Deck 13: Social Psychology in Conflict and Peacemaking

Question 1

In the tragedy of the commons, the "commons" refers to

A) disputed border territory.
B) stolen goods or winnings.
C) any jointly used, finite resource.
D) private property that repeatedly changes ownership.

Answer 1

any jointly used, finite resource.

Question 2

A common excuse for non-cooperation is,

A) "I couldn't have made a difference anyway."
B) "the devil made me do it."
C) "that's unfair."
D) "cooperation is for the weak and cowardly."

Answer 2

"I couldn't have made a difference anyway."

Question 3

In research on social dilemmas, it has been found that

A) group discussion polarized competitive tendencies.
B) group discussion had no effect on the outcome.
C) group discussion led to greater cooperation and better outcomes for all participants.
D) group discussion led to escalated conflict and tension.

Answer 3

group discussion led to greater cooperation and better outcomes for all participants.

Question 4

Conflict is defined as

A) perceived incompatibility of actions or goals.
B) dissatisfaction with relationship outcomes.
C) hostility that results from frustrating interaction.
D) competition for mutually exclusive goals.

Question 5

In the Prisoner's Dilemma, if both prisoners confess, each will __________; if neither confesses, each will __________.

A) get a moderate sentence; get a light sentence
B) get a severe sentence; get a light sentence
C) get a severe sentence; go free
D) get a moderate sentence; get a severe sentence

Question 6

Which of the following is true of peace?

A) Peace is more than the suppression of open conflict.
B) Peace always involves a real incompatibility of goals.
C) Social psychologists have studied interpersonal but not international peace.
D) Social psychologists have not been able to study peace in a laboratory setting.

Question 7

As the text points out, threatening an enemy with "big sticks" doesn't deter war. Yet arms spending continues. This fact is partly explained by the laboratory observation that

A) participants with "big sticks" control the severity of the conflict.
B) competition (e.g., armament) often breeds peaceful resolution.
C) unconditional cooperation (e.g., disarmament) often gets exploited.
D) unconditional cooperation (e.g., disarmament) often leads to peaceful resolutions.

Question 8

Facing the recurring dilemma of cookie-jar depletion within 24-hours of its being restocked, Mom decides to do something to reduce this weekly tragedy of the commons. What strategy will be most effective in protecting the commons?

A) Scold Dad for eating too many and then ask him to scold the children.
B) Give each family member just three cookies a day and keep the rest hidden.
C) Stop buying cookies for a month to illustrate the personal consequences of destroying the commons.
D) Call a family meeting and scold everyone all at once for eating too many cookies.

Question 9

In both the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Commons Dilemma, people are tempted to explain their own behaviour ____________ and others' behaviour ____________.

A) situationally; situationally
B) dispositionally; dispositionally
C) situationally; dispositionally
D) dispositionally; situationally

Question 10

Despite official government warning of a severe water shortage, most citizens fail to conserve in the belief that their personal water consumption will have little effect on the community's total water supply. The eventual depletion of the community's water resources provides an example of

A) mirror-image perceptions.
B) individualistic calamity.
C) the tragedy of the commons.
D) rational disaster.

Question 11

Dean and Mary have been saving money since they got married. Now Dean wants to buy a new car, but Mary wants to continue saving for a new house. Dean and Mary

A) are experiencing conflict.
B) are experiencing dissonance.
C) have mirror-image perceptions.
D) are developing superordinate goals.

Question 12

Billie and Tom used to have occasional conflicts in their relationship. Five years later, they have grown apart. They still disagree occasionally, but they don't bother to argue about anything. This illustrates

A) that conflict is always bad.
B) that conflict can signify that people care about a relationship or situation.
C) that conflict always leads to estrangement.
D) that conflict can, over time, follow the biofeedback principle.

Question 13

In real life, which of the following parallels the tragedy of the commons?

A) pollution of rivers and streams
B) littering in public places
C) use and overuse of natural resources
D) all of these choices.

Question 14

Which of the following is not a feature of the Prisoner's Dilemma and Commons Dilemma?

A) One party's wins necessarily equals the other party's losses.
B) Participants tend to commit the fundamental attribution error.
C) Participants' motives change in the course of the entrapment.
D) Both are non-zero-sum games.

Question 15

In the Prisoner's Dilemma, taking the non-cooperative strategy of confession leads to a worse outcome if the other person ________________.

