Question 1

Festinger's social comparison theory suggests that we have a drive to assess our opinions and abilities,and that we do this by

Accepted Answer

Festinger's social comparison theory suggests that we assess our opinions and abilities by comparing ourselves to others. This process allows us to evaluate our beliefs and behaviors and determine where we stand in relation to others.

Question 2

Suppose that your roommate is lonely and depressed.Which of the following is NOT good advice?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding people will only exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression. It is important to socialize and connect with others, even if it feels difficult at first. Instead, encourage your roommate to try the other options listed, such as giving positive feedback and trying a physical activity.

Question 3

Franziska,who is generally happy,scored lower than her friend Tanya on a psychology test.Afterward,Franziska likely

Accepted Answer

The answer of Franziska,who is generally happy,scored lower than her...

Question 4

Barry is in training for the Olympics,and wants to compare his workout routine to those of others to see if he is training hard enough.According to social comparison theory,to which of the following is he most likely to compare?

Accepted Answer

According to social comparison theory, individuals are more likely to compare themselves to others who are in a similar situation or context. Therefore, Barry is most likely to compare his workout routine to someone who is in training for the same Olympic event as him (option C). Comparing himself to his brother (option A) or his best friend who is training for a different event (option B) may not be relevant or useful in determining whether he is training hard enough. Comparing himself to his own previous performance (option D) is also a valid option, but may not provide an accurate comparison if he has made significant improvements or changes to his routine.

Question 5

The idea that people desire social interaction for the purpose of obtaining a positive evaluation of themselves is the main tenet of

Accepted Answer

The main tenet of self-evaluation maintenance theory is that people desire social interaction for the purpose of obtaining a positive evaluation of themselves. Social comparison theory focuses on how people compare themselves to others to evaluate their own abilities and attitudes. Balance theory describes the relationship between a person, an object, and another person or object. Affiliation theory explains the motivation behind why people seek social relationships.

Question 6

The sharing of intimate information about oneself to another is known as

Accepted Answer

Self-disclosure refers to sharing intimate information about oneself to another person. This can involve disclosing personal thoughts, feelings, or experiences that may be private or sensitive. Self-disclosure is often an important component of building trust and intimacy in relationships, and can help individuals to better understand and relate to one another.

Question 7

Joann's sister wins a beauty contest.Joann entered many such contests when she was younger,but never won.According to self-evaluation maintenance theory,how is Joann likely to react to her sister's victory?

Accepted Answer

According to self-evaluation maintenance theory, when someone close to us outperforms us in an area that is important to us, we may feel threatened and experience a decrease in our self-esteem. In this case, since Joann's sister won a beauty contest that Joann had previously entered but never won, it is likely that Joann will feel bad about herself and be reminded of her past failure. Option A is incorrect because the theory does not suggest that the success of others necessarily implies that we share in their success. Option C is unclear and does not reflect the principles of the theory. Finally, option D may be a possibility but less likely than option B because the theory suggests that people are more likely to feel threatened by others' successes in areas they care about.

Question 8

What type of person is most likely to selectively transmit positive information to others?

Accepted Answer

Someone with a high need for social approval may selectively transmit positive information to others in order to gain acceptance and approval from their social group. They may also fear negative reactions or rejection if they were to transmit negative information.

Question 9

One intriguing study found that students talking with a confederate tended to like the confederate more if the confederate mimicked the movements of the student.The researchers concluded that

Accepted Answer

The study suggests that mimicking behavior can increase liking and that this effect may operate at a nonverbal and even nonconscious level. This supports the idea that similarity, even if it is not overtly acknowledged or communicated, can have a significant impact on our social interactions. The study does not provide evidence for options A, B, or D.

Question 10

Having good emotional support from parents during college

Accepted Answer

The answer of Having good emotional support from parents during...

Question 11

At times when the situation is uncertain or when information is difficult to obtain,what happens to our desire for social comparison?

Accepted Answer

In uncertain situations or when information is hard to obtain, our desire for social comparison increases because we look to others for cues on how to think, feel, and act. This phenomenon is rooted in social comparison theory, which suggests that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others, especially in situations where objective measures are absent.

Question 12

Imagine that you meet someone in a bar.You find yourself telling this person intimate details about yourself for about a half hour.How are you likely to feel about this person at the end of the conversation?

Accepted Answer

People tend to feel closer to those they self-disclose to, so it's likely that you will feel a sense of closeness to the person after revealing intimate details about yourself.

Question 13

In comparison to the friendships of women,the friendships of men

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that men's friendships are more likely to focus on shared activities or interests, while women's friendships tend to involve more emotional intimacy and self-disclosure. However, this does not necessarily mean that men's friendships are less important or meaningful than women's friendships.

Question 14

According to the study by Kulik and Mahler (1990),with which of the following people would individuals awaiting coronary bypass surgery prefer to share a room?

Accepted Answer

According to the study, individuals awaiting coronary bypass surgery preferred to share a room with someone who is recovering from a bypass operation. This suggests that having a roommate who has already gone through the same experience may provide comfort and support during the recovery process.

Question 15

Kevin tells his friend Tara that her dress looks "interesting." Tara immediately assumes that Kevin thinks she looks terrible and decides to go home and change.Tara is probably

Accepted Answer

Tara's assumption that "interesting" means "terrible" suggests that she may have social anxiety and be overly concerned with how others perceive her. This could lead to a tendency to jump to negative conclusions about herself and others, and a desire to avoid potentially embarrassing situations like wearing an outfit that isn't well-received by others.

Question 16

Relationships between men are more likely to be based on ________,whereas relationships between women are based more on ________.

Accepted Answer

Men's relationships often focus on status-seeking and competition, while women's relationships tend to emphasize emotional support and connection.

Question 17

According to longitudinal research on attachment,infants who are securely attached to their mothers tend to

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research on attachment has consistently shown that infants who are securely attached to their mothers tend to have better social skills and are more competent in handling interpersonal relationships later in life. They are more likely to have positive relationships with their peers and form secure attachments in their adult relationships. They are also more likely to develop a sense of autonomy and independence, as well as have a strong sense of self-esteem and self-worth. Therefore, option D is the correct choice.

Question 18

Festinger's social comparison theory suggests that we have a drive to assess our opinions and abilities,and we prefer to compare ourselves with

Accepted Answer

Festinger's social comparison theory suggests that people tend to compare themselves with similar others in order to evaluate their opinions and abilities. This is because we are more likely to gain accurate feedback and learn from those who are similar to us, rather than people who are vastly different. Comparing oneself to dissimilar others or people who are worse off can lead to inaccurate feedback and potentially harmful social comparison outcomes. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 19

Which of the following is FALSE regarding lonely people?

Accepted Answer

Lonely people often set unrealistically high expectations for others, not low. This can lead to disappointment in social interactions and relationships, exacerbating feelings of loneliness.

Question 20

How is Tal likely to react to the knowledge that Mallory is better than she is in math?

Accepted Answer

Tal's self-esteem is likely to decrease if she values math highly and sees it as central to her identity, and then learns someone is better than she is in that area. This is because people's self-esteem is often tied to their performance in areas they consider important to their self-concept.

Quiz 7: Affiliation and Friendship