Question 1

Tammy believes that Shane did well on the midterm because the professor really liked Shane's ideas.Which of the following is most clearly illustrated by Tammy's belief

Accepted Answer

Tammy's belief illustrates an external attribution because she attributes Shane's success on the midterm to an external factor (the professor liking Shane's ideas) rather than Shane's own abilities or efforts.

Question 2

In evolutionary theory,what is the term for a group that we do not belong to or identify with

Accepted Answer

The term for a group that we do not belong to or identify with in evolutionary theory is called an outgroup. A subculture is a group within a larger culture that distinguishes itself from the dominant culture. Affiliative refers to the act of forming an emotional or social connection with a group or individual. Maladapted group refers to a group that is not well adapted to its environment or situation.

Question 3

Which statement reflects a clear internal attribution

Accepted Answer

Choice B indicates that the person made the decision based on their own beliefs and values, which is a clear internal attribution. Choices A, C, and D all suggest external factors influencing the person's behavior, such as peer pressure or situational demands.

Question 4

Which term would you use for the clusters of ideas you associate with categories like "students," "professors," "waiters," or "politicians"

Accepted Answer

Social schemas are mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information about people, including their traits and behaviors. The clusters of ideas associated with categories like "students," "professors," "waiters," or "politicians" are examples of social schemas. Stereotypes, prejudice, and person perception are related concepts, but they refer to specific ways in which social schemas can affect our judgments and behaviors.

Question 5

What is person perception

Accepted Answer

Person perception refers to the process of forming impressions of others, including judgments about their traits, intentions, and behaviors. It involves using available information to make inferences about others and evaluate them based on that information. Options A, B, and D refer to different concepts related to social psychology, but do not capture the complete meaning of person perception.

Question 6

According to social psychologists,what is attribution

Accepted Answer

Attribution refers to the inferences that people make about the causes of their own behavior and the behavior of others. These inferences can be based on internal factors (e.g. personality traits) or external factors (e.g. situational factors). Social psychologists are interested in studying how people make these attributions and how they influence behavior and relationships.

Question 7

What is believed of people who are physically attractive,compared to less attractive people

Accepted Answer

Research has found that people who are physically attractive are often perceived as friendlier, more socially competent, and better adjusted than those who are less attractive. This is known as the "halo effect" where people tend to associate positive traits with physical attractiveness.

Question 8

Jill assumes her new biology professor is probably studious and somewhat introverted just like her other professors.What is Jill's assumption based on

Accepted Answer

Jill's assumption is based on a social schema, which is a mental framework or concept that organizes and categorizes information about social groups and their members. Jill is relying on her previous experiences with other professors and assuming that her new biology professor will fit into the same category based on their profession. This is an example of a social schema, which can lead to stereotypes and biases.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a factor that directly influences person perception

Accepted Answer

Conformity does not directly influence person perception. Person perception is influenced by social schemas (mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information about people), physical appearance, and stereotypes (generalizations about a group of people based on perceived characteristics). Conformity refers to adjusting one's behavior to fit with group norms or expectations and is not specifically related to forming impressions of individuals.

Question 10

After travelling across Canada for several months and interacting with a wide variety of people,Sven tells his friends back home in Sweden that all Canadians are incredibly polite.He also says that he's positive that any of the rude people he met were not Canadians.What does this example illustrate

Accepted Answer

Sven's conclusion is an example of an illusory correlation, where he incorrectly associates the trait of politeness exclusively with Canadians based on his personal experiences, and assumes that any rude behavior must come from non-Canadians, despite not having evidence for such a broad generalization.

Question 11

Which statement does NOT accurately describe stereotypes

Accepted Answer

Although stereotypes are a type of social schema, not all social schemas are stereotypes. Social schemas are generalizations about social groups or categories, while stereotypes specifically involve overgeneralizing and exaggerating certain traits or characteristics of those groups.

Question 12

One of your friends brings her cousin Eric to a party.Eric is very attractive.Which traits are you likely to attribute to Eric

Accepted Answer

There is no reason to assume that Eric is arrogant, conceited, or incompetent based solely on his physical attractiveness. Therefore, option D - friendly and competent or smart - is the most plausible choice.

Question 13

Why do evolutionary psychologists propose to explain the biases associated with person perception

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists suggest that biases in person perception evolved because our ancestors needed to quickly assess potential threats from outgroup members, which required rapid judgments.

Question 14

Which term is defined as widely held beliefs that people have certain characteristics because of their membership in a particular group

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes refer to widely held beliefs or generalizations about a group of people based on their membership in that group. Person perception refers to the process of forming impressions of others. Social schemas are cognitive frameworks that organize information about social groups. Prejudice refers to negative attitudes or feelings towards a certain group of people.

Question 15

Shane believes that Tammy failed the midterm because she couldn't grasp the course material.What is most clearly illustrated by Shane's belief

Accepted Answer

Shane is attributing Tammy's failure to her personal abilities and knowledge, which is an internal factor, rather than external factors like the difficulty of the exam or external circumstances impacting Tammy's ability to study.

Question 16

Which branch of psychology is concerned with the way individuals' thoughts,feelings,and behaviours are influenced by others

Accepted Answer

Social psychology is the branch of psychology that studies the way individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others in a social context. It focuses on topics such as group dynamics, social influence, interpersonal relationships, and the impact of culture and society on human behavior.

Question 17

Jane's eight-year-old son brought a note home from school stating that he was involved in a fight at recess.Which statement is an example of an external attribution that Jane might make to explain her son's behaviour

Accepted Answer

This statement makes an external attribution by suggesting that the other child started the fight, which is beyond the control of Jane's son.

Question 18

If you believe that you will get a good grade on this test because you studied hard this time,what sort of attribution have you made

Accepted Answer

This attribution involves both internal (studying hard) and unstable (this time) factors, indicating that the individual believes their success on the test is due to their own efforts that can vary over time.

Question 19

Tom believes that college football players are "dumb jocks," so when he meets a football player Tom interacts with him in a way that doesn't allow the football player to display his intelligence.What does this example illustrate

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the self-fulfilling prophesy, where Tom's belief that college football players are "dumb jocks" influences his interactions with the football player, ultimately not allowing the football player to display his intelligence.

Question 20

If many Americans were to believe that all Canadians play hockey,what would that belief be called

Accepted Answer

This would be a stereotype, as it is a widely held belief or oversimplified idea about a particular group that may or may not be accurate.

Quiz 13: B: Social Behaviour