Deck 17: A: Social Psychology

Question 1

Fritz Heider believed that all people are "intuitive psychologists." What did Heider mean by this statement?

A)most people approach the understanding of behaviour from a psychodynamic perspective.
B)there is little distinction between "common sense" psychology and "professional" psychology.
C)people try to figure out what others are like and what causes their behaviour,just as professional psychologists do.
D)people have less interest in the behaviour of others than professional psychologists do.

Answer 1

people try to figure out what others are like and what causes their behaviour,just as professional psychologists do.

Question 2

When a student does well on a test,she immediately takes the credit,saying that she did well because she studied hard.When she does poorly,however,she blames the teacher for making up an "impossible" test.Which term best captures this scenario?

A)the fundamental attribution error.
B)the Pygmalion effect.
C)behavioural confirmation.
D)the self-serving bias.

Answer 2

the self-serving bias.

Question 3

Consider the hypothesis that people who live in some cultures may be more susceptible to the fundamental attribution error than people who live in other cultures.If this hypothesis is true,what should one expect?

A)Individuals who live in cultures that embody independent construals of self will be less likely to commit this error.
B)Individuals who live in cultures that embody interdependent construals of self will be less likely to commit this error.
C)Individuals who live in technologically advanced societies will be less likely to commit this error.
D)Individuals who live in technologically advanced societies will be more likely to commit this error.

Answer 3

Individuals who live in cultures that embody interdependent construals of self will be less likely to commit this error.

Question 4

What implication can one derive from cross-cultural research on the fundamental attribution error?

A)situational biases are inborn.
B)dispositional biases are inborn.
C)dispositional and situational biases are culturally shaped.
D)children respond with a situational bias,which becomes dispositional in adulthood.

Question 5

According to the authors of the textbook,how can the effects of the fundamental attribution error be minimized?

A)By becoming more aware of the dispositional forces that are often invisible to the observer.
B)By trying to identify situational forces that may have caused a behaviour.
C)By refraining from engaging in "attributional charity."
D)By speaking with individuals before making judgments about their actions.

Question 6

What has research revealed about the self-serving bias in educational environments?

A)students,but not teachers,engage in self-serving biases.
B)teachers,but not students,engage in self-serving biases.
C)students attribute high grades to the hard work of the teachers and low grades to their own lack of effort.
D)professors take credit for student success but not student failure.

Question 7

Which statement suggests that the speaker is making the fundamental attribution error?

A)"If I had not gotten married and had children,I could have had an exciting career."
B)"People do not conserve energy in this country because it is still relatively expensive."
C)"The guy at the next table did not leave a tip for the waitress because he is a cheapskate."
D)"Politics and religion cause more problems than they solve."

Question 8

Where is an attributional psychologist most likely to look for the causes of behaviour?

A)in the individual's past.
B)in the individual's unconscious.
C)in either the individual or the situation.
D)in either the material self or the spiritual self.

Question 9

In a study that is described in the textbook,students from Princeton and Dartmouth evaluated a filmed football game.There were definite differences in their perceptions of the content of the film and the actions of the players.Which concept is most directly demonstrated by these differences in perception?

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)the covariation principle.
C)self-perception.
D)the selective encoding of information.

Question 10

In a study that is described in the textbook,excerpts from American and Japanese newspapers and television reports regarding athletes in the 2000 Olympics were analyzed for causal statements.What did the results demonstrate?

A)American writers tended to make stronger situational attributions.
B)Japanese writers tended to consider a broad range of factors.
C)By being objective,most of the writers overcame the tendency to make the fundamental attribution error.
D)The fundamental attribution error is a universal tendency.

Question 11

Which term refers to the tendency to attribute one's success to dispositional factors and one's failures to situational factors?

A)behavioural confirmation.
B)the self-serving bias.
C)the fundamental attribution error.
D)in-group bias.

Question 12

Which observation by Harold Kelley about causal attributions is accurate?

A)They are usually made using three dimensions of information.
B)They are usually accurate.
C)They are based primarily on personal knowledge about the individual.
D)They are attempts to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Question 13

Which of the following statements involves an attribution?

