Question 1

________ theory explains how we judge people differently depending on what meaning we ascribe to a given behavior.
A) Perception
B) Behavior
C) Attribution
D) Social contrast

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory refers to how people evaluate and explain the behavior of others. It involves our tendency to give meaning to someone's behavior and to make assumptions about their character or motives based on limited information. This can lead to different judgments about the same behavior depending on the attribution made.

Question 2

________ is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory impressions to give meaning to the environment.
A) Attribution
B) Selection
C) Learning
D) Perception

Accepted Answer

Perception is the process of receiving and interpreting information from the environment through our senses. It involves organizing and interpreting sensory inputs to make sense of the world around us. Perception is influenced by various factors like past experiences, expectations, motives, culture, and context. In contrast, attribution is the process of explaining the causes of behavior, selection is the process of choosing which stimuli to attend to, and learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge or behavior.

Question 3

________ is the tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors such as ability or effort while putting the blame for personal failure on external factors such as luck.
A) Assumed similarity
B) Stereotyping
C) Fundamental attribution error
D) Self-serving bias

Accepted Answer

This pattern of attribution is known as the self-serving bias, where individuals tend to take credit for positive outcomes and distance themselves from negative outcomes.

Question 4

What is a key point of Holland's theory?
A) There are no intrinsic differences in personality among individuals.
B) All jobs are relatively the same, it is personality types that differ.
C) People in job environments compatible with their personality types should be more satisfied.
D) Employee turnover is highest when personality and occupation are compatible.

Accepted Answer

Holland's theory proposes that individuals will be more satisfied and successful in jobs that are compatible with their personality types. This suggests that job satisfaction is related to the fit between an individual's personality and the characteristics of their work environment. Therefore, choice C is the key point of Holland's theory.

Question 5

People who identify opportunities, show initiative, take action, and persevere until meaningful change occurs are said to have ________ personalities.
A) proactive
B) self-aware
C) resilient
D) agreeable

Accepted Answer

A proactive personality refers to an individual's tendency to identify opportunities, show initiative, take action, and persevere until meaningful change occurs. The other options, self-aware, resilient, and agreeable, do not specifically relate to this description.

Question 6

A manager makes decisions very quickly and requires little information for making the decisions.Which of the following is a likely reason for this?
A) The manager has low self-esteem.
B) The manager has an external locus of control.
C) The manager is high in emotional stability.
D) The manager is high in risk-taking.

Accepted Answer

Managers who make decisions quickly and with little information are likely to be high in risk-taking. Such managers have a high tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty, and are willing to take risks in order to achieve their goals. They are not afraid of failure and are confident in their ability to handle whatever challenges come their way. This is different from someone who has low self-esteem, who may hesitate to make decisions because they are afraid of making mistakes or being criticized. In addition, having an external locus of control (thinking that things happen to you rather than you controlling them) would not necessarily lead to quick decision-making, nor would being high in emotional stability necessarily be a factor in decision-making speed.

Question 7

If everyone who's faced with a similar situation responds in the same way, we can say the behavior shows ________.
A) reliability
B) distinctiveness
C) consensus
D) internal attribution

Accepted Answer

Consensus refers to whether other people in the same situation behave similarly. If everyone responds in the same way, then there is high consensus.

Question 8

When people judge someone on the basis of the perception of a group they are a part of, they are using the shortcut called ________.
A) stereotyping
B) self-serving bias
C) assumed similarity
D) the halo effect

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping is the shortcut that involves making generalizations about a group and assuming that these traits apply to every member of that group. This can lead to unfair judgments and discrimination based solely on group membership. The other options do not specifically refer to this type of shortcut.

Question 9

Emotional intelligence has been shown to be ________.
A) negatively related to job performance at all levels
B) negatively related to job performance in middle management only
C) positively related to job performance only in government agencies
D) positively related to job performance at all levels

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies have found a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and job performance at all levels, from entry-level employees to executives.

Question 10

Holland's theory proposes that satisfaction is highest and turnover lowest when ________.
A) the locus of control is external
B) an employee is social and realistic
C) personality and occupation are compatible
D) an employee can adjust behavior to external factors

Accepted Answer

According to Holland's theory, personality and occupation must be compatible for an employee to experience job satisfaction and lower turnover. This means that the individual's personality traits, such as their interests, values, and abilities, must align with the demands and requirements of the job. This alignment can lead to a better fit between the individual and their work, resulting in greater job satisfaction and lower likelihood of turnover. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 11

Kevin is a whirlwind as a research and development supervisor.His colleagues are surprised that even though he makes decisions very quickly and always with less information than others, his decisions are as good as anybody else's.This information implies that Kevin has ________.
A) an external locus of control
B) low Machiavellianism
C) high risk-taking ability
D) low cognitive dissonance

Accepted Answer

Kevin's ability to make decisions quickly with less information than others suggests that he has high risk-taking ability. This trait is associated with individuals who are willing to take risks and make decisions quickly even in the absence of complete information. It is not necessarily related to locus of control, Machiavellianism, or cognitive dissonance.

Question 12

Underestimating the influence of external factors and overestimating the influence of internal factors when making judgments about others is known as the ________.
A) fundamental attribution error
B) self-serving bias
C) assumption of similarity
D) halo effect

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency for people to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for other people's behavior and underestimate situational (external) factors.

