Question 1

Researchers had college students read statements about the existence of or absence of free will.This served as the ________ variable for their experiment.

Accepted Answer

The statement about free will is the manipulated variable in this experiment, therefore it is the independent variable. The dependent variable would be the behavior or response of the college students after reading the statements. Extraneous variables are those that could potentially influence the results but are not intentionally manipulated by the researcher. Observational variables are those that are simply observed and not manipulated.

Question 2

People tend to have ________ emotional reactions the ________ it is to "mentally undo" an outcome.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that the closer an outcome is to being irreversible, the stronger emotional reactions people tend to have. Additionally, the easier it is to mentally undo an outcome, the weaker the emotional reaction is. Therefore, the best choice is option C, where people have stronger emotional reactions when it is easier to mentally undo an outcome.

Question 3

What is the major advantage of processing information automatically?

Accepted Answer

Processing information automatically saves our cognitive resources, allowing us to use them for other tasks. This can increase efficiency and productivity. While automated processing may not always yield more accurate judgments, it is generally easier to learn and can be more quickly modified than controlled processing.

Question 4

Wegner (2002, 2004) compared the illusion of free will to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Wegner compares the illusion of free will to the well-known statistical principle that correlation does not equal causation. Just as two events may be correlated, but not causally related, our feelings of free will may be correlated with our actions, but not necessarily causally related.

Question 5

The most important take-home message about controlled thinking is that it

Accepted Answer

Controlled thinking acts as a check or balance on automatic thinking by allowing us to carefully evaluate and analyze information rather than simply relying on our initial perceptions or biases. It does not replace automatic thinking but rather complements it by ensuring that our thought processes are thoughtful, logical, and effective. Additionally, controlled thinking can lead to more efficient thinking as it allows us to focus on important information and avoid distractions. Therefore, option A is the most suitable conclusion.

Question 6

To use controlled thinking, we need all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Controlled thinking does not necessarily require superior intelligence, as anyone can learn to use it with practice and training. However, it does require motivation, time, and mental capacity to employ effectively.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT true about the difference between automatic and controlled thinking? Automatic thinking tends to be ________, whereas controlled thinking tends to be ________.

Accepted Answer

The statement that automatic thinking tends to be inaccurate and controlled thinking tends to be accurate is not necessarily true. Both types of thinking can yield accurate or inaccurate results depending on the circumstances and the individual's cognitive processes.

Question 8

When Jana was chiding herself for losing her favorite necklace and reciting a list of all the things she could have done to prevent the loss, her grandmother said, "Now, Jana.Don't cry over spilled milk." In essence, Jana's grandmother was advising her to

Accepted Answer

The phrase "Don't cry over spilled milk" is a common idiom that means not to worry about something that has already happened and cannot be changed. Jana's grandmother is advising her to stop engaging in counterfactual thinking, which involves imagining different outcomes for past events and dwelling on what could have been done differently. By reminding her not to cry over spilled milk, the grandmother is encouraging Jana to move on from her mistake and focus on the present.

Question 9

When Ashley first starts typing, she uses the "hunt and peck" method and finds typing very effortful.Now, after taking a typing class, she feels like her papers practically type themselves once she figures out what she wants to say.This change in her typing reflects a shift from

Accepted Answer

The "hunt and peck" method requires controlled thinking, as the typist must consciously search for the correct keys to hit. After taking a class and practicing, Ashley has likely developed automatic thinking, where typing becomes second nature and requires less conscious effort.

Question 10

In short, counterfactual thinking can be described as

Accepted Answer

Counterfactual thinking involves mentally reconstructing the past and considering alternative outcomes. Option B is incorrect as putting a positive spin on things is not necessarily a part of counterfactual thinking. Option C is incorrect as the purpose of counterfactual thinking is to consider how things could have turned out differently. Option D is incorrect as counterfactual thinking involves imagining different outcomes, which may not always be rational.

Question 11

Aoi is from Japan.If you want her to think analytically, what will you have to do?

