Question 1

Betsy and Tina, both third-graders in the same classroom, are assigned by their teacher to different groups that will compete in a spelling bee. Betsy and Tina each believe that their own group is composed of the better spellers. The girls' beliefs best illustrate

Accepted Answer

Betsy and Tina's belief that their own group is better reflects ingroup bias, which is the tendency to favor the members of one's own group over those of another. The other options do not accurately describe the situation presented. A) The just-world phenomenon is the belief that people get what they deserve and that the world is a fair place, which is not relevant here. C) The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal traits rather than situational factors, which is not applicable here. D) Authoritarianism is a personality trait involving obedience to authority and strict adherence to rules, which is not relevant in this context.

Question 2

Ingroup bias will result when the groups formed

Accepted Answer

Ingroup bias can occur in any situation where individuals perceive themselves as part of a group, regardless of how trivial the shared characteristic may be.

Question 3

Patricia Devine suggests that even for the low-prejudice person, overcoming prejudice is like learning to

Accepted Answer

Breaking a bad habit involves recognizing and changing deeply ingrained behavior patterns, which is similar to overcoming prejudice for low-prejudice individuals who may have residual biases that they need to actively work to overcome. This is a process that requires effort and dedication like breaking any bad habit. Playing a musical instrument, writing a novel, or walking a tightrope may also involve learning and practice, but they do not have the same parallels to bias reduction.

Question 4

A group that is perceived as distinctive from one's own group is generally called

Accepted Answer

An outgroup is a group that is perceived as distinct from one's own group. It is characterized by different cultural, social, or behavioral characteristics, and it is often the subject of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination by the ingroup.

Question 5

Rich and Steve find out that they share the same birthday. Steve and Bill discover they're from the same hometown. Bill and Bob are both men. Which of these similarities is a sufficient basis for promoting ingroup bias?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rich and Steve find out that they...

Question 6

The scapegoat theory is to the social identity theory as _____________________ is/are to ______________________.

Accepted Answer

The scapegoat theory suggests that prejudice arises from frustration and aggression that is redirected towards an easy target, while the social identity theory explains prejudice as stemming from a need to feel superior to others.

Question 7

The just-world assumption

Accepted Answer

The just-world assumption is the belief that people get what they deserve in life, which implies that those who are successful deserve to be so, and those who struggle or face negative outcomes also deserve their fate. This assumption disregards the uncontrollable factors that can influence an individual's success or failure, such as social or economic disadvantages, discrimination, or luck. Therefore, it can lead to discrimination and victim-blaming. Choice B correctly describes the just-world assumption as disregarding uncontrollable factors that can derail one's efforts.

Question 8

Ingroup bias can be promoted

Accepted Answer

Ingroup bias can be promoted simply by the experience of people being formed into groups, regardless of any specific messaging or lessons about the superiority of one group over another. The mere distinction of "us" versus "them" can create a bias towards one's own group.

Question 9

The tendency of people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get is called

Accepted Answer

The tendency of people to believe the world is just and that people therefore get what they deserve and deserve what they get is called the just-world phenomenon. This concept suggests that individuals feel more comfortable blaming victims for their misfortune rather than recognizing the role of luck or societal factors in shaping people's lives.

Question 10

Olivia and Joanne are in a psychology experiment. The researcher divides the girls and the other participants into two groups, Team Y and Team Z, by the flip of a coin. Research suggest that dividing groups in the two teams with no logical basis will

Accepted Answer

Even without a logical basis, dividing people into groups can create a sense of "us" versus "them," which can lead to some degree of ingroup bias. However, it may not necessarily result in overt between-group prejudice.

Question 11

In ______________, prejudice is often greater among those low or slipping on the socioeconomic ladder and among those whose positive self-image is being threatened.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that in both Europe and North America, prejudice tends to be greater among individuals who are experiencing social and economic disadvantages, as well as among those who feel their positive self-image is being challenged.

Question 12

Which of 14-year-old Katya's following statements clearly reflects an aspect of her social identity?

Accepted Answer

"I am Canadian" reflects a clear aspect of Katya's social identity, as it pertains to her nationality. The other statements are more related to personality traits or career aspirations.

Question 13

According to Mikulincer and Shaver (2001), when the need to belong is met,

Accepted Answer

Mikulincer and Shaver (2001) found that when the need to belong is met, people become more accepting of outgroups. Therefore, choices A and B are incorrect as they suggest that people remain aggressive and discriminating when their need to belong is met.

Question 14

According to the text,

Accepted Answer

The text states that outgroup stereotypes thrive when people strongly identify with their ingroup (A), and that anticipating bias against our group can lead to increased disparagement of the outgroup (C). Additionally, the example given in the text about club membership highlights how people tend to notice and emphasize differences between groups (B). Therefore, all three choices are supported by the text.

Question 15

According to social identity theory, people readily

Accepted Answer

According to social identity theory, people categorize themselves and others into groups, identify with certain groups, and compare their group with other groups. Therefore, all of these choices are correct.

Question 16

Women who are victims of sexual assault are often perceived as "to blame" in some way for what happened to them. This type of thinking reflects how our impressions can be shaped by

Accepted Answer

The just-world phenomenon refers to the tendency to believe that people get what they deserve in life, which can result in blaming victims of sexual assault or other crimes for their own victimization. This type of thinking can lead people to believe that the victim did something to bring the assault upon themselves, rather than recognizing that the perpetrator is solely responsible for the crime.

Question 17

Research suggests that we are most prone to ingroup bias when

Accepted Answer

Research shows that all three factors (ingroup being lower in status, self-esteem threat, strong identification with ingroup) can increase ingroup bias. Therefore, the best answer is D (all of these choices).

Question 18

Team spirit for the Edmonton Oilers is never as high as it is when they play their top rivals the Calgary Flames. According to your text, this type of ingroup bias most likely results because

Accepted Answer

The perception of a common enemy unites a group, leading to increased ingroup bias and team spirit. This is known as the "us vs. them" mentality and is a common phenomenon in sports rivalries. It allows fans to feel connected to their team and to other fans who share their passion, giving them a sense of belonging and identity. The need to perceive our own group as good (choice A) is part of this mentality, but not the main reason for increased team spirit in rivalries. The fans being conflicted (choice B) or conforming to group norms (choice C) are not relevant explanations in this context.

Question 19

According to researchers who study stereotyping, prejudicial reactions

Accepted Answer

Prejudicial reactions are not inevitable, as research has shown that stereotyping and prejudices can be unlearned or counteracted with education and exposure to diverse groups.

Question 20

Meindl and Lerner found that ______________ provoked English-speaking Canadian students to express increased hostility toward French-speaking Canadians.

Accepted Answer

Meindl and Lerner found that a humiliating experience provoked English-speaking Canadian students to express increased hostility toward French-speaking Canadians.

Quiz 11: Sources of Prejudice