A)"They cannot afford a washing machine because he spends so much on that fancy car of his."
B)"I cannot come to the party because I have an exam the next morning."
C)"He chose to eat shrimp for dinner."
D)"My parents would like me to study to be a doctor or a lawyer."

Question 14

According to the fundamental attribution error,which factors do individuals tend to overestimate?

A)dispositional
B)situational
C)distinctive
D)external

Question 15

After a close play at the plate during a baseball game,one fan believes that the runner was safe while another fan sitting next to him believes the runner was out.From a social psychology perspective,how do the two fans differ?

A)in their knowledge of baseball.
B)in the way they construct reality.
C)in their personalities.
D)in their use of logic and reason.

Question 16

A teammate struck out three times in the softball game last night.In applying the covariation principle to understand the cause of his performance,how should the the "consistency" dimension be applied?

A)Determine if others who played in the game also struck out.
B)Determine if the pitcher was consistently overwhelming the batters.
C)Determine if he would have performed better with a different pitcher.
D)Determine if he has struck out often in the past.

Question 17

According to Kelley,what are the three dimensions of information that individuals use to assess covariation when making attributions?

A)distinctiveness,consistency,and consensus.
B)differentiation,conformity,and covariance.
C)deviation,compliance,and commonality.
D)discrimination,convergence,and contingency.

Question 18

Theo is an attributional theorist.In the course of his research,what is Theo likely to investigate?

A)the conditions under which one individual will help another individual.
B)inviduals' perceptions of the causes of events.
C)the ways in which attitudes are formed.
D)individuals' perceptions of the self.

Question 19

A homeless person approaches Fred and his friend,Betty for some money.When Betty donates a dollar,Fred attributes Betty's behaviour to her inherently generous spirit.According to Fritz Heider,what type of attribution did Fred make?

A)external
B)situational
C)dispositional
D)fundamental

Question 20

Antoine has gotten back his test on attribution theory and has received an "A" grade.Which statement best reflects the use of the "consensus" dimension when attempting to understand why Antoine received such an excellent grade?

A)Antoine received "A's" in most of his courses.
B)Antoine has received "A's" consistently from this teacher in the past.
C)Most other individuals taking the test also received "A's."
D)Antoine studied especially hard for this particular test.

Question 21

Cecilia was one of the Stanford students who participated in the classic research on cognitive dissonance conducted by Festinger and Carlsmith.What was Cecilia asked to do as part of this study?

A)present electric shocks to another individual.
B)compare the length of lines to a standard line.
C)tell others that working on monotonous tasks was enjoyable.
D)observe others communicating in chat rooms.

Question 22

A student is chairperson of the group responsible for developing a procedure to handle cheating at his school,yet he takes no action when his best friend confides in him that he cheated on his last test.According to Festinger,what is this student likely to experience?

A)self-serving bias.
B)compliance.
C)informational influence.
D)cognitive dissonance.

Question 23

When asked to rate the job that a Member of Parliament has done,a politician responds,"I think the MP has introduced several important pieces of legislation." In the context of attitudes,which term best reflects this statement?

A)informational influence.
B)cognitive information.
C)affective information.
D)behavioural influence.

Question 24

In a classic experiment on cognitive dissonance that is described in the textbook,students were paid either $1 or $20 to tell another student that a boring task was fun and interesting.What were the results of the study?

A)The students who were paid $1 decided that the task was really fun and interesting.
B)The students who were paid $20 decided that the task was really fun and interesting.
C)The students who were paid $1 refused to lie.
D)The students who were paid $20 refused to lie.

Question 25

Which statement about 'attitude' is accurate?

A)Attitude is usually overt and verifiable by others.
B)The individual may not be consciously aware of the particular attitude he or she holds.
C)The individual's behaviour is often unaffected by the attitude.
D)The attitude will be unrelated to how the individual structures his or her social reality.

Question 26

Brigitte takes great pride in her critical thinking ability.When others try to convince her to adopt their viewpoint,Brigitte likes to think carefully about the value of their persuasive argument.According to the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion,which route to persuasion is being characterized?

