Question 1

If someone wants to create an attitude that will last a long time, she should use the ____________ method of persuasion. If someone wants to create an attitude that will last only a short time, he should use the ____________ method of persuasion.

Accepted Answer

The central method of persuasion focuses on the content of the message and the rational or logical arguments made within it. This approach is more likely to create attitudes that last a long time. The peripheral method of persuasion focuses on less relevant factors, such as the speaker's attractiveness or the emotional appeal of the message. This approach is more likely to create attitudes that are short-lived.

Question 2

Babies begin to prefer to look at a picture of a face rather than a blank outline of a head when they are:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that newborns, even as young as 1 hour old, show a preference for looking at faces over other stimuli, suggesting an innate predisposition to recognize and be attracted to human faces.

Question 3

According to the elaboration likelihood model, the two methods of persuasion are:

Accepted Answer

The elaboration likelihood model proposes two routes to persuasion: the central route and the peripheral route. The central route involves processing messages through careful consideration and elaboration of the content and arguments, while the peripheral route involves being influenced by cues such as the source of the message or emotional appeals without much critical thinking. Therefore, choice A (central and peripheral) is the correct answer, while the other options do not accurately reflect the two methods of persuasion proposed by the elaboration likelihood model.

Question 4

In the medical field, interns and residents are required to work such long shifts that they are perpetually exhausted and do not function optimally. Dissonance theory would suggest that a possible motivation for this policy is to:

Accepted Answer

Dissonance theory suggests that people are motivated to reduce discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs. By enduring long, exhausting shifts, interns and residents may increase the value they place on being doctors to justify the effort and discomfort, thus reducing cognitive dissonance.

Question 5

Song and Prakash are both taking a very difficult and quite boring class in symbolic logic. Song is taking the class because she thought it would be interesting; Prakash is taking the class because it is required for his major. Mia asks them both what the class is like. Based upon cognitive dissonance theory, you could predict that Song would say it is ____________ and Prakash would say it is ____________.

Accepted Answer

According to cognitive dissonance theory, individuals seek to reduce the discomfort of holding two contradictory beliefs or attitudes. In this case, Song's belief that the class would be interesting clashes with her experience of finding it difficult and boring, leading her to experience cognitive dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, she may change her attitude and say the class is terrible. Prakash, on the other hand, was initially uninterested in the class but now has a practical reason for taking it. This may lead him to justify his attendance by finding it somewhat interesting and worthwhile, despite the difficulties he may encounter. Thus, he may say the class is pretty interesting.

Question 6

The United States has been involved in a series of wars, from Korea through Iraq, in which a large majority of the people concluded that the war had been a mistake, while the leaders who sent the country to war became ever more convinced of its necessity. Regardless of the actual merits of the war, what psychological concept could explain, in part, the tenacity of the leaders?

Accepted Answer

Postdecisional dissonance refers to the discomfort one feels after making a difficult decision, often leading to increased justification of the decision to reduce discomfort. This can explain why leaders become more convinced of the war's necessity after committing to it.

Question 7

Sources of information who are ____________ tend to be the most persuasive.

Accepted Answer

Attractive and credible sources are often more persuasive because they are perceived as trustworthy and likable, which can enhance the effectiveness of the message being communicated.

Question 8

When there is an attitude-behaviour conflict, why might dissonance be resolved through changing the attitude rather than the behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Dissonance can be resolved through changing the attitude rather than the behavior when the behavior is already completed and cannot be changed.

Question 9

Human beings have evolved as social animals that live in groups, in part because:

Accepted Answer

Groups provide safety from competing groups and predators. This was an important factor in the survival of early humans as it allowed them to protect themselves and their resources from external threats. Being part of a group also allowed early humans to share resources, knowledge, and skills which increased their chances of survival.

Question 10

Larry came to university absolutely believing that it was wrong to ever drink alcohol. After a while, he starts to drink very moderately at parties even though doing so makes him anxious. What would dissonance theory suggest that Larry will do and why?

Accepted Answer

According to dissonance theory, when a person holds two conflicting beliefs or attitudes (in this case, drinking is wrong vs. drinking in moderation at parties), they experience cognitive dissonance which creates discomfort and tension. To resolve this discomfort, the person will often change one of their beliefs or attitudes in order to make them consistent. In this case, Larry may resolve his discomfort by changing his belief that moderate drinking is not really a problem, allowing him to continue drinking without feeling anxious. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 11

Guilia is a grade 2 teacher. In her class this year, she has a young boy from another country. When she tries to make contact with him, he always looks away. What would be the most reasonable thing for Guilia to conclude from this?

