Question 1

Our tendency to attribute the cause of behavior to personality dispositions rather than situational factors illustrates the way we may often underestimate the importance of

Accepted Answer

The tendency to attribute behavior to personality dispositions is an example of fundamental attribution error, which is a bias that leads us to underestimate the importance of situational factors and overestimate the importance of personal characteristics in explaining behavior. Social control refers to the ways in which society regulates behavior, social facilitation refers to the effect of others on performance, informational social influence refers to the influence of others on beliefs or opinions, and cognitive dissonance refers to the discomfort we feel when our attitudes or beliefs conflict with our behavior. While these concepts are related to social psychology, they are not directly relevant to the question being asked.

Question 2

Arturo believes that most young women from California are extremely good-looking and that extremely good-looking women are usually selfish and egotistical.His beliefs are examples of

Accepted Answer

Arturo's beliefs about young women from California are based on a generalized and oversimplified idea about a group of people. This is the definition of a stereotype. It is important to recognize and challenge stereotypes, as they can lead to prejudice and discrimination.

Question 3

When White university women withheld criticism of a flawed essay written by a Black fellow student,they demonstrated

Accepted Answer

Withholding criticism of a flawed essay written by a Black fellow student due to their race is an example of patronization. This behavior suggests treating someone with apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority, rather than an unbiased or equal treatment based on the content of the work.

Question 4

Groupthink can be prevented by a leader who

Accepted Answer

Inviting outside experts to critique a group's developing plans can prevent groupthink as it brings in new perspectives and challenges the group's assumptions. This helps the group to critically evaluate their ideas and consider alternative solutions. A leader who values diversity of thought and encourages open communication can also play a role in preventing groupthink, but inviting outside experts is a more direct and effective approach.

Question 5

The difference between prejudice and discrimination is most similar to the difference between

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to a negative attitude or belief towards a certain group, while discrimination refers to the negative behavior or action taken towards that group. The relationship between the two is such that prejudice may lead to discrimination. Choice D is the best option as it highlights the difference between an attitude (prejudice) and a behavior (discrimination).

Question 6

Which of the following comments is most likely to be made by the leader of a group characterized by groupthink?

Accepted Answer

The leader of a group characterized by groupthink is likely to value consensus over dissent and prioritize maintaining unity within the group. Choice A reflects this tendency. The other choices suggest a willingness to consider alternative viewpoints and engage in critical thinking, which is not characteristic of groupthink.

Question 7

Prejudice involves a three-part mixture of

Accepted Answer

Prejudice involves a combination of beliefs (such as stereotypes), emotions (such as fear or hatred), and predispositions to action (such as discrimination). This three-part mixture is what leads individuals to hold negative attitudes and behaviors towards others based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Options A and B do not fully capture the components that make up prejudice, and option D includes only two of the three fundamental elements.

Question 8

A stereotype is best described as a

Accepted Answer

A stereotype is a generalized belief about a group of people. The other options are different concepts: hostility triggering discrimination, incompatibility of goals or actions, and belief in deserving misfortune.

Question 9

Explicit associations are typically ________,whereas implicit associations are often ________.

Accepted Answer

Explicit associations are those that we are consciously aware of and can easily articulate, while implicit associations are unconscious and automatic, often reflecting our hidden biases and attitudes. Therefore, conscious and unconscious are the best choices to describe explicit and implicit associations, respectively.

Question 10

Jessica and John tell their 8-year-old daughter not to play with any of the Garcia children because they are not "real" Americans.They also tell her that the Garcias are probably drug dealers and so she should not sit next to their children on the bus or in school.Jessica and John's behavior illustrates

Accepted Answer

Jessica and John are engaging in discrimination by instructing their daughter not to play with the Garcia children based on their ethnicity and making unfounded accusations about their character.

Question 11

Refusing to hire qualified job applicants because of the color of their skin is to engage in

Accepted Answer

Discrimination is the act of treating someone unfairly or unjustly based on their characteristics, such as race, gender, or religion. Refusing to hire qualified job applicants because of their skin color is a form of discrimination. Stereotyping refers to making assumptions about a person based on their characteristics, while blaming the victim refers to holding someone responsible for their own mistreatment. Social scripts are the unwritten rules that guide our behavior in social settings.

Question 12

An overwhelming desire for harmony in a decision-making group increases the probability of

Accepted Answer

Groupthink refers to a phenomenon where group members prioritize maintaining group harmony over critical evaluation of information and alternative viewpoints. This can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of creativity or diversity in ideas. A strong desire for harmony is one of the key factors that contribute to groupthink.

Question 13

An unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members is called

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members, based solely on their group membership. Discrimination involves negative actions toward members of a group, while ingroup bias is a preference for one's own group over other groups, but it is not necessarily negative. Social scripts refer to culturally provided mental instructions for how to behave in certain situations.

Question 14

Conformity to peer pressure may lead us to behave in ways that violate our own personal convictions.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

Social control refers to the influence that others have on our behavior, and it can lead us to conform to peer pressure even when it violates our own personal convictions.

Question 15

The tragic decision to launch the space shuttle Challenger resulted in part from the minimal expression of dissenting views among NASA personnel and advisors.This best illustrates the dangers of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is a classic example of groupthink, where members of a cohesive group prioritize maintaining harmony over critical evaluation of alternatives, leading to flawed decision-making. The lack of dissenting views contributed to the tragic outcome of the Challenger launch decision. Social facilitation refers to improved performance in the presence of others, deindividuation occurs when individuals become immersed in a group and lose their sense of personal identity, and social control refers to the regulation of individual behavior by societal norms and laws, none of which directly apply to the situation described.

Question 16

Research indicates that minorities are most influential when they

Accepted Answer

Research shows that minorities can be most influential when they consistently and unwaveringly hold to their own position, demonstrating commitment and confidence in their stance. This consistency can lead to the majority re-evaluating their own position.

Question 17

Sonya strongly believes that all fast-food restaurants serve unhealthy food at a cheap price,which contributes to the rise in obesity.Even the sight of the food disgusts her,and she refuses to purchase any of it.Sonya's attitude toward fast-food restaurants illustrates

Accepted Answer

Sonya's attitude is based on a prejudiced belief that all fast-food restaurants serve unhealthy food at a cheap price. She refuses to purchase any of it because her attitude toward the food disgusts her.

Question 18

Although Americans' approval of interracial marriage has soared over the past half-century,many still admit that they would feel uncomfortable with someone of another race in socially intimate settings.This admission best illustrates

Accepted Answer

This admission reflects racial prejudice, which is the negative attitude or feeling toward people based on their race or ethnicity. Despite the rise in approval of interracial marriage, this discomfort demonstrates that some people still hold biases and discriminatory attitudes toward individuals of different races. The other choices are not as applicable as they do not directly address the negative attitude towards others based on race. The other-race effect refers to the difficulty people have in recognizing and distinguishing faces of individuals from another race. Ingroup bias is the preference for one's own group over other groups, while stereotyping refers to the overgeneralization about the characteristics or behaviors of a group of people.

Question 19

Discrimination is best described as

Accepted Answer

Discrimination involves unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group of people and its members, often based on overgeneralized beliefs or feelings of hostility. It is not simply a belief or feeling alone, but involves actions or behaviors that harm or disadvantage individuals or groups. Loss of self-restraint in group situations is more closely related to group dynamics and social influence, rather than discrimination specifically.

Question 20

People may unconsciously harbor negative racial associations.This best illustrates the subtle nature of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described suggests that people are experiencing implicit prejudice, which refers to unconscious biases that are not openly expressed.

Quiz 14: Social Psychology