A)primary
B)secondary
C)central
D)peripheral

Question 27

Critics of the political process often claim that political campaigning focuses,to a substantial degree,on appearances rather than issues.If this is the case,which route to persuasion do political advertisments most likely emphasize?

A)primary
B)explicit
C)central
D)peripheral

Question 28

When Liu answers the doorbell,she encounters a young person who hands her a free laminated bookmark and then asks if she would be interested in subscribing to some magazines.What concept lies at the root of this sales technique?

A)self-perception.
B)commitment.
C)reciprocity.
D)scarcity.

Question 29

When a sports fan is asked about his attitudes toward sports,he says that he loves sports because he feels an emotional surge when watching them.Which attitudinal component is being described?

A)cognitive
B)affective
C)behavioural
D)covert

Question 30

Predictions made about a future behaviour can modify behavioural interactions so that the predictions come true.Which term best characterizes this phenomenon?

A)self-serving bias.
B)self-serving prophecy.
C)self-fulfilling prophecy.
D)reciprocity.

Question 31

Which approach do individuals often take to cope with the unpleasant state of tension associated with cognitive dissonance?

A)change one's attitudes.
B)engage in groupthink.
C)focus on dispositional factors.
D)deny that the dissonance exists.

Question 32

Robert Rosenthal studied the effect that teacher expectations had on the performance of selected elementary school students.What was believed to be the actual source of the changes in student intellectual performance?

A)The way in which the teachers behaved toward the special students.
B)The ability of the psychological tests to predict who the "academic spurters" were likely to be.
C)The support that was given to the special students by their peers.
D)The removal of the "average" students from the classroom.

Question 33

A student thinks that it is wrong to cheat on tests,but she copied some answers from the person sitting next to her during the chemistry exam and now feels very guilty.According to dissonance theory,how is she likely to respond?

A)She will feel justified in her behaviour if she receives a good grade.
B)She will decide that the test was so difficult that it encouraged people to cheat.
C)She will use reaction formation as a means to reduce feelings of tension.
D)She will be reinforced to cheat on future tests.

Question 34

Joni is a music critic who always seems to be asked for her attitudes about the relative merits of rock music from the 60s versus the 90s.Why would Joni's attitudes about rock music most likely be highly accessible?

A)Primarily due to her knowledge of music.
B)Primarily due to her love of rock music.
C)Primarily due to direct experience.
D)Primarily due to rehearsal.

Question 35

According to Festinger,which term characterizes the state of conflict that someone experiences after taking an action,making a decision,or being exposed to information that is contrary to his or her beliefs?

A)moral anxiety.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)behavioural disconfirmation.
D)dispositional attribution.

Question 36

As described in the textbook,under which circumstances are individuals more likely to have the energy and motivation to engage in elaborative processing?

A)when they encounter persuasive messages at their "optimal" time of day.
B)when the covariation components of distinctiveness,consistency,and consensus have been met.
C)when they utilize the affective route to persuasion.
D)when they utilize the peripheral route to persuasion.

Question 37

Which statement best illustrates the self-perception theory of Daryl Bem?

A)"I eat brown bread because I like it."
B)"I married him,so I must love him."
C)"I can see myself being a successful attorney."
D)"Everybody likes me."

Question 38

Three businessmen are afraid of flying on commercial airlines.The first businessman has read accounts of airplane crashes,the second has heard stories of crashes,and the third has experienced a near-fatal accident on a flight.With respect to the accessibility of their fears of flying,which statement is accurate?

A)the businessman who read about airplane crashes will have a more accessible attitude.
B)the businessman who experienced a near-fatal accident will have a more accessible attitude.
C)the businessman who heard about airplane crashes will have a more accessible attitude.
D)they will have equal degrees of accessibility.

Question 39

A friend asks Dominic if he likes scary rides at the fair.Although Dominic has never really thought about it before,he answers "yes" because he remembers that whenever he goes to the fair he chooses the scary rides.According to Daryl Bem,which concept best explains this phenomenon?

A)the fundamental attribution error.
B)a self-serving bias.
C)cognitive dissonance.
D)self-perception theory.

Question 40

How is cognitive dissonance best understood?

