Question 1

During wars, which of the following provides a degree of emotional insulation that makes it easier for soldiers to harm other humans, while also making terrorism, torture, murder, and genocide possible?

Accepted Answer

Dehumanization is the psychological process of demonizing the enemy, making them seem less human and hence not worthy of humane treatment. This process can make it easier for soldiers to harm others without the normal moral and ethical considerations that would apply if they saw their opponents as fully human. It also underlies the psychological mechanisms that make terrorism, torture, murder, and genocide possible, as it removes the usual empathetic responses that would prevent such actions.

Question 2

Persons at both ends of the political spectrum who are subject to rigid and intolerant thinking and who show an unwarranted certainty in matters of belief or opinion would be described as being

Accepted Answer

Dogmatic individuals are characterized by a strong adherence to specific beliefs or doctrines, often without consideration of evidence or opposing views, which aligns with the description of showing unwarranted certainty and intolerance in matters of belief or opinion.

Question 3

If you agree that "people can be divided into the weak and the strong," or that "If people talked less and worked more, everybody would be better off," your personality would be described as

Accepted Answer

These statements reflect a belief in strict social hierarchies and the value of hard work and discipline, which are characteristics associated with authoritarian personalities. Authoritarian personalities tend to favor obedience and conformity over personal freedom.

Question 4

Social stereotypes can best be described as

Accepted Answer

Social stereotypes are oversimplified generalizations about the traits of members of a particular social group, often ignoring individual differences within those groups.

Question 5

Shared beliefs that tend to trigger hostility between groups include all of the following EXCEPT believing that

Accepted Answer

Believing that solutions can be reached through cooperation and compromise is not a belief that triggers hostility between groups. Instead, it suggests a positive approach towards resolving differences and conflicts, contrasting with the other options that highlight negative perceptions and hostility triggers.

Question 6

Oversimplified images of the traits of people who belong to a particular social group are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Social stereotypes are oversimplified generalizations about the traits of members of a particular social group, often ignoring individual differences within the group.

Question 7

When people see Brenda's red hair, they assume she is high-strung, temperamental, and of Irish descent. This oversimplified view of Brenda is an example of a

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a social stereotype, which is an oversimplified generalization about a group of people based on certain traits, such as hair color, without considering individual differences.

Question 8

Common triggers for hostility between groups involve shared beliefs concerning

Accepted Answer

All of these factors—superiority, injustice and vulnerability, and distrust—are common triggers for hostility between groups. These elements often contribute to intergroup conflict by fostering negative perceptions and attitudes towards the out-group.

Question 9

Assuming that "all only children are selfish" is an example of a

Accepted Answer

This statement is a social stereotype because it generalizes a trait (selfishness) to all individuals of a specific group (only children) without considering individual differences.

Question 10

Whenever Keith discusses current events with his classmates, he tends to be overly certain in his opinions and intolerant of anyone else's opinion. Even when evidence contradicts him, Keith finds it difficult to change his beliefs. Keith would be described as exhibiting

Accepted Answer

Keith's behavior of being overly certain in his opinions, intolerant of others' opinions, and difficulty in changing his beliefs despite contradictory evidence is characteristic of dogmatism. Dogmatism involves a strong set of beliefs that are not easily changed, even in the face of conflicting information.

Question 11

Mary, who is a teacher, believes that "all teenagers are irresponsible," while Greg, her teenage student, believes that "all teachers are mean." Both have revealed which of the following regarding others?

Accepted Answer

Both Mary and Greg are expressing social stereotypes, which are oversimplified generalizations about a group of people without considering individual differences.

Question 12

Regarding dehumanization, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Dehumanization is the process of depriving a person or group of positive human qualities, making them seem less human. Stereotype threat, however, refers to the risk of confirming negative stereotypes about an individual's racial, ethnic, gender, or cultural group, which is a different concept not directly used to accomplish dehumanization.

Question 13

During times of war, social stereotypes can become oversimplified to the point that it makes it seem that the opposing group deserves hatred and even death. This process is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Dehumanizing is the process where people are denied their humanity and moral consideration, often seen in contexts of war or conflict, making it easier to justify hatred or violence against them.

Question 14

In addition to hostile beliefs about other groups, intergroup conflicts are almost always amplified and even justified by

Accepted Answer

Stereotyped images of the out-group often amplify and justify intergroup conflicts by promoting negative and oversimplified generalizations, which can lead to misunderstanding and hostility.

Question 15

Regarding group membership and intergroup conflict, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Group membership typically increases contact and interaction within the group rather than with people of other groups, which can sometimes lead to in-group favoritism and out-group negativity.

Question 16

A universal characteristic of stereotypes is

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes involve oversimplification of characteristics to a group, ignoring individual differences and complexities.

Question 17

People with which personality would be more likely to call for severe punishment in schools when they feel threatened, such as when the economy is bad and job insecurities are high?

Accepted Answer

Authoritarian personalities tend to favor strict discipline and harsh punishments, especially in times of uncertainty or threat, as a way to maintain order and security.

Question 18

When a prejudiced person agrees that a particular ethnic group is both "ignorant" and "sly" and that they are both "pushy" and "standoffish," this illustrates that the stereotypes of prejudiced persons tend to be

Accepted Answer

These stereotypes are contradictory, showing an irrational viewpoint rather than a balanced or realistic understanding of the ethnic group in question. This irrationality is a common characteristic of prejudiced stereotypes, which often lack logical consistency.

Question 19

When members of one group dehumanize the members of another group, this

Accepted Answer

Dehumanization allows individuals to emotionally distance themselves from the humanity of others, making it psychologically easier to harm or mistreat them without feeling empathy or guilt.

Question 20

Vinnie is a sportswriter, who believes that black basketball players are naturally superior in athletic ability, while the white players are smarter and harder working than black players. Vinnie's false beliefs are common in sports and are examples of

Accepted Answer

These beliefs are examples of social stereotypes, which are oversimplified generalizations about groups of people that ignore individual differences within those groups.

Quiz 17: Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior