Question 1

Identify a true statement about growing individualism within cultures.

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that in more individualistic cultures, parents are more likely to choose unique names for their children as a way of expressing their individuality. Option A is not true as studies have found that younger Chinese citizens are actually more likely to endorse individualistic values. Option B is not true as studies have shown that young Americans today have more positive self-views compared to previous generations. Option D is not true as being different and standing out are often seen as positive in individualistic cultures.

Question 2

On subjective,socially desirable,and common dimensions,most people:

Accepted Answer

Most people tend to exhibit a bias known as the "above-average effect" or "illusory superiority," where they see themselves as better than the average person on various subjective, socially desirable, and common dimensions. This is a well-documented phenomenon in social psychology.

Question 3

The tendency to perceive oneself favorably is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency to perceive oneself favorably or to take credit for successes while blaming external factors for failures. It is a common cognitive bias that protects individuals' self-esteem and helps them maintain a positive self-image.

Question 4

Morela thinks that her peers view her as being tidy and prim.She then continues to imagine that her friends possibly think that she is the most tidy in her group.This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of the looking-glass self, which is the idea that we develop our sense of self based on how we believe others perceive us. Morela is imagining how her friends view her and forming her own perception of herself based on this imagined perspective.

Question 5

Miguel is a new recruit at an apparel store.His team has 10 members,and he adapts himself to the needs of his team.He places more importance on the goals of his team than on his own goals and tries to identify himself with the identity of the team.The traits exhibited by Miguel are most similar to those of individuals belonging to a(n)________ culture.

Accepted Answer

Miguel's behavior of prioritizing his team's goals and identifying himself with the team's identity illustrates collectivistic cultural traits, which emphasizes group harmony and cooperation over individual achievement and independence.

Question 6

Identify a characteristic that is most commonly identified with individualistic cultures.

Accepted Answer

Individualistic cultures are characterized by a focus on personal achievement and individual success. This contrasts with collectivistic cultures, which place greater emphasis on group harmony and interdependence.

Question 7

The management board of a construction company decides to invest and expand the business to real estate.However,Adam,one of the board members,is skeptical of this idea because he anticipates some trouble.He convinces the other board members to abandon this plan.Adam is proved right when the country's real estate business collapses.In the context of self-serving bias,this scenario exemplifies a phenomenon called:

Accepted Answer

Adam's skepticism and anticipation of trouble in the real estate market is an example of defensive pessimism. Defensive pessimism is a cognitive strategy where a person prepares for the worst-case scenario, even when there is evidence to suggest that the situation may be less dire. This is different from unrealistic optimism, which is a belief that one will experience more positive outcomes than is realistically possible. The planning fallacy is a tendency to underestimate the time and resources required to complete a task or project. Collective narcissism is a belief in the superiority of one's group over others, and is not applicable in this scenario.

Question 8

Lucy does not wear a helmet when riding her motorcycle.She believes that she is less vulnerable to road accidents than others are.In the context of self-serving bias,this scenario exemplifies the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Lucy is exhibiting unrealistic optimism by believing that she is less vulnerable to road accidents than others. This is a common form of self-serving bias, where individuals tend to view themselves in a more positive light and believe that they are less likely to experience negative events compared to others.

Question 9

In the context of self-serving attributions,saying "I earned an A on my psychology test" versus "My instructor gave me a C on my psychology test" exemplifies how we:

Accepted Answer

This exemplifies self-serving bias, which is the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external factors. In this case, "I earned an A" takes credit for the good grade, while "my instructor gave me a C" places blame on an external factor.

Question 10

Paul,a cab driver,is proud of his driving skills.One day,he has an accident while talking on his phone and driving and injures a person.He blames the person's carelessness for the accident.Which of the following psychological phenomena is exemplified in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

This scenario exemplifies the self-serving attribution bias, where individuals tend to attribute their successes to internal factors (such as their own abilities) and their failures to external factors (such as the situation or other people's actions). In this case, the cab driver is blaming the accident on the other person's carelessness instead of taking responsibility for his own actions.