A) also confesses
B) does not confess
C) cooperates
D) None of these answers.

Question 16

In the commons dilemma people often consume more than they realize when

A) others take on a cooperative strategy.
B) resources are not partitioned.
C) the "commons" is divided into equal parts.
D) everyone cooperates.

Question 17

People often consume more than they realize, especially when

A) resources are not partitioned.
B) resources are partitioned.
C) allowed to communicate with others.
D) resources are regulated.

Question 18

Four women share a small house. Molly and Sarah work from 8am to 5pm every day in an office. Sue and Margaret work from 5pm until 2am every night in a bar. There is a social dilemma regarding the hours during which the housemates must be quiet in order to allow the others to sleep. In which of the following is the conflict most likely to be resolved?

A) Molly and Sarah should talk together, and Sue and Margaret should talk together.
B) All four women should talk in order to come up with quiet time rules that equalize the burden for all.
C) Either Molly or Sue should move out.
D) The ratio of outputs to inputs should be changed: Molly and Sarah should look after all the cleaning.

Question 19

According to your text, in its most positive sense peace is

A) nothing more than the suppression of open conflict.
B) more than a tense, fragile, surface calmness.
C) the appearance of calm.
D) None of these choices.

Question 20

Deciding not to do something that you want to do would help to solve a social problem. But the decrease in the social problem would be so very tiny that it's tempting for you to just go ahead and do it anyway. This is an example of the concept of

A) a vicious cycle.
B) rejection of attractive alternatives.
C) somebody's business becoming everybody's business.
D) the tragedy of the commons.

Question 21

Compared to North Americans, people socialized in China and India are more likely to favour ____________ as the basis for justice when rewards are distributed to those within their groups.

A) equity
B) equality
C) achievement
D) whatever the group leader pronounces

Question 22

According to research, it seems that just knowing about the dire consequences of noncooperation in a social dilemma

A) is sufficient to convince people to behave cooperatively.
B) leads to greater mistrust of others.
C) tends to foster greater self-interest and competition.
D) has little real effect on people's behaviour.

Question 23

Equity exists when

A) rewards are distributed in proportion to individuals' contributions.
B) partners share equally in the rewards of collective effort.
C) rewards are distributed in relation to individuals' needs or deservingness.
D) group members decide among themselves how rewards are to be distributed.

Question 24

Individualistic cultures are to __________ as collectivistic cultures are to __________.

A) equity; equality
B) need; equality
C) achievement; aptitude
D) equality; need

Question 25

Which of the following is cited in the text as an example of changing payoffs to resolve social dilemmas?

A) allowing carpoolers to drive in the faster, freeway lane
B) requiring carpool cars and vans to park in special, larger parking lots farther away from the office building
C) lowering the price of gasoline well below $1 per gallon
D) all of these choices.

Question 26

Before they married, Melinda and Michael, who are both employed full time and collect the same pay, agreed to share equally in routine household tasks such as cleaning and grocery shopping. In reality, Melinda is now doing about 80 percent of the household work. This situation is an example of

A) an integrative disaster.
B) an inequitable relationship.
C) a social dilemma.
D) a zero-sum relationship.

Question 27

Four women share a small house. Molly and Sarah work from 8am to 5pm every day in an office. Sue and Margaret work from 5pm until 2am every night in a bar. There is a social dilemma regarding the hours during which the housemates must be quiet in order to allow the others to sleep. If all four women decide to communicate more with each other about the noise problem, which of the following is an unlikely outcome of this decision?

A) They will become more concerned about each other's welfare.
B) There will be increased conflict with the women's neighbours in the next house.
C) They will cooperate more and trust each other more.
D) They will all clarify how they want each other to behave.

Question 28

John and Jane are friends who graduated from the same program at the same time. Two years later, both are working in their fields, but John is making much more money than Jane. Which of the following statements is true?

A) John will probably convince himself that he deserves his higher pay.
B) Due to the social exchange theory, Jane will probably convince herself that her employment is only short-term.
C) In accordance with the redundancy hypothesis, Jane will quit her job.
D) None of these choices are correct.

Question 29

Bailey's sports team has had a long-standing feud with another team over the rights to their favourite baseball field. Which of the following would not be a recommendation to resolve this social dilemma?

A) Create regulations for fair use of the field.
B) Generate large group discussions to "add more voices" to each side.
C) Appeal to the altruistic norms of both teams.
D) Develop open communication and information about the use of the field.

