Question 1

________________ is a process by which individuals with certain characteristics are more frequently represented in subsequent generations as a result of being better adapted to their environments.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with certain advantageous traits have a higher likelihood of surviving and reproducing, thus passing on those traits to future generations. This leads to a gradual evolution of species over time, as favorable traits become more prevalent in populations. Sociocultural selection, social-family selection, and kin selection refer to other mechanisms of selection that are not as central to the process of evolution and adaptation in biological populations.

Question 2

Based on research presented in your textbook,which of the following statements is most true concerning the study of attraction?

Accepted Answer

According to research presented in the textbook, married couples are more likely to be similar in terms of their values compared with randomly paired couples. This suggests that people are attracted to those who have similar beliefs and values, rather than the idea that "opposites attract." Option A and B are not supported by the research presented in the textbook.

Question 3

Some of the conclusions drawn by researchers' studies in social psychology may seem obvious.However,as your textbook author points out,many of our common beliefs have been disproven by social psychologists.What is one reason why we may assume that social psychology is common sense?

Accepted Answer

People may assume that social psychology is common sense because the subject matter often deals with familiar and personal topics, and therefore people may feel like they already have a natural understanding of human behavior. However, as the textbook author points out, many common beliefs have been challenged and disproven by social psychology research, highlighting the importance of scientific inquiry and empirical evidence over relying solely on common sense.

Question 4

Matthew interviews for an important job but the company ultimately decides to select someone else for the position.Matthew thinks to himself,"I knew the interview went poorly and I wasn't going to get the job!" Matthew's belief that he knew the outcome all along is an example of what phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias refers to the tendency people have to view past events as more predictable than they actually were. In this case, Matthew is looking back on the interview and thinking that he knew he wouldn't get the job all along, even though this may not be entirely accurate.

Question 5

According to your textbook,the false consensus effect is likely to increase under which of the following situations?

Accepted Answer

The false consensus effect is more likely to increase under situations where differential construal is possible, meaning people can interpret the situation in different ways. This leads to a higher likelihood of assuming that others share the same beliefs and attitudes as oneself. When the situation is very clear or very simple and straightforward, people are less likely to make assumptions about others' beliefs, and when everyone shares the same opinion, there is no need to make such assumptions in the first place.

Question 6

In Asch's class studies on conformity,he had some individuals who were part of the research team provide answers that were incorrect even when the correct answer was obvious.These individuals are known in research as _____________.

Accepted Answer

The individuals in Asch's class studies on conformity who provided incorrect answers even when the correct answer was obvious are known as "confederates".

Question 7

Ruth is taking a social psychology class with a professor who has a reputation of being mean and unhelpful.Ruth notices that the professor will not provide any extensions for late work or provide any extra credit opportunities for students struggling with the coursework.However,Ruth fails to consider that the professor offers review sessions prior to examinations and responds to all email questions within a 24 hour time period.By noticing information that confirms her belief that the professor is unhelpful and ignoring information that disconfirms her belief,Ruth is engaging in what social psychological phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Ruth is engaging in confirmation bias, which involves seeking out information that confirms our preexisting beliefs while disregarding information that contradicts them. This bias can lead us to make inaccurate judgments and decisions.

Question 8

What is argued to be a key theory to many of social psychology's core concepts?

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory is argued to be a key theory to many of social psychology's core concepts. This theory suggests that people learn from observing and imitating others' behaviors, attitudes, and reactions. This concept is applied to many areas of social psychology, including aggression, conformity, and attitude change.

Question 9

A social psychologist argues that people today tend to live in groups and organized societies because it has aided in our ancestors' survival and as such has become commonplace.This illustrates what type of perspective?

Accepted Answer

The statement about people living in groups and organized societies because it has aided in our ancestors' survival refers to the concept of evolution and natural selection. This demonstrates an evolutionary perspective, which focuses on how behaviors and traits have developed over time due to the adaptive value they provide.

Question 10

A parent hits a child for misbehaving and then later on that child hits his sibling for breaking a toy.Assuming the child hit his sibling because he was imitating his parent's behavior,this would be an example of ______________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of observational learning, where the child learned the behavior of hitting from observing their parent and subsequently imitated it.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is most true concerning social psychology's relationship to other disciplines?

