenced by operant conditioning through the ____.

A) association of two stimuli leading to an emotional response
B) development of cognitive schemes
C) observation of others' behavior and the consequences they experience
D) consequences we receive for our own behaviors

Question 21

A person who is trying to persuade another person will be most persuasive if the ____.

A) other person is aware that the persuader is trying to persuade
B) persuader is of average attractiveness
C) persuader is not necessarily an expert on the issue
D) persuader gives both sides of the argument

Question 22

The two routes to persuasion that are described in the textbook are ____.

A) attitudinal and behavioral
B) central and peripheral
C) education and coercion
D) self-choice and indoctrination

Question 23

To please your date, you agree to attend a talk given by an attractive celebrity about water conservation, even though you don't know anything about the topic. You are most likely to process the celebrity's arguments on the ____ route.

A) central
B) systematic
C) peripheral
D) tertiary

Question 24

Persuasion that occurs in response to superficial aspects of a persuasive appeal is most closely associated with the ____.

A) central route to persuasion
B) peripheral route to persuasion
C) cognitive dissonance theory of persuasion
D) attribution model of persuasion

Question 25

Attitude change that occurs as a result of cognitive dissonance is most likely ____.

A) short-lasting
B) long-lasting
C) externally caused
D) internally caused

Question 26

Cognitive dissonance is to ____ attitude and/or behavior change, as persuasion is to ____ attitude and/or behavior change.

A) self-motivated; other-instigated
B) temporary; permanent
C) valid; invalid
D) superficial; deep

Question 27

When you listen to an advertisement for a cellular phone service and pay particular attention to the information provided about the long-distance plan, the coverage, and the clarity of the calls, you are using the ____.

A) dissonance model of persuasion
B) peripheral route to persuasion
C) central route to persuasion
D) cognitive consistency model of persuasion

Question 28

Persuasion is NOT reduced by the awareness that the communicator is trying to persuade us when _____.

A) the communicator is attractive
B) only one side of the argument is presented
C) the communicator has low credibility
D) the message is advertised on TV

Question 29

Which individual is likely to feel the greatest dissonance?

A) Deb, a conservative who voted for a conservative Republican in the last local election
B) George, an environmentalist who recycles his trash
C) Ira, a teacher who volunteers at a literacy program
D) Jonathon, a physician who owns stock in a fast food restaurant

Question 30

Which individual is processing an argument on the central route of persuasion?

A) Dave, a builder and a sport fisherman, listens to a politician talk about development around a local lake, and applies his experience and knowledge to what's being said about the issue.
B) Lucy watches an infomercial on TV while cooking dinner and cleaning the kitchen, and is persuaded to order the product by the upbeat music.
C) Mika listens to a talk radio debate on space exploration, a topic about which she knows next to nothing.
D) Falco overhears an argument between two young women on the subway but mainly pays attention to what the more attractive woman is saying.

Question 31

Any method that reduces or eliminates a person's state of cognitive dissonance returns that individual to a state of ____.

A) disbelief
B) anxiety
C) depression
D) consonance

Question 32

According to cognitive dissonance theory, which individual should experience the greatest cognitive dissonance?

A) A homeless person who asks strangers for money
B) A drug dealer who sells marijuana but not opioids
C) A humanitarian who supports cuts in social welfare programs
D) A hedge fund manager who buys stock in a wind power company

Question 33

The central route to persuasion is to ____, as the peripheral route to persuasion is to ____.

A) television advertising; print advertising
B) men; women
C) logical reasons; superficial reasons
D) external motivation; internal motivation

Question 34

An argument is most likely to be persuasive if it is made by a(n) _____.

A) attractive person who is an expert on the topic
B) unattractive person who is clearly trying to persuade the audience
C) attractive person facing an audience instructed to focus on the argument itself
D) an expert who presents only one side of an argument

Question 35

Cognitive dissonance is most accurately described as stemming from ____.

A) social pressure to conform
B) fear of appearing foolish
C) the need to get along with the group
D) inconsistencies among attitudes or between attitudes and behavior

Question 36

Winnie recently discovered that her favorite recording artist supports a political party that she dislikes very much. According to dissonance theory, how might this news affect Winnie's attitudes?

A) She will start liking the recording artist more.
B) She will start liking the recording artist less.
C) She will not experience any attitude change as a result of this news.
D) She will start liking both the artist and her favorite political party less.

Question 37

The use of critical analysis and logic in response to a persuasive appeal is most closely associated with the ____.

A) central route to persuasion
B) peripheral route to persuasion
C) cognitive dissonance theory of persuasion
D) attribution model of persuasion

Question 38

Receiving weak arguments from a credible source may increase persuasion over time if the recipient is focused on _____.

A) self-monitoring
B) the communicator's credibility
C) the drawbacks of the arguments
D) only one side of the arguments

Question 39

The distinction between the central route to persuasion and the peripheral route to persuasion is the ____.

