Question 1

If the chairperson of the Federal Reserve predicts that inflation will continue, you might interpret this prediction as credible and accurate. This is an example of which influence on interpreting information?
A) ingrouper
B) openness
C) punctuation
D) salience
E) schemata

Accepted Answer

This is an example of schemata, which refers to the mental structures we use to organize and interpret information based on our knowledge and past experiences. In this case, the chairperson's position and expertise on economic matters would lead one to interpret their prediction about inflation within the framework of understanding economic indicators and trust in their authority.

Question 2

You know your romantic partner is online, but he or she has not responded to your instant message, so you assume he or she is losing interest in you. What kind of attribution are you making?
A) internal attribution
B) external attribution
C) true perception
D) actor-observer effect
E) none of the options is correct

Accepted Answer

You are making an internal attribution by attributing your partner's lack of response to something about them (e.g., losing interest), rather than considering external factors (e.g., they might be busy).

Question 3

When we perceive and judge others, we commonly
A) form a negative Gestalt.
B) feel secure in our initial interactions.
C) attribute their behavior to internal, personal causes.
D) judge them more positively than we do ourselves.
E) none of the options is correct

Accepted Answer

When we perceive and judge others, we often attribute their behavior to internal, personal causes, a tendency known as the fundamental attribution error. This means we are more likely to explain someone's actions based on their character or personality, rather than considering external factors that might influence their behavior.

Question 4

If you yell at your roommate and later explain that your behavior was related to stress at work, what type of error are you making?
A) fundamental attribution error
B) internal attribution
C) self-serving bias
D) actor-observer effect
E) none of the options is correct

Accepted Answer

The actor-observer effect describes a tendency to attribute one's own actions to external causes while attributing others' actions to internal causes. In this scenario, explaining your yelling as a result of stress at work is attributing your behavior to an external situation, which aligns with the actor-observer effect.

Question 5

If Marcus won a bet by predicting the point spread for the Super Bowl and claimed it was due to his understanding of probability and statistics, what attribution is he making?
A) fundamental attribution error
B) external attribution
C) self-serving bias
D) actor-observer effect
E) none of the options is correct

Accepted Answer

Marcus is attributing his success to his own knowledge and abilities, which is an example of self-serving bias. This bias leads individuals to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors (like their own skills or effort) and negative outcomes to external factors (like luck or the actions of others).

Question 6

According to Uncertainty Reduction Theory, which of the following is a primary goal of initial interaction?
A) reduce uncertainty
B) explain behavior
C) predict behavior
D) help anticipate how others will respond to us
E) all of the options are correct

Accepted Answer

Uncertainty Reduction Theory posits that a primary goal of initial interactions is to reduce uncertainty about others by gathering information, which in turn helps explain behavior, predict future behavior, and anticipate how others will respond to us. Thus, all the options listed are correct in the context of this theory.

Question 7

Which of the following is an active strategy for reducing uncertainty regarding a person's behavior?
A) observing the person
B) asking questions of the person
C) disclosing personal information to the person
D) stalking the person
E) third-person questioning

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an active...

Question 8

Which of the following are methods used for reducing uncertainty in our initial interactions with others?
A) passive strategies
B) active strategies
C) interactive strategies
D) observing and learning about how someone acts in social settings
E) all of the options are correct

Accepted Answer

Passive strategies involve observing someone in their natural environment without interacting, active strategies involve seeking information from others or manipulating the environment to learn about the person, and interactive strategies involve direct interaction with the person. Observing and learning about how someone acts in social settings is an example of a passive strategy, which is included in the broader categories mentioned. Therefore, all options are correct methods for reducing uncertainty in initial interactions.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of salient communication?
A) It is visually and audibly stimulating.
B) It is consistent with our goals and is seen as important.
C) It deviates from our expectations.
D) It is predictable.
E) all of the options are correct

Accepted Answer

Salient communication is characterized by being stimulating, goal-consistent, and unexpected, but not predictable. Predictability does not make communication salient.

Question 10

Which of the following describes an ingrouper?
A) someone who shares similar values to you
B) someone who shares similar attitudes to you
C) someone who shares similar beliefs to you
D) someone whom you perceive as similar to you
E) all of the options are correct

Accepted Answer

An ingrouper is someone whom you perceive as similar to you in various aspects, including values, attitudes, and beliefs. This perception of similarity can encompass a wide range of shared characteristics, making all the options correct descriptions of ingroupers.

Question 11

Which of the following conclusions can be made about gender differences?
A) Women and men are substantially similar.
B) Women and men are substantially dissimilar.
C) Women and men are essentially similar and respond similarly.
D) Women use indirect language, whereas men use direct language.
E) none of the options is correct

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following conclusions can be...

Question 12

Characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and acting constitute
A) an interpersonal impression.
B) implicit personality theory.
C) an algebraic impression.
D) schemata.
E) personality.

