Question 1

Kruglanski's theory of lay epistemology, which deals with how people reach conclusions in their cognition about the world, primarily addresses which basic problem of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

Kruglanski's theory of lay epistemology deals with how people reach conclusions in their cognition about the world, specifically addressing the problem of the overabundant quantity of information that people are confronted with day to day. It seeks to understand how individuals go about processing and making sense of this information overload.

Question 2

Jose is tired after a long day of activity. Now, at the end of the day, he has to make a decision about what he would most like to eat for dinner. Research suggests that Jose will probably:

Accepted Answer

When people are tired, they often rely on heuristics or simple decision-making strategies, such as choosing the first option that seems satisfactory, rather than expending energy to evaluate all options.

Question 3

A researcher is interested in determining how people go through a particular decision-making process differently when they are motivated for nonspecific (versus specific) closure. In order to test her idea, the researcher should examine how people engage in the decision-making process under which set of conditions?

Accepted Answer

By manipulating time pressure, the researcher can create conditions of high or low psychological closure. This will allow for the examination of how people engage in the decision-making process differently when they are motivated for nonspecific (versus specific) closure.

Question 4

In one study, researchers found that participants thought they were more likely to draw a red marble from a jar with 10 red marbles and 90 other-colored marbles, rather than a jar with 1 red marble and 9 other-colored marbles, even though technically this is not true. This study BEST illustrates the pervasiveness of what aspect of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

The study illustrates the use of heuristics, which are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that individuals use to simplify decision-making processes. In this case, participants may have relied on the representativeness heuristic, where they judged the likelihood of an event based on how closely it resembled their preconceptions of that event (i.e. a jar with more red marbles is more representative of a "red jar").

Question 5

Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the perspective of the Gestalt psychology school?

Accepted Answer

Gestalt psychology emphasizes that people perceive entire patterns or configurations, not merely individual components, suggesting that perception is constructed through selective and holistic processes.

Question 6

The _____ is an unconscious, intuitive, and automatic mode of thinking, while the ____ is a conscious, rational, and controlled mode of thinking.

Accepted Answer

The experiential system is an unconscious, intuitive, and automatic mode of thinking, while the cognitive system is a conscious, rational, and controlled mode of thinking.

Question 7

A theory which explains phenomena by positing two ways of processing information is referred to as a _____ theory.

Accepted Answer

A dual process theory posits two ways of processing information, usually in terms of a fast, automatic, and unconscious process and a slower, deliberate, and conscious process.

Question 8

Siobhan can win money by closing her eyes and picking a red marble from a jar filled with many colored marbles. She is being offered the choice to draw a marble from four different jars. If Siobhan is in a positive mood, thinking about all the money that she could win, then which jar does research suggest she is very likely to draw from?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that people are more likely to choose an option that has a higher probability of a positive outcome. Since jar D has the highest number of red marbles (20 out of 100), Siobhan is more likely to draw a red marble from this jar and win money.

Question 9

Amartya is interviewing several candidates for a position at his firm. If he makes the right decision with the hiring choice, the firm will prosper, his superiors will look favorably on him, and Amartya will likely receive a promotion. However, if he makes a poor choice, the firm will suffer, and Amartya may even be demoted. When evaluating candidates for the position, Amartya will be primarily motivated by a need for:

Accepted Answer

Amartya's primary motivation is to make the right decision for the firm, which requires accurate knowledge about the candidates' qualifications and fit for the position. Therefore, he will be primarily motivated by a need for accurate knowledge.

Question 10

Which of the following needs is NOT emphasized by lay epistemology theory?

Accepted Answer

Lay epistemology theory stresses the importance of accurate knowledge (A), as well as closure - which can either be specific (C) or nonspecific (D), depending on the situation or individual. However, it does not emphasize the need for information quantity (B).

Question 11

Which of the following factors is NOT emphasized in lay epistemology theory research as playing a role in the type of cognitive closure that people will seek?

Accepted Answer

Lay epistemology theory does not emphasize cognitive impairments and advantages at different developmental stages as a factor in seeking cognitive closure. It focuses more on situational factors and individual preferences for certainty and simplicity.

Question 12

Which research perspective emerged in the 1970s to answer the general question of what specific mental processes are involved in the person's construction of an understanding of the social world?

Accepted Answer

The social cognitive perspective emerged in the 1970s to answer the general question of what specific mental processes are involved in the person's construction of an understanding of the social world. This perspective emphasizes the importance of cognitive processes and the role they play in social behavior.

Question 13

In the classic study by Tversky and Kahneman (1981) on people's choices when presented with statistically identical treatment options, what was the conclusion regarding people's heuristic processing?

Accepted Answer

The study concluded that people's heuristic processing is influenced by whether they are thinking about possible losses versus possible gains. Specifically, people tend to be more risk-averse when considering possible gains and more risk-seeking when considering possible losses. This is known as the "prospect theory" and has been extensively researched in the field of behavioral economics.

Question 14

In one version of a classic study by Tversky and Kahneman (1981), people are presented with the option between Treatment A that will kill 400 of 600 people, versus Treatment B with a one-third probability that nobody will die and a two-thirds probability that everyone will die. Which treatment do the study results suggest people typically choose?

Accepted Answer

People typically choose Treatment B due to the framing effect, where the potential for no deaths (even with a lower probability) is more appealing than the certainty of some deaths.

Question 15

Facilitated communication with individuals with autism was eventually discredited, as it became apparent that the thoughts of the communicants were actually the thoughts of the facilitators. It seemed that the facilitators were influencing the words that were typed by the individuals with autism, even though the facilitators had no awareness of this. What does this case tell us about the nature of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

This case tells us that nonconscious, experiential processes can play an important role in shaping behavior and cognition. The facilitators were unconsciously influencing the communication of individuals with autism, even though they were not aware of it. This highlights the importance of recognizing the role of nonconscious processes in social cognition.

Question 16

Compared to people with a high tolerance for ambiguity, people who have a personal preference for clear and simple knowledge tend to seek _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compared to people with a high tolerance...

Question 17

The need for _____ refers to people's motive to sometimes reach a conclusion that fits their preexisting preferences, while the need for _____ refers to people's motive to sometimes reaching any possible conclusion.

Accepted Answer

The first blank refers to the need for specific closure, which is the motive to reach a conclusion that fits with preexisting preferences or beliefs. The second blank refers to the need for nonspecific closure, which is the motive to reach any conclusion, even if it does not fit with preexisting beliefs.

Question 18

Which aspect of our cognition is related to the limbic system and brain structures that are older in evolutionary history?

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is responsible for emotions, motivation, and the experiential system, which includes our subjective experiences and reactions to the world around us. These brain structures are older in evolutionary history, suggesting that they have been important for survival and adaptation in many different species.

Question 19

Kenji is attempting to learn French. He is seated in a library with headphones on, listening to classical music, as he stares at a textbook and tries to memorize French words. In a single moment, a new song comes on that Kenji particularly enjoys, and he suddenly finds it easier to remember the French words he is looking at. In this moment, the French words are being processed by Kenji's _____, while the music is being processed by Kenji's _____.

Accepted Answer

The French words are being processed by Kenji's cognitive system, which is responsible for tasks that require mental effort, such as learning a new language. The music, which evokes emotions and is enjoyed without deliberate effort, is being processed by his experiential system, which handles automatic, emotional responses.

Question 20

Heuristics are defined as:

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that individuals use automatically to make decisions. They often involve using quick and simple rules of thumb, rather than carefully considered judgments.

Quiz 3: The Core Elements of Social Cognition