Question 1

Sally and Neil have been married for 15 years.They have an extremely warm and trusting relationship, and even though Neil frequently travels on business, Sally never worries about him seeing other women.According to Hatfield and Berscheid, Sally and Neil share

Accepted Answer

Sally and Neil's relationship is described as being warm and trusting, which are characteristics of companionate love. There is no mention of intense feelings of passion or consummate love, which makes options C and D less likely choices. Reciprocal love is a general term that doesn't fully capture the specific nature of Sally and Neil's relationship.

Question 2

Similarity of personal characteristics is influential in

Accepted Answer

Similarity of personal characteristics has been shown to be influential in both romantic relationships and friendships. Research suggests that people tend to be attracted to and form close relationships with individuals who possess similar attitudes, beliefs, and values as themselves. This similarity creates a sense of familiarity and comfort in the relationship, as well as providing a sense of validation and reinforcement for one's own beliefs and values.

Question 3

Actors and observers tend to give different explanations for the same instance of behaviour because

Accepted Answer

Situational pressures may not be readily apparent to an observer, leading to differences in explanations between actors and observers. Actors have inside knowledge of their own thoughts and feelings, while observers may lack context or be influenced by their own biases.

Question 4

What is the main reason we tend to make attributions about the causes of events, others' behaviour, and our own behaviour?

Accepted Answer

We tend to make attributions about the causes of events, others' behaviour, and our own behaviour because we have a strong need to understand our experiences. This need for understanding is related to our desire for predictability and control over our environment. Making attributions helps us to make sense of the world around us and to feel a sense of agency in our lives.

Question 5

Joe has been calling Jill each evening and talking with her every day at lunch, but now he is deeply despondent because she is out of town.Joe is in the throes of

Accepted Answer

Joe's behavior of calling Jill every evening and talking to her every day at lunch suggests that he may be experiencing passionate love. His despondency at her absence further supports this idea. Passionate love is characterized by strong physical and emotional attraction, as well as a desire for union with the other person.

Question 6

The idea that males and females of approximately equal physical attractiveness are likely to select each other as partners refers to the

Accepted Answer

The idea described in the question is known as the matching hypothesis, which suggests that people tend to form romantic relationships with others who are of similar physical attractiveness.

Question 7

Putting group goals ahead of personal goals and defining one's identity in terms of the group is called

Accepted Answer

Collectivism is the belief that the group's goals and values are more important than individual goals and values. It involves defining one's identity in terms of the group and prioritizing the needs of the group above one's own needs. Functionalism is a theoretical approach in sociology that emphasizes the ways in which various parts of society contribute to its overall functioning. Individualism is the opposite of collectivism, placing greater value on individual goals and identities. Attributionism is not a recognized term in psychology or sociology.

Question 8

The tendency to attribute other people's behaviour to internal factors and our own behaviour to situational influences is known as

Accepted Answer

The actor-observer bias describes the tendency to attribute other people's actions to their character or personality (internal factors) while attributing our own actions to the situation or environment (external factors). This bias highlights a difference in how we explain behaviors depending on whether we are the actor or the observer.

Question 9

In the research on romantic attraction which of the following did researchers discover to be the key determinant of a person's initial attraction to someone else?

Accepted Answer

Researchers have found that physical attractiveness is the key determinant of a person's initial attraction to someone else. Physical attractiveness is often assessed based on factors such as facial symmetry, body shape, and overall appearance. While similarity, reciprocity, and attributional style can also play a role in romantic attraction, they are not as consistently found to be the primary determinant as physical attractiveness.

Question 10

An actor tends to attribute the cause of his behaviours differently than observers, in large part, because an actor has

Accepted Answer

Actors have more knowledge regarding situational factors because they are personally involved in the situation and have access to more specific information. They may not be aware of their own personality traits and how they influence their behaviour, which is why observers may attribute their behaviour more to personality than to situational factors.

Question 11

Although physical attractiveness strongly influences interpersonal attraction, many individuals of average and below average attractiveness are involved in long-term relationships.This apparent paradox is BEST explained by the

Accepted Answer

The matching hypothesis explains that individuals tend to seek partners who are similar in levels of attractiveness to themselves, rather than only seeking the most physically attractive partners. This can result in individuals of average or below average attractiveness being involved in long-term relationships with similarly attractive partners.