A)as norm crystallization.
B)as groupthink.
C)as the self-fulfilling prophecy.
D)as a state of conflict.

Question 41

Shelby,who holds a stereotype about women is presented with information that includes an argument that contradicts the stereotype.If Shelby is like most others,how will this information impact him?

A)It will be accepted as sufficient to modify the stereotype.
B)It will be discounted by Shelby.
C)It will cause Shelby to hold a stereotypical belief that is significantly weaker than the one that was previously held.
D)It will be highly valued by Shelby because it has emphasized inconsistencies.

Question 42

How would a proponent of the "contact hypothesis" most likely attempt to reduce the hostility that two groups show toward each other?

A)by introducing a goal that requires cooperation from both groups.
B)by reducing the amount of contact between members of the hostile groups.
C)by introducing a female mediator.
D)by increasing the resources that are available to the groups.

Question 43

Which conclusion about the contact hypothesis was strongly supported by a review of 515 studies?

A)contact with out-group members lowers prejudice.
B)contact with out-group members increases prejudice.
C)contact with out-group members results in violent activities.
D)contact with out-group members increases stereotyping and discriminatory practices.

Question 44

Which process results in a "me versus not me" and "us versus them" orientation?

A)social comparison.
B)social discrimination.
C)social categorization.
D)social evaluation.

Question 45

A telephone solicitor asks Carly for a donation of $1 for a charitable enterprise.When Carly agrees to give $1,he asks her to become a volunteer to raise money for the charity.Which sales strategy is being implemented?

A)the door-in-the-face technique.
B)the foot-in-the-door technique.
C)scarcity.
D)reciprocity.

Question 46

Which hypothesis was confirmed by a study that involved 2,893 East and West German participants?

A)the East Germans had more opportunities to have foreign friends,so their prejudice levels remained relatively low.
B)the East Germans had fewer opportunities to have foreign friends,so their prejudice levels remained relatively high.
C)the West Germans had fewer opportunities to have foreign friends,so their prejudice levels remained relatively high.
D)regardless of the opportunities for having foreign friends,both the East and the West Germans exhibited high levels of prejudice.

Question 47

A girl who forms a club believes that the members of her club are better than the members of her ex-friend's club.What does this girl's belief illustrate?

A)an in-group bias.
B)an out-group bias.
C)diffusion of responsibility.
D)demand characteristics.

Question 48

A young adult believes that elderly individuals are terrible drivers.He never allows himself to be given a ride by anyone over the age of 55.Why will this young adult most likely continue to believe that the elderly are poor drivers?

A)because of demand characteristics.
B)because of a self-serving bias.
C)because of behavioural confirmation.
D)because of in-group bias.

Question 49

A stranger asks Elliot for a donation of $20 for a charitable enterprise.When Elliot turns him down,the stranger requests only $1.Which compliance tactic is the stranger using?

A)commitment.
B)the foot-in-the-door technique.
C)the door-in-the-face technique.
D)scarcity.

Question 50

For an individual who holds a false belief to be labeled as prejudiced,what must be true of the false belief?

A)It must be unconscious.
B)It must lead to an attitude of preference toward another human being.
C)It must resist change even in the face of evidence against its validity.
D)It must be based on cultural norms of proper behaviour.

Question 51

In a study that is described in the textbook,students were classified as having high or low prejudice toward homosexuals.They then read two studies that either supported or opposed stereotypes of homosexuality.What did the researchers discover?

A)only the highly prejudiced students changed their attitudes because of the studies that they read.
B)after reading the studies,all of the students were more balanced in their views of homosexuality.
C)after reading the studies,the females were more balanced in their views of homosexuality than the males.
D)the students gave higher ratings to the study that supported their point of view.

Question 52

What do cross-cultural studies of physical attractiveness indicate?

A)physical attractiveness predicts liking across most cultures.
B)students will accord lower intellectual status to classmates who are perceived to be physically attractive.
C)cultures do not differ widely with respect to the standards for physical beauty.
D)physical attractiveness may not play as strong a role in some cultures as it does in the United States.

Question 53

While walking on campus one day Sage overhears a person make the remark,"All college professors are absentminded." Which term best reflects this statement?

