Question 1

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of people to whom Adorno and his colleagues refer as the "authoritarian personality"?

Accepted Answer

The authoritarian personality is characterized by a number of traits, including rigidity in beliefs, intolerance of weakness, and adherence to conventional values and standards. However, being an authority figure is not necessarily a characteristic of this personality type. In fact, authoritarian personalities often seek out authority figures to follow and may be submissive to them.

Question 2

When a person is mentally fatigued, implicit biases are:

Accepted Answer

When a person is mentally fatigued, their inhibitions are lowered, making them more likely to express their implicit biases. This is because implicit biases operate at an unconscious level and are more likely to be expressed when the brain is tired and not actively filtering thoughts and behaviors.

Question 3

King and her associates had research confederates go shopping in a clothing store. When they were dressed up in a "fat suit" and were drinking a diet soda, they received more eye contact and were spoken to _________ compared to when they were drinking a milkshake.

Accepted Answer

The study found that individuals dressed up in a "fat suit" and drinking a diet soda received more eye contact and were spoken to in a friendly manner compared to when they were drinking a milkshake.

Question 4

The subject in Sherif's study of two groups, the "Eagles" and the "Rattlers" were:

Accepted Answer

Sherif's study involved normal 11- to 12-year-old boys who were divided into two groups, the "Eagles" and the "Rattlers."

Question 5

Research participants who were anti-Semitic and had their self-esteem lowered by receiving bogus low scores on an intelligence test:

Accepted Answer

In the study, participants who were anti-Semitic and had their self-esteem lowered showed the most bias when evaluating a Jewish woman.

Question 6

According to the "psychology of inevitability," if an individual anticipates close contact with a group against which he or she is prejudiced:

Accepted Answer

The "psychology of inevitability" suggests that when individuals anticipate unavoidable interaction with a group they are prejudiced against, they may adjust their attitudes to be more favorable to reduce cognitive dissonance and make the interaction more comfortable.

Question 7

Crocker found that the greatest amount of prejudice was between groups that were economically:

Accepted Answer

Crocker found that the greatest amount of prejudice was between groups that were close and in competition for jobs. This is known as realistic group conflict theory, which suggests that when groups are in competition for limited resources, such as jobs or housing, it leads to increased conflict and prejudice between them.

Question 8

Aronson's argument that "stateways change folkways" is based primarily on:

Accepted Answer

Aronson's argument that "stateways change folkways" is primarily based on the theory of cognitive dissonance. This theory suggests that when there is a discrepancy between one's beliefs and one's actions, it leads to discomfort, which people are motivated to reduce. Aronson argued that by changing laws (stateways), you can influence people's behaviors, which in turn can lead to changes in attitudes and beliefs (folkways) to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic typical of an "authoritarian personality"?

Accepted Answer

One of the main characteristics of an authoritarian personality is a high respect for authority, making choice B incompatible with this type of personality. The other three characteristics (conventional values, intolerance of weaknesses, and rigidity of beliefs) are typical of an authoritarian personality.

Question 10

Where did the word "scapegoat" come from?

Accepted Answer

The term "scapegoat" originated from the ancient Hebrew practice during the Day of Atonement where the sins of the people were symbolically transferred onto a goat, which was then sent into the wilderness to carry the burden of those sins. This practice is described in the Bible in Leviticus 16:8-10.

Question 11

After Muzafer Sherif and his associates had arbitrarily divided boys in a summer camp into two groups, they found that intergroup hostility could be created by providing ________ and reduced by providing ________.

Accepted Answer

The study conducted by Muzafer Sherif and his associates found that intergroup hostility could be created by providing competitive activities and reduced by providing cooperative activities. This is known as the Robbers Cave experiment, which demonstrated the importance of intergroup contact and cooperation in reducing prejudice and conflict between groups. Thus, option A is the correct answer. Option B is incorrect as it suggests that more intergroup contact can lead to reduced hostility, while the study showed that it was the type of contact (i.e. cooperative vs. competitive) that affected intergroup hostility. Option C is incorrect as it suggests that positive stereotypes can reduce intergroup hostility, which is not supported by evidence. Option D is also incorrect as it is not related to the study's findings about intergroup hostility and cooperation.

