Question 1

Andrea enjoys drawing pictures,solving complex mathematical problems,and building things.Her decision to major in architecture would best demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

Andrea's decision to major in architecture demonstrates situational selection because she chose a major that aligns with her interests and skills in drawing, problem-solving, and building. She selected the situation (major) that best fits her individual characteristics.

Question 2

Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies situational specificity?

Accepted Answer

Situational specificity refers to how a person's behavior or emotions may vary according to the specific situation they are in. In this scenario, Rochelle's behavior is different from how she usually behaves because she is specifically in a job interview situation.

Question 3

Which of the following might NOT explain why a person often acts in a friendly manner?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following might NOT explain...

Question 4

The concept of aggregation:

Accepted Answer

The concept of aggregation refers to the idea that behavior should be assessed over multiple occasions and situations to get a more accurate understanding of an individual's typical behavior. It does not predict performance on a specific occasion, as behavior can vary depending on the context and other factors.

Question 5

A baseball player's statistical batting average is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A batting average is an example of aggregation because it combines multiple instances of an event (hits) over a set number of opportunities (at-bats) to produce a single statistic that represents performance.

Question 6

In the context of person-situation interaction,single measures of behavior:

Accepted Answer

Single measures of behavior do not take into account situational factors that may influence behavior, and therefore are rarely good measures of anything. This is due to the fact that behavior can change greatly depending on the context in which it occurs.

Question 7

Aggregation usually results in a:

Accepted Answer

Aggregation combines multiple observations or measures of behavior, which can help to reduce the impact of random or situational factors that may affect individual observations. This can result in a more reliable measure of behavior overall.

Question 8

Samuel is a math professor and loves his job.Students love his classes because he makes the classes interactive and innovative.Even students who score low in math show a remarkable improvement when assigned to his classes.In this scenario,the fact that Samuel naturally elicits a strong liking for math from his students exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

The term "evocation" refers to the phenomenon where people and situations can elicit certain reactions or behaviors from individuals. In this case, Samuel's teaching style and personality are evoking a strong liking for math from his students, even those who previously struggled with the subject.

Question 9

_____ refers to a situation in which a person acts in a specific way under particular circumstances implying that his or her behavior is caused by the situation.

Accepted Answer

Situational specificity refers to the concept that behavior is context-dependent and can be influenced by external factors such as the environment, social norms, and the presence of others. This means that individuals may act in a certain way in a particular situation but behave differently in another situation, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of situational factors in shaping behavior.

Question 10

In the context of aggregation,which of the following assessments are better measures of traits?

Accepted Answer

A long questionnaire would provide a more comprehensive assessment of traits by covering a wider range of behaviors and attitudes, allowing for a more accurate aggregation of data. A single observation of behavior or a single experiment may not provide enough data points to accurately assess a trait. A short questionnaire may not capture enough information or may not be tailored to the specific trait being assessed.

Question 11

In the context of person-situation interaction,individuals who use a charm tactic in order to influence others are most likely demonstrating the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Charm tactics involve using manipulation to influence others, suggesting that the individual is utilizing their own behavior to affect the behavior of those around them. Therefore, the best choice is option C, manipulation. The other choices are not related to the individual's behavior in this way.

Question 12

Individuals' grade point average best indicates their average performance in college classes over time.This illustrates the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Aggregation refers to the process of combining multiple individual measurements or pieces of data into a single measure or summary statistic. In this case, individual grades over time are aggregated into a single measure of GPA, which best indicates the individual's overall performance in college. The other answer choices are unrelated to the concept being described.

Question 13

In a study conducted by Diener,Larsen,and Emmons (1984)in which participants had to wear pagers so that they could be signaled electronically throughout the day for six weeks,it was found that:

Accepted Answer

The study by Diener, Larsen, and Emmons (1984) found that individuals with a high need for order tended to spend their time in more familiar situations. This finding suggests that people who value organization and predictability are more likely to engage in activities and environments that are known to them, possibly because these settings provide a sense of control and security.

Question 14

In the context of person-situation interaction,which of the following refers to the idea that certain personality traits may elicit specific responses from the environment?

Accepted Answer

Evocation is the idea that certain personality traits may evoke or elicit specific responses from the environment. This means that people's behaviors, attitudes, and emotions may be influenced by the reactions they receive from others, which in turn are shaped by the individual's personality traits. Situational selection refers to the idea that people may choose or avoid certain situations based on their personality traits. Manipulation refers to the idea that people may intentionally manipulate the situation to achieve their goals, and aggregation refers to the idea that behavior is best predicted by looking at an individual's overall pattern of behavior across multiple situations.

Question 15

Personality has its strongest influence on behavior _____.

Accepted Answer

Personality has its strongest influence on behavior when situations are weak or ambiguous. Strong situations tend to override individual differences and dictate behavior. For example, in a formal ceremony, people tend to behave according to the situation rather than their personalities. On the other hand, weak situations provide little guidance on how to behave, and people tend to rely on their personalities to determine their actions.

Question 16

Shimeath,a manager,rarely misses an opportunity to praise her team.She seems to be empathetic toward the team members personal and professional concerns.She uses small gestures of kindness and affection to influence the team effectively.In the context of person-situation interaction,this scenario most likely exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

Manipulation refers to the use of various tactics to influence others' behavior, which Shimeath does through praise and empathy.

Question 17

_____ is the process of adding up,or averaging,several single observations,resulting in a better (i.e. ,more reliable)measure of a personality trait than a single observation of behavior.

Accepted Answer

Aggregation is the process of combining multiple observations to gain a more accurate representation of a person's personality trait. This technique helps to reduce the impact of random, situational factors on a single observation and create a more stable measure of a person's behavior overall.

Question 18

In the context of dynamic person-situation interaction,the main difference between evocation and manipulation is that:

Accepted Answer

Evocation refers to the ways in which a person's behavior may unintentionally elicit certain reactions or responses from others or from a situation. Manipulation, on the other hand, involves intentional efforts to influence or control the behaviors or reactions of others or a situation. Therefore, the main difference between evocation and manipulation is that manipulation is intentional, while evocation is not.

Question 19

The tendency to choose the situations in which one finds oneself is known as:

Accepted Answer

Situational selection refers to the tendency to choose or select situations which suits one's personality, goals, and interests. These situations can have an impact on our behavior and decision making. For example, a person who is outgoing will choose to go to a party, while an introverted person may choose to stay at home and read a book.

Question 20

When there was a flood in the country of Octavia,the able citizens came forward to help the needy.They especially took care of women,elders,and young children.They made available food and clothing to the people who had been hit hard by the flood.This scenario most likely exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of a strong situation because the citizens were all presented with the same situation (the flood) and responded in a similar way by coming forward to help those in need. The situation, in this case, strongly influenced the behavior of the citizens to come together and help their fellow citizens. The other options, such as rank order or manipulation, do not apply to this scenario.

Quiz 4: Theoretical and Measurement Issues in Trait Psychology