A) type of cognitive process engaged in by the audience
B) length of exposure to the persuasive attempt
C) amount of attention given to both sides of the argument
D) use of emotional arguments in the persuasive attempt

Question 40

A persuader who acknowledges the other side of an argument will be perceived as more trustworthy by the audience. This is a factor associated with the ____ category of persuasion variables.

A) audience
B) message
C) communicator
D) consistency

Question 41

Who is most likely being persuaded via the peripheral route?

A) Jenna, a teen who is listening to an attractive actor make the case for a beauty product
B) Joe, a car enthusiast who is weighing the arguments for and against a new car purchase
C) Sunni, a cancer patient who is thinking carefully about the benefits and costs of a medical treatment
D) Bertram, a city official who is pondering how to balance the city's budget

Question 42

The study of attribution is concerned with the ____.

A) process of assigning cause to behavior
B) relationship between attitudes and behavior
C) components of a persuasive message
D) development of stereotypes and prejudices

Question 43

The fundamental attribution error is more likely to be committed by ____.

A) men than women
B) women than men
C) collectivistic cultures than individualistic cultures
D) individualistic cultures than collectivistic cultures

Question 44

We commit the fundamental attribution error when we ____.

A) discount situational explanations for behavior and rely more on trait explanations
B) change an attitude to match our behavior
C) view the actions of others from their perspective
D) conform to a group norm even though we do not really want to

Question 45

People from ____ cultures are less likely to engage in the fundamental attribution error.

A) Western
B) European
C) individualistic
D) collectivistic

Question 46

A psychologist who states that humans are cognitive misers generally means that humans tend to ____.

A) feel happy when in the company of others
B) be mean to each other
C) conserve mental resources when possible
D) be pessimistic

Question 47

A psychologist who studies impression formation is interested in ____.

A) the characteristics of people who have a high degree of charisma
B) the amount of influence that certain people have over other people
C) how we understand and make judgments of others
D) what makes an argument persuasive or not

Question 48

Generally, it's easier to persuade _____ .

A) everyone on the peripheral rather than central route
B) females on the central rather than peripheral route
C) males when the communicator is unattractive
D) children and teenagers on the central rather than peripheral route

Question 49

In which of the following situations would the audience be most likely to trust the communicator?

A) A politician giving a speech lauding the merits of her platform
B) A salesperson telling you all about the benefits of his product
C) A salesperson telling you about the pros and cons of the newest models of his product
D) A person working for a charity explaining why you should donate to her cause

Question 50

A trait attribution is to ____, as a situational attribution is to ____.

A) right; wrong
B) personality; environment
C) heuristic; algorithm
D) cognitive miser; cognitive spender

Question 51

You see a man slip and fall in the parking lot and you decide that he must have tripped over a broken curb. In making this judgment, you have made a ____ attribution.

A) trait
B) situational
C) false
D) correct

Question 52

Rhonda is interested in buying a car. At the car dealer's lot, pleasant music is playing overhead, and there are free hot dogs and soft drinks. In this festive atmosphere, which Rhonda finds quite enjoyable, how is she likely to respond to the salesperson's attempts to get her to buy a car?

A) She will likely be more resistant to being persuaded.
B) She will likely be more easily persuaded to buy a car.
C) She will likely feel like partying, but she is unlikely to buy a car.
D) There will likely be no effect on Rhonda.

Question 53

The study of attribution is most closely associated with ____.

A) social influence
B) persuasion
C) conformity
D) impression formation

Question 54

If the average person saw a man picking up trash on the side of the road, what type of attribution would they most likely make for his behavior?

A) Trait
B) Situational
C) An unbiased one
D) Impossible to tell from the information given

Question 55

Which of the following is TRUE about how audience variables affect one's response to persuasion?

A) Research doesn't support any blanket statements about whether variables like self-monitoring lead to high or low persuasion.
B) High intelligence leads to low persuasion.
C) Low self-esteem leads to high persuasion.
D) Better moods are associated with high persuasion.

Question 56

A culture that emphasizes group behavior and group success over individual success would be described as ____.

A) traditional
B) individualistic
C) collectivistic
D) fundamentalist

Question 57

When you are subjected to a persuasive attempt that presents both the pros and cons of a proposal, you are ____.

A) more likely to be persuaded
B) more likely to be persuaded only if you are female
C) less likely to be persuaded only if you are male
D) less likely to be persuaded

Question 58

Which conclusion about the impact of audience variables is warranted by the current state of research?

A) The lower your self-esteem, the easier you are to persuade.
B) The smarter you are, the harder you are to persuade.
C) It is impossible to make blanket statements about the effect of each audience variable on persuasion.
D) In all circumstances, positive mood will enhance one's vulnerability to persuasion.