Question 12

How did America see the Chinese during the 19th century?

Accepted Answer

During the 19th century, the Chinese were initially seen as hardworking and productive, but as economic hard times hit, they became associated with negative stereotypes such as taking jobs away from Americans and being unclean. However, during the construction of the railroad, their labor was needed and they were praised for their work ethic. This pattern continued throughout the century, with attitudes towards the Chinese shifting based on the economic needs of the country.

Question 13

The process of blaming innocent and powerless others for our troubles is called:

Accepted Answer

Scapegoating is the process of blaming innocent and powerless others for our troubles. Option A refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and ignore situational factors when making attributions about others. Option B refers to the tendency to seek out information that confirms our preexisting beliefs. Option D refers to the release of pent-up emotions and tensions.

Question 14

Hovland and Sears found that, from 1882 to 1930, you could predict an increase in lynchings when the price of cotton declined. This information is best thought of as evidence for:

Accepted Answer

The correlation between declining cotton prices and increased lynchings suggests that individuals were looking for a scapegoat to blame for their economic troubles.

Question 15

Joe was brought up in a household in which both of his parents worked outside the home, and both they and the children shared responsibilities for housework. When Joe left home and went to college, he joined a fraternity and became friends with some members who held rather sexist attitudes toward women's roles. When Joe came home for the summer, his parents were surprised to find that Joe expected his mother to do his laundry and pick up after him. Joe's new attitudes were most likely a function of:

Accepted Answer

Joe's change in attitude towards women's roles can be attributed to conformity processes, specifically social influence from his new fraternity friends who held sexist attitudes. Joe's desire to conform to his new group resulted in his adoption of their attitudes and behavior, which differed from the gender roles he was taught growing up.

Question 16

In a study described in Chapter 7, students gave a lower intensity of shock to black learners than to white ones. Later, the students overheard the learner making derogatory comments about them, and this probably made them angry. When given a chance to shock the learner again, the students:

Accepted Answer

The students likely felt angry and retaliatory after overhearing derogatory comments from the black learner, leading them to administer higher shocks to that learner than to the white one. This is indicative of a phenomenon known as reactive devaluation, where people devalue the ideas or opinions of those they perceive as hostile towards them.

Question 17

Frey and Gaertner's study found that whites were less likely to offer help to black students who requested help if they were told information that ______ their stereotype of African Americans.

Accepted Answer

The study found that whites were less likely to offer help to black students if the information confirmed their stereotype of African Americans, implying that the stereotype had a negative connotation.

Question 18

Thomas Pettigrew reported on coal miners in West Virginia who worked below ground in a completely intergraded environment and a completely segregated one aboveground. He believes the prejudice displayed/or not displayed in this case was due to:

Accepted Answer

The most likely reason for the difference in behavior between the integrated underground environment and segregated aboveground environment is the difference in social norms. The miners may have conformed to the norms of segregation aboveground but followed different norms belowground. This suggests that prejudice is not necessarily due to aberrant personality traits, a culture of honor, or competition for jobs, but instead can be influenced by social norms and the environment.

Question 19

In-group bias is a biological survival mechanism that induces us to favor our own kin or tribe:

Accepted Answer

In-group bias is a tendency to favor one's own group, but it does not inherently cause hatred towards other races. It is a survival mechanism that promotes group cohesion and cooperation.

Question 20

An "authoritarian personality" is closely linked to which of the following dimensions?

Accepted Answer

An authoritarian personality is closely linked to prejudice, which is the tendency to hold negative attitudes or beliefs about members of groups different from one's own. Authoritarian individuals typically have rigid beliefs, a strong desire for obedience to authority, and a tendency to view the world in terms of a hierarchy with themselves at the top. This mindset can lead to prejudice against those perceived as lower in the hierarchy.

Quiz 7: Prejudice