Question 1

Jackie really wants the new position being created within his department but feels like it is going to go to the owner's new son-in-law. As a result, Jackie does not apply for the job, which is given to the head of another department, and not the son-in-law. According to Rotter, Jackie based her decision on:

Accepted Answer

Jackie's decision was based on her expectation that the job would go to the owner's son-in-law, which aligns with Rotter's concept of expectancies influencing behavior.

Question 2

As the final exam session gets closer, Jill finds that she will spend more time studying in the evening than watching television and socializing with friends. According to Rotter, her study behavior has a _____ than the other two forms of actions.

Accepted Answer

According to Rotter's social learning theory, behavior potential is the likelihood of engaging in a particular behavior in a specific situation. Jill's decision to study more indicates a greater behavior potential for studying compared to watching TV or socializing.

Question 3

Elliot believes that if he works late and on the weekends, he will make partner in the law firm. Elliot's beliefs reflect what Rotter referred to as a(n):

Accepted Answer

Rotter's concept of expectancy refers to the belief about the likelihood of a particular outcome occurring as a result of a specific behavior. Elliot's belief that working late and on weekends will lead to making partner is an example of expectancy.

Question 4

Janet believes that being nice to the waiter at a local Greek restaurant gets her a nice table and great service on busy Friday nights. However, she believes that the same behavior has no effect on the treatment she receives at another restaurant right around the corner. This situation illustrates what Rotter referred to as _____ expectancies.

Accepted Answer

Specific expectancies refer to the belief that a particular behavior will lead to a specific outcome in a particular situation, as Janet believes her behavior affects her experience at one restaurant but not another.

Question 5

Janet believes that being nice to the waiter at a local restaurant gets her a nice table and great service on busy Friday nights. This also seems to work at every other restaurant she goes to while traveling throughout the state. When visiting another part of the country, Janet decides that she will be very nice to the waiter at the restaurant she will be going to this Friday night. This situation illustrates what Rotter referred to as _____ expectancies.

Accepted Answer

Janet's belief that being nice to waiters leads to better service is a generalized expectancy, as it applies broadly across different situations and locations.

Question 6

Alice always tries to have a joke ready when she sees her clients. However, she realizes that telling jokes seems to be effective when seeing clients after lunch but not before lunch. This illustrates the establishment of a(n) _____ expectancy from a _____ expectancy.

Accepted Answer

Alice's realization that jokes are effective only after lunch is a specific expectancy (effective in a particular situation) derived from a generalized expectancy (initial belief that jokes are effective in general).

Question 7

The value of a(n) ______ expectancy is that it makes adjusting to new situations easier, as long as the same behavior is appropriate.

Accepted Answer

A generalized expectancy allows individuals to apply learned behaviors to new situations, making adaptation easier when the behavior is appropriate.

Question 8

Leo really wants to make an A in his personality psychology class but doesn't really care what type of grade he makes in his history class, as long as it is not a D- or less. Leo's views about the grades represent differences in their:

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement value refers to the importance or desirability of a particular outcome to an individual. Leo places a higher value on achieving an A in his psychology class compared to his history class, indicating a difference in reinforcement value.

Question 9

Because he has received B+'s on his last three examinations, Leo really wants to make an A in his personality psychology class. However, because he has received three D's on his last three history examinations, he really doesn't care what type of grade he makes in his history class, as long as it is not a D- or less. Leo's views about the grades represent differences in their:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because he has received B+'s on his...

Question 10

Pat was caught selling drugs. Upon seeing the judge assigned to the case walk into the room, Pat began to feel very anxious because this judge is known for her harsh sentencing. According to Rotter, Pat is responding to:

Accepted Answer

According to Rotter, the psychological situation refers to the individual's perception of the environment and how it influences their behavior. Pat's anxiety is a response to the perceived harshness of the judge, which is part of the psychological situation.

Question 11

In order to predict what a particular individual would do in a particular situation, Rotter proposed the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order to predict what a particular...

Question 12

Joel thinks he will make a successful representative because he is good at thinking on his feet, making small talk, and remembering people's names. Joel' s belief that he has what it takes to get promoted, increase his salary, and make his parents proud is a statement about his:

Accepted Answer

Joel's belief that he has the skills necessary to succeed and achieve his goals is related to his "freedom of movement," which refers to the confidence in one's ability to perform actions that lead to desired outcomes.

Question 13

Joel considers it important to have a good job, stable family life, and a good reputation in the community. According to Rotter, by valuing these conditions of worth, Joel is determining their:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Joel considers it important to have a...

Question 14

According to Rotter, personality adjustment is associated with a(n):

Accepted Answer

Rotter's theory suggests that personality adjustment is linked to a high degree of freedom of movement, which refers to the belief that one can achieve desired outcomes through their actions.

Question 15

Sally is experiencing hypertension because she feels she must make a sale every time she calls on a customer. To deal with her tension, her social-learning therapist is helping her to be happy if she can make one sale for each ten customers she contacts. According to Rotter, the therapist is trying to help Sally establish a more realistic:

Accepted Answer

The therapist is helping Sally set a more realistic minimal goal level by adjusting her expectations to be satisfied with one sale per ten contacts, which can reduce her stress and hypertension.

Question 16

When considering where she is going to invest her money, Jane said that she would only consider those investments that offered at least eight percent return during the first year. According to Rotter, Jane is stating her _____ for investing her money.

Accepted Answer

According to Rotter, a minimal goal level is the lowest level of performance or outcome that an individual is willing to accept. Jane's requirement of at least an eight percent return is her minimal goal level for investment.

Question 17

Rose really wants to return to school to get a better job. She has set a goal of taking at least six credit hours per semester in order to achieve her goal in six years. She has recently become depressed because she only has enough money to take three credit hours the next two semesters. According to Rotter, her depression is a result of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rose really wants to return to school...

Question 18

Lester is depressed because the personal ad he listed in the local newspaper did not produce any responses. Because of this, he now believes that no one will ever love him. According to Rotter, Lester's depression is a result of a(n):

Accepted Answer

Lester's belief that no one will ever love him based on a single event is an inappropriate generalization of expectancies, which aligns with Rotter's theory of locus of control and expectancy theory.

Question 19

A characteristic feature of Rotter's approach to psychotherapy is its:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A characteristic feature of Rotter's approach to...

Question 20

Dr. Jay has a client in psychotherapy for mild depression. The individual is depressed because he has been unable to tell his boss how upset he is about once again being overlooked for a promotion. Dr. Jay begins to help by role playing with him those situations in which he can ask his boss for a promotion. According to Rotter, this represents a therapeutic attempt to:

Accepted Answer

Role playing to practice asking for a promotion is aimed at increasing the individual's freedom of movement, which refers to the range of options a person feels they have in a given situation.

Quiz 10: The Social-Cognitive Viewpoint: Cognitive Processes and Personality

As the final exam session gets closer, Jill finds that she will spend more time studying in the evening than watching television and socializing with friends. According to Rotter, her study behavior has a _____ than the other two forms of actions.

Elliot believes that if he works late and on the weekends, he will make partner in the law firm. Elliot's beliefs reflect what Rotter referred to as a(n) :

Alice always tries to have a joke ready when she sees her clients. However, she realizes that telling jokes seems to be effective when seeing clients after lunch but not before lunch. This illustrates the establishment of a(n) _ expectancy from a _ expectancy.