Question 1

Based on the research by Geraerts and colleagues (2007) which of the following is most likely to have corroborating evidence about their experience of childhood sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

According to Geraerts and colleagues (2007), individuals who have never forgotten their abuse are more likely to have corroborating evidence of their experience of childhood sexual abuse.

Question 2

A polygraph test measures ________ to determine whether people are lying when they answer questions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A polygraph test measures ________ to determine...

Question 3

________ is a recollection of a traumatic past event that had previously been forgotten or repressed.

Accepted Answer

A recovered memory refers to the recollection of a traumatic past event that had previously been forgotten or repressed. It is often prompted by therapy or other forms of memory retrieval techniques. It can be controversial as some argue that it is possible for false memories to be implanted during the retrieval process. False Memory Syndrome refers to the creation of false memories, not the recollection of previously repressed memories. Autobiographical memory is the recollection of personal events and experiences. Autobiographical fiction refers to a work of literature that is based on the author's own experiences but with fictionalized elements.

Question 4

Keep in mind experimental research on eyewitness accuracy conducted by Dunning and Stern (1994) and Schooler and Engstler-Schooler (1990). Now, assume that you are a juror in a robbery trial. All things being equal, of which of the following eyewitnesses should you be most skeptical?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Keep in mind experimental research on eyewitness...

Question 5

With regard to recovered memories, on which point are nonscientific writers and research psychologists most likely to agree?

Accepted Answer

Both nonscientific writers and research psychologists are likely to agree that recovered memories, in the absence of other evidence, are not sufficient to prove past abuse. This is a point of consensus among experts in the field of psychology, who caution against relying solely on recovered memories as evidence of abuse due to the potential for distortion or fabrication of memories.

Question 6

While on the witness stand at a child neglect trial, Billy was asked several leading questions by a crafty attorney. This attorney managed to get Billy to report that he had remembered seeing his mother drunk on several occasions. After the trial, Billy remained convinced that his mother was an alcoholic even though this was never true. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This situation describes the false memory syndrome, in which an individual may come to believe in a false memory or event that never occurred as a result of suggestive or leading questioning.

Question 7

Research has shown that typical law officers (those not identified as particularly outstanding investigators) are ________ college students at determining when witnesses are lying.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that typical law officers are no better than college students at determining when witnesses are lying.

Question 8

Based on what a polygraph is designed to do, is it possible to "trick" a polygraph and make it less valid?

Accepted Answer

Polygraphs rely on monitoring certain physiological responses such as heart rate and breathing. If someone intentionally affects these responses (e.g. by slowing their breathing or increasing their heart rate), it can potentially impact the accuracy of the polygraph results.

Question 9

Which of the following groups performs best in telling whether or not actors are lying or telling the truth?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there is no significant difference in lie detection ability between genders or professions. Therefore, all groups perform about the same.

Question 10

Joan has been seeing a therapist for several months. At one session, her therapist suggests that Joan's emotional difficulties may be due to sexual abuse as a child. Initially, Joan is unable to recall any such abuse. However, at a later session, she recalls an incident of abuse that she had suppressed for many years. Based on social-psychological research findings, Joan's claims should be

Accepted Answer

Based on social-psychological research findings, it is important to view Joan's claims seriously as they relate to a potentially traumatic experience. However, caution should also be exercised due to the risks of false memory syndrome, which could lead to the recollection of inaccurate or distorted memories. Therefore, Joan's therapist should approach her recollections with sensitivity and seek corroborating evidence wherever possible.

Question 11

Based on evidence from a report by the National Research Council (2003), the authors of your text report that polygraph results are accurate at detecting lies about ________ of the time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on evidence from a report by...

Question 12

Elaine has been falsely accused of embezzling $250,000 from her company. Her boss wants her to take a lie detector test, but she has read the research literature and is afraid to do so. If Elaine is innocent, why would she hesitate to take the test?

Accepted Answer

Even if Elaine is innocent, there is still a possibility that the lie detector test might falsely conclude that she is lying. This is due to the fact that lie detectors are not foolproof and can be influenced by various factors such as stress and anxiety. As a result, many experts believe that lie detector tests should not be used as a sole means of determining guilt or innocence.

Question 13

Nancy takes a polygraph test to prove she is telling the truth in her testimony. When her attorney goes to submit the polygraph as evidence, which of the following is most likely to happen?

Accepted Answer

Polygraph test results are generally not admissible as evidence in court because they are not considered to be scientifically reliable.

Question 14

According to the authors of your text, there are many factors that make eyewitness testimony inaccurate. One way to make the justice system fairer might be to require ________, as is the case in other countries.

Accepted Answer

Requiring multiple eyewitnesses can help reduce the impact of individual biases and memory errors, increasing the accuracy of overall testimony. Cross-examination, drawings, and juror consideration of confidence are all helpful, but not as effective as having multiple independent eyewitnesses.

Question 15

Jason is a jury member hearing a robbery case. He listens to a witness testify against the suspect. Based on evidence by Bond and DePaulo (2006) presented in your text about people's ability to tell when someone is lying, how accurate would Jason be in telling if the witness was lying?

Accepted Answer

According to Bond and DePaulo (2006), people are able to detect lies at a rate only slightly better than chance (approximately 54%). Therefore, Jason would be somewhat more likely than chance to tell if the witness was lying.

Question 16

Four people have just observed a suspect deny that she committed a theft. Which observer is most likely to detect whether the suspect is lying?

Accepted Answer

None of the observers have an edge in detecting lies because detecting lies is a complex skill that requires specialized training and experience.

Question 17

In social psychology, ________ refers to recollections of a past traumatic event that are objectively false, but that people believe really occurred.

Accepted Answer

False memory syndrome refers to the phenomenon of creating memories of events that did not occur in reality but are believed to have occurred by the individual. This phenomenon is often observed in cases of recovered memories where individuals recall traumatic events from their past that are objectively false but believed to be accurate by the individual. Autobiographical memories refer to personal memories of one's life experiences. Recovered memories refer to memories that were once forgotten but retrieved later. Confabulatory memories refer to memories that are a combination of real and imagined details.

Question 18

You have just read the section on recovered memories in your text. Based on your reading, what would you say to a psychotherapist who suspects that her client has repressed memories of prior sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

It is important for the therapist to be aware that suggesting past abuse can create false memories in the client. This can have serious consequences for both the client and the perceived abuser. Therefore, it is important to proceed with caution and utilize objective corroborating evidence when available.

Question 19

Evidence presented in your text by Bond and DePaulo (2006) suggests that people are able to correctly identify when someone is lying about ________ of the time.

Accepted Answer

Bond and DePaulo (2006) found that people can correctly identify lies about 54 percent of the time, which is only slightly better than chance.

Question 20

Recall that Schooler and Engstler-Schooler (1990) conducted an experiment in which participants viewed a film of a bank robbery. Immediately after the film, some participants wrote a detailed description of the robber, whereas others completed an unrelated task. Those participants who wrote a detailed description were later less accurate in picking the robber out of a photo lineup. According to Schooler and Engstler-Schooler, why would participants who first provided a written description be less accurate in their later identifications?

Accepted Answer

According to Schooler and Engstler-Schooler, putting a face into words interferes with the visual memory of the face and leads to less accurate identifications in the future. This phenomenon is known as verbal overshadowing.

Quiz 16: Social Psychology in Action 3: Social Psychology and the Law