Deck 11: Social Psychology

Question 1

Dr.Hirt investigates the mental processes we use to make sense of our social environment and form judgments about the behavior of others.Dr.Hirt is most likely a ________ psychologist.

A)personality
B)clinical
C)social
D)developmental

Answer 1

social

Question 2

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to underestimate the impact of ________ and to overestimate the impact of ________ in explaining the behavior of others.

A)attitudes;cognitive dissonance
B)cognitive dissonance;attitudes
C)personal traits;situational influences
D)situational influences;personality

Answer 2

situational influences;personality

Question 3

Malik is not upset that his girlfriend forgot his birthday because he believes that she forgot because she was worried about her upcoming finals and her father's health.Malik's explanation for his girlfriend's forgetfulness is an example of

A)an attribution.
B)an attitude.
C)cognitive dissonance.
D)the fundamental attribution error.

Answer 3

an attribution.

Question 4

Students in Professor Chu's psychology class scored much lower than normal on their latest exam,which was just before spring break.Professor Chu believes that students were preoccupied with the upcoming break and did not prepare well for the exam.Professor Chu's explanation for his students' exam performance is an example of

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)an attitude.
C)an attribution.
D)the fundamental attribution error.

Question 5

Ksana insists that her boyfriend's car accident resulted from his carelessness.Her explanation for the accident provides an example of

A)a situational attribution.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)a personality attribution.

Question 6

The mental process people use to explain their behavior and the behavior of others is called

A)an attribution.
B)an attitude.
C)cognitive dissonance.
D)the fundamental attribution error.

Question 7

Amir believes that his brother's grades are higher than his grades because his brother's classes are significantly less difficult.Amir's belief about his brother's grades is an example of

A)a situational attribution.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)a personality attribution.

Question 8

According to social psychologists,when we try to attribute the causes of another's actions,our search for answers often leaves us with two choices.These choices are

A)heredity or environment.
B)biological motives or psychological motives.
C)thoughts or emotions.
D)personality or the situation.

Question 9

Shawna,who notices that her sister volunteers in many charitable organizations,believes that her sister is a very caring,giving person.Shawna's explanation of her sister's behavior is an example of

A)a situational attribution.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)a personality attribution.

Question 10

While eating at a restaurant,you see a waiter's serving tray accidentally tilt and an avalanche of food and beverages splatter on four people."How careless," you mumble to yourself as you resume eating.You have just committed

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)an attitude.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)the fundamental attribution error.

Question 11

We have a tendency to explain the behavior of strangers we have observed in only one type of situation in terms of ________ and to explain our own behavior in terms of ________.

A)attitudes;cognitive dissonance
B)situational constraints;personality traits
C)cognitive dissonance;attitudes
D)personality traits;situational constraints

Question 12

Attributing the cause of behavior is

A)the process of revealing intimate aspects of ourselves to others.
B)the impact of both heredity and environment on social behavior.
C)the loss of self-awareness that occurs in group situations.
D)how people explain others' behavior.

Question 13

Freire did very poorly on his last arithmetic test.The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error might lead his sixth-grade teacher to conclude that Freire did poorly because

A)he is unmotivated to do well in school.
B)the test covered material that had not been adequately covered in class.
C)his parents had an argument the evening before the test.
D)he was not given enough time to complete the test.

Question 14

Compared with people from East Asian cultures,those from individualist Western countries are more likely to

A)make situational attributions.
B)demonstrate cognitive dissonance.
C)have positive attitudes.
D)commit the fundamental attribution error.

Question 15

Monica sees Laurena,who is normally shy,give a speech in class with confidence.Monica therefore attributes Laurena's behavior to the course requirement.Monica's explanation for Laurena's behavior is an example of

A)a situational attribution.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)a personality attribution.

Question 16

Antonio,who averages 28 points a game for his basketball team,scored only 8 points in tonight's game.The other players believe that he was "slacking off," but in reality he was playing despite an injury.Antonio's teammates have committed

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)the fundamental attribution error.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)an attitude.

