Question 1

People who are physically attractive are viewed as ____ than less attractive people.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that people who are physically attractive are perceived as more friendly, well adjusted, and competent. This is known as the halo effect, where people make broader judgments about a person based on one trait (in this case, attractiveness). The other choices are incorrect as research has shown no relationship between physical attractiveness and conceitedness or insecurity. While physically attractive people may be perceived as more sociable, being less competent is not a consistent perception.

Question 2

Joel and Kirk both work with a stock brokerage firm. Joel is considered to be extremely attractive, and Kirk is considered to be average in appearance. Based on research that has investigated the effects of physical appearance in person perception, you should predict that

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that physically attractive individuals are perceived more positively and receive preferential treatment in a variety of contexts, including the workplace. Therefore, it is likely that Joel, who is considered extremely attractive, will receive better performance evaluations than Kirk, even if their work is equivalent.

Question 3

Widely held beliefs about groups of people based on their group membership defines

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes are widely held beliefs or generalizations about a group of people based on their group membership, often stemming from societal prejudices or biases. Cognitive structuring and schematizing are related concepts but do not specifically refer to beliefs about groups of people. Cultural direction is not a recognized term in this context.

Question 4

The subfield of psychology that studies attitudes, the attribution process, person perceptions, interpersonal attraction, conformity and obedience and group behavior is known as

Accepted Answer

The subfield of psychology that studies attitudes, the attribution process, person perceptions, interpersonal attraction, conformity and obedience and group behavior is known as social psychology. Environmental psychology focuses on the interplay between individuals and their physical surroundings, while neuropsychology examines how behavior and cognition are influenced by brain functioning. Sociocultural psychology investigates the role of social and cultural factors in shaping individual behavior and thought processes.

Question 5

Person perception refers to the process of

Accepted Answer

Person perception specifically refers to the process of forming impressions of others. While developing an implicit personality theory and predicting behavior may be part of this process, they are not the main focus. Monitoring the impressions you make on others is also important, but it is not the same as person perception.

Question 6

One of your friends brings her cousin Eric to a party. Eric is very attractive. You are MOSTlikely to view Eric as also being

Accepted Answer

The question mentions that Eric is "very attractive," but nothing else is known about him. Therefore, it is most likely that a person would view Eric as friendly and competent/smart in addition to being attractive, rather than immediately assuming negative characteristics such as arrogance or conceit. It is not appropriate to assume Eric is incompetent or dumb based solely on his appearance.

Question 7

When people estimate that they have encountered more confirmations of an association between social traits then they have actually seen they have

Accepted Answer

When people estimate that they have encountered more confirmations of an association between social traits than they have actually seen, they have made an illusory correlation. This is a cognitive bias where people believe there is a relationship between two variables, but in reality, no such relationship exists. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 8

Marsha believes that all news reporters are cynical, doubting individuals who would sell their souls for an exclusive story. In this case, Marsha's beliefs about the traits and behaviors of news reporters are one example of

Accepted Answer

Marsha's beliefs about news reporters are an example of stereotypes, which are overgeneralized and often inaccurate beliefs about a particular group of people. Stereotypes can be based on a variety of factors, including personal experiences, media portrayals, and cultural norms.

Question 9

All of the following statements concerning stereotypes are accurate EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Not all social schemas are stereotypes. Social schemas are cognitive frameworks that help individuals organize and understand information about the social world, whereas stereotypes specifically refer to overgeneralized beliefs about groups of individuals.

Question 10

Person perception refers to

Accepted Answer

Person perception refers to the process of forming impressions of others.

Question 11

The illusory correlation effect occurs when we

Accepted Answer

The illusory correlation effect refers to the phenomenon where people perceive a relationship between two variables (typically social traits) even when no such relationship exists, often because their expectations or beliefs distort their perception and memory.

Question 12

A stereotype is

Accepted Answer

A stereotype is a belief or assumption that people in a certain group will have certain characteristics or behaviors because of their membership in that group. It is a widely held belief and may not necessarily be accurate or true for every individual in the group.

Question 13

Widely held beliefs that people have certain characteristics because of their membership in a particular group are BEST described as

Accepted Answer

The term "stereotypes" refers to widely held beliefs or assumptions about a group of people based on their membership in that group. These beliefs may be positive or negative and can be based on factors like race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination, as they can lead people to make assumptions about individuals based solely on their group membership rather than on their individual characteristics and behaviors.

Question 14

Which of the following people are MOST likely to be viewed as more competent?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following people are MOST...

Question 15

John observed Gracie, an executive for a large accounting firm, behave in an aggressive and pushy manner with her subordinates. John now believes that most women executives are basically aggressive and pushy with their subordinates. John's overestimation of the relationship between women executives and the social traits of "pushy" and "aggressive" is referred to as

Accepted Answer

John's overestimation of the relationship between women executives and the social traits of "pushy" and "aggressive" is an example of an illusory correlation, which refers to the perception of a relationship between two variables that does not actually exist or is much weaker than assumed. In this case, John's observation of Gracie's behavior is likely influencing his perception of all women executives, creating a false belief about a relationship between gender and workplace behavior.

Question 16

In terms of personality characteristics, people who are good looking tend to be viewed as

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that people who are physically attractive are perceived as more sociable, friendly, and warm compared to their less attractive counterparts. This may be due to the halo effect, where people automatically associate positive qualities with someone who is physically attractive. However, being physically attractive does not necessarily guarantee that a person possesses other positive traits such as honesty, intelligence, or nonconformity.

Question 17

Research on physical attractiveness has shown that

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people tend to ascribe desirable personality characteristics to good-looking individuals, a phenomenon known as the "halo effect." This effect occurs because physical appearance is often the first thing we notice about someone and it can color our perceptions of their other traits. This effect is not limited to judgments of one gender over the other.

Question 18

Newton believes that all airline pilots are calm, cool individuals who never get excited or show any strong emotional responses. In this case, Newton's beliefs about the traits and behaviors of airline pilots are one example of

Accepted Answer

Newton's belief about the traits and behaviors of airline pilots are based on stereotypes, which are overgeneralized beliefs about a particular group of people. Stereotypes are often inaccurate and can lead to biased judgments and behaviors towards individuals based on their perceived group membership.

Question 19

The branch of psychology concerned with the way individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others is

Accepted Answer

Social psychology is specifically focused on the way that individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others, whether that be in terms of social norms, group behavior, or social influence. While abnormal psychology may consider the impact of social factors on an individual's mental health, it is not the same as social psychology. Cultural psychology also considers the impact of societal factors, but with a focus on how cultural values, beliefs, and practices shape individual thoughts and behaviors. Individual psychology is concerned with the study of the mind and behavior of individuals, which is not solely focused on social influence.

Question 20

If many Americans were to believe that all Muslims are terrorists, it would be BEST described as

Accepted Answer

This belief is a stereotype, as it is an oversimplified and generalized belief about a whole group of people based on the actions of a few. It is not based on individual observations or experiences.

Quiz 31: Social Behavior Part 1