Question 59

Witnessing a restaurant server drop a food plate on the ground, and then concluding that the server is uncoordinated, would be an example of ____.

A) bystander apathy
B) the self-serving bias
C) the fundamental attribution error
D) cognitive dissonance

Question 60

You see a woman yelling at her child in the store and you decide that she must not be a very good mother. In making this judgment, you made ____.

A) a trait attribution only
B) a situational attribution only
C) a correct attribution only
D) trait and correct attributions

Question 61

Another name for the fundamental attribution error is ____.

A) groupthink
B) normative conformity
C) pluralistic ignorance
D) correspondence bias

Question 62

The most common motive underlying hate crimes in the United States is ____ prejudice.

A) racial
B) religious
C) gender
D) sexual orientation

Question 63

Making an attribution of another person and not knowing that person's perspective on the situation would most likely lead to ____.

A) the fundamental attribution error
B) cognitive dissonance
C) the self-serving bias
D) the mere exposure effect

Question 64

A stereotype is a ____.

A) negative emotional reaction to a group of people
B) set of beliefs and information about a group of people
C) belief that a group of people are "bad" in some way
D) belief that a person is "bad" in some way

Question 65

Which of the following reflects a self-serving bias?

A) Seeing another person trip and assuming the person is uncoordinated
B) Receiving an A on a test and thinking that the test was easy
C) Being turned down for a job and believing that the interviewer was biased against you
D) Watching another person play the guitar and thinking the person is very talented

Question 66

Making an attribution about your own behavior while being very aware of the environment and the context surrounding the behavior would most likely lead to ____.

A) a fundamental attribution error
B) cognitive dissonance
C) actor/observer bias
D) the mere exposure effect

Question 67

On average, an individual from which culture is least likely to exhibit the fundamental attribution error?

A) Germany
B) Canada
C) England
D) Japan

Question 68

Stereotypes are ____.

A) of no useful benefit
B) always negative toward a group
C) often helpful to us
D) not a natural aspect of human thinking

Question 69

Randa just failed her history exam because she neglected to study. Afterward, she attributes her test failure to the fact that her boyfriend kept her up too late the night before when he refused to turn down the stereo so that she could sleep. The next day she aces her biology test. Randa attributes her success on it to her own intelligence. Randa appears to be engaging in which attributional bias?

A) Fundamental attribution error
B) Self-serving bias
C) Actor/observer bias
D) Cognitive dissonance

Question 70

A prejudice differs from a stereotype in that it includes ____.

A) actions
B) a negative emotional reaction
C) a cognitive component
D) a positive emotional reaction

Question 71

When making attributions as the actor, our focus tends to be on ____.

A) the actor
B) the observer
C) the environment
D) ourselves

Question 72

The motivation behind the self-serving bias appears to be to ____.

A) make correct attributions
B) make ourselves feel better
C) perceive the world from the perspective of others
D) perceive the world more quickly and efficiently

Question 73

Which of the following do social psychologists say is TRUE about the duplex mind?

A) Acts of prejudice can be conscious and deliberate but not unconscious and implicit.
B) The mind processes information on both a conscious explicit level and an unconscious implicit level.
C) When we process on the implicit level, we behave more rationally and less intuitively.
D) The part of the mind that is conscious and rational is comparatively fast in its processing.

Question 74

When engaging in the attribution process, the observer's focus tends to be on ____.

A) the actor
B) the observer
C) the environment
D) other people around the actor

Question 75

A stereotype is the ____ component of an attitude.

A) behavioral
B) affective
C) emotional
D) cognitive

Question 76

Cody is known to be judgmental and tends to harshly describe others as lazy or stupid when they require assistance. Cody is demonstrating ____.

A) self-serving bias
B) cognitive dissonance
C) individualistic bias
D) the fundamental attribution error

Question 77

Both the fundamental attribution error and the actor/observer bias can possibly be explained by ____.

A) our desire to be cognitively consistent
B) the focus of our attention
C) our motivation to be accurate
D) the level of our self-esteem

Question 78

The actor/observer bias suggests that we ____.

A) are more aware of the situational explanations of our own behavior than we are for the behavior of others
B) are more likely to make trait attributions than situational attributions for our own behavior
C) have a tendency to take credit for good things and blame something else for bad things
D) have a tendency to think that we are unique compared to other people

Question 79

The actor/observer bias suggests that ____.

A) everyone has some type of prejudice that stems from natural cognitive processes
B) we have a different focus when observing ourselves compared to when we observe others
C) we tend to view ourselves more favorably than we view others
D) if many people observe a person in need of help, the chances of that person getting help are low

Question 80

Tom dislikes all people of a certain race because he feels that they are somehow less capable than him. Tom would most specifically be described as ____.

A) having a prejudice
B) engaging in discrimination
C) being homophobic
D) holding a stereotype