Question 30

Ross and Ward (1996) had participants play a variation of the Prisoner's Dilemma game. When the simulation was labelled ________________, two-thirds of the participants cooperated.

A) "Community Game"
B) "Wall Street Game"
C) "War Games"
D) "The Prisoner's Dilemma"

Question 31

Which of the following is not cited in the text as a method for resolving social dilemmas?

A) regulation
B) changing payoffs
C) communication
D) GRIT

Question 32

What do self-serving bias, group polarization, and negative stereotypes have in common?

A) They illustrate the power of the situation.
B) They are potential seeds of misperception.
C) They illustrate that we are cognitive misers.
D) None of these choices.

Question 33

Jeffrey Scott Mio and colleagues found that after reading about the commons dilemma, theatre patrons

A) littered less.
B) demanded reserved seats.
C) were more likely to assist a handicapped person find a seat.
D) spent more for theatre refreshments.

Question 34

In research by Dawes on social dilemmas, it was found that

A) appeals to assertiveness, individualism, and personal advancement decreased the rate at which people were willing to forgo immediate personal gain for the common good.
B) appeals to assertiveness, individualism, and personal advancement increased the rate at which people were willing to forgo immediate personal gain for the common good.
C) appeals to ethics, group benefits, and information on exploitation decreased the rate at which people were willing to forgo immediate personal gain for the common good.
D) appeals to ethics, group benefits, and information on exploitation increased the rate at which people were willing to forgo immediate personal gain for the common good.

Question 35

___________________ are mixed-motive situations in which both players can win (with cooperation) and both can lose (with competition).

A) Non-zero-sum games
B) The plentiful commons
C) Social dilemmas
D) Approach-avoid conflicts

Question 36

"From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" is a motto that would most likely be found in

A) a relationship characterized by equity.
B) a capitalist culture.
C) a noncapitalist culture.
D) a relationship characterized by injustice.

Question 37

Research indicates that the more people value their inputs, the more likely they are to

A) feel incompetent and unworthy.
B) feel that a given outcome from a relationship is sufficient.
C) tolerate exploitation from others without any retaliation.
D) feel underbenefited in a relationship and inclined to retaliate.

Question 38

Equity is to _________________ as equality is to __________________.

A) equal distribution; proportionate distribution
B) proportionate distribution; equal distribution
C) unfairness; fairness
D) fairness; unfairness

Question 39

What does your text refer to as the "golden rule" of social justice?

A) "Equity for strangers, equality for friends."
B) "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
C) "Care most for those in greatest need."
D) "Whoever has the gold makes the rules."

Question 40

Which of the following is cited in the text as a method for resolving social dilemmas?

A) communication
B) punishment
C) GRIT
D) all of these choices.

Question 41

Leaders who focus their group on a threatening external enemy can expect the group to

A) become distracted and less productive.
B) become divisive.
C) rebel against that leader.
D) become more cohesive.

Question 42

Reciprocal views of one another often held by parties in conflict; for example, each may view itself as moral and peace loving and the other as evil and aggressive defines

A) polarization.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) ingroup bias.
D) the mirror-image perceptions.

Question 43

Cialdini, Bickman and Cacioppo (1979) found that car dealers

A) were unwilling to bargain, under tough bargaining.
B) were willing to lower the price on average by $200, under tough bargaining.
C) were willing to bargain without tough bargaining.
D) none of these choices.

Question 44

The reciprocal views that parties in conflict often hold of one another are referred to as

A) mirror-image perceptions.
B) stereotypic reciprocation.
C) complementary images.
D) reciprocal illusions.

Question 45

Your text offers what advice when in conflict?

A) assume the other does not share your values
B) assume the other sees events exactly as you see them
C) compare perceptions, assuming the other sees the situation differently
D) simplify your thinking about the other

Question 46

Three things that can cause conflict are

A) competition, social dilemmas, and equity.
B) social dilemmas, perceived injustice, and misperception.
C) equity, social dilemmas, and perceived injustice.
D) Jungian psychology, equity, and competition.

Question 47

________________ occurs when conflicted parties seek an agreement through direct negotiation.

A) Bargaining
B) Amelioration
C) Mediation
D) Arbitration

Question 48

The misperceptions of those who are in conflict with each other, such as two nations who regard each other with suspicion and hostility, are usually

A) nonreciprocal.
B) unilateral.
C) mutual.
D) inequitable.

