Question 1

Emma believes that she will succeed in business if she works hard and carefully manages her time. Her belief most clearly illustrates

Accepted Answer

Emma's belief that her success is based on her own hard work and careful time management reflects an internal locus of control, meaning she believes that she has control over the outcomes of her actions. This is in contrast to an external locus of control, where individuals believe that outcomes are determined by external factors beyond their control.

Question 2

Dogs strapped into a harness and given repeated and unavoidable shocks developed

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is one of learned helplessness, where the dogs are exposed to inescapable shocks and eventually give up trying to escape, even when given the opportunity to do so. Option A, fixation, is not necessarily related to this scenario. Option B, reaction formation, is a defense mechanism in which a person behaves opposite to how they feel or believe, which is unrelated to the scenario. Option D, the false consensus effect, is the tendency for people to overestimate the extent to which others share their beliefs and behaviors, which is also unrelated to the scenario.

Question 3

Compared with those who perceive an external locus of control, people who perceive an internal locus of control are more likely to

Accepted Answer

People who perceive an internal locus of control believe that they have control over their own lives and are better able to cope with stress and challenges because they see themselves as being in control of their own outcomes. They are not as likely to feel helpless or hopeless in difficult situations, and are more likely to take active steps to address and manage stressors.

Question 4

Those who perceive an internal locus of control believe that

Accepted Answer

Those with an internal locus of control believe that their actions and decisions can impact their life outcomes. They do not see the world as controlled by external forces or entities. Option A is incorrect as it suggests an external locus of control, and options B and D are not relevant to the concept of locus of control.

Question 5

Because Mr. Maloney trusts his employees, he treats them kindly. His kindness leads them to work diligently on his behalf, which in turn increases his trust in them. This pattern of trust, kindness, diligence, and increasing trust illustrates what is meant by

Accepted Answer

The pattern described in the scenario reflects reciprocal determinism, which is the idea that behavior, environment, and personal factors interact to influence each other in a bidirectional manner. In this case, Mr. Maloney's behavior (trusting and kind treatment of employees) influences the environment (workplace culture) and personal factors (employee engagement and diligence), which then influence his trust in them, creating a cycle of reciprocal determinism.

Question 6

After expending willpower by stifling prejudice during laboratory tasks, research participants were temporarily less

Accepted Answer

The answer of After expending willpower by stifling prejudice during...

Question 7

Resisting the temptation to eat chocolate chip cookies led research participants to subsequently give up sooner than normal on efforts to complete a tedious task. This illustrated that self-control weakens following

Accepted Answer

The research participants exerted self-control by resisting the temptation to eat chocolate chip cookies. This exertion of energy weakened their self-control, as evidenced by their shorter persistence on a tedious task.

Question 8

The perception that our fate is determined by luck reflects

Accepted Answer

The perception that our fate is determined by luck reflects an external locus of control, meaning that we attribute events in our lives to factors beyond our control.

Question 9

Those with an internal locus of control act ________ independently and feel ________ depressed than those with an external locus of control.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with an internal locus of control tend to feel more in control of their lives and believe that they can change their circumstances through their own actions. This leads them to be more independent. In contrast, individuals with an external locus of control tend to feel that outside forces control their lives, leading them to feel more helpless and depressed. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 10

Randy's substandard academic performance is both a result and a cause of his feelings of academic inferiority. This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal determinism is the idea that behavior, environment, and personal factors all influence each other. In this case, Randy's poor academic performance contributes to his feelings of academic inferiority, which in turn may further decrease his academic performance. This illustrates how the two factors (performance and feelings) are interrelated and influence each other in a reciprocal manner.

Question 11

In the long run, people who practice self-regulation through physical exercise and time-managed study programs experience an increase in

Accepted Answer

Self-regulation through physical exercise and time-managed study programs requires self-control. Over time, practicing self-control can lead to an increase in one's ability to regulate behavior and emotions, ultimately leading to greater success in various domains of life.

