Question 1

When buying groceries, many shoppers prefer certain products simply because they have a familiar brand name. This preference best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The mere exposure effect refers to the tendency for people to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them. In the case of buying groceries, shoppers may prefer certain products based on the brand name that they have been exposed to over time. The preference for familiar brand names is a clear example of the mere exposure effect, which refers to the phenomenon of people developing a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them.

Question 2

Participants in Milgram's obedience experiments were informed that they were involved in a study of

Accepted Answer

Participants in Milgram's obedience experiments were shown as being involved in a study of learning. The study involved the participants following orders from an authoritative figure, which was supposed to help in studying how people learn under instruction. Milgram's obedience experiments were framed as a study of learning, specifically how punishment affected learning and memory retention. However, the actual focus of the experiments was on obedience to authority and the willingness of participants to administer increasing levels of electric shocks to a supposed learner in the presence of an authoritative figure.

Question 3

An example of self-serving bias described in the text is the tendency of people to

Accepted Answer

The answer of An example of self-serving bias described in...

Question 4

In studying personality, a social-cognitive theorist would most likely make use of

Accepted Answer

Social-cognitive theorists believe that personality is formed through an interaction between the individual's environment and their personal cognitive processes. Therefore, observing behavior in different situations is the most effective way to understand an individual's personality in this perspective. Personality inventories and factor analyses focus more on identifying traits and measuring them through self-report, while projective tests rely too heavily on interpreting ambiguous stimuli. Social-cognitive theory emphasizes the importance of observing behavior in different situations in order to understand an individual's personality. This approach focuses on how people perceive and interpret events in their environment and how these perceptions and interpretations shape their behavior. Personality inventories and factor analyses are more commonly used in trait theory, while projective tests are typically associated with psychoanalytic theory.

Question 5

When visiting the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shortly after World War II, one German civilian was said to have remarked, "What terrible criminals these prisoners must have been to receive such treatment." This reaction is best explained in terms of

Accepted Answer

The German civilian's reaction reflects the just-world phenomenon, which is the belief that individuals get what they deserve in life and therefore bad things happen to bad people. This phenomenon serves as a way to justify and rationalize injustices and negative outcomes, such as the treatment of prisoners in concentration camps. The German civilian's comment reflects the just-world phenomenon, which is the tendency to believe that people get what they deserve in life. The civilian likely believed that the prisoners must have done something to deserve their horrific treatment, rather than questioning the inhumane actions of those in power.

Question 6

Research on the Big Five personality factors provides evidence that

Accepted Answer

Research on the Big Five personality factors shows that certain traits, such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, tend to increase with age, while others, like openness, may decrease.

Question 7

Mr. Hughes heard what sounded like cries for help from a swimmer located 30 yards from the ocean shoreline. He continued walking along the beach, however, because he figured that one of the many swimmers in the vicinity would provide help if it was needed. His reaction best illustrates the dynamics involved in

Accepted Answer

Mr. Hughes' behavior is an example of the bystander effect, which is the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present. This is because people assume that someone else will take responsibility for helping, thereby diffusing responsibility among the group. The situation described is a classic example of the bystander effect, in which individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency when other people are present because of a diffusion of responsibility. Mr. Hughes assumed that someone else would provide help, leading to a lack of action.

Question 8

When a group of racially prejudiced high school students discussed racial issues, their attitudes became even more prejudiced. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon where the attitudes and beliefs of a group of like-minded individuals become more extreme after participating in group discussions or interactions. In this scenario, the racially prejudiced high school students are engaging in a discussion about racial issues, which could lead to their attitudes becoming more prejudiced due to the reinforcement of their pre-existing beliefs within the group. Group polarization occurs when individuals within a group have similar attitudes and opinions, and the group discussion further strengthens those attitudes and opinions to become more extreme. In this scenario, the racially prejudiced high school students discussed racial issues and their attitudes became even more prejudiced, which is an example of group polarization. The other options do not explain this phenomenon. The bystander effect refers to the tendency of individuals to not take action or intervene in a situation when others are present. Social facilitation refers to the phenomenon where an individual's performance is improved when they are in the presence of others. Deindividuation refers to a loss of individual identity and the tendency to engage in impulsive or deviant behavior in a group setting.

Question 9

Kelly, a Republican, and Carlos, a Democrat, both believe that members of their own political party are more fair-minded and trustworthy than members of other parties. Their beliefs best illustrate

Accepted Answer

Kelly and Carlos' belief that their own political party members are more fair-minded and trustworthy than members of other parties is an example of ingroup bias, which is the tendency to have positive attitudes and behavior towards people who belong to the same group or category as oneself. Kelly and Carlos' belief that their own political party members are more fair-minded and trustworthy than members of other parties is an example of ingroup bias. Ingroup bias refers to the tendency to favor one's own group over others, and is a common aspect of group psychology.

Question 10

According to Freud, ________ is the process by which children incorporate their parents' values into their ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, identification is the process by which children incorporate their parents' values into their superegos, the part of the psyche that represents internalized ideals and standards for moral behavior. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect as reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which an individual expresses and behaves in an opposite manner from their true feelings. Option B is also incorrect as it suggests that parents' values are incorporated into the ego, which is the part of the psyche that deals with reality testing and decision-making. Option D is incorrect as it specifies that parents' values are incorporated into the egos, which is incomplete information in terms of Freudian theory. According to Freud, the process by which children incorporate their parents' values into their superegos is called identification. option A and B are incorrect because reaction formation refers to the process of transforming unacceptable impulses or wishes into their opposite. Option D is incorrect because the values are incorporated into the superego, not the ego.

