Question 1

In which of the following countries would the fundamental attribution error be more prevalent?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is more prevalent in individualistic cultures, such as Canada, where people tend to prioritize individual identity over group identity and are more likely to attribute behavior to individual personality traits rather than situational factors. India, China, and Japan are considered more collectivist societies, where the context and group dynamics are more often taken into account when explaining behavior.

Question 2

______________ refers to the tendency to overestimate dispositional influences (and underestimate situational influences) when explaining another person's behavior.

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overestimate dispositional influences (such as personality traits or abilities) and underestimate situational influences (such as social norms or external factors) when explaining another person's behavior. This can lead to biased perceptions and judgments about others.

Question 3

In the Stanford prison study, male college students agreed to participate in a two-week experiment to discover what would happen when they took on the roles of prisoners and guards. The researchers found that:

Accepted Answer

The Stanford prison study found that within a short time the prisoners became distressed and felt helpless, developing emotional symptoms and physical ailments. This was due to the harsh conditions and treatment by the guards, who became increasingly authoritarian and abusive towards the prisoners.

Question 4

Attribution theory examines:

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory focuses on how people explain the causes of their own behavior and the behavior of others. It examines the different factors that influence these explanations, such as situational factors versus dispositional factors.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of entrapment as it relates to obedience?

Accepted Answer

Entrapment is a situation where a person is gradually lead into a behavior or action that they would not have done initially. In this scenario, the friend initially asked for help with some empty boxes, but then gradually manipulated the individual into packing up his entire kitchen. This is an example of entrapment as it relates to obedience.

Question 6

The basic asymmetry in social perception is due, in part, to the ________, which makes you feel good about yourself even when you shouldn't.

Accepted Answer

The self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors (such as skill or effort) and our failures to external factors (such as bad luck or a difficult task). This bias makes us feel good about ourselves even when it may not be warranted. The other choices, such as the fundamental attribution error or the familiarity effect, do not directly relate to this bias.

Question 7

Critics of the Stanford prison study argue that:

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that briefing the guards at the beginning of the study influenced their behavior and that participants were merely behaving in ways they believed the researchers wanted them to. Therefore, the study may have only shown how willingly people obey orders, rather than revealing anything about the psychology of prisons.

Question 8

________ occurs when a person chooses attributions for his or her own behavior that are favorable.

Accepted Answer

The self-serving bias occurs when a person chooses attributions for his or her own behavior that are favorable. This bias refers to the tendency to take credit for success while blaming external factors for failure.

Question 9

Researchers in the area of ________ examine how people's perception of themselves and others affect their relationships.

Accepted Answer

Social cognition is the study of how people's perceptions, thoughts, and beliefs about themselves and others influence social interactions and relationships. It focuses on how individuals interpret and make sense of information about themselves and others, and how these interpretations affect their behavior towards others.

Question 10

Which of the following is true about obedience?

Accepted Answer

Obedience can be necessary and beneficial in many situations, such as obeying traffic laws or following instructions from a doctor. It is not always harmful or bad. The other options presented are not as accurate.

Question 11

________ is defined as a gradual process in which individuals escalate their commitment to a course of action to justify their investment of time, money, or effort.

Accepted Answer

The gradual process in which individuals escalate their commitment to a course of action to justify their investment of time, money, or effort is known as "entrapment." This can happen in various contexts such as in personal relationships, politics, and business. It is a phenomenon that can sometimes be difficult to recognize, as individuals become increasingly invested in a decision or course of action, even when it may no longer be rational or profitable.

Question 12

The tendency for people to take personal credit for their good actions, but blame the situation for their mistakes, is known as the:

Accepted Answer

The tendency for people to take personal credit for their good actions, but blame the situation for their mistakes is known as the self-serving bias. This bias allows people to protect their self-esteem by taking credit for successes and distancing themselves from failures.

Question 13

When people in Western countries try to find reasons for someone else's behavior, they tend to:

Accepted Answer

Western societies tend to have an individualistic culture which emphasizes personal responsibility and self-determination. This leads people to overemphasize personality traits as explanations for behavior and underestimate the power of situations. This is known as the fundamental attribution error.

Question 14

Janet, an administrative assistant at a London firm, is trying to find reasons for her boss's hostile behavior. She is likely to:

Accepted Answer

Janet is likely to overestimate her boss's personality traits and underestimate the influence of the situation, a common tendency known as the fundamental attribution error. This error leads individuals to attribute others' behaviors more to their character and less to external factors.

Question 15

While stuck in a traffic jam, Yani notices a frustrated driver frequently honking his horn. Yani thinks to himself, "That driver is a real jerk!" This is an example of a _______________ attribution.

Accepted Answer

Yani's attribution of the driver's behavior to being a "real jerk" implies a dispositional attribution, meaning that Yani is assuming that the driver's behavior is a reflection of their internal personality or character traits rather than external situational factors.

Question 16

The Stanford prison study demonstrates how a person's ________ affect(s) behavior.

Accepted Answer

The Stanford prison study focused on the role of a participant (guard or prisoner) and how that role affected their behavior. It demonstrated the power of a social role in shaping behavior, even for individuals who did not possess prior attitudes or dispositions towards aggressive or authoritarian behavior.

Question 17

According to C. P. Snow, "more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of ________ than in the name of rebellion."

Accepted Answer

C. P. Snow is known for stating that more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than in the name of rebellion, highlighting the dangers of blindly following orders without ethical consideration.

Question 18

According to attribution theory, the explanations we give for our behavior and the behavior of others generally fall into two categories:

Accepted Answer

Attributions are generally categorized as dispositional (referring to a person's inherent traits or characteristics) or situational (referring to external factors or circumstances).

Question 19

When we make situational attributions, we are identifying the cause of an action as something:

Accepted Answer

Situational attributions identify the cause of an action as something in the environment, such as external circumstances or events that may have influenced the person's behavior. This is in contrast to dispositional attributions, which identify the cause of an action as reflecting the person's internal characteristics or traits. Biological traits and unconscious factors may also contribute to behavior, but situational attributions focus specifically on external factors.

Question 20

Social _______________ refers to the effect of social influences on thought, memory, perception, and beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Social cognition refers to how social influences impact how people think, perceive, remember, and form beliefs. Attribution refers to how people explain the causes of events or behaviors. Entrapment refers to a situation where someone feels stuck in a particular course of action. Dissonance refers to the uncomfortable feeling of holding two conflicting beliefs at the same time.

Quiz 8: Behavior in Social and Cultural Context