Question 1

"Probably,he cheated on the test because he is a dishonest person." This is a(n)_____ attribution.

Accepted Answer

This attribution attributes the behavior to the person's internal characteristics, such as honesty, rather than to external factors. It assumes that the person's behavior reflects their underlying disposition or personality, rather than the situation or context they are in.

Question 2

Shaun is angry at the way a coworker has treated him.Shaun feels justified in his anger because "surely,anybody would feel the same way if the same thing happened to them." This example reveals Shaun's susceptibility to the:

Accepted Answer

The assumed-similarity bias refers to the tendency for people to assume that others are similar to them in terms of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. In this case, Shaun believes that anyone would feel the same way he does, which is an example of this bias. The other options do not fit this scenario as well. The halo effect refers to the tendency to form overall impressions of others based on a single trait or characteristic. The self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute success to internal factors and failure to external factors. The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for others' behavior and underemphasize situational (external) explanations.

Question 3

Which of the following attribution biases is correctly matched with its definition?

Accepted Answer

The halo effect is the tendency to generalize positive or negative impressions based on a single trait or characteristic of an individual, assuming they possess many other similar traits.

Question 4

If we do well on a test,we say,"I got an A!" If we do poorly,we say,"She gave me an F." This best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

The statement best illustrates the self-serving bias, which refers to people's tendency to attribute positive outcomes to their own abilities or efforts, while attributing negative outcomes to external factors, such as the situation or others' actions. Saying "I got an A" highlights one's own achievement, while "She gave me an F" suggests that the grade was determined solely by the teacher's actions rather than the individual's performance.

Question 5

If you are exhibiting the self-serving bias,which statement would be your most likely explanation for a poor grade on the test?

Accepted Answer

The self-serving bias results in individuals attributing their successes to internal factors (such as personal ability or effort) and their failures to external factors (such as poor teaching or bad luck). Option A is an example of blaming an external factor for a poor grade, rather than accepting personal responsibility for the outcome.

Question 6

Behavioral economists:

Accepted Answer

Behavioral economists focus on the irrationality of judgments, which suggests that people are not always rational decision makers and can be influenced by biases and emotions.

Question 7

Sharon was made the captain of her softball team due to her excellent playing skills.However,the fact that she did not display good team management skills and was not very cooperative with her teammates was ignored while making her the captain.Which of the following biases is illustrated in this instance?

Accepted Answer

The Halo effect is illustrated in this instance, as Sharon's excellent playing skills led to the assumption that she would also have good team management skills and be cooperative with her teammates. This bias occurs when a positive trait or characteristic of an individual leads to an overgeneralization that they are good at everything they do.

Question 8

One forms an impression of another individual:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people form quick first impressions of others within the first few seconds of meeting them. These impressions are often based on nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE of the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that the fundamental attribution error is more common in Western cultures than in Eastern cultures. In Western cultures, there is a tendency to attribute behavior to internal, personal characteristics, whereas in Eastern cultures, there is a greater emphasis on situational factors. However, it is important to note that the extent of this difference may vary within each culture and across different groups.

Question 10

Unusually important characteristics that help one form an initial overall impression of another individual are called _____ traits.

Accepted Answer

Central traits are the most common and important characteristics that help one form an initial overall impression of another individual. Cardinal traits are extremely dominant and define a person's personality, while primary traits are those that are evident and surface level. Schematic traits refer to preconceived notions or stereotypes that can influence our perception of others.

Question 11

Which of the following is TRUE of schemas?

Accepted Answer

Schemas are mental frameworks or structures we use to organize and make sense of information in the world around us. They help us to categorize and interpret new information quickly and efficiently. Schemas can be based on previous experiences, societal norms, cultural expectations, or even personal biases. They are not necessarily accurate or infallible, as they can lead to errors in judgment and perception. However, they do help us to make predictions about others even with limited information.

Question 12

The tendency to attribute personal success to personal factors (skill,ability,or effort)and to attribute failure to factors outside oneself is known as the:

Accepted Answer

The self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute personal success to personal factors (skill, ability, or effort) and to attribute failure to factors outside oneself. It is a way for individuals to protect their self-esteem by preserving a positive view of themselves.

Question 13

Perceived causes of behavior that are based on internal traits or personality factors are called _____ causes.

Accepted Answer

Perceived causes of behavior that are based on internal traits or personality factors are called dispositional causes. This contrasts with situational causes, which are based on external circumstances and environmental factors. Circumstantial is not commonly used to describe perceived causes of behavior, and environmental typically refers to broader external factors rather than individual traits or behaviors.

Question 14

While making a fundamental attribution error,we center our attention on the person whose behavior we're considering because:

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error involves overemphasizing personal characteristics and underemphasizing situational factors when interpreting others' behavior. Choice B is correct because it suggests that we focus on the person rather than their surroundings, which are less attention-grabbing and perceived as unchanged, leading us to attribute the person's behavior more to their disposition than to situational factors.

Question 15

The fundamental attribution error is very common because:

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error occurs because observers often lack complete information about another person's situation, leading them to attribute the person's behavior more to their disposition or personality than to situational factors. Choice C correctly identifies the issue with the nature of information available to the people making an attribution, which is central to why this error is common.

Question 16

Fiona got an e-mail from her manager,Rebecca,asking her to meet to discuss a past project.Unfortunately,Fiona was struggling to complete a project due that afternoon and had to reply that she was too busy to meet today.Rebecca was not pleased with Fiona's refusal to meet her and told another coworker that she thought Fiona was "too busy and important" to meet with her supervisor; thus,she is an unpleasant snob.Rebecca is making a(n)______ attribution of Fiona.

Accepted Answer

Rebecca is making a dispositional attribution of Fiona, assuming that Fiona's behavior is a result of her personality traits rather than the situation she is currently in.

Question 17

In determining the causes of others' behavior,we overemphasize _____ factors; this is the _____.

Accepted Answer

The question is referring to the bias known as the fundamental attribution error, which involves overemphasizing dispositional (i.e. internal or personal) factors in determining the causes of others' behavior. The opposite bias would be to overemphasize situational (i.e. external) factors, but this is not mentioned as an option. Additionally, the term "self-serving bias" typically refers to a different bias that involves taking credit for one's successes but attributing failures to external factors, rather than overemphasizing dispositional factors in others.

Question 18

The field of _____ examines the influence of cognitive biases and attribution errors on people's economic decision making.

Accepted Answer

The field of behavioral economics examines the influence of cognitive biases and attribution errors on people's economic decision making. Forensic psychology deals with legal issues and psychology, industrial/organizational psychology focuses on psychology in the workplace, and economic psychology is not a well-known field.

Question 19

_____ are brought about by something in the environment.

Accepted Answer

Situational causes are brought about by something in the environment. Dispositional causes refer to personality traits, internal causes refer to psychological or physiological factors within the individual, and personality causes are not a commonly recognized category in the field of psychology.

Question 20

George met Paul at a seminar for the first time.When Paul expressed his political interests,George felt that Paul was very much like him as they shared the same opinions on political ideals.George's inference is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The assumed-similarity bias is the tendency to perceive others as being similar to oneself. In this scenario, George infers that Paul is like him because they share the same opinions on political ideals. This bias can lead to overestimating the similarity between oneself and others, which can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication.

Quiz 17: Social Psychology

"Probably,he cheated on the test because he is a dishonest person." This is a(n) _____ attribution.