Accepted Answer

Personality refers to the characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that are consistent over time and across situations.

Question 13

Psychologists define five primary personality traits. Which of the following is NOT part of their "Big Five"?
A) agreeableness
B) openness
C) extraversion
D) introversion
E) neuroticism

Accepted Answer

Introversion is not part of the Big Five personality traits; instead, its counterpart, extraversion, is one of the five. The Big Five consists of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT part of the interpretation phase of the perception process?
A) salience
B) schemata
C) attributions
D) self-serving bias
E) actor-observer effect

Accepted Answer

Salience is part of the selection phase of the perception process, not the interpretation phase. Interpretation involves using information and understanding to make sense of something, which includes schemata, attributions, self-serving bias, and the actor-observer effect.

Question 15

Leslie likes Jon because he has an extraverted, engaging, and humorous personality. When Leslie's friend tells her that Jon can be very impatient and demonstrates road rage on a daily basis, Leslie refuses to believe her. What perceptual problem is Leslie demonstrating?
A) fundamental attribution error
B) self-serving bias
C) actor-observer effect
D) horn effect
E) halo effect

Accepted Answer

Leslie is demonstrating the halo effect, where an overall impression of a person (in this case, positive) influences how we feel and think about their character. Because Leslie likes Jon's extraverted and humorous personality, she overlooks or refuses to believe negative information about him, such as his impatience and road rage.

Question 16

Paul thinks that Professor Lee is a poor instructor and finds her class too challenging. After spending hours revising a paper, he tells a friend that the class requires too much time. What perceptual process is affecting Paul?
A) horn effect
B) halo effect
C) actor-observer effect
D) consistency effect
E) self-serving bias

Accepted Answer

The horn effect is influencing Paul's perception. This cognitive bias leads him to view Professor Lee and her class negatively based on one aspect of his experience, in this case, the challenging nature of the class. This negative perception then colors his overall view of the instructor and her course.

Question 17

Ellen communicates well with her partner Carmen. When they experience miscommunication, Ellen is able to ask her partner questions to clarify her understanding. Ellen is demonstrating what perceptual skill in her relationship?
A) positivity bias
B) salience
C) halo effect
D) empathy
E) perception-checking

Accepted Answer

Ellen is demonstrating perception-checking, a skill that involves asking questions to clarify understanding and ensure that one's perception of what the other person is saying or feeling is accurate. This helps in reducing miscommunications and misunderstandings in relationships.

Question 18

Which of the following is involved in the perception-checking process?
A) checking your punctuation
B) checking your attributions
C) checking your perceptual influences
D) checking your impressions
E) all of the options are correct

Accepted Answer

Perception-checking involves checking your punctuation, attributions, perceptual influences, and impressions to ensure that your perceptions are accurate and unbiased.

Question 19

Define perception and identify the three stages of the process.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define perception and identify the three stages...

Question 20

Define and give an example of how implicit personality theories work.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define and give an example of how...

Quiz 3: Perceiving Others

If the chairperson of the Federal Reserve predicts that inflation will continue, you might interpret this prediction as credible and accurate. This is an example of which influence on interpreting information?

You know your romantic partner is online, but he or she has not responded to your instant message, so you assume he or she is losing interest in you. What kind of attribution are you making?

When we perceive and judge others, we commonly

If you yell at your roommate and later explain that your behavior was related to stress at work, what type of error are you making?

If Marcus won a bet by predicting the point spread for the Super Bowl and claimed it was due to his understanding of probability and statistics, what attribution is he making?

According to Uncertainty Reduction Theory, which of the following is a primary goal of initial interaction?

Which of the following is an active strategy for reducing uncertainty regarding a person's behavior?

Which of the following are methods used for reducing uncertainty in our initial interactions with others?

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of salient communication?

Which of the following describes an ingrouper?

Which of the following conclusions can be made about gender differences?

Characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and acting constitute

Psychologists define five primary personality traits. Which of the following is NOT part of their "Big Five"?

Which of the following is NOT part of the interpretation phase of the perception process?

Leslie likes Jon because he has an extraverted, engaging, and humorous personality. When Leslie's friend tells her that Jon can be very impatient and demonstrates road rage on a daily basis, Leslie refuses to believe her. What perceptual problem is Leslie demonstrating?

Paul thinks that Professor Lee is a poor instructor and finds her class too challenging. After spending hours revising a paper, he tells a friend that the class requires too much time. What perceptual process is affecting Paul?

Ellen communicates well with her partner Carmen. When they experience miscommunication, Ellen is able to ask her partner questions to clarify her understanding. Ellen is demonstrating what perceptual skill in her relationship?

Which of the following is involved in the perception-checking process?

Define perception and identify the three stages of the process.

Define and give an example of how implicit personality theories work.