A)a stereotype.
B)behavioural confirmation.
C)racism.
D)in-group bias.

Question 54

Many individuals think that a particular woman is physically attractive.Based on this information only,what other beliefs about the woman will these individuals most likely possess?

A)that she is socially competent.
B)that she is unintelligent.
C)that she is a member of the upper class.
D)that she is less likely to be successful in her career.

Question 55

When shopping for a car,Dave works out a great deal with the salesperson.While she is talking to her manager,Dave thinks about how wonderful it is going to be to own the car that he wants.When the salesperson comes back,she tells Dave that the manager will not agree with the deal and wants him to pay more.If Dave decides to pay the higher price,which sales technique has been successfully implemented?

A)scarcity.
B)reciprocity.
C)ownership.
D)commitment.

Question 56

In the University of Minnesota study that was described in the textbook,college students were assigned randomly as blind dates.When asked to evaluate their dates and indicate if they wanted to pursue the relationship,what was the most important factor?

A)intelligence.
B)personality.
C)social skill.
D)physical attractiveness.

Question 57

According to the research on interpersonal attraction,if Lucy wants Jesse to like her,what should she do?

A)Ensure that she spends only short periods of time with Jesse,initially.
B)Allow Jesse to see her frequently.
C)Maintain opinions that are different from those held by Jesse.
D)Appear somewhat neutral toward Jesse,initially.

Question 58

How is racism best defined?

A)as discrimination against individuals based on their skin colour or ethnic heritage.
B)as stereotyping individuals on the basis of personality traits.
C)as evaluation of one's own group as better than other groups.
D)as categorizing individuals into groups based on genetic factors.

Question 59

After listening to a lecture on prejudice,a student wonders if having close friends from different ethnic groups can reduce prejudice against these groups.Which response does the research support?

A)yes,because such friendships will help to reinforce in-group biases.
B)yes,because it may become easier to identify and empathize with out-group members.
C)no,because these friendships may foster a process of social categorization.
D)no,because the more information that is known about the social norms and customs of out-groups,the greater entrenched the sterotypes become.

Question 60

With respect to friendships,Chelsea believes that,in general,"opposites attract." Is Chelsea correct?

A)Yes,this appears to be true for a variety of dimensions.
B)No,research suggests that dissimilarity often leads to strong repulsion.
C)Yes,but not significantly more so than those with similarities.
D)Yes,particularly in the realm of social and political viewpoints.

Question 61

Which term do social psychologists typically use when referring to the explicit and implicit guidelines for behaviour in specific settings?

A)expectations
B)rules
C)social roles
D)social norms

Question 62

How does being "in love" with someone differ from "loving" someone?

A)It involves passion.
B)It involves intimacy and commitment,but not passion.
C)It involves commitment only.
D)It involves intimacy only.

Question 63

One juror does not agree that the defendant is guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt." Based on the research of Solomon Asch,under which condition would the juror be less likely to eventually conform to the verdict of the majority?

A)If he or she is "doubt-ridden."
B)If the juror is a female.
C)If one other juror decides the dissenter is right.
D)If the evidence clearly supports the majority decision.

Question 64

To be part of the "in crowd," Zack learns that he should get a certain type of tattoo,dress in the right clothes,agree with the group's attitudes and opinions,and be able to use and understand the "language" of the group.What is the likely source of Zack's beliefs?

A)self-serving biases.
B)social norms.
C)reciprocity norms.
D)groupthink.

Question 65

Chara says that she will marry only for love and not convenience,and that she is going to spend a great deal of time choosing the "right mate." What type of cultural background does Chara most likely have?

A)one that values interdependence.
B)one that values independence.
C)one in which the collective good takes precedence.
D)one that is consistent with non-Western values.

Question 66

A man has never attended a certain type of religious service before so he looks to others to know what to do and how to act.Which processes underlie this man's conforming behaviour?

A)informational influence
B)normative influence
C)compliance
D)demand characteristic

Question 67

In autokinetic effect studies,researchers will sometimes replace one group member with a new member after each set of trials until all the members are new to the situation.What is the primary purpose of this approach?