Question 11

Deunoro believes that he has incredible academic abilities and that he will easily get a job when he completes college.He also believes that he will always remain employed at the highest position in a company because of his academic qualifications.This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Deunoro's belief that he will easily get a job and always remain employed at the highest position in a company solely based on his academic qualifications is an example of unrealistic optimism. This bias causes individuals to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes and underestimate the likelihood of negative outcomes.

Question 12

Vincent was an addictive cigarette smoker and has recently quit smoking.He roams around with his friends who are regular smokers and,on many occasions,he is tempted to smoke.He reiterates that he has high will power that would easily overcome his temptation to smoke,even though he clearly struggles to hide his temptation to smoke.This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Vincent's belief in his ability to resist the temptation to smoke despite struggling with it is an example of illusory optimism, where he overestimates his capacity to control his behavior or resist temptation.

Question 13

Identify the true statement about illusory optimism.

Accepted Answer

Illusory optimism refers to an unrealistic and unfounded sense of optimism that can make individuals more vulnerable to negative outcomes. It can cause people to underestimate potential risks and overestimate their ability to cope with them, leading them to take fewer precautions than necessary. Therefore, option B is the correct statement. Option A is incorrect because illusory optimism, by definition, does not enable people to take sensible precautions. Option C is partially correct, but illusory optimism does not necessarily encourage people to be more proactive. Option D is incorrect because the planning fallacy refers to the tendency to underestimate the time, effort or resources required to complete a task, and is not directly related to illusory optimism.

Question 14

Which of the following statements best exemplifies unrealistic optimism?

Accepted Answer

Statement B is an example of unrealistic optimism as it is highly unlikely for anyone to get any job in the world before graduating. It shows excessive optimism without taking into account the degree of competition or other factors that might influence job availability. Statements A, C, and D are realistic and achievable goals.

Question 15

In contrast to individualistic cultures,self-esteem in collectivist cultures is more likely to be ________.

Accepted Answer

In collectivist cultures, self-esteem is more likely to be malleable because it is often influenced by group dynamics and the opinions of others within the group, reflecting a more flexible view of the self in relation to the community.

Question 16

Compared with people in general,most people perceive themselves as:

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the "better than average effect" or the "illusory superiority bias," where individuals tend to overestimate their own abilities and characteristics in comparison to others. However, studies have shown that when it comes to prejudice and biases, people tend to perceive themselves as less prejudiced than others.

Question 17

In the context of self-serving bias,which of the following statements represents the concept of self-serving attributions?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving attributions involve attributing successes to internal factors like one's own abilities, and failures to external factors beyond one's control, which is accurately described in option B.

Question 18

Belicia chooses a designated driver to drive her home whenever she goes out for a party.She believes that this virtue of hers is exceptional and that no one else is as precautious as she is.This scenario best exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

The scenario exemplifies the false uniqueness effect, which is the tendency to see one's own traits and behaviors as more unique than they actually are. Belicia believes that her choice to have a designated driver is exceptional and that no one else is as precautious as she is. This belief reflects the false uniqueness effect, as she likely overestimates the rarity of this behavior.

Question 19

Who among the following in the United States achieve the most academically as students and earn the highest median income as adults,yet have the lowest self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Asian-Americans are known for their academic and professional success, as they often achieve the highest academic achievements and earn the highest median income as adults compared to other ethnic groups in the US. However, they also face high levels of pressure to succeed and often experience discrimination and microaggressions based on their race, leading to lower self-esteem. Studies have shown that Asian-Americans have higher levels of impostor syndrome, anxiety, and depression due to these social and cultural factors.

Question 20

Most cultures native to Asia,Africa,and Central and South America place a greater emphasis than other cultures on ________.

Accepted Answer

These cultures tend to prioritize group harmony and interdependence over individualistic achievement, which is reflected in their social structures, traditions, and values. Respect for elders and authority, maintaining family and community ties, and sacrificing personal desires for the greater good are often emphasized.

Quiz 2: The Self in a Social World