Accepted Answer

The most reasonable thing for Guilia to conclude is that the young boy may have different norms for eye contact. In some cultures, direct eye contact is seen as a sign of disrespect or aggression, and children may be taught to avoid or avert their gaze when speaking to adults. It is important for teachers to be aware of cultural differences and not make assumptions based on their own cultural norms. By recognizing and respecting these differences, Guilia can create a more inclusive and welcoming classroom environment for all students.

Question 12

Imagine that you are recruiting people to volunteer to do part-time tutoring of elementary school kids. Dissonance theory would suggest that a successful strategy would be to pay them:

Accepted Answer

Dissonance theory suggests that if people are only doing something for the external reward of money, then they may feel uncomfortable with the belief that they are only in it for the money. By offering only a token amount of money for volunteering, it minimizes the external motivation and makes it more likely that volunteers will do it for internal reasons (i.e. helping children, personal fulfillment). This can lead to a more committed and dedicated group of volunteers in the long run.

Question 13

The central route to persuasion is one in which:

Accepted Answer

The central route to persuasion involves using rational cognitive arguments and appealing to the individual's logical thinking rather than relying on more superficial factors such as emotions or popularity.

Question 14

People are often advised not to make hasty decisions about other people. The research on thin slices of behaviour would suggest that this advice is:

Accepted Answer

Research on thin slices of behavior suggests that people can make surprisingly accurate judgments about others with very limited information, indicating that quick assessments can be reliable.

Question 15

If a political candidate wants to create a positive image that will convince people to contribute throughout a long campaign, she should use campaign materials that:

Accepted Answer

Well-argued descriptions of her positions will demonstrate that the candidate is informed and capable. This will appeal to potential contributors and help to create a positive image. Negative campaigning (option B) and attention-grabbing tactics (option C) can turn off potential donors, while endorsements (option A) may not carry much weight with the general public.

Question 16

Just before an election, a political candidate wants to create a positive image that will persuade voters who are still undecided to vote for him. He should:

Accepted Answer

Endorsements from celebrities can create a positive image and appeal to emotions, which can be more persuasive to undecided voters than logical arguments or detailed positions.

Question 17

"I love independent cats because they are interesting, even though people find them aloof." In this argument, the conclusion is ____________, the premise is ____________, the qualifier is ____________, and the counter-argument is____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of "I love independent cats because they are...

Question 18

Dr. Johannson is going to give a speech arguing for stricter emissions standards for cars. For his speech to be the most persuasive to an environmental group, he should use ____________ arguments. For his speech to be the most persuasive to a group of automobile manufacturers he should use ____________ arguments.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. Johannson is going to give a...

Question 19

Human beings have evolved as social animals that live in groups. As a consequence, we have also evolved mechanisms to:

Accepted Answer

Humans have evolved to be highly social creatures, living in groups for protection, cooperation, and reproduction. To ensure the survival of the group, individuals have developed mechanisms to detect danger from within the group, such as identifying potentially harmful individuals or conflicts. Additionally, humans have developed the ability to distinguish members of their own group from outsiders, which helps to maintain group cohesion and identity. Therefore, the best choice is D as it covers both options, detecting danger from within one's own group and distinguishing members of one's own group. While humans can integrate into other groups, this is not a universally evolved mechanism, and is not as essential to the survival of the group as the abilities to detect danger and distinguish members.

Question 20

Creativity is undermined when extrinsic motivation replaces intrinsic motivation. Which concept in social psychology could provide the best account for this finding?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance is the concept in social psychology that best explains this finding. Extrinsic motivation, such as rewards or punishments, can replace intrinsic motivation, such as personal interest or enjoyment, which can create a sense of cognitive dissonance. This conflict between the individual's internal motivations and external rewards can lead to reduced creativity and performance. Research has found that when individuals are intrinsically motivated, they are more likely to engage in creative and innovative behaviors.

Quiz 12: Social Psychology

If someone wants to create an attitude that will last a long time, she should use the method of persuasion. If someone wants to create an attitude that will last only a short time, he should use the method of persuasion.