Accepted Answer

Social psychology can provide insights into a wide range of research questions related to fields such as economics, sociology, political science, and neuroscience. The interdisciplinary approach is becoming increasingly popular in the field of social psychology, and collaboration with researchers from other disciplines is encouraged. Therefore, the possibilities for interacting with other areas and contributing to their research are abundant. Option A is incorrect because social psychology can help answer research questions that are relevant to people from all walks of life, including economists and business leaders. Option B is incorrect because social psychologists often collaborate with researchers from other disciplines to address research questions that are complex and multifaceted. Option D is incorrect because social psychology examines a wide range of factors that influence human behavior, including individual differences, cognitive processes, and biological factors, in addition to social factors.

Question 12

Joseph sees money fall out of a stranger's pocket and returns it to the rightful owner.He believes it would be dishonorable to keep money that is not his own and assumes that most others share this view.Which of the following may explain why Joseph could be incorrect in his assumption?

Accepted Answer

Joseph assumes that most others share his view on what is honorable and dishonorable. However, he may not be considering that others might have a different idea of what it means to be dishonorable. It is possible that some people may feel it is acceptable to keep money that is not theirs or may have different ideas about honesty and integrity.

Question 13

The tendency to think you knew something would occur all along is known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias, also known as the "I knew it all along" phenomenon, occurs when individuals perceive past events as being more foreseeable than they actually were.

Question 14

____________is an emerging field that integrates the study of physiological mechanisms with social psychological perspectives.

Accepted Answer

Social neuroscience integrates the study of physiological mechanisms with social psychological perspectives. Physiological psychology refers to the biological basis of behavior, whereas social interaction and social perception are subfields of social psychology.

Question 15

Which of the following is used by members of the scientific community to minimize bias and reduce errors?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is a systematic approach used by scientists to minimize bias and reduce errors in their research. It involves the formulation of hypotheses, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and peer review. This helps ensure that scientific findings are reliable, valid, and trustworthy.

Question 16

A researcher wants to conduct a study exploring how college students interact with opposite sex students compared with same sex students.In order to observe these interactions,you instruct individuals who are part of the research team to sit with real research participants and ask themThe students who were placed in the study to play a particular role for a researcher are known as _______________.

Accepted Answer

The individuals who are placed in the study to play a particular role for the researcher are called confederates. They can be actors or any person who participates in the study with the purpose of helping the researcher in collecting data.

Question 17

If you study how students' academic performance is affected by teachers praise and punishment,you would most likely be approaching your research from which of the following perspectives?

Accepted Answer

The social learning perspective emphasizes the importance of observational learning and reinforcement in shaping behavior. In this case, the researcher is studying how praise and punishment from teachers affect students' academic performance, which falls under the domain of behavior and reinforcement. Thus, the social learning perspective would be the most appropriate approach for this research.

Question 18

________________ is defined as an approach to thinking that involves using systematic observations,measurements,and experiments to assess information.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method involves using systematic observations, measurements, and experiments to assess information. Hindsight bias refers to the tendency to overestimate the predictability of an event after it has occurred. Differential construal refers to how people interpret the same information differently based on their own backgrounds and biases. The confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out or interpret information in a way that supports one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Question 19

The social cognitive perspective differs from the social learning perspective in what primary way?

Accepted Answer

The social cognitive perspective emphasizes the role of individual thoughts, whereas the social learning perspective focuses more on the direct influence of the environment on behavior. While both perspectives consider the role of environmental factors, the social cognitive perspective places greater emphasis on the cognitive processes associated with learning and behavior change. This includes how individuals perceive, interpret, and store information about the world around them and use this information to guide their choices and actions.

Question 20

______________ is a perspective that focuses on the physical and biological predispositions that result in human survival.

Accepted Answer

The evolutionary perspective is the perspective that focuses on the physical and biological predispositions that result in human survival, adapting to changing environments and passing on genes to offspring. The sociocultural perspective focuses on the influence of social and cultural factors, the social learning perspective focuses on learning through observation and imitation, and the social cognitive perspective focuses on the role of cognitive processes in behavior.

Quiz 1: What is Social Psychology