Question 17

Professor Szumski conducts research designed to identify persuasion strategies that promote lasting changes in attitudes.Professor Szumski is most likely a ________ psychologist.

A)personality
B)clinical
C)social
D)biological

Question 18

A child hits one of his older siblings,who is constantly teasing him.People from East Asian cultures would be more likely than people from individualist Western cultures to explain the younger child's behavior in terms of

A)hostile motives.
B)a lack of self-control.
C)an enduring personality trait.
D)the stressful situation.

Question 19

Which branch of psychology is most directly concerned with the study of how people think about,influence,and relate to one another?

A)developmental psychology
B)social psychology
C)personality psychology
D)clinical psychology

Question 20

The tendency in individualist cultures to attribute the behavior of others to internal,personality characteristics while ignoring or underestimating the effects of external,situational factors is called

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)an attitude.
C)foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)the fundamental attribution error.

Question 21

Observing yourself on a video replay is most likely to increase your tendency to attribute your behavior to

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)role-playing.
C)personality traits.
D)attitudes.

Question 22

The fundamental attribution error is likely to lead observers to attribute a stranger's

A)lack of employment to a weak economy.
B)act of kindness to a compassionate personality.
C)criminal behavior to a poor education.
D)friendliness to social role requirements.

Question 23

Instead of providing arguments in favor of a political candidate,ads may build political support by associating pictures of the candidate with emotion-evoking music and images.This strategy best illustrates

A)central route persuasion.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)peripheral route persuasion.
D)role-playing.

Question 24

We are NOT likely to make the fundamental attribution error if we observe someone

A)in a variety of situations.
B)who is unemployed.
C)who is wealthy.
D)we dislike.

Question 25

On the first day of class,Tamara's professor gives brief and abrupt answers to students' questions.Tamara thinks that her new professor is rude.This ________ will likely influence her to act negatively toward her professor.

A)role-playing
B)foot-in-the-door phenomenon
C)situational attribution
D)attitude

Question 26

Attitudes,which predispose us to respond in a particular way to objects,people,and events,

A)are situational attributions.
B)are the roles we assume.
C)are often influenced by our beliefs.
D)result from cognitive dissonance.

Question 27

Compared with central route persuasion,peripheral route persuasion tends to

A)be more durable.
B)occur more rapidly.
C)be more likely to influence behavior.
D)involve a greater number of logical arguments.

Question 28

Attitudes are ________ that guide behavior.

A)roles
B)situational attributions
C)belief-based feelings
D)personality attributions

Question 29

Emma is very unhappy with her last psychology exam score.Which of the following attributions is she most likely to use?

A)"I am just not working hard enough."
B)"I am not a responsible student."
C)"The exam was unfair because the questions were tricky."
D)"I spend too much time on Facebook and Instagram."

Question 30

Mia feels that fast-food restaurants are an unhealthy source of food and has protested against the building of a new restaurant in her neighborhood.Mia's feeling about fast-food restaurants is an example of

A)an attitude.
B)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
C)a situational attribution.
D)role-playing.

Question 31

After reflecting on the power of choice,participants in experiments became increasingly less likely to attribute income inequality to

A)personality traits.
B)role-playing.
C)situational influences.
D)cognitive dissonance.

Question 32

Our explanations of our own admirable actions are ________ likely to involve situational attributions than our explanations of our own shameful actions.Our explanations of our own actions performed long ago are ________ likely to involve personality attributions than our explanations of our own very recent actions.

A)less;less
B)more;more
C)less;more
D)more;less

Question 33

The fundamental attribution error is most likely to occur when we explain an instance of

A)good behavior performed by a person we have never met before.
B)good behavior performed by a person we have previously met in a number of different situations.
C)bad behavior performed by a person we have never met before.
D)bad behavior performed by a person we have previously met in a number of different situations.

Question 34

Poverty and unemployment have been explained in terms of personal traits by ________ and in terms of situational influences by ________.

