Question 1

Research on self-perception indicates that most people

Accepted Answer

Research on self-perception shows that most people view themselves very favorably when compared to others. This phenomenon is known as self-enhancement, where people tend to think highly of themselves and their abilities in order to improve their self-esteem.

Question 2

Although Rolf frequently cheats on classroom tests, he justifies his behavior by erroneously thinking that most other students cheat even more than he does. His mistaken belief best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Rolf's justification for his behavior demonstrates the self-serving bias, which is a tendency to perceive oneself in a favorable manner by making attributions that preserve self-esteem. In this case, Rolf believes that he is not alone in his cheating behavior, which helps him to maintain a positive self-image despite his unethical actions.

Question 3

In every one of the 53 countries surveyed, people typically expressed self-esteem above the midpoint of the most widely used self-esteem scale. This best illustrates the pervasiveness of

Accepted Answer

The fact that people in all 53 countries surveyed expressed self-esteem above the midpoint of the most widely used self-esteem scale suggests the presence of self-serving bias, where individuals tend to have an overly positive view of themselves. This bias is known to be pervasive across cultures and is likely contributing to the high levels of self-esteem expressed by participants. The other options (extraversion, spotlight effect, and external locus of control) are unrelated to the observed phenomenon.

Question 4

Kelly loves to boast about her accomplishments and becomes very upset when anyone criticizes her. Kelly most clearly demonstrates

Accepted Answer

Kelly's behavior of becoming upset when anyone criticizes her shows that she has defensive self-esteem, which means that she has a fragile sense of self-worth and is highly reactive to criticism or perceived threats to her self-esteem.

Question 5

Accepting ourselves without undue dependence on the approval of others best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The concept of accepting ourselves without undue dependence on the approval of others refers to having secure self-esteem, which is the belief and confidence in one's worth and abilities regardless of external validation or criticism. This concept is an important aspect of positive psychology, which focuses on promoting well-being and optimal functioning. Reciprocal determinism refers to the mutual influence and interaction between personal factors, behavior, and environmental factors, while free association is a technique used in psychoanalysis to explore unconscious thoughts and emotions.

Question 6

Jacinda failed her last history midterm. Which of the following conclusions would be most representative of a self-serving bias on Jacinda's part?

Accepted Answer

Option D is the best choice as it represents a self-serving bias where Jacinda is blaming external factors (ambiguous and confusing test questions) instead of taking responsibility for her poor performance. Options A, B, and C, on the other hand, all involve self-blame or self-doubt.

Question 7

Narcissism refers to excessive

Accepted Answer

Narcissism refers to excessive self-love, where an individual has a grandiose sense of self-importance and an obsession with their own achievements and appearance. This can result in a lack of empathy for others and a desire for constant attention and admiration.

Question 8

Andy, a high school sophomore, lacks self-discipline, fails to plan ahead, and is excessively anxious. He is quickly frustrated by challenging tasks and frequently becomes overly critical of others. Use social-cognitive theory to explain Andy's behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Andy, a high school sophomore, lacks self-discipline,...

Question 9

A person whose self-esteem is momentarily threatened is especially likely to

Accepted Answer

When people's self-esteem is threatened, they may try to boost it by criticizing others and putting them down, which can make themselves feel superior in comparison. This response is known as "downward social comparison" and is a common strategy for maintaining self-esteem.

Question 10

Athletes often attribute their losses to bad officiating. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The tendency to attribute successes to internal factors (such as one's own skill) and failures to external factors (such as bad officiating) is known as self-serving bias. Athletes may use this bias to protect their self-esteem and image as successful performers.

Question 11

Narcissism is associated with

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that narcissistic individuals are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as gambling, and also more likely to engage in cheating or unethical behavior in order to maintain their sense of superiority or gain an advantage.

Question 12

The behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner emphasized that people are largely controlled by forces outside themselves. Critique the practical implications of personally accepting Skinner's position in light of contemporary research on locus of control and learned helplessness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The behavioral psychologist B. F. Skinner emphasized...

Question 13

Which of the following is MOST likely to be associated with high self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to attribute their successes to internal factors but blame external factors for their failures. This positive self-attribution can lead to higher self-esteem. The other options are not typically associated with high self-esteem. The spotlight effect refers to the belief that others are paying more attention to us than they actually are, which can lead to self-consciousness and a negative impact on self-esteem. An external locus of control refers to the belief that external factors such as luck or fate control our lives, which can lead to a lack of personal agency and lower self-esteem. Reciprocal determinism refers to the interaction between an individual's behavior, environment, and personal factors, which can affect self-esteem but is not inherently associated with high self-esteem.

Question 14

A person who experiences defensive self-esteem is ________ to demonstrate self-serving bias and is ________ to feel angry when criticized.

Accepted Answer

A person with defensive self-esteem is likely to demonstrate self-serving bias because they seek to protect their self-esteem by attributing successes to themselves and failures to external factors. They are also likely to feel angry when criticized because criticism threatens their self-esteem.

Question 15

Tonya demonstrates personality traits at parties with her friends that are very different from those she exhibits when she participates in class activities. Using your knowledge of both the person-situation controversy and reciprocal determinism, explain why the variability of Tonya's behavior in different situations is not surprising.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tonya demonstrates personality traits at parties with...

Question 16

People are more critical of their ________ selves than of their ________ selves.

Accepted Answer

People often reflect on their past actions and decisions with a critical eye, recognizing mistakes or wishing they had done things differently, whereas they tend to view their current selves more favorably or with less scrutiny.

Question 17

Psychologist Jean Twenge refers to today's new generation as Generation Me because it expresses high levels of

Accepted Answer

Psychologist Jean Twenge has referred to today's new generation as Generation Me because she argues that they display elevated levels of narcissism and self-absorption.

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