Accepted Answer

Research has suggested that cultural background can influence thinking styles, and Japanese culture tends to prioritize holistic thinking over analytical thinking. However, priming analytical thinking with pictures or a story can help activate the analytical mode of thinking in individuals who may not be accustomed to using it regularly. Therefore, choice A is the best option to encourage Aoi to think analytically.

Question 12

The textbook discusses facilitated communication, a technique that has been touted as allowing communication-impaired people to express themselves via a keyboard operated with the help of a facilitator.In fact, the technique

Accepted Answer

Facilitated communication was discredited because research showed that facilitators were often unknowingly guiding the responses, rather than the communication-impaired individuals expressing themselves.

Question 13

Automatic thinking is ________ while controlled thinking is ________.

Accepted Answer

Automatic thinking is involuntary, meaning it happens without deliberate effort or control, while controlled thinking is voluntary, requiring conscious effort and attention.

Question 14

Consider the results from a study by Miyamoto and colleagues in which participants viewed either photos of U.S.city scenes or Japanese city scenes, then were asked to detect differences between two similar pictures.Based on their findings, if an American was touring in Tokyo, Japan, which of the following aspects of a picture would she be most likely to pick up on?

Accepted Answer

The study found that when viewing city scenes, Americans were more likely to focus on the foreground and objects, while Japanese participants were more likely to focus on the background. Therefore, if an American tourist was in Tokyo, she would be most likely to pick up on the foreground and objects in a picture, rather than the background.

Question 15

You stayed up all night cramming for this examination and didn't do as well as you had hoped."If only I had started studying sooner and gotten a good night's rest, I'd have done much better," you think to yourself.You have just engaged in

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes counterfactual thinking, which is thinking about alternative outcomes that might have happened if the situation had gone differently. The individual is imagining a better outcome if they had started studying earlier and gotten enough rest. This is a common thought process after a negative outcome and is a form of "what-if" thinking.

Question 16

All of the following describe controlled thinking except

Accepted Answer

Controlled thinking is conscious and requires mental energy. It also involves actively considering multiple perspectives and weighing options, rather than just considering one thing at a time. Therefore, B is the best choice as it incorrectly describes controlled thinking as effortless.

Question 17

Miyamoto and colleagues conducted a study in which participants viewed either photos of U.S.city scenes or Japanese city scenes, then were asked to detect differences between two similar pictures.The researchers found evidence that viewing Japanese city scenes

Accepted Answer

The study found evidence that viewing Japanese city scenes primed a holistic thinking style, indicating that participants were more likely to perceive the scenes as a whole rather than focusing on individual objects or details. This suggests that exposure to different cultures can influence cognitive processes and thinking styles.

Question 18

At the grocery store, mothers often keep children busy by letting them "drive" the cart.Little do the children realize that the steering wheel they are playing with does not control anything.This example demonstrates our sometimes misplaced sense of control over

Accepted Answer

The example of children "driving" a grocery cart with a steering wheel that doesn't actually control the movement of the cart is a metaphor for how we sometimes feel like we're in control of our actions and decisions, when in reality there may be other factors at play (such as subconscious influences, past experiences, or social pressure) that we are not fully aware of or able to control. This aligns with the concept of free will and our own behavior.

Question 19

In a study on facilitated communication, headphones were used to ask the communication-impaired person one question and the facilitator a different question (unbeknownst to the two parties).Then the answers provided by the communication-impaired person with the help of the facilitator were examined.Findings indicated that the technique was

Accepted Answer

The study found that the technique of facilitated communication was ineffective. The communication-impaired person and their facilitator were asked different questions, but the facilitators answered the question they were asked and believed they were answering the question asked of the communication-impaired person. This suggests that the facilitators were not effectively communicating the answers of their partners, and may have been unconsciously influencing or even controlling their responses.

Question 20

Miyamoto and colleagues conducted a study in which participants viewed either photos of U.S.city scenes or Japanese city scenes, then were asked to detect differences between two similar pictures.They found that participants who viewed Japanese city scenes were more likely to detect changes in

Accepted Answer

Participants who viewed Japanese city scenes were more likely to detect changes in the background, reflecting differences in attentional styles influenced by cultural contexts.

Quiz 3: Social Cognition: How We Think About the Social World