Question 49

John believes he is hardworking but his wife, Rachel, is lazy. Rachel believes she is hardworking but John is lazy. This is an example of

A) an inequitable relationship.
B) mirror-image perception.
C) a superordinate goal.
D) a social trap.

Question 50

When negotiators fail to realize common interests between conflicting patterns, they negotiate "lose-lose" agreements that are mutually costly about ________ of the time.

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 35%
D) 50%

Question 51

Being especially conscious of who "they" are can serve to intensify

A) ingroup pride.
B) outgroup pride.
C) intergroup sharing.
D) intergroup conciliation.

Question 52

In times of tension, as during an international crisis,

A) views of the opposing side become more simplistic.
B) political statements acknowledge that each country's motives are complex.
C) judgments about action are prolonged and postponed by time-consuming re-evaluations.
D) all of these choices.

Question 53

______________ occurs when a neutral third party studies the conflict and imposes a settlement.

A) Bargaining
B) Amelioration
C) Mediation
D) Arbitration

Question 54

One aspect of mirror-image perception is that one side tends to

A) exaggerate the other's position.
B) see itself reflected in the way others see it.
C) see the situation as the reflection of evil leadership.
D) none of these choices.

Question 55

______________ occurs when a neutral third party attempts to facilitate communication and offer suggestions for how to resolve a conflict.

A) Bargaining
B) Amelioration
C) Mediation
D) Arbitration

Question 56

Mediation is to ________________ as arbitration is to ________________.

A) bargaining; negotiations.
B) an imposed settlement; facilitated negotiation.
C) negotiations; bargaining.
D) facilitated negotiation; an imposed settlement.

Question 57

Groups in intractable conflict almost always experience all of the following except

A) taking pride in their own group and devaluing the outgroup
B) celebrate self-sacrifice and suppress criticism.
C) seeing their own goals as supremely important.
D) believing the outgroup to be victimized

Question 58

Destructive mirror-image perceptions operate in conflicts between

A) countries.
B) small groups.
C) individuals.
D) all of these choices.

Question 59

According to research on political rhetoric preceding attacks versus peace agreements,

A) simplistic rhetoric often precedes major peace agreements, and complicated rational thinking is employed when planning strategic attacks.
B) simplistic we-are-good/they-are-bad thinking is often evident immediately prior to aggressive actions.
C) impediments to problem-solving are often blocked in the peace agreement process.
D) rational thinking becomes more difficult as tensions decrease.

Question 60

Which of the following is not a seed of misperception that can lead to conflict?

A) outgroup bias
B) self-justification
C) fundamental attribution error
D) groupthink

Question 61

Johnson and Johnson (2003) put children grades one to nine through about a dozen of conflict resolution training in six schools. They found that

A) the result was a more peaceful student community and increased academic achievement.
B) when implemented with a whole student body, there was no difference in the students' daily conflicts
C) the conflicts continued because the students did not trust the researchers.
D) None of the above.

Question 62

Jean Paul and Michelle go to a third party to try and get their conflict resolved. The conflict resolution practitioner listens to both of them, then develops a settlement which he then asks them both to sign. This process is known as

A) mediation.
B) arbitration.
C) conciliation.
D) win-win negotiation.

Question 63

Lisa and Andrew tried without success to reach a divorce settlement on their own. Lisa suggested that they sell the house and split the proceeds. Andrew thinks this is a terrible idea, but when a divorce mediator suggests the same thing, he agrees. What best accounts for this change?

A) The mediator has convinced Andrew to trust her.
B) The mediator has imposed this resolution on Lisa and Andrew.
C) The mediator appears to be a neutral third party.
D) The mediator convinces Andrew that the proposal will benefit him more than Lisa.

Question 64

A mediator may try to improve relationship communication by having conflicting parties restrict their arguments to statements of

A) the opposing side's underlying motives.
B) how they feel or think in response to the other's actions.
C) personal analysis of the probable causes of the conflict.
D) proposed solutions or conditions for reconciliation.