Question 13

When Darrin went to a career counselor, Joanna, he took a test that would allow the counselor to gain an insight into his personality.After speaking to Darrin and analyzing his answers in the test, Joanna realized that he is curious by nature.He preferred activities that involved understanding and organizing, and that he is basically analytical.Which of the following occupations is a potentially good match for him?
A) painter
B) farmer
C) social worker
D) news reporter

Accepted Answer

As Darrin is analytical and curious, becoming a news reporter where he can investigate and research various topics, could be a good match for him.

Question 14

________ behavior is voluntary or learned behavior.
A) Reflexive
B) Dissonant
C) Operant
D) Reactive

Accepted Answer

Operant behavior is voluntary or learned behavior that is shaped by its consequences. This type of behavior involves responding to a stimulus based on the outcomes or consequences that follow. Examples of operant behavior include pressing a lever to receive a treat or studying hard to get a good grade. Reflexive behavior (A) is an automatic and involuntary response to a stimulus, while dissonant behavior (B) refers to behavior that conflicts with a person's beliefs or values. Reactive behavior (D) is a response to a stimuli that follows a set pattern or sequence, and is not necessarily voluntary or learned.

Question 15

Andrew is social, friendly, and understanding, and prefers activities that involve helping and developing others.Which of the following occupations is a potentially good match for him?
A) accountant
B) teacher
C) artist
D) news reporter

Accepted Answer

Based on the given traits and preferences, a career in teaching would be a good match for Andrew as it involves helping and developing others.

Question 16

The ability to sense how others are feeling is known as ________.
A) emotional stability
B) empathy
C) resilience
D) self-awareness

Accepted Answer

Empathy is the ability to sense and understand the emotions and feelings of others. Emotional stability refers to one's own ability to manage and regulate their emotions, resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges, and self-awareness is the ability to understand and recognize one's own emotions and behavior.

Question 17

Bridget prefers rule-regulated, orderly, and unambiguous activities.She doesn't have a lot of imagination but could be described as conforming and efficient.Which of the following describes Bridget's personality?
A) social
B) artistic
C) enterprising
D) conventional

Accepted Answer

Bridget's preference for rule-regulated, orderly, and unambiguous activities and her conforming and efficient personality traits align with the characteristics of a conventional personality type.

Question 18

By using ________, we form a general impression about a person based on only a single characteristic, such as intelligence or appearance.
A) stereotyping
B) selectivity
C) the halo effect
D) assumed similarity

Accepted Answer

The halo effect refers to the tendency to form a general impression about a person based on only one or a few traits. It occurs when someone's overall evaluation of another person is influenced by their positive or negative feelings towards that person's specific attributes.

Question 19

In ________, the observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics than by those of the person observed.
A) stereotyping
B) self-serving bias
C) assumed similarity
D) the halo effect

Accepted Answer

Assumed similarity occurs when an observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics, beliefs, and experiences than by the actual characteristics of the person being observed. This leads to the assumption that others are similar to oneself even when this might not be the case.

Question 20

A test that Jake took at a career counseling session indicated that he preferred coordinated physical activity.He also turned out to be stable and conforming to expected standards.Which of the following occupations is likely to be a good match for Jake?
A) counselor
B) farmer
C) biologist
D) economist

Accepted Answer

Based on Jake's preference for coordinated physical activity and his stable and conforming personality traits, farming would be a good match. Farming involves physical labor and adherence to established standards for crops and livestock. Other occupations may not provide as much opportunity for coordinated physical activity and may not appeal to someone who values stability and conformity.

Quiz 15: Understanding Individual Behavior

________ theory explains how we judge people differently depending on what meaning we ascribe to a given behavior.

________ is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory impressions to give meaning to the environment.

________ is the tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors such as ability or effort while putting the blame for personal failure on external factors such as luck.

What is a key point of Holland's theory?

People who identify opportunities, show initiative, take action, and persevere until meaningful change occurs are said to have ________ personalities.

A manager makes decisions very quickly and requires little information for making the decisions.Which of the following is a likely reason for this?

If everyone who's faced with a similar situation responds in the same way, we can say the behavior shows ________.

When people judge someone on the basis of the perception of a group they are a part of, they are using the shortcut called ________.

Emotional intelligence has been shown to be ________.

Holland's theory proposes that satisfaction is highest and turnover lowest when ________.

Kevin is a whirlwind as a research and development supervisor.His colleagues are surprised that even though he makes decisions very quickly and always with less information than others, his decisions are as good as anybody else's.This information implies that Kevin has ________.

Underestimating the influence of external factors and overestimating the influence of internal factors when making judgments about others is known as the ________.

________ behavior is voluntary or learned behavior.

Andrew is social, friendly, and understanding, and prefers activities that involve helping and developing others.Which of the following occupations is a potentially good match for him?

The ability to sense how others are feeling is known as ________.

Bridget prefers rule-regulated, orderly, and unambiguous activities.She doesn't have a lot of imagination but could be described as conforming and efficient.Which of the following describes Bridget's personality?

By using ________, we form a general impression about a person based on only a single characteristic, such as intelligence or appearance.

In ________, the observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics than by those of the person observed.

A test that Jake took at a career counseling session indicated that he preferred coordinated physical activity.He also turned out to be stable and conforming to expected standards.Which of the following occupations is likely to be a good match for Jake?