Question 1

What are the two common attribution errors?

Accepted Answer

The two common attribution errors are the fundamental attribution error, where people tend to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when judging others' behavior, and the self-serving bias, where individuals attribute their successes to personal factors and their failures to external factors.

Question 2

When Carrie's students are late, she always says that the tardiness could have been prevented by the student leaving for class earlier. Carrie is committing the ______.

Accepted Answer

Carrie is committing the fundamental attribution error by attributing the students' tardiness to their personal characteristics (e.g., lack of responsibility or poor time management) rather than considering external factors that may have contributed to their lateness.

Question 3

Damon noticed that Elena was not at work today. Damon decided to look at her past behavior to help assess the situation. If Elena tends to be frequently absent, he might ascribe her behavior to being lazy and indifferent. Conversely, if Elena's attendance is usually high, then he would ascribe her absence to external causes, such as illness or an emergency. What factor that influences our internal and external attributes did Damon use?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Damon noticed that Elena was not at...

Question 4

Which attribution error is the tendency to attribute external factors to our own failures more than internal factors?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute our successes to internal or personal factors while attributing failures to external or situational factors. This helps individuals maintain their self-esteem.

Question 5

The effect of a conditioned stimulus is a/an ______.

Accepted Answer

A conditioned stimulus, through the process of classical conditioning, leads to a conditioned response, which is a learned response to the previously neutral stimulus.

Question 6

Stefan noticed that Katherine was not at work today. Stefan decided to look at the other employees' attendance records. If more people in the office are absent on the same days, he might ascribe this behavior to an external attribution, such as stress due to overworking, or a virus or flu that has spread through the office. Conversely, if everyone else has an excellent attendance record, Stefan is more likely to attribute Katherine's absenteeism to internal factors. What factor that influences our internal and external attributes did Stefan use?

Accepted Answer

Stefan used consensus to determine the cause of Katherine's absenteeism. He looked at the attendance records of other employees to see if there was a common pattern of absence, which would suggest an external attribution. If Katherine's absence was unique, it would suggest an internal attribution.

Question 7

Saul is a fisherman in his small village. Skyler, his wife, was tired of him missing dinner. She decided to display a red light on her front porch of the little house by the sea to alert him when dinner was ready. Every time he saw the red light, he felt hungry, and he immediately went home. This is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

The red light, initially a neutral stimulus, became a conditioned stimulus that elicited a conditioned response (feeling hungry) due to its association with dinner time.

Question 8

Which statement below is not an example of internal attributions?

Accepted Answer

Internal attributions are explanations for behavior based on personal, internal characteristics or choices, such as attitudes, personality traits, or effort. B) Sterling having an overwhelming amount of work is not an example of internal attributions because it describes a situation or external factor (amount of work) influencing behavior, rather than an internal characteristic or state.

Question 9

When Noah does well at golf, he credits his focus and tenacity. When Noah scores poorly, he usually blames his caddy for poor advice. Noah is likely guilty of which of the following errors?

Accepted Answer

Noah is demonstrating self-serving bias by attributing positive outcomes to his own qualities (focus and tenacity) and negative outcomes to external factors (his caddy's advice).

Question 10

Leslie noticed that Andy was not at work today. Leslie decided to look at Andy's history of attendance. If Leslie sees that Andy is consistently absent, she could tend to ascribe his absence to internal causes. If Andy's attendance is usually high, then she would regard a day's absence as unusual, therefore ascribing it to external causes. What factor that influences our internal and external attributes did Leslie use?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Leslie noticed that Andy was not at...

Question 11

When looking at classical conditioning, neutral stimulus is also called ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When looking at classical conditioning, neutral stimulus...

Question 12

Which factor below does not influence our internal and external attributions?

Accepted Answer

Dispute is not a recognized factor in attribution theory, which focuses on how we interpret and assign causes to behaviors and events. The key factors that influence our attributions include distinctiveness, consistency, and consensus.

Question 13

Julian recognizes that her sales numbers are low for the month of June. When she asks around, she realizes that everyone has low numbers for the month. This is an example of a high degree of ______.

Accepted Answer

Consensus is indicated when multiple individuals experience the same situation or outcome, such as low sales numbers across a team or group, suggesting an external factor affecting everyone similarly.

Question 14

Which attribution error is the inclination to attribute internal factors to the behavior of others more than external factors?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior.

Question 15

What factor that influences our internal and external attributions listed below looks at how everyone else responds in the same situation?

Accepted Answer

Consensus refers to how other people behave in the same situation. If everyone reacts similarly, we're more likely to attribute behavior to the situation (external attribution) rather than to individual characteristics (internal attribution).

Question 16

What factor that influences our internal and external attributions listed below is the extent to which a person responds in the same way over a period of time?

Accepted Answer

Consistency refers to the extent to which a person responds in the same way over a period of time. If someone consistently behaves in a particular manner, we are more likely to attribute that behavior to their internal dispositions.

Question 17

Which item below is not one of the behavioral interpretations of learning discussed in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

Instrumental theory is not listed as one of the behavioral interpretations of learning in the context provided. Classical conditioning, reinforcement theory, and operant conditioning are commonly recognized behavioral interpretations. Instrumental theory is often considered synonymous with or similar to operant conditioning, but it is not distinctly listed as a separate interpretation in standard texts on the subject.

Question 18

What element below suggests that learning can be accomplished through the use of stimuli?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves learning through association, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a response due to repeated pairing with a stimulus that naturally brings about that response.

Question 19

Francis noticed that Zoe was not producing as many cakes as her coworkers. Zoe explained that she felt her coworkers were getting the best clients. Francis deduced that Zoe's inability to produce as many cakes was due to ______.

Accepted Answer

Zoe attributed her lower production to external factors, specifically the quality of clients assigned to her, which aligns with the concept of external attributions. This means she believes her performance is influenced by factors outside her control, rather than her own abilities or efforts.

Question 20

What factor that influences our internal and external attributions listed below is explained as the extent to which a person behaves consistently in similar situations?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What factor that influences our internal and...

Quiz 3: Perception and Learning