A)To demonstrate the importance of informational influence.
B)To demonstrate the power of normative influence.
C)To demonstrate the autokinetic effect.
D)To demonstrate the transgenerational influence of norms.

Question 68

In general,what has research on love indicated?

A)that individuals initially do not like those they end up loving.
B)that individuals initially like those they end up loving.
C)that individuals cannot truly like someone whom they do not love.
D)that the concept of love is one-dimensional.

Question 69

Which statement about the participants who acted as guards in the Stanford Prison Experiment is accurate?

A)They identified with the prisoners and acted in a similar manner.
B)They developed stress-related symptoms,such as psychosomatic rashes.
C)They behaved aggressively and even sadistically toward the prisoners.
D)They showed negative after effects that lasted for years.

Question 70

A girl likes a boy.If this girl and boy are similar to most people,it can be predicted that the boy has the same feelings for the girl.What is the most likely basis for this prediction?

A)normative influence.
B)reciprocity.
C)similarity.
D)physical attractiveness.

Question 71

One day,Ed's grandfather notices that he is reading about Solomon Asch's study of conformity and tells you that he was a participant in the original study.When Ed asks his grandfather how he behaved,he says that he reacted like most of the other participants.How did Ed's grandfather most likely behave?

A)He realized that the other "participants" were actually confederates.
B)He conformed on each trial.
C)He did not conform to the group pressure.
D)He conformed some of the time.

Question 72

When Corey went on a campus tour with his older brother,he noticed that all of the students seemed to be dressed alike.Which term best explains this phenomenon?

A)conformity.
B)obedience.
C)covariation.
D)a demand characteristic.

Question 73

In a classic experiment by Muzafer Sherif that is described in the textbook,participants were asked to judge the amount of movement in what was actually a stationary spot of light.When the participants were brought into a group and were asked to state their judgments aloud,their estimates began to converge in the direction of the group norms.Which term best reflects this process of influence?

A)the autokinetic effect.
B)the Pygmalion effect.
C)norm crystallization.
D)re-education.

Question 74

A couple has been involved in a loving relationship for many years.Which term best characterizes this type of love?

A)secure
B)intimate
C)pragmatic
D)companionate

Question 75

Which attachment style is at the root of the most enduring adult romantic relationships?

A)secure
B)passionate
C)intimate
D)companionate

Question 76

Which term refers to the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the decisions that would be made by the members acting alone?

A)groupthink.
B)group polarization.
C)cognitive dissonance.
D)the covariation principle.

Question 77

Although she has never specifically been told not to do so,a student is hesitant to leave a class in the middle of a lecture.Which term best characterizes this phenomenon?

A)social guideline.
B)implicit rule.
C)explicit rule.
D)social role.

Question 78

Why is the belief that the "other" is included in one's "self" important in the context of love?

A)the relationship between "other" and "self" can serve as an index of the amount of autonomy involved in a relationship.
B)research has shown that couples with the most overlap between "other" and "self" are most likely to remain committed to each other over time.
C)the amount of overlap between "other" and "self" can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the type of love that is most important to each couple.
D)the way a person feels about the "other" within the "self" is indicative of an avoidant attachment style.

Question 79

In a study that is mentioned in the textbook,male and female undergraduates in the United States and in India were asked the question,"If a man (woman)had all the other qualities you desired,would you marry this person if you were not in love with him (her)?" What were the results of the study?

A)a very small percentage of the Indian students said "yes" but nearly 50 percent of the American students said "yes."
B)a very small percentage of the American students answered "yes" but nearly 50 percent of the Indian students said "yes."
C)most of the female students in both countries said "yes" but most of the male students in both countries said "no."
D)most of the male students in both countries said "yes" but most of the female students in both countries said "no."

Question 80

In the classic social psychology experiment known as the Stanford Prison Experiment,how was group selection determined?

A)the most sadistic participants were assigned the roles of guards.
B)the participants who were thought to be "helpless" types were assigned the roles of prisoners.
C)the participants were assigned roles that were the opposite of their natural inclinations.
D)the participants were assigned roles through random procedures.