Question 1

A fixed mindset is the idea that abilities are __________.

Accepted Answer

A fixed mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence are fixed traits that cannot be changed or improved upon. This means that if you have a fixed mindset, you are likely to avoid challenges and feel threatened by failure because you believe that your abilities are finite and cannot be developed or expanded. In contrast, a growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work and effort.

Question 2

According to information presented in the textbook, researchers found that in order to feel more optimistic about their own futures, cancer patients engage in __________.

Accepted Answer

Researchers found that cancer patients engage in downward social comparison in order to feel more optimistic about their own futures. This means they compare themselves to individuals who are worse off than they are, which helps them feel better about their own situation.

Question 3

Complete the following analogy: "practice makes perfect" is to __________ as "born leader" is to __________.

Accepted Answer

"Practice makes perfect" is associated with a growth mindset, as it suggests that through hard work and dedication, one can improve and achieve success. Similarly, "born leader" is associated with a fixed mindset, as it suggests that leadership qualities are inherent and cannot be developed through practice and hard work. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 4

__________ posits that we learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other people.

Accepted Answer

Social comparison theory posits that we learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other people. This includes both upward comparisons (comparing ourselves to those who are better than us) and downward comparisons (comparing ourselves to those who are worse off than us).

Question 5

The mindset that our abilities are malleable qualities that we can cultivate and nurture best describes a __________ mindset.

Accepted Answer

The description of abilities as qualities that can be cultivated and nurtured aligns with the idea of a growth mindset, which emphasizes the belief that our qualities and abilities can improve over time through effort and practice. In contrast, a fixed mindset sees qualities as inherent and unchangeable, which does not fit with this description. The terms intrinsic and overjustified are not relevant to this concept.

Question 6

When there are no objective criteria to measure achievement, people often rely on __________ to evaluate how well they performed.

Accepted Answer

When there are no objective criteria, people often compare themselves to others (social comparison) to evaluate their performance.

Question 7

Mariana wonders whether she has the potential to become a first-rate social psychologist. To assess her potential, she would most likely compare herself to __________.

Accepted Answer

Comparing herself to other psychology majors she knows would provide a realistic benchmark for assessing her potential in the field.

Question 8

In order to gauge whether he had studied long enough for his psychology exam, Markus texted two of his classmates to ask them how long they had spent reviewing material. Markus is engaging in __________.

Accepted Answer

Markus is engaging in social comparison by comparing his own studying time to that of his classmates.

Question 9

A coach wants to motivate his soccer team to score more often by using a reward system. Based on what you read about preserving intrinsic motivation, how is it best for him to reward his team?

Accepted Answer

Performance-contingent rewards are better than task-contingent rewards because they focus on the outcome rather than the completion of the task itself. This can encourage the team to put more effort into scoring and improve their skills, rather than just doing the bare minimum to receive a reward. Negative reinforcement and verbal encouragement can lead to a decrease in intrinsic motivation, as they create a fear of failure or a reliance on external validation.

Question 10

`Which of the following people is engaging in upward social comparison?

Accepted Answer

Toni is engaging in upward social comparison by comparing herself to a highly respected author in order to assess her own writing skills.

Question 11

Shellie has a growth mindset. She has just found out that she did poorly on an exam. Which of the following is she most likely to do?

Accepted Answer

Shellie's growth mindset means that she sees failures and setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve rather than reasons to give up. Therefore, she is most likely to try even harder to succeed on the next exam.

Question 12

Complete the analogy about mindsets: fixed mindset is to __________ as growth mindset is to __________.

Accepted Answer

Fixed mindset refers to the belief that one's skills, abilities, and intelligence are more or less fixed and unchangeable. Therefore, the opposite of a fixed mindset would be a growth mindset, which is the belief that one's skills, abilities, and intelligence can be developed and improved over time through hard work, learning, and persistence. In terms of the given options, the best match for fixed mindset would be "unchangeable" and the best match for growth mindset would be "malleable". Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 13

Kevin just got a low grade on his term paper. If Kevin has a __________ mindset, he would be most likely to give up and reduce his efforts in the class, feeling as though he is just "a bad writer."

Accepted Answer

A fixed mindset is characterized by a belief that one's intelligence and abilities are fixed traits that cannot be developed. Therefore, if Kevin has a fixed mindset, he may see his low grade as evidence that he is just not good at writing, rather than an opportunity to improve his skills. This may cause him to give up and reduce his efforts, as he does not believe that his efforts will lead to improvement.

Question 14

Recall that in a variation of his other work with great apes, Gallup (1997) compared the ability of chimps reared in social groups and chimps reared in isolation to recognize themselves in the mirror. Gallup's results suggest that __________.

Accepted Answer

Gallup's study suggests that social interaction is crucial for the development of a sense of self in chimpanzees. Chimpanzees who were reared in isolation did not show the ability to recognize themselves in the mirror, indicating a less developed sense of self compared to those who were reared in social groups. The study does not address humans' development of a sense of self without social interaction or whether chimpanzees and other great apes engage in social comparison. However, the study does suggest that mirrors can serve as a tool for chimpanzees and other great apes to develop a sense of self as they recognize their own reflection.

Question 15

According to the authors of your text, which of the following is considered crucial to the development of the self-concept?

Accepted Answer

According to the authors of the text, social contact is considered crucial to the development of the self-concept. Through interactions with others, individuals receive feedback on their behavior, attitudes, and abilities, which helps them to form beliefs about themselves and their place in the world. Additionally, social comparison with others can also inform one's self-concept. While introspection, intrinsic motivation, and self-perception may play a role in the development of the self-concept, the authors of the text emphasize the importance of social experiences.

Question 16

Social comparison theory suggests that in order to learn about our own abilities and attitudes, we __________.

Accepted Answer

Social comparison theory suggests that we compare ourselves to others in order to learn about our own abilities and attitudes. By comparing our abilities and attitudes to those of others, we can gain a better sense of where we stand and how we can improve.

Question 17

When there are no objective criteria and we feel uncertain, with whom are we most likely to compare ourselves?

Accepted Answer

When there are no objective criteria and we feel uncertain, we are likely to compare ourselves to those who are similar to us on the relevant dimension. This is because we believe that they are facing the same challenges and obstacles as us, making them a more relevant comparison standard. Comparing ourselves to those who are different or slightly better than us can increase feelings of inadequacy and decrease self-esteem. Choosing anyone who happens to be available as a standard of comparison may not be relevant or meaningful.

Question 18

Athletes like Derek Jeter and Mia Hamm feel that they aren't great athletes, but that they became great through effort and hard work, and that they can continue to grow through effort. What type of mindset does this best exemplify?

Accepted Answer

This mindset is known as a growth mindset, in which individuals believe that they can develop their abilities through effort and perseverance.

Question 19

Jakim just got back his exam in a really hard class. He asks the professor if he can see the grade distribution (how many people got A's, B's, C's, etc.). He wants to see how well he did in relationship to the class. In this case, he is using __________.

Accepted Answer

Jakim is engaging in social comparison by wanting to know how he performed in comparison to his peers. He is not reflecting on his own thoughts or emotions (introspection) or assessing his own behavior or performance (self-reflection or self-awareness).

Question 20

According to research by Dweck, a __________ is more likely to promote success both athletically and academically.

Accepted Answer

Dweck's research suggests that individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to promote success both athletically and academically because they believe that effort and perseverance can lead to improvement and success. On the other hand, individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities are fixed and cannot be changed through effort or practice, and as a result, are less likely to push themselves to improve.

Quiz 5: The Self: Understanding Ourselves in a Social Context