Question 1

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the primacy effect?

Accepted Answer

The primacy effect refers to the tendency for initial information we receive about someone to have a stronger influence on our impression of them than later information. This effect can continue to influence later impressions by becoming the framework through which other information is accepted or disregarded. Therefore, option A is the most accurate statement about the primacy effect. Option B is incorrect, as the primacy effect does have a bearing on later information. Option C is incorrect, as the primacy effect has been found to be a robust effect in impression formation. Option D is incorrect, as people generally look for information that confirms their initial impression rather than information that is inconsistent with it.

Question 2

Our overall impression or judgment of another person is influenced more by the first information we receive about the person than by information that comes later. This phenomenon is called the

Accepted Answer

The described phenomenon is known as the primacy effect, where initial information has a stronger influence on our overall impression of someone than information that comes later. The other options are not accurate descriptors of this phenomenon.

Question 3

Social psychology is the area in psychology that focuses on

Accepted Answer

Social psychology is the area in psychology that specifically studies the influence of other people on our emotions, thoughts, and behavior. It looks at how individuals interact with and are influenced by others in various social situations. While human growth and development, inner psychological conflicts, emotion, and motivation can be topics of study in psychology, they are not specific to social psychology.

Question 4

First impressions of others are more positive when one's mood is

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people in positive moods tend to perceive others more positively and react more favorably to them.

Question 5

Attributions try to

Accepted Answer

Attributions are used to explain behavior.

Question 6

Jeff thinks older workers are slow and less reliable. As section manager in the factory, he gives Gus (a man in his early 60s) all the routine, less important, and boring jobs. Gus resents the work assignments he is given and has little motivation to get things done quickly or very well. Jeff sees Gus's slow work habits and tells his friends that Gus proves his belief about older workers is correct. Jeff has engaged in a

Accepted Answer

Jeff's belief about older workers being slow and less reliable is a stereotype. By assigning Gus only routine and boring jobs, Jeff is fulfilling his own belief and reinforcing the stereotype. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, where Jeff's expectations about Gus's work performance influence his behavior toward Gus, which in turn affects Gus's motivation and work performance.

Question 7

The critical aspect of first impressions is that they

Accepted Answer

First impressions act as filters for later information, meaning that our initial perception of someone or something can affect how we interpret and remember subsequent experiences. While they are powerful, first impressions are not necessarily permanent, can be influenced by additional information, and may change over time.

Question 8

Which of the following has been offered as an explanation for the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error occurs when people overemphasize personality-based explanations for behaviors observed in others while underemphasizing the role of situational factors. One reason for this error is that observers are not always aware of every circumstance that might influence behavior, leading them to attribute actions to the person's disposition rather than to situational factors.

Question 9

Geneva may be making the fundamental attribution error when she says that Pauline failed the test because

Accepted Answer

Geneva is attributing Pauline's failure to an internal, stable characteristic (poor study habits) rather than considering external factors that may have contributed to her performance on the test. This is an example of the fundamental attribution error.

Question 10

Which of the following is an accurate description of the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) factors and underestimate situational factors when interpreting others' behavior. Therefore, choice C accurately describes the fundamental attribution error. Choice A is incorrect because it describes self-serving bias, where individuals tend to attribute their own behavior to situational factors rather than dispositional factors. Choice B also acknowledges the importance of situational factors, but it incorrectly suggests that individuals overestimate their impact on others' behavior. Choice D is incorrect because it describes the opposite of the fundamental attribution error, where individuals do not consider situational factors enough when interpreting their own behavior.

Question 11

When you write an accurate letter of recommendation for a friend, which of the following would be most helpful?

Accepted Answer

Listing the most positive aspects first showcases the friend's strengths and accomplishments to the reader, capturing their attention and leaving a strong impression. Placing any negatives farther down in the letter provides context and allows for potential areas of improvement to be mentioned without detracting from the overall positive tone of the letter. Beginning or ending the letter with negative aspects could leave a negative impression on the reader and detract from the friend's qualifications. Therefore, option B is the most helpful approach.

Question 12

Which of the following is a situational (external) attribution?

Accepted Answer

C is a situational (external) attribution because it attributes the cause of the accident to an external factor beyond Poppy's control - the fog. A and B attribute the cause to internal factors (being a poor driver or careless), while D attributes it to a physical limitation of the driver (poor vision), which is also an internal factor.

Question 13

Why do we overemphasize dispositional causes and underemphasize situational causes when we explain the behaviour of other people?

Accepted Answer

We tend to assume that other people's behaviour is consistent, which leads us to focus more on dispositional rather than situational factors when explaining their behaviour. This is known as the fundamental attribution error.

Question 14

You see an attractive person at a party and go over to introduce yourself. The person smiles briefly and nervously, says "Excuse me," and leaves. Which of the following is a dispositional attribution for this behaviour?

Accepted Answer

A dispositional attribution is focused on the individual and their personality traits or characteristics. In this case, option A is the only choice that fits this definition as it suggests that the person's behavior is due to their shyness. Options B, C, and D all focus on external factors rather than the individual's disposition.

Question 15

The fundamental attribution error tells us that when we see Victor spill his water in a restaurant, we are most likely to conclude that it is because

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error suggests that we tend to attribute people's behavior to their personality traits, rather than considering situational factors. In this case, the fact that Victor spilled his water does not necessarily indicate that he is clumsy, but we may be quick to make that assumption based on his behavior. The other choices offer external explanations for Victor's behavior, which are not necessarily affected by the fundamental attribution error.

Question 16

The self-serving bias is a tendency to

Accepted Answer

The self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors (such as our own abilities or efforts) and our failures to external factors (such as bad luck or unfair circumstances). This bias serves to protect our self-esteem and maintain a positive self-image.

Question 17

When we attribute someone's behaviour to a personal trait, motive, or attitude, we are making

Accepted Answer

When we attribute someone's behavior to a personal trait, motive, or attitude, we are making a dispositional attribution. This means we are assuming that their behavior is a reflection of their personality or inherent disposition rather than factors in their environment or situation.

Question 18

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to overestimate the role of traits (or personal factors) and underestimate the role of situations in causing the behavior of others. This means we often assume that someone's behavior is due to their personality traits, rather than considering situational factors that may have influenced their behavior.

Question 19

Horace just received the Gurlman Award for Creativity. It was a very tough competition, and he thought he would not win. During his acceptance speech he stressed how his hard work, special skills, and intelligence made him the winner. He did not thank the design or manufacturing teams who worked on the project with him. What kind of attribution error did Horace probably make during his speech?

Accepted Answer

Horace exhibited the self-serving bias by attributing his success solely to his own hard work, skills, and intelligence while not acknowledging the contributions of others on his team.

Question 20

When we attribute our own or another's behaviour to some external factor rather than to an internal cause, we are making a

Accepted Answer

When we attribute behaviour to external factors rather than internal causes, we are making a situational attribution. Dispositional attribution refers to attributing behaviour to internal causes, while fundamental attribution error is a bias towards making dispositional attributions over situational ones. False attribution is not a recognized term in social psychology.

Quiz 10: Social Psychology