Question 1

The fundamental attribution error is most likely to lead observers to conclude that unemployed people

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute a person's behavior to their personality traits, rather than considering situational factors. In the case of unemployment, observers may attribute the person's lack of employment to personal traits like laziness or lack of motivation, rather than considering factors like the state of the economy, job market, or access to job opportunities. This can lead to the judgment that unemployed people are irresponsible and unmotivated.

Question 2

Feelings,often influenced by our beliefs,that predispose us to respond in particular ways to objects,people,and events are called

Accepted Answer

Attitudes are feelings and beliefs that shape our behavior towards objects, people or events. They predispose us to respond in particular ways based on our likes, dislikes, and convictions. Examples of attitudes include positive attitude towards exercise or negative attitude towards certain foods.

Question 3

Compared with how we explain our own actions,in explaining other people's behavior we are more likely to refer to

Accepted Answer

When explaining other people's behavior, we tend to attribute it to their personality traits rather than situational factors, a tendency known as the fundamental attribution error.

Question 4

We are more likely to attribute our behavior to ________,but we are more likely to attribute the behavior of others to ________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the actor-observer bias, where people tend to attribute their own actions to situational factors, while attributing others' actions to their personalities.

Question 5

Researchers have filmed two people interacting face-to-face with cameras located just behind each person.Showing each person a replay of their interaction filmed from the other person's perspective increased their tendency to attribute the other person's behavior to

Accepted Answer

Seeing the interaction from the other person's perspective allows the individuals to understand the situational influences that may have affected the other person's behavior, rather than solely attributing it to personality traits or role-playing.

Question 6

Rhonda has just learned that her neighbor Patricia was involved in an automobile accident at a nearby intersection.The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error may lead Rhonda to conclude

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (personality) explanations for behavior, rather than situational explanations. In this case, Rhonda may be quick to assume that the accident was due to Patricia's reckless driving, rather than considering other factors, such as environmental conditions or other drivers on the road. Option A is a situational explanation which seems less likely in this case. Option C involves Patricia's children which is also a situational factor but is too far-fetched. Option D is again a situational explanation which may or may not be true, but it does not relate to Patricia's recklessness.

Question 7

A tendency to overestimate the extent to which a stranger's violent behavior stems from his or her aggressive personality best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overestimate dispositional (personality) factors and underestimate situational factors when judging the behavior of others. In this case, the behavior in question is violent behavior, and the tendency to overestimate the extent to which it stems from a stranger's aggressive personality is an example of the fundamental attribution error.

Question 8

One explanation for the fundamental attribution error involves observers'

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error can occur because the observer has a limited visual perspective and may not have access to all the information about the situation that would influence the behavior of the person they are observing. Therefore, they may overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors in explaining behavior.

Question 9

Reversing the perspectives of actor and observer reduces ________ among observers.

Accepted Answer

Reversing the perspectives of actor and observer reduces the fundamental attribution error, which is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors (such as personality traits) and undervalue situational factors when making judgments about other people's behavior. When considering the same behavior from the perspective of the actor, the observer may become more aware of the situational factors that could have influenced their behavior, leading to a more accurate assessment of the situation.

Question 10

Poverty and unemployment are likely to be explained in terms of ________ by political liberals and in terms of ________ by political conservatives.

Accepted Answer

Political liberals tend to focus on situational constraints, such as economic inequality and lack of access to education, as explanations for poverty and unemployment. Political conservatives, on the other hand, tend to focus on personality traits, such as laziness and lack of motivation, as explanations for poverty and unemployment.

Question 11

Cynthia thinks that her new neighbor is mean and snobbish.This ________ will likely influence Cynthia to act negatively toward her neighbor.

Accepted Answer

Cynthia's attitude towards her neighbor is negative and therefore, this attitude is likely to influence her actions towards her neighbor.

Question 12

Isabella is angry because her boyfriend is late meeting her at the movie theater.She thinks that it is because he is unreliable and inconsiderate,when in fact he is late because a meeting at work ran late.Isabella has committed

Accepted Answer

Isabella has made the fundamental attribution error, where she is attributing her boyfriend's lateness to his personality (being unreliable and inconsiderate), rather than considering situational factors (work meeting running late).

Question 13

Jonah's friend,Julio,is late for their tee time at the golf course.Jonah thinks Julio is late because he is inconsiderate and selfish,when in fact he was late because the battery in his car died.Jonah has just committed

Accepted Answer

Jonah has made an incorrect assumption about Julio's lateness, attributing it to personality traits rather than considering external factors such as a dead car battery. This is an example of the fundamental attribution error, which refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (personality-based) explanations for others' behavior and neglect situational factors.

Question 14

Recognizing the powerful impact of social influence on others' behaviors is most likely to minimize

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal characteristics (such as personality) rather than external factors (such as situational factors). Recognizing social influence can help minimize this error by acknowledging the role of the situation in shaping behavior, rather than solely relying on dispositional explanations.

Question 15

Students who were told that a young woman had been instructed to act in a very unfriendly way for the purposes of the experiment concluded that her behavior

Accepted Answer

Despite being informed that the woman's behavior was instructed for the experiment, students still attributed her unfriendly behavior to her personality, demonstrating the fundamental attribution error.

Question 16

People are especially likely to demonstrate the fundamental attribution error in cultures that value

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is more likely to occur in cultures that value individualism, as individuals in these cultures tend to focus on personal characteristics and behaviors rather than situational factors. In collectivist cultures, individuals are seen as part of a larger group and situational factors are given more weight, making the fundamental attribution error less likely.

Question 17

The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal traits on another's behavior is called

Accepted Answer

The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal traits on another's behavior is known as the fundamental attribution error. It refers to the concept of explaining someone's behavior based on internal characteristics, such as their traits or disposition, rather than external situational factors.

Question 18

In explaining our own behavior or the behavior of those we know well,we often resort to

Accepted Answer

Situational attributions are explanations for behavior based on external factors such as the situation a person is in or the events happening around them. When we explain our own or others' behavior, we often consider the situational factors that may have influenced it. Personality attributions (A) focus solely on individual traits and characteristics, while role-playing (B) refers to assuming a particular role or identity in a given situation. Cognitive dissonance (C) is the discomfort or tension we feel when our attitudes or beliefs do not align with our actions. None of these concepts are as commonly relied upon to explain behavior as situational attributions.

Question 19

You would probably be least likely to commit the fundamental attribution error in explaining why

Accepted Answer

The answer of You would probably be least likely to...

Question 20

Sixteen-year-old Gregory wrecked his parent's car on a snowy day.His parents assumed that the accident was caused by his carelessness and lack of concern for their car.Gregory's parents' assumption illustrates an attribution based on

Accepted Answer

Gregory's parents attributed the cause of the accident to his personality traits, specifically his carelessness and lack of concern for their car.

Quiz 11: Social Psychology