A)the poor;the rich
B)women;men
C)social psychologists;evolutionary psychologists
D)political conservatives;political liberals

Question 35

In explaining the actions of people we do not know well,we often demonstrate

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)central route persuasion.
C)the fundamental attribution error.
D)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

Question 36

Opinion change resulting from a thoughtful focus on the content of arguments illustrates

A)central route persuasion.
B)peripheral route persuasion.
C)the fundamental attributional error.
D)cognitive dissonance.

Question 37

You would most likely commit the fundamental attribution error in explaining why

A)you failed to finish a term paper in time.
B)you failed to return a phone call from a friend.
C)a waiter failed to smile when serving you.
D)you received a low grade on an exam.

Question 38

Researchers filmed two people interacting with a camera behind each person.Then they showed each person a replay of their interaction-filmed from the other person's perspective.This reversed participants' attributions of the behaviors.Seeing the world from the actor's perspective,the observers

A)better appreciated the situation.
B)attributed the observed behavior to personality.
C)were less likely to attribute the cause of behavior to the situation.
D)were more likely to commit the fundamental attribution error.

Question 39

Peripheral route persuasion involves

A)offering evidence and arguments in hopes of motivating careful thinking.
B)the tendency,when analyzing others' behavior,to overestimate the influence of personal traits and underestimate the effects of the situation.
C)being influenced by unimportant cues,such as a speaker's attractiveness.
D)the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.

Question 40

Carol is restless during class because her professor's distressed facial expressions lead her to believe that he dislikes teaching.The professor,on the other hand,is distressed because he sees Carol's restlessness as an indication that she lacks any motivation to learn.At this point,both student and professor should be informed of the dangers of

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)central route persuasion.
C)negative attitudes.
D)the fundamental attribution error.

Question 41

The discomfort we feel when our thoughts and behaviors are inconsistent is called

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)an attribution.
C)role-playing.
D)an attitude.

Question 42

Which of the following illustrates peripheral route persuasion?

A)Dan searches Consumer Reports for ratings and information on new dishwashers.
B)Liam provides research-based evidence to Noah about the benefits of buying a gym membership.
C)Donna,who is a city councilperson,provides the mayor with information and evidence on the benefits of spending more money on bike trails.
D)Ethan is tempted to buy a new car because he is impressed that his favorite actress advertises the car on television commercials.

Question 43

After she was promoted to a high-level executive position in the large company for which she worked,Jorana developed more pro-business political attitudes.This best illustrates the impact of ________ on attitudes.

A)cognitive dissonance
B)peripheral route persuasion
C)role-playing
D)personality attributions

Question 44

The impact of our actions on our attitudes is best illustrated by

A)the fundamental attribution error.
B)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
C)central route persuasion.
D)peripheral route persuasion.

Question 45

In the years immediately following the introduction of school desegregation in the United States and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,White Americans expressed lower levels of racial prejudice.According to the text author,this best illustrated the impact of

A)role-playing.
B)actions on attitudes.
C)the fundamental attribution error.
D)attributions.

Question 46

Jonathan,as a new police officer,believed that his job was to help people in the community.His partner,who is an experienced officer,told Jonathan that being a good officer involved looking for any reason to arrest and detain others.Jonathan now spends his day trying to arrest as many people as possible.Based on the findings of Zimbardo's prison study,Jonathan's change in attitude about his job illustrates the impact of

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)peripheral route persuasion.
C)attributions.
D)role-playing on attitudes.

Question 47

Attitudes are especially likely to affect behavior when

A)the attitudes are implicit rather than explicit.
B)external influences on behavior are minimal.
C)the person has not publicly stated those attitudes.
D)the attitudes differ from most other people's opinions.

Question 48

Whether a person exercises regularly is best predicted by his or her attitude about

A)sports training.
B)physical health.
C)exercise.
D)role-playing.