Question 12

Romantic relationships characterised by a couple's complete absorption in one another, and that include strong emotions and tender sexual feelings are termed

Accepted Answer

Passionate love is characterised by intense emotions, strong sexual feelings and complete absorption in one another. It is often described as a "spark" or an intense attraction towards another person. It typically occurs in the early stages of a romantic relationship.

Question 13

Putting personal goals ahead of group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Individualism is a cultural orientation that emphasizes personal goals, individual freedom and autonomy, and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes. It places a high value on self-reliance and self-expression, and sees individuals as responsible for their own success and well-being. This is in contrast to collectivism, which emphasizes group goals, interdependence, and defining one's identity in terms of the social roles and relationships within the group.

Question 14

Compared with attractive people, less attractive people

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that less attractive people tend to place less emphasis on physical attractiveness when seeking partners, whereas more attractive people place higher importance on physical appearance in their partner. Less attractive people may also have lower expectations for the level of attractiveness in their partner, leading them to not be as concerned with their own attractiveness in the relationship.

Question 15

Whenever Scott sees Diana he can feel his heart start to pound with excitement.Even though Scott and Diana have only dated a few times, Scott often becomes jealous when Diana talks to other men.He also finds he can't get her out of his mind when they are apart.According to Hatfield and Berscheid, Scott is experiencing

Accepted Answer

Scott's feelings of excitement, jealousy, and obsession are characteristic of passionate love, which is characterized by intense feelings of attraction, arousal, and emotional bonds in the early stages of a romantic relationship. Companionate love is marked by affection, trust, and deep intimacy, typically experienced in long-term relationships. Consummate love is the ideal combination of passion, intimacy, and commitment that represents the highest form of love. Reciprocal love refers to the mutual exchange of love and affection between two individuals.

Question 16

Observers tend to attribute actors' behaviour to ____ factors and actors tend to attribute their own behaviour to ____ factors.

Accepted Answer

Observers often attribute the behavior of others to internal or personal factors (a phenomenon known as the fundamental attribution error), while actors (those engaging in the behavior) are more likely to attribute their own behavior to external or situational factors.

Question 17

Steve and Stacey have been a couple for several years.Their love is characterised by warm feelings and affection.They enjoy spending time together and describe themselves as lovers and friends.Steve and Stacey's love is best described as

Accepted Answer

Steve and Stacey's love is characterized by warm feelings and affection, and they enjoy spending time together, which suggests a deep emotional bond based on companionship and mutual support. This is the hallmark of companionate love, which typically develops over time as couples progress from the initial excitement and passion of romantic love to a more stable, enduring form of attachment. Attaché love is usually characterized by intense passion and strong physical attraction, which is not evident in Steve and Stacey's relationship. Mature love and passionate love can share some similarities with companionate love, but their defining characteristics differ significantly. Mature love tends to emphasize shared values and mutual understanding, while passionate love is marked by intense emotional experiences and a feeling of being consumed by desire.

Question 18

When Darren's classmate earns a "D" on an for their history class, Darren figures the classmate is unmotivated and should have spent more time working on the paper and less time socialising.The classmate is disappointed with her grade, but she knows she didn't have much time to work on the because she had to work double-shifts the entire week before the paper was due.The different attributions for the low grade on the illustrate

Accepted Answer

The different attributions for the low grade demonstrate the actor-observer bias, which is the tendency to attribute our own behavior to external factors and other people's behavior to internal factors. Darren attributes his classmate's low grade to her lack of motivation, whereas the classmate attributes it to her external circumstances (having to work double-shifts).

Question 19

Cross-cultural studies on mate preferences find that people all over the world value all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural studies have consistently found that people all over the world value kindness, intelligence, and good health as important traits in a mate. However, the importance of passion or physical attractiveness can vary across cultural contexts. Therefore, option D - passion - is the correct answer as it is not consistently valued across cultures.

Question 20

You are likely to attribute your own failing grade on a test to ____; your roommate is more likely to attribute your failing grade to ____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the fundamental attribution error and self-serving bias. People tend to attribute their own failures to external factors (an unfair test) and others' failures to internal factors (poor study habits).

Quiz 13: Social Psychology