Question 1

Consider the following scenario: A person sits quietly during a classroom lecture. Which of the following represents the MOST likely reason that accurate judgment of extraversion might fail?

Accepted Answer

The situation described (sitting quietly during a classroom lecture) is one where the social context and norms typically restrict the display of extraverted behaviors, such as talking and socializing. This makes it difficult to accurately judge someone's level of extraversion based on their behavior in this specific context.

Question 2

Drawing on research described in the text on the effect of acting against one's transparent self, what would be a reasonable prediction about an individual with high social anxiety who was instructed to act comfortable in social situations for a week?

Accepted Answer

Acting against one's transparent self, especially for someone with high social anxiety, requires significant mental effort and can lead to feelings of exhaustion and depletion due to the constant self-monitoring and regulation of behavior.

Question 3

Consider the following scenario: A courageous person rushes into a burning building to save a child. Which of the following represents a likely reason that accurate judgment of this person's courageousness might fail?

Accepted Answer

A judge's eyes being irritated by smoke would prevent them from accurately observing the situation, leading to a failure in judging the person's courageousness.

Question 4

Bijoy is painfully shy at work. As a consequence of his shyness, according to research referenced in the text, he

Accepted Answer

Shy individuals may be less likely to receive help when they ask for it because their shyness can affect their ability to communicate effectively and build rapport with others, making it harder for them to seek and receive support.

Question 5

Introspection would be included as part of the ________ function of the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM).

Accepted Answer

Introspection is part of the utilization function in the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM), as it involves the observer's use of information, including their internal thoughts and feelings, to make judgments about someone's personality.

Question 6

According to a study referenced in the text on personality judgments from close acquaintances (Kolar et al., 1996), acquaintance judgments were more accurate than self-judgments in predicting

Accepted Answer

Acquaintance judgments were found to be more accurate than self-judgments in predicting overt behavior, as they can observe behaviors objectively, unlike self-judgments which can be biased by one's own perceptions and feelings.

Question 7

Consider the following scenario: A child cries for his father to take him to the park while they are at the library. Which of the following represents a likely reason that accurate judgment of the child's extraversion might fail?

Accepted Answer

Important cues for extraversion are not displayed in the situation described.

Question 8

A judge may see a target's behavior, pay attention to the behavior, and use the behavior in his or her judgment about the target's personality. However, for the personality judgment to be accurate, the

Accepted Answer

For a personality judgment to be accurate, the observed behavior must be relevant to the trait being judged. This ensures that the behavior is a valid indicator of the specific personality trait in question.

Question 9

Research from multiple psychological domains has demonstrated that first impressions are

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that first impressions can be surprisingly accurate in judging the Big Five personality traits, which include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Question 10

Imagine that you are at a party, and your best friend introduces you to a guy named David. You and your friend talk to David for an hour, and you both notice the hostile comments that he repeatedly makes about his roommate. Later, you and your friend discuss your impressions of David, and you find that you disagree about him. Your friend thinks that David's comments were just good-natured joking and that he is a nice guy and a pretty funny fellow. You think that his comments were mean-spirited and that he is a hostile person. Your disagreement arises because you and your friend differ in the ________ stage of the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM) of personality judgment.

Accepted Answer

The disagreement arises in the utilization stage, where you and your friend interpret the same behavior differently, leading to different judgments about David's personality.

Question 11

What are the steps in the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM) of personality judgment?

Accepted Answer

The Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM) of personality judgment involves four steps: relevance, availability, detection, and utilization. These steps describe the process by which an observer can accurately judge another person's personality.

Question 12

Which of the following would NOT be considered a route toward improving your self-knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Taking a poll of how others would behave in the situation you are in does not directly contribute to improving self-knowledge, as it focuses on external perspectives and behaviors rather than introspection or feedback about oneself.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons that accuracy matters?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy in personality judgment is important because it affects various aspects of our lives, including job promotions, relationships, and overall well-being. The statement that reputation doesn't matter much for well-being and happiness contradicts the significance of accurate personality judgments, as our reputation and how others perceive us can significantly impact our happiness and success in life.

Question 14

Doug has known Manesh for more than 20 years. Jim has only known Manesh since he joined Jim's department at Acme Advertising Agency two months ago. According to Colvin and Funder's (1991) study of the boundaries on the acquaintanceship effect, if both Doug and Jim are asked to predict how Manesh will behave during a presentation at work next week, whose predictions will be more accurate?

Accepted Answer

Colvin and Funder's (1991) study on the acquaintanceship effect suggests that both long-term acquaintances (like Doug) and people who have known someone for a shorter period but in a specific context (like Jim, in the work context) can make equally accurate predictions about someone's behavior in situations relevant to that context.

Question 15

Broadly speaking, improving the accuracy of personality judgments depends notably on how well everyone is able to

Accepted Answer

Being oneself allows for more authentic and consistent behavior, which can lead to more accurate personality judgments.

Question 16

According to the text, what is one of the reasons accurate self-knowledge is a hallmark of mental health?

Accepted Answer

Accurate self-knowledge allows individuals to understand their strengths and weaknesses, which in turn helps them make decisions that are in line with their capabilities and goals, leading to better life outcomes.

Question 17

Imagine that Sally thinks she can judge Charlie's personality better than Lucy's personality. According to a study referenced in the text on the accuracy of personality judgment (Biesanz et al., 2011), which statement is MOST correct?

Accepted Answer

Sally's belief that she can judge Charlie's personality better than Lucy's suggests a higher level of confidence or familiarity with Charlie, which according to Biesanz et al. (2011), is associated with more accurate personality judgments.

Question 18

After Lenny Skutnik dove in to a freezing river to save a woman in danger of drowning, he rejected the media's assertion that he was a hero and claimed that anyone would have done the same thing. According to Funder, why was it difficult for Lenny to accept that he had behaved heroically?

Accepted Answer

Lenny Skutnik lacked the perspective to judge his own actions against those of others, making it difficult for him to accept that he had behaved heroically.

Question 19

Maria realizes that it is easy for her to talk to people at parties and that she is therefore high in extraversion. To what component of the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM) does this realization speak?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Maria realizes that it is easy for...

Question 20

The degree to which an individual expresses sophistication and creativity when telling a story accurately reflects how ________ he or she is.

Accepted Answer

The degree to which an individual expresses sophistication and creativity in storytelling is indicative of their openness to experience, as this trait encompasses creativity, imagination, and a willingness to explore new ideas.

Quiz 5: Personality Judgment