Question 49

Philip Zimbardo devised a simulated prison and randomly assigned college students to serve as prisoners or guards.This experiment best illustrated the impact of

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)peripheral route persuasion.
C)attributions.
D)role-playing on attitudes.

Question 50

Jackson agreed to Stanley's suggestion that they shoplift some video games.Later in the week,Jackson agreed to go along with Stanley's suggestion to steal a neighbor's expensive racing bike.Reflecting on what he had done,Jackson was surprised by his willingness to comply with Stanley's requests.Jackson's experience illustrates

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
C)the fundamental attribution error.
D)central route persuasion.

Question 51

Dominick,who is a copy machine salesman,provides information on all models and honestly explains all their pros and cons,even of his competitors' machines.Dominick is using

A)role-playing.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)peripheral route persuasion.
D)central route persuasion.

Question 52

Politicians who publicly oppose a tax increase that they privately favor best illustrate that

A)strong social pressure has very little influence on attitudes.
B)attitudes and actions are always consistent.
C)actions may sometimes be inconsistent with attitudes.
D)situations rarely influence actions and attitudes.

Question 53

When a salesperson visits your home and asks you to try a free sample of a cleaning fluid,you agree.When he returns the following week and asks you to purchase an assortment of expensive cleaning products,you make the purchase.The salesperson appears to have made effective use of

A)the fundamental attribution error.
B)peripheral route persuasion.
C)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
D)cognitive dissonance.

Question 54

An adult's attitude toward church attendance is most likely to predict his or her likelihood of attending church if

A)the attitude is implicit rather than explicit.
B)the attitude first developed during adulthood.
C)the attitude is moderately positive rather than extremely positive.
D)the attitude is stable and enduring.

Question 55

The set of prescribed behaviors associated with a particular social position is best described as a(n)

A)cognitive dissonance.
B)attribution.
C)attitude.
D)role.

Question 56

Alexis has recently begun to bully and hurt his younger brother.If this behavior continues,it is likely that Alexis will

A)experience a substantial loss of self-esteem.
B)develop an increasing dislike for his brother.
C)experience a sense of cognitive dissonance.
D)develop a great sense of admiration and respect for his brother.

Question 57

In the Stanford prison experiment,male college students were randomly assigned to act either as guards or as prisoners.In only six days,the guards became cruel and degrading and the prisoners became passive,broke down,or rebelled.The psychologist who devised the study was

A)Stanley Milgram.
B)Solomon Asch.
C)Leon Festinger.
D)Philip Zimbardo.

Question 58

Vanessa is tempted to shoplift a gold necklace even though she has negative feelings about shoplifting.Vanessa is LEAST likely to steal the merchandise if she

A)knows other people are watching.
B)has been asked to get the necklace for her best friend.
C)easily recalls her negative feelings about shoplifting.
D)has recently shoplifted jewelry from several different stores.

Question 59

Darcy is in the market to buy a new car.The salesperson shows her the features of each car she is considering,explaining the pros and cons of purchasing each.The salesperson's strategy illustrates

A)central route persuasion.
B)cognitive dissonance.
C)peripheral route persuasion.
D)role-playing.

Question 60

The foot-in-the-door phenomenon refers to the tendency to

A)behave according to our feelings rather than our beliefs.
B)change our attitude because it differs from our behavior.
C)comply with a large request if one has previously complied with a small request.
D)attribute strangers' behavior to their personal traits.

Question 61

Which theory best explains why our actions can lead us to modify our attitudes?

A)role-playing theory
B)cognitive dissonance theory
C)attribution theory
D)two-factor theory

Question 62

We are most likely to experience cognitive dissonance if we feel

A)little sense of responsibility for engaging in behaviors of which we personally disapprove.
B)little sense of responsibility for engaging in behaviors of which we personally approve.
C)a great sense of responsibility for engaging in behaviors of which we personally disapprove.
D)a great sense of responsibility for engaging in behaviors of which we personally approve.

