Question 1

Research by Shelley Taylor and her colleagues on effective coping among cancer patients has suggested that all of the following are important in promoting recovery EXCEPT ____.

Accepted Answer

Making upward comparisons with other cancer patients is not important in promoting recovery. In fact, this can lead to increased feelings of hopelessness and despair. Making downward comparisons, feeling that there is a higher purpose, and feeling in control are all important factors in promoting recovery among cancer patients.

Question 2

The act of comparing oneself to people who are worse off is called a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

Downward comparison refers to the act of comparing oneself to people who are worse off. This comparison can sometimes increase our feelings of self-esteem and self-worth. Upward comparison, on the other hand, refers to the act of comparing oneself to people who are better off, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Post-decision dissonance and effort justification are unrelated processes.

Question 3

You are trying to persuade your mother to lend you some money.You decide to make your attack in the evening, when she will be tired and distracted.This evening strategy is likely to be effective (assuming your mother is not in a bad mood) because in the evening she will be more likely than usual to rely on the ____ system, which will in turn ____.

Accepted Answer

The automatic system is more likely to be engaged when a person is tired and distracted, leading to less scrutiny and questioning of decisions or requests, such as lending money.

Question 4

Roscoe was mugged while he was walking across campus alone one evening.The event left him with his wallet and identity stolen, and a broken nose and rib.Roscoe thinks to himself, 'What kind of world is this, where someone would mug a poor college student?' Roscoe is having trouble coping because this traumatic event has challenged his ____.

Accepted Answer

Roscoe's assumptive world, or his preconceived notions about safety and the kindness of strangers, has been shattered by the mugging. This event challenges his assumptions about the world and his ability to feel safe, which can be difficult to cope with. Attitude accessibility refers to how easily an attitude comes to mind; downward comparisons refer to comparing oneself to others who are doing worse to feel better; and attitude-behavior consistency refers to the degree to which a person's behaviors match their attitudes. These concepts do not apply to Roscoe's situation.

Question 5

Research on post-trauma coping suggests that - contrary to what many people think - blaming oneself for a trauma can, in some cases, help people recover.This seems to be because self-blame causes people to ____.

Accepted Answer

Self-blame can give people a sense of control over the situation by shifting the focus from external factors to internal ones. This can lead to a greater sense of empowerment and ultimately aid in recovery.

Question 6

The tendency for people to hold on to their beliefs - even when their beliefs are discredited by compelling evidence - is known as ____.

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance is the tendency for people to cling to their initial beliefs even when presented with evidence that contradicts those beliefs. This can happen because people may have an emotional attachment to their beliefs or because changing beliefs can be psychologically uncomfortable. Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, while the A-B problem and cognitive stickiness are not recognized psychological concepts.

Question 7

Social psychology as a science can ____.

Accepted Answer

Social psychology can explain why certain individuals may accept or reject religious beliefs by examining the influence of social influence, culture, identity, and individual personality factors. However, social psychology cannot speak to the objective truth or falseness of religious beliefs, nor can it determine which religion is the correct one.

Question 8

As discussed in the text, there are three types of beliefs that help people to function effectively in the social world, and that are often cast into doubt when people experience violent crimes or other traumas.Which statement is one of these?

Accepted Answer

One of the three types of beliefs that help people to function effectively in the social world is the belief in personal worth or self-esteem. The statement "I am a good person" reflects this belief and would be cast into doubt after experiencing a traumatic event such as a violent crime. Statements A and B reflect beliefs in the randomness of the world and the lack of meaning in life, respectively, which are not part of the three types of beliefs discussed in the text. Statement C reflects a belief in deservingness, which is not one of the three types of beliefs, but may also be cast into doubt after experiencing a traumatic event.

Question 9

The idea that beliefs play a central role in helping people cope and recover from misfortunes is called ____.

Accepted Answer

The idea that beliefs play a central role in helping people cope and recover from misfortunes is called cognitive coping. Cognitive coping refers to the ways in which people use their beliefs and thoughts to manage the stress and challenges of life. This can include things like positive self-talk, reframing negative thoughts, and finding meaning and purpose in difficult situations. Choices A, B, and C are not directly related to this concept.

