Question 1

Since we are born selfish, evolutionary psychologists such as Richard Dawkins propose that we attempt to

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since we are born selfish, evolutionary psychologists...

Question 2

Hoffman (1981) reported that infants cry more when they hear another infant crying. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Infants crying more when they hear another infant crying shows empathy, as it indicates an ability to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. Egoism (A) refers to a self-centered perspective, altruism (C) refers to helping others without expecting anything in return, and harmony (D) refers to a state of peaceful coexistence.

Question 3

In a study by Latané and Rodin (1969), a female experimenter apparently fell and hurt her ankle. What percentage of participants who were alone offered help?

Accepted Answer

In the study by Latané and Rodin (1969), 70 percent of participants who were alone offered help when they thought a female experimenter had hurt her ankle. This finding is often discussed in the context of the bystander effect, which suggests that individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present.

Question 4

In the context of interpretation, the tendency to overestimate others' ability to "read" our internal states is called the illusion of

Accepted Answer

The tendency to overestimate others' ability to "read" our internal states is called the illusion of transparency. This means that we believe our emotions and thoughts are more visible to others than they actually are, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

Question 5

Batson and his colleagues (1981) had university women watch another woman suffer a series of painful shocks. Some participants were led to feel empathy for her and were then asked if they would trade places, taking her remaining shocks. The results indicated that

Accepted Answer

Batson and his colleagues found that most participants agreed to help even if they knew that their part in the experiment was complete, indicating that empathy was a strong motivator for helping behavior. The other choices are not supported by the study's findings; participants were not offered rewards for helping, did not downplay the victim's suffering, and did not refuse to trade places or seek compensation for the victim.

Question 6

Latané and Darley (1968) had university students complete questionnaires in a small room, and then had smoke pour into the room from a wall vent. Students who were working _____ tended to notice the smoke in _____.

Accepted Answer

Latané and Darley found that students who were working alone tended to notice the smoke in less than five seconds, while those working in groups took longer to notice, if they noticed at all.

Question 7

The fact that a person is less likely to help in an emergency when other people are present is called

Accepted Answer

The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when others are present. This is because individuals may feel less personal responsibility to help due to diffusion of responsibility and the assumption that others will take action instead.

Question 8

Latané and Darley attempted to explain people's failure to intervene in cases like that of Kitty Genovese, a woman who was violently attacked, in terms of

Accepted Answer

Latané and Darley proposed the bystander effect, a phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when other people are present because of diffusion of responsibility and social influence. This suggests that situational influences play a significant role in explaining people's failure to intervene in cases like that of Kitty Genovese.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in Darley and Latané's decision tree?

Accepted Answer

The steps in the decision tree proposed by Darley and Latané are:
1. Noticing the incident
2. Interpreting the incident as an emergency
3. Assuming responsibility for intervening
4. Deciding how to help
5. Providing help. The step of weighing the costs and benefits of helping is not part of their decision tree.

Question 10

According to the evolutionary theory, it can be predicted that it is more likely that

Accepted Answer

According to kin selection theory, organisms are more likely to extend care and altruism to close relatives because it increases the likelihood of passing on shared genes. Parents have a greater genetic investment in their offspring than the reverse, leading to the prediction that parents will be more devoted to their children than children will be to their parents.

Question 11

You trip over a fallen branch and sprain your ankle. According to research on the bystander effect, a stranger who sees your plight will be most likely to offer aid if there are _____ others present.

Accepted Answer

According to research on the bystander effect, the more people present, the less likely it is that any individual will help. This effect is thought to occur because people assume that someone else will take responsibility for helping, leading to a diffusion of responsibility. In the case of the sprained ankle, if there are no other people present, then the stranger is more likely to feel a sense of personal responsibility to help.

Question 12

Darley and Latané described a sequence of decisions a bystander must make before he or she will intervene in an emergency. Which of the following is NOT one of the specific steps?

Accepted Answer

The sequence of decisions a bystander must make before he or she will intervene in an emergency includes noticing the incident, interpreting the incident as an emergency, assuming personal responsibility for intervening, and choosing a form of assistance. Assessing the victim's desire for help is not one of the specific steps.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is FALSE about empathy-induced altruism as noted by Batson?

Accepted Answer

Empathy-based altruism does not remove partiality in a family, as individuals are more likely to prioritize helping their family members over strangers due to genetic relatedness and social bonds. The other statements are true according to Batson's research.

Question 14

In a study by Latané and Rodin (1969), a female experimenter apparently fell and hurt her ankle. When pairs of strangers confronted the emergency, what percentage offered help?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study by Latané and Rodin...

Question 15

A stranger has collapsed on a city sidewalk due to a heart attack. According to Darley and Latané, what is the first thing that must happen before you will help in this emergency?

Accepted Answer

According to Darley and Latané's model of helping, the first step in deciding to help in an emergency is noticing that an event is occurring. This is because you cannot offer assistance if you are unaware of the emergency situation.

Question 16

Altruism researcher Daniel Batson reported that empathy-induced altruism

Accepted Answer

According to Daniel Batson, empathy-induced altruism can lead to favoritism, injustice, and indifference, which indicates that it is not always helpful and can have negative consequences. Additionally, there is no indication that empathy-induced altruism inhibits aggression or lowers cooperation.

Question 17

Who among the following psychologists believes that genuine empathy-induced altruism is part of human nature?

Accepted Answer

Batson is the psychologist who believes that genuine empathy-induced altruism is part of human nature.

Question 18

In observing people's responses to staged emergencies, Darley and Latané (1970) found that _____ greatly decreased intervention.

Accepted Answer

Darley and Latané's bystander intervention study found that the presence of other bystanders greatly decreased intervention. This is known as the bystander effect, where individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when others are present. This is because they assume someone else will take action, leading to a diffusion of responsibility.

Question 19

_____ is the vicarious experience of another's feelings and putting oneself in another's shoes.

Accepted Answer

Empathy is the vicarious experience of another's feelings and putting oneself in another's shoes. Egoism is a focus on oneself and one's own interests, while reciprocity is a mutual exchange of benefits or privileges. Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by excessive self-love and admiration.

Question 20

Myers suggests that there are a number of reasons why individuals who live in big cities tend to be less helpful. Which of the following is NOT one of those reasons?

Accepted Answer

Myers suggests that individuals in big cities are less likely to help due to factors such as being less alone in public places, experiencing "compassion fatigue," and "sensory overload." Myers does not suggest that individuals become inherently cold and uncaring as a result of living in a city.

Quiz 12: Emotions, Stress, and Health