Question 63

Ten-year-old Sammy watched his friends jump off the high dive at the community pool.At first he refused to do so until his friends called him a "chicken." He then jumped off the high dive.Sammy's behavior is illustrates

A)groupthink.
B)conformity.
C)social loafing.
D)social facilitation.

Question 64

Tara has very strong opinions about a proposed tuition increase.However,when Tara becomes the student representative for the college board that proposed the raise in tuition,she develops a more favorable attitude about the tuition increase.Which theory best explains why?

A)attribution theory
B)two-factor theory
C)cognitive dissonance theory
D)role-playing theory

Question 65

Although we often cannot directly control all of our feelings,we can influence our feelings by changing our behavior,according to

A)cognitive dissonance theory.
B)social facilitation theory.
C)attribution theory.
D)role-playing theory.

Question 66

The social psychologist who is best known for his pioneering studies of conformity is

A)Solomon Asch.
B)Stanley Milgram.
C)Leon Festinger.
D)Phillip Zimbardo.

Question 67

Chan decides to make a positive change in his life.Instead of going to work with a frown on his face,he will force himself to smile when he walks into work.According to ________,by altering his behavior Chan is likely to change his negative attitude about work.

A)the foot-in-the-door phenomenon
B)informational social influence
C)cognitive dissonance
D)attribution theory

Question 68

Fernando's favorable attitude toward capital punishment began to change when he was asked to offer arguments opposing it in a university debate class.His attitude change is best explained by ________ theory.

A)cognitive dissonance
B)role-playing
C)attribution
D)two-factor

Question 69

Julius begins to yawn while he and his girlfriend are studying together.Soon his girlfriend begins to yawn.This best illustrates

A)the chameleon effect.
B)social loafing.
C)social facilitation.
D)deindividuation.

Question 70

Research participants believed that the Asch conformity test involved a study of

A)automatic mimicry.
B)visual perception.
C)learning.
D)aggression.

Question 71

Cognitive dissonance theory was proposed by

A)Stanley Milgram.
B)Phillip Zimbardo.
C)Leon Festinger.
D)Solomon Asch.

Question 72

Alexandra is well liked by her friends,most likely because she mimics their gestures and seems to match their moods.Researchers would suggest that this automatic mimicry is a component of

A)empathy.
B)deindividuation.
C)personal control.
D)conformity.

Question 73

Solomon Asch reported that individuals conformed to a group's judgment of the lengths of lines

A)only when the group was composed of at least six members.
B)even when the group judgment was clearly incorrect.
C)even when the group seemed uncertain and repeatedly altered its judgment.
D)only when members of the group were friends prior to the experiment.

Question 74

Unconsciously mimicking those around us is known as

A)group polarization.
B)the chameleon effect.
C)social facilitation.
D)social loafing.

Question 75

Which of the following is most likely to help us empathize with others?

A)deindividuation
B)automatic mimicry
C)social loafing
D)social facilitation

Question 76

When his dog stretches its legs,Mason finds himself stretching his legs.This is an example of

A)informational social influence.
B)automatic mimicry.
C)cognitive dissonance.
D)personal control.

Question 77

Adjusting our behavior or thinking toward a group standard is called

A)groupthink.
B)automatic mimicry.
C)social loafing.
D)conformity.

Question 78

If a cluster of people stand around staring at the sky,passersby will often pause to do likewise.This best illustrates

A)social facilitation.
B)deindividuation.
C)social loafing.
D)the chameleon effect.

Question 79

Before Sonya left for college,she told her friend Lacy that she thought sororities were filled with snobs and that she would never consider joining one.During Sonya's first week on campus,a sorority member invited her to a social function and encouraged her to pledge.After Sonya attended the party,she told Lacy,"Sororities do a lot of good things for the community.They're really service organizations." Sonya's change in attitude illustrates

A)cognitive dissonance theory.
B)role-playing theory.
C)attribution theory.
D)two-factor theory.

Question 80

The brain regions that become active when people experience negative arousal also become active when they experience

A)attributions.
B)central route persuasion.
C)cognitive dissonance.
D)role-playing.