Question 10

The term ____ is used to refer to the idea that people live and function in the social universe based on certain beliefs about reality.

Accepted Answer

Assumptive worlds refer to those beliefs and assumptions that individuals hold about the world, which help them navigate and make sense of their social environment. It encompasses various domains such as personal, social, and cultural beliefs.

Question 11

Research suggests that, if you are half-asleep on the sofa watching an infomercial, such that you are processing the contents of the infomercial solely via the automatic system, then your automatic system is likely to take in the ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research suggests that, if you are half-asleep...

Question 12

In terms of the kinds of predictions that it makes, research on cognitive dissonance theory is MOST at odds with research on ____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory and belief perseverance are at odds because cognitive dissonance theory suggests that people change their beliefs to reduce dissonance, whereas belief perseverance indicates that people maintain their beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence.

Question 13

Which of the following is the BEST example of belief perseverance?

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance is the tendency to maintain a belief even after it has been contradicted by evidence. Ahmed's continued belief that his iPad is in the medicine cabinet, despite evidence to the contrary, is an example of this.

Question 14

Social psychologists use the word ____ to refer to how people deal with traumas and return, post-trauma, to healthy, effective functioning.

Accepted Answer

Coping is the word commonly used by social psychologists to refer to the process by which people deal with traumas and try to return to healthy, effective functioning. Coping can involve many different strategies, such as seeking social support, using humor, practicing relaxation techniques, or engaging in problem-solving activities. The goal of coping is to reduce the negative effects of the trauma and to enable the person to move forward with their life.

Question 15

Suppose that Anandi was mugged at gunpoint and that is was an extremely traumatic experience.Which of the following cognitive reactions is MOST likely to help her recover?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose that Anandi was mugged at gunpoint...

Question 16

When advertisers need to help sell a low-quality product, they often make ads that use loud music and distracting images (as opposed to ads that explicitly and straightforwardly discuss the features of the product).This is probably a good strategy because it is likely to foster ____ processing of the ad's claims, and in turn to ____.

Accepted Answer

Using loud music and distracting images in advertisements for low-quality products is likely to encourage automatic processing, which can prevent people from critically evaluating and doubting the validity of the ad's claims.

Question 17

Nkanyiso's first pregnancy was a disaster by most people's standards.Her water broke 24 weeks into the pregnancy, she delivered the baby 15 weeks premature, and he survived but with multiple physical and behavioural health problems that take enormous resources to tackle.Yet every time Nkanyiso takes the baby to the doctor, she notices other families with worse situations - children with terminal illnesses or more profound disabilities.Nkanyiso is using ____ to cope with her baby's complications.

Accepted Answer

Nkanyiso is using downward comparisons to cope with her baby's complications. She compares her situation with families who have worse situations than hers, which can help her feel more grateful and positive about her own situation.

Question 18

Bonolo believes there is a dog in the car.Even after she has looked absolutely everywhere in the car and found no evidence whatsoever of a dog, she continues to believe this.This scenario BEST exemplifies ____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario exemplifies belief perseverance, which refers to the tendency to hold onto one's beliefs even when presented with evidence to the contrary. In this case, Bonolo continues to believe there is a dog in the car despite not finding any evidence to support this belief.

Question 19

Research on post-trauma coping indicates that one of the WORST possible things - in terms of predicting post-trauma recovery - is for people to ____.

Accepted Answer

Feeling like there is no explanation at all for the trauma can lead to a sense of helplessness and lack of control, which are detrimental to recovery.

Question 20

The tendency to engage in belief perseverance can be reduced or eliminated by ____.

Accepted Answer

Coming up with counter-arguments (i.e., arguments for 'the other side') can help individuals to reduce or eliminate belief perseverance, as it allows them to consider alternative perspectives and challenge their own beliefs. This can lead to a more open-minded approach and a willingness to consider new information and viewpoints.

Quiz 7: Attitudes, Beliefs and Consistency