Question 1

More recent research suggests that cultural differences in thinking styles may stem from

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that thinking styles are more likely to be shaped by environmental factors, such as cultural norms, values, and education, rather than innate physiological differences across races or religious differences between countries.

Question 2

What is the major advantage of processing information automatically?

Accepted Answer

Processing information automatically allows us to use our cognitive resources for other, more important matters, which is a major advantage. The other options are not necessarily true - automatic processing does not always yield more accurate judgments, and it may not necessarily be easier to learn or more easily modified than controlled processing.

Question 3

Aoi is from Japan. If you want her to think analytically, what will you have to do?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that individuals from different cultures use different cognitive processes and thinking styles. Japan has a collectivistic culture that tends to prioritize holistic thinking over analytical thinking. However, priming analytical thinking with pictures or a story has been shown to enhance analytical thinking in individuals from collectivistic cultures like Japan.

Question 4

Consider the results from a study by Miyamoto and colleagues in which participants viewed either photos of U.S. city scenes or Japanese city scenes, then were asked to detect differences between two similar pictures. Based on their findings, if an American was touring in Tokyo, Japan, which of the following aspects of a picture would she be most likely to pick up on?

Accepted Answer

Miyamoto and colleagues found that American participants who viewed Japanese city scenes were more likely to focus on the background of a picture, compared to those who viewed U.S. city scenes. Therefore, the American tourist in Tokyo may be more likely to pick up on details in the background of a picture.

Question 5

All of the following describe controlled thinking except

Accepted Answer

Controlled thinking is conscious, considers one thing at a time, and requires mental energy. However, it is not effortless as it requires deliberate effort and attention to be exerted by the individual.

Question 6

Which of the following decisions would you be least likely to make via automatic thinking? A decision about what

Accepted Answer

Choosing a major is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of one's interests, skills, and career aspirations. It is less likely to be made automatically and more likely to involve deliberate, reflective thinking. The other three decisions listed are more routine and may be made more easily through automatic thinking.

Question 7

When Ashley first starts typing, she uses the "hunt and peck" method and finds typing very effortful. Now, after taking a typing class, she feels like her papers practically type themselves once she figures out what she wants to say. This change in her typing reflects a shift from

Accepted Answer

The "hunt and peck" method requires controlled thinking because the typist has to consciously search for and press each key. Taking a typing class allowed Ashley to develop automatic thinking, where the typing process becomes natural and automated.

Question 8

Miyamoto and colleagues conducted a study in which participants viewed either photos of U.S. city scenes or Japanese city scenes, then were asked to detect differences between two similar pictures. They found that participants who viewed Japanese city scenes were more likely to detect changes in

Accepted Answer

Participants who viewed Japanese city scenes were more likely to detect changes in the background, reflecting differences in attentional styles influenced by cultural contexts.

Question 9

Automatic thinking is ________ while controlled thinking is ________.

Accepted Answer

Automatic thinking is involuntary, meaning it happens without deliberate effort or control, while controlled thinking is voluntary, requiring conscious effort and attention.

Question 10

Which of the following is not true about the difference between automatic and controlled thinking? Automatic thinking tends to be ________, whereas controlled thinking tends to be ________.

Accepted Answer

The option that is not true about the difference between automatic and controlled thinking is that automatic thinking tends to be inaccurate, whereas controlled thinking tends to be accurate. In reality, both automatic and controlled thinking can lead to accurate or inaccurate conclusions depending on the situation and the individual's cognitive abilities.

Question 11

If both Chinese and Americans are comparing two pieces of art, the Americans are most likely to notice

Accepted Answer

Americans tend to focus more on the foreground of images or scenes, a reflection of a more analytical or focused attention style typical of Western cultures.

Question 12

Which of the following decisions would you be most likely to make via automatic thinking? A decision about

Accepted Answer

Deciding which person to talk to at a cocktail party is a social decision that often relies on automatic thinking based on previous social experiences and biases. The other choices require more conscious and deliberate thinking to weigh factors and gather information before making a decision.

Question 13

To use controlled thinking, we need all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Controlled thinking does not necessarily require superior intelligence. While intelligence can be helpful, it is not a prerequisite for using controlled thinking. Motivation, time, and mental capacity are all important factors in being able to use controlled thinking effectively.

Question 14

Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his colleagues involved showing participants two similar pictures and asking them to find the differences between them. Nisbett and colleagues found that Western participants had a more __________ thinking style, and East participants had a more ___________ thinking style.

Accepted Answer

Nisbett and his colleagues found that Western participants had a more analytic thinking style, which focuses on breaking down objects and ideas into their component parts and analyzing them separately. In contrast, East participants had a more holistic thinking style, which focuses on seeing objects and ideas as a whole and understanding their relationships to other objects and ideas in their context. Choice A is incorrect because logical thinking style can be found in both Western and East participants. Choice B is incorrect because religion is not related to thinking style. Choice D is incorrect because contextual thinking style is more related to analytic thinking style as they both try to understand objects in more detail instead of seeing them as a whole.

Question 15

The most important take-home message about controlled thinking is that it

Accepted Answer

Controlled thinking provides a check on automatic thinking, meaning that it allows us to consciously evaluate and analyze our thoughts rather than simply accepting them as true without reflection. It does not necessarily replace automatic thinking, but rather serves as a complement to it when we need to engage in more deliberate and intentional cognition. While it may increase the efficiency of thinking in some cases, this is not its primary purpose. And while it may precede automatic thinking at times, it is not strictly necessary for automatic thinking to occur.

Question 16

Nao was raised in Japan, and is walking through Times Square in New York City. Based on results from Nisbett' s studies on cultural differences in thinking styles, which of the following would Nao be most likely to notice relative to people raised in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

Nisbett's studies have shown that individuals raised in East Asian cultures tend to focus more on the context of a situation, particularly how objects or people relate to each other, while individuals raised in Western cultures tend to focus more on individual objects or people. Therefore, Nao would be more likely to notice how the buildings are arranged relative to each other in Times Square, rather than just individual aspects such as the number of people, advertisements, or homeless people.

Question 17

Miyamoto and colleagues conducted a study in which participants viewed either photos of U.S. city scenes or Japanese city scenes, then were asked to detect differences between two similar pictures. The researchers found evidence that viewing Japanese city scenes

Accepted Answer

The researchers found evidence that viewing Japanese city scenes primed a holistic thinking style.

Question 18

An environment that promotes getting along well with others, being connected to one another, and seeing the larger context of social situations is most likely to promote _______ thinking.

Accepted Answer

A social environment that emphasizes interconnectedness and a bigger picture perspective would support a holistic thinking style, which prioritizes understanding relationships and context over breaking down individual parts or analyzing details. This contrasts with an analytic thinking style, which focuses on individual components and isolating variables.

Question 19

Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his colleagues involved showing participants two similar pictures and asking them to find the differences between them. Nisbett and colleagues found that East Asian participants were more likely to focus on _________, and Western participants focused more on _________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his...

Question 20

Complete the analogy: analytic thinking style: ___________ :: holistic thinking style: _____________.

Accepted Answer

Analytic thinking style is to United States as holistic thinking style is to Korea, as these are two countries often associated with these thinking styles. The other options do not have as strong of a cultural association with these thinking styles.

Quiz 3: Social Cognition: How We Think About the Social World