Question 11

Max fails to recycle his glass, metal, and plastic garbage because he thinks it's personally inconvenient and likely to have minimal impact on the city's already overflowing landfills. His reaction best illustrates the dynamics of

Accepted Answer

Max's behavior reflects a social trap, where individuals are caught in a situation where their personal interests conflict with the collective good, resulting in a negative outcome for everyone. Max's failure to recycle may seem insignificant individually but has a cumulative effect on the environment and contributes to the city's landfill problem. Max's behavior exemplifies a social trap, which occurs when individuals act in their own self-interest rather than the collective interest, leading to negative outcomes for the group as a whole. In this case, Max's failure to recycle contributes to an already overflowing landfill, which negatively impacts the community's environment and health.

Question 12

Seligman has found that humans and animals who are exposed to aversive events they cannot escape may develop

Accepted Answer

Seligman's research on learned helplessness showed that when beings are exposed to aversive events they cannot escape, they may develop learned helplessness, which is characterized by a belief that one has no control over the situation and a consequent lack of attempt to escape or avoid the aversive stimulus. Seligman's research has shown that exposure to aversive events that cannot be escaped can lead to learned helplessness, which is a state in which an individual feels that they have no control over their environment and may give up trying to change their situation.

Question 13

Marilyn judges her professor's strict class attendance policy to be an indication of his overcontrolling personality rather than a necessity dictated by the limited number of class sessions in a course that meets only once a week. Her judgment best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Marilyn's judgment is an example of the fundamental attribution error, which involves underestimating situational factors and overemphasizing dispositional factors (such as personality traits) as the cause of behavior. Marilyn assumes that the professor's attendance policy is due to his overcontrolling personality when it may actually be necessary due to the limited number of class sessions. The scenario involves Marilyn making an assumption about her professor's personality based on a specific behavior (strict class attendance policy). This is an example of the fundamental attribution error, which refers to our tendency to overemphasize dispositional (personality based) explanations for other people's behavior instead of considering situational factors. Marilyn is overlooking the possibility that the attendance policy is a necessary requirement due to the limited class sessions, instead preferring to assume it reflects her professor's controlling nature.

Question 14

In promoting personality growth, the person-centered perspective emphasizes all but

Accepted Answer

The person-centered perspective emphasizes empathy, acceptance, and genuineness as key factors in promoting personality growth, but it does not specifically emphasize altruism. Altruism is more closely associated with the humanistic perspective, which is related to, but distinct from, the person-centered perspective. The person-centered perspective emphasizes empathy, acceptance, and genuineness as key factors in promoting personality growth, but it does not specifically emphasize altruism.

Question 15

Which theory best explains why the excitement that lingers after a frightening event can facilitate passionate love?

Accepted Answer

The two-factor theory suggests that physiological arousal from a frightening event can be labeled as excitement, which can then be misattributed as passion towards a romantic partner who was present during the event. Therefore, the excitement from the frightening event can enhance passionate love. The two-factor theory suggests that physiological arousal and cognitive label combine to create emotions. In the context of passionate love, the physiological arousal caused by the excitement of a frightening event is mistakenly attributed to the presence of the romantic partner, leading to increased feelings of passion and attraction.

Question 16

The Big Five personality factors are

Accepted Answer

The Big Five personality factors are emotional stability, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Option A has incorrect factors such as sociability and locus of control which are not part of the Big Five. Option B has emotional stability listed twice and includes sensitivity which is not a Big Five factor. Option C has gregariousness and impulsiveness which are not part of the Big Five.

Question 17

The hostilities between two racial subgroups of a riverfront community were dramatically reduced when the threat of their river flooding its banks required that they work together to save their town. This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes how the two racial subgroups had to work together towards a common goal, which was to save their town from the threat of flooding. This exemplifies the concept of superordinate goals, which refers to shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation. The focus on the common goal reduces intergroup hostilities and promotes positive intergroup relations. Superordinate goals refer to goals that require the cooperation of different groups who may have conflicting interests. In this scenario, the threat of the river flooding created a superordinate goal that required both racial subgroups to work together to save their town, resulting in a reduction of hostilities between them.

Question 18

Research has shown that individuals who are made to feel insecure are subsequently

Accepted Answer

Research has found that when individuals feel insecure, they become more critical of others as a way to boost their own self-esteem and feel better about themselves. Research has found that individuals who feel insecure or uncertain are more likely to engage in negative social behaviors, including being more critical of others. This is likely due to a need to feel more powerful or in control.

Question 19

According to Freud's theory, personality arises in response to conflicts between

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's theory, personality arises in response to conflicts between our biological impulses and the social restraints against them. Freud believed that our personality is shaped by the tension between our unconscious, primitive, and aggressive impulses (id) and our conscious efforts to adhere to societal norms and values (ego). These conflicts can lead to the use of defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety and protect our self-esteem. Freud believed that personality arises from conflicts between our biological impulses (referred to as the id) and the social restraints against them (referred to as the superego). The ego acts as a mediator between the two, with the ultimate goal of finding a balance between our primitive desires and societal norms. This is the basis of his psychoanalytic theory of personality.

Question 20

A major difference between the psychoanalytic and trait perspectives is that

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences, particularly sexuality, as the roots of personality, while trait theory focuses on identifying and measuring individual personality characteristics without delving into their origins or underlying dynamics.

Quiz 14: Stress and Health