Question 65

Allan and Marianne are getting a divorce and have turned to a mediator to help resolve the disagreements over the distribution of their assets, and the house in particular. Allan considers it a win if he gets the house, and a loss if Marianne gets it, despite the fact that she is maintaining custody of the kids. The goal of the mediator is to create a win-win situation where

A) Marianne gives up the house out of her own free will.
B) Allan keeps the house and gets Marianne an apartment instead.
C) Allan recognizes that the house should go to Marianne as it is in the best interest of her, the kids, and maintaining a civil relationship.
D) Marianne gets the house and Allan is not compensated for this loss.

Question 66

In some disputes, the third-party chooses one of the two absolute offers, in order to motivate each party to make a reasonable proposal. This process is called

A) conciliation.
B) mediation-by-proxy.
C) final-offer arbitration.
D) third-party justification.

Question 67

Mediators seek to establish _____________ that reconcile both parties' interests to their mutual benefit.

A) arbitrated agreements
B) integrative agreements
C) mirror-image agreements
D) zero-sum agreements

Question 68

McGillicuddy and others (1987) note that when people knew they would face an arbitrated settlement if mediation failed, they

A) remained just as inflexible as before.
B) tried harder to resolve the problem, and thus were more likely to reach agreement.
C) exhibited even more hostility to each other.
D) none of these choices.

Question 69

Which of the following is associated with lose-lose scenarios?

A) time delay
B) being tough
C) both A and B
D) none of these choices

Question 70

Kelman (1998) reported that South Africa achieved internal peace when ________________.

A) white and black Africans completed a war
B) white Africans gave up the power
C) white and black Africans granted each other's top priorities
D) white and black Africans reduced all arguments

Question 71

According to conflict researchers, you are more likely to divulge your needs and concerns if your relationship with your partner includes

A) mediation.
B) trust.
C) passion.
D) the threat of withdrawal.

Question 72

Gotlib and Colby have provided guidelines on how to avoid destructive quarrels and how to have good quarrels. Which of the following behaviours is not recommended for constructive quarrels?

A) welcome feedback about your behaviour.
B) tell the other party how she or he is feeling.
C) clearly define the issue and repeat the other's arguments in your own words
D) ask questions that help the other find words to express the concern

Question 73

David and Julie fought over what to name their new puppy, until finally they went to Mom to get her to decide on a settlement. David and Julie relied on ____________ to resolve their conflict.

A) mediation
B) bargaining
C) conciliation
D) arbitration

Question 74

A mediator seeks to achieve a mutually beneficial resolution by having the parties adopt a _____ orientation.

A) carefree
B) win-lose
C) win-win
D) submissive

Question 75

Gotlib and Colby argue that destructive quarrels involve all of the following except

A) apologize prematurely.
B) feign agreement while harbouring resentment.
C) divulge your positive and negative feelings.
D) tell the other party how he or she is feeling.

Question 76

All of the following are recommendations for how to fight constructively except

A) divulge your positive and negative feelings.
B) offer positive suggestions for mutual improvement.
C) clearly define the issue and repeat the other's arguments in your own words
D) use your intimate knowledge of the other person to hit below the belt and humiliate.

Question 77

Darren grew up learning to dislike and mistrust girls. When he left his all-male high school to go to university, he became good friends with Doreen, a female student in his first-year class. Darren will most likely generalize his positive attitude toward Doreen to women as a whole if

A) he acknowledges that Doreen is a member of the "female" outgroup.
B) he continues to minimize the importance of gender on friendship.
C) he continues to have success on his first year class.
D) none of these choices.

Question 78

Deidra was in a car accident and is trying to bargain with the opposing insurance company for a monetary settlement for her medical bills and suffering. She demands $30,000 and states that she will accept no less. The insurance company offers her $15,000, take it or leave it. Deidra's bargaining situation demonstrates how

A) time delay can negatively impact effective bargaining.
B) the give and take process of bargaining works.
C) taking a tough stance can sometimes deadlock bargaining positions.
D) effective bargaining involves inflated offers so that counteroffers seem more reasonable.

Question 79

Which of the following conditions makes it more likely that we will generalize a newly formed positive attitude toward a member of another group to the whole outgroup?

A) if we see another ingroup member modelling friendship with outgroup members
B) if we perceive our new outgroup friend as an atypical member of that group
C) if we think of our new outgroup friend as an individual, not as a group member
D) all of these choices.

Question 80

Carnevale and Choi (2000) reported that, in the past, the Pope resolved a geographical dispute between Argentina and Chile. In this context the Pope was a __________ who is trusted by both conflicting sides.

A) leader
B) mediator
C) lawyer
D) peacemaker