Question 1

Our explanations of our own admirable actions are ________ likely to involve situational attributions than our explanations of our own shameful actions. Our explanations of our own actions performed long ago are ________ likely to involve dispositional attributions than our explanations of our own very recent actions.

Accepted Answer

When explaining our own admirable actions, we are more likely to attribute them to our own character or disposition (dispositional attributions) rather than to the situation. Conversely, we are more inclined to attribute our own shameful actions to the situation (situational attributions) to mitigate personal responsibility. Over time, we are more likely to view our past actions (especially the distant ones) as reflections of our character (dispositional attributions) rather than being influenced by the specific circumstances of the moment.

Question 2

The fundamental attribution error is illustrated in our tendency to underestimate the extent to which others' behavior is influenced by

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to attribute others' behavior to dispositional factors, rather than to situational factors. Option B, assigned roles, is an example of a situational factor that can influence behavior. Therefore, by underestimating the impact of assigned roles, we are demonstrating the fundamental attribution error. Options A, C, and D all refer to dispositional factors and do not accurately illustrate the fundamental attribution error.

Question 3

Freire did very poorly on his last arithmetic test. The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error might lead his sixth-grade teacher to conclude that Freire did poorly because

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize the role of personal characteristics or dispositions in explaining someone's behavior. In this case, the teacher might attribute Freire's poor performance to a lack of motivation, rather than considering other possible factors such as test difficulty or inadequate preparation.

Question 4

Vanna is tempted to shoplift a gold necklace even though she has negative feelings about shoplifting. Vanna is LEAST likely to steal the merchandise if

Accepted Answer

If Vanna easily recalls her negative feelings about shoplifting, this suggests that these feelings are deeply ingrained and may be a result of internalized moral values or personal ethics. This internal source of motivation is likely to be more effective in inhibiting shoplifting behavior than external influences such as crowding, normative social influence, or even recent past behavior.

Question 5

The fundamental attribution error is likely to be restrained by observing someone

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for behavior while underemphasizing situational (external) factors. By observing someone in a variety of situations, we are able to better understand how situational factors may be influencing their behavior, thus potentially restraining our tendency to make dispositional attributions. Observing someone who is unemployed, wealthy, or whom we dislike may not necessarily restrain the fundamental attribution error.

Question 6

Instead of providing arguments in favor of a political candidate,ads may build political support by associating pictures of the candidate with emotion-evoking music and images. This strategy best illustrates

Accepted Answer

This strategy is an example of peripheral route persuasion, which involves appealing to emotions, associations, and superficial characteristics rather than logical arguments and facts. The use of emotion-evoking music and images is an attempt to positively influence people's attitudes towards the candidate without necessarily providing substantial evidence or reasons to support their candidacy.

Question 7

Attitudes are ________ that guide behavior.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes are belief-based feelings towards a particular person, group, or situation that guide behavior. Norms and roles refer to social expectations and standards, while cooperative goals are shared objectives that promote collaboration. Dispositional attributions are explanations for behavior based on personality traits or characteristics.

Question 8

Attribution theory suggests that we tend to attribute others' behavior either to their

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory suggests that we tend to attribute others' behavior to their dispositions (i.e. personality, traits) or their situations (i.e. circumstances, environment). This is also known as the fundamental attribution error, where we tend to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior. Option A is too broad and does not specifically relate to attribution theory. Option B is a false dichotomy and not a part of attribution theory. Option C is not mutually exclusive and does not accurately reflect attribution theory.

Question 9

We have a tendency to explain the behavior of strangers we have observed in only one type of situation in terms of ________ and to explain our own behavior in terms of ________.

Accepted Answer

This reflects the fundamental attribution error, where we attribute others' behaviors to their personality traits and our own behaviors to the situations we are in.

Question 10

A person's behavior is most likely to be consistent with his or her attitudes when

Accepted Answer

When external influences on behavior are minimal, individuals are more likely to behave in a way that is consistent with their attitudes. Other factors, such as social norms, may override the influence of attitudes on behavior.

Question 11

Whether a person exercises regularly is best predicted by his or her attitude about

Accepted Answer

Attitude about exercise is the most directly related to whether or not a person will engage in exercise regularly. While attitude about physical health and sports training may have some influence, they are not as closely tied to the actual act of exercising. Other people's opinions may have some impact, but ultimately it is up to the individual's own attitude towards exercise that determines whether or not they will make it a regular part of their routine.

Question 12

Compared with people from East Asian cultures,those from individualistic Western countries are more likely to demonstrate

Accepted Answer

People from individualistic Western countries are more likely to make dispositional (internal) attributions for behavior, even when situational factors may have played a role. This is known as the fundamental attribution error. In contrast, people from East Asian cultures are more likely to make situational attributions and consider the context in which a behavior occurred.

Question 13

Opinion change resulting from a thoughtful focus on the content of arguments illustrates

Accepted Answer

Central route persuasion occurs when individuals carefully think about and evaluate the content of arguments presented to them. This can result in a change in opinion as a result of being persuaded by the logical and thoughtful content of the argument. Group influence, personal dispositions, and cognitive dissonance are not directly related to a thoughtful focus on argument content.

Question 14

Carol is restless during class because her professor's distressed facial expressions lead her to believe that he dislikes teaching. The professor,on the other hand,is distressed because he sees Carol's restlessness as an indication that she lacks any motivation to learn. At this point,both student and professor should be informed of the dangers of

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when judging others' behavior. In this scenario, both Carol and the professor are making assumptions about each other's internal states based on their behaviors, without considering external factors that might be influencing those behaviors.

Question 15

Poverty and unemployment are likely to be explained in terms of personal dispositions by ________ and in terms of situational influences by ________.

Accepted Answer

Political conservatives are more likely to explain poverty and unemployment in terms of personal dispositions, such as lack of effort or poor decision-making, while political liberals are more inclined to attribute these issues to situational influences, such as economic conditions or systemic inequality.

Question 16

Observing yourself on a videotape is most likely to increase your tendency to attribute your behavior to

Accepted Answer

Observing oneself on a videotape tends to increase one's self-awareness, making it more likely for the individual to attribute their behavior to their own personality traits rather than external factors such as social norms or role-playing.

Question 17

Which branch of psychology is most directly concerned with the study of how people think about,influence,and relate to one another?

Accepted Answer

Social psychology is the branch of psychology that is most directly concerned with how people think, influence, and relate to one another in social situations. It focuses on topics such as conformity, obedience, group dynamics, persuasion, prejudice, and interpersonal relationships.

Question 18

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to underestimate the impact of ________ and to overestimate the impact of ________ in explaining the behavior of others.

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to overestimate the impact of personal dispositions and to underestimate the impact of situational influences in explaining the behavior of others. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

Question 19

The fundamental attribution error is likely to lead observers to attribute a stranger's

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency for people to overemphasize dispositional explanations for behavior (i.e. personality traits) and ignore situational factors. Therefore, attributing an act of kindness to a compassionate personality is an example of the fundamental attribution error.

Question 20

Attribution theory was designed to account for

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory focuses specifically on how people explain (attribute) others' behavior.

Quiz 4: Self-Serving Bias