Question 12

The ability to delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards illustrates

Accepted Answer

The ability to delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards is a key aspect of self-control. Self-esteem refers to one's overall sense of self-worth, displacement refers to redirecting one's emotions towards a substitute target, and unconditional positive regard refers to an acceptance and appreciation of oneself without conditions or judgment.

Question 13

Personality is fruitfully studied at multiple levels of analysis because people are best understood as

Accepted Answer

Personality is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, and cannot be fully understood solely through one level of analysis. Therefore, analyzing personality through multiple levels (e.g. genetics, neuroscience, cognition, behavior, culture) is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of personality. Option A is incorrect because while the unconscious plays a role in personality, it is not the sole determinant. Option C is incorrect because self-serving bias is a type of cognitive bias, not a factor that determines personality. Option D is incorrect because while personality traits are enduring, they are not the only factor that determines personality.

Question 14

The process by which people learn a sense of personal control or personal helplessness has been most strongly emphasized by

Accepted Answer

The process by which people learn a sense of personal control or personal helplessness is a central theme in social-cognitive theories, particularly in Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. These theories focus on how individuals learn from their experiences and use their observations of others' behaviors to develop beliefs about their own potential to control or influence events in their lives.

Question 15

Laura fails to recognize any connection between her unsafe sexual practices and the likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Laura's lack of perceptiveness best illustrates the dangers of

Accepted Answer

Laura's lack of recognition of the connection between her behavior and potential negative consequences suggests an external locus of control, or the belief that outside forces (in this case, luck or fate) rather than personal behavior or decisions determine outcomes. This can be dangerous as it can lead to a lack of personal responsibility and failure to take necessary precautions to protect oneself.

Question 16

Sasha believes that the questions on school tests are so unrelated to course work that studying is useless. Sasha's belief most clearly illustrates

Accepted Answer

Sasha's belief that studying is useless because test questions are unrelated to course work suggests an external locus of control, which means she believes that her outcomes are determined by external factors beyond her control.

Question 17

Because Greta is an extravert, she frequently goes to parties where she is encouraged to laugh and socialize with her friends. Because Jim is an introvert, he frequently spends weekends in the library where it's easy to quietly reflect and study. Greta and Jim best illustrate what is meant by

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal determinism is the concept that behavior, environment, and personal factors interact to influence each other. Greta's extraverted behavior is influenced by her environment of social gatherings and her personal predisposition towards being outgoing. Jim's introverted behavior is similarly influenced by his environment of a quiet library and his personal predisposition towards reflection and study.

Question 18

Learned helplessness is MOST likely to be associated with

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness is a phenomenon where an individual learns that they do not have control over their environment, which leads to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. This is associated with an external locus of control, where individuals believe that their outcomes are determined by external factors rather than their own actions. Option A, self-serving bias, refers to the tendency to attribute successes to internal factors and failures to external factors. Option C, false consensus effect, refers to the tendency to overestimate the degree to which others share our beliefs and behaviors. Option D, unconditional positive regard, is a concept in humanistic psychology that refers to accepting and valuing a person without judgment or evaluation.

Question 19

An integrated understanding of Tara's consistent cheerfulness in terms of her supportive peer relationships, her calm temperament, and her perceived internal locus of control best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The integrated understanding of Tara's cheerfulness includes multiple factors from different domains – her social relationships, temperament, and perceived control over her life. This approach considers biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to Tara's behavior, which is the essence of a biopsychosocial approach. Factors such as internal locus of control and temperament are psychological, while supportive relationships come from social experiences. Understanding how these factors interact provides a more complete picture of Tara's behavior than a focus on any singular cause or perspective.

Question 20

After experiencing inescapable brutalities as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, Mr. Sternberg became apathetic, stopped eating, and gave up all efforts to physically survive the ordeal. Mr. Sternberg's reaction most clearly illustrates

Accepted Answer

Mr. Sternberg's reaction of giving up is an example of learned helplessness. After experiencing inescapable brutalities, he likely felt helpless and hopeless, leading him to give up on survival.

Quiz 42: Trait Theories, Social-Cognitive Theories, and the Self