Deck 15: Section 2: Behaviour and Cognition

Question 1

People often have goals to manage the kind of impression they make on others. Why is it that sometimes they try to make a positive impression, but sometimes they impede their ability to do so i.e. self-handicapping)? Describe the empirical evidence and give an example to illustrate this difference.

Answer 1

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Question 2

Describe some of the challenges with assessing the relationship between cognition and behavior. Give at least one example of when cognitions and behavior may correlate or conflict. Discuss some potential solutions.
a. Cognitions and behaviors can be measured at different levels of specificity, leading to low correspondence.
b. Possible solution: multiple-act criterion, more specific measures of cognitions.
c. Example: saying donation is important, but not donating in an instance when you are asked to.

Answer 2

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Question 3

Describe some instances when targets might attempt to dispel perceivers' false impressions of them. When might they not?
a. Targets especially try to dispel perceivers' false impressions when they are aware of them Hilton & Darley, 1985), when targets think their own behavior might have contributed to the misperception Darley & Fazio, 1980), when the false impressions especially contradict targets' own self-views Baumeister & Jones, 1978), and when they matter a lot to the target. However, under some circumstances, the target may find the perceiver's false impression to be so desirable that the target will attempt to fit it and come to see the self as the perceiver does. This extreme case of the self-fulfilling prophecy shows not only the target's behavior but own self-impression coming to fit the perceiver's initially false impression Fazio, Effrein, & Falender, 1981; M. Snyder & Swann, 1978b).

Answer 3

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Question 4

What is meant by a "self-fulfilling prophecy" in social perception and behavior? Explain why this effect occurs and give an example.