Question 1

What is the study of how we understand ourselves and the people around us called?

Accepted Answer

Social cognition is the study of how we understand ourselves and the people around us, including how we perceive, interpret, and remember information about social situations and people. It involves the use of cognitive processes like attention, perception, memory, and reasoning to navigate social interactions and relationships.

Question 2

What is Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning primarily concerned with?

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning is primarily concerned with the analytical process used to arrive at judgments about what is right and wrong. It proposes six stages of moral development that individuals go through as they mature and acquire the cognitive skills to reason about ethical issues.

Question 3

What level of moral development is exhibited by someone who states, "We shouldn't do that because we'll get caught and punished"?

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects a fear of punishment and a desire to avoid negative consequences, which is characteristic of the preconventional level of moral development. At this level, individuals make decisions based on avoiding punishment and seeking rewards.

Question 4

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, what is the highest level of moral reasoning?

Accepted Answer

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, the highest level of moral reasoning is postconventional. In this stage, individuals move beyond societal norms and expectations and base their moral decisions on universal ethical principles. This stage is characterized by a focus on justice, compassion, and respect for individual rights.

Question 5

As a stage-based theory, which of the following statements about Kohlberg's theory of moral development is NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory does not assume that all people progress to the highest stage. In fact, Kohlberg himself acknowledged that many adults never reach the highest stage of moral reasoning.

Question 6

Research shows that delinquent youths are dominated by people operating at the which level of moral reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that delinquent youths are dominated by people operating at the preconventional level of moral reasoning, which means they are focused on avoiding punishment and seeking personal reward. They tend to have a low level of empathy and concern for others, and may use violence or other forms of aggression to achieve their goals.

Question 7

Umar Abdulmutallab, also known as the Underwear Bomber, made remarks that his effort to blow up the jetliner he was on was intended to "save the lives of innocent Muslims." This reflects a moral disengagement process that Bandura (2001) calls what?

Accepted Answer

Umar Abdulmutallab's statement reflects moral justification, which is a process of making immoral behavior acceptable by portraying it as serving a moral or higher purpose. In this case, he justifies his attempted terrorist attack by claiming it was aimed at protecting innocent Muslims.

Question 8

The statement of a serial murderer that his victims were "worthless pieces of trash," reflects which moral disengagement process?

Accepted Answer

Dehumanization involves portraying victims as less than human, which can make it easier for individuals to justify harming or killing them. In this case, the murderer's statement that his victims were "worthless pieces of trash" suggests that he viewed them as less than human, which is an example of dehumanization.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of moral disengagement identified by Bandura?

Accepted Answer

Confabulation is not a mechanism of moral disengagement identified by Bandura. The five mechanisms he identified are dehumanization, euphemistic labeling, advantageous comparisons, moral justification, and displacement or diffusion of responsibility.

Question 10

According to Bandura, what is the general effect of moral disengagement processes?

Accepted Answer

Moral disengagement processes allow individuals to avoid the negative feelings associated with violating their own moral standards, enabling them to engage in unethical behavior without self-condemnation.

Question 11

Moral justification, euphemistic labelling, and advantageous comparisons are moral disengagement processes that operate by cognitively distorting which of the following?

Accepted Answer

These processes involve altering the perception of the immoral behavior itself, making it seem more acceptable or less harmful.

Question 12

In their book The Criminal Personality, Yochelson and Samenow (1976) describe which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The book The Criminal Personality by Yochelson and Samenow describes different thinking errors that contribute to offending. The other options listed (B, C, D, and E) are not described in this book.

Question 13

One of the main criticisms made against the findings Yochelson and Samenow (1976) presented in The Criminal Personality is that the results may be unique to the sample they studied, which consisted of a fairly unusual group of what type of offenders?

Accepted Answer

The criticism is that the findings may not be generalizable because the sample consisted of offenders found not guilty by reason of insanity, which is a specific and unusual group.

Question 14

Mollification, entitlement, and superoptimism are all which of the following?

Accepted Answer

These three terms are all criminal thinking styles described by Walters in his book "Criminal Thinking: A Cognitive Approach." Mollification refers to minimizing or justifying one's actions to themselves or others. Entitlement refers to the belief that one is owed something and therefore has the right to take it, even if it is illegal. Superoptimism refers to the unrealistic belief that one will never get caught or face consequences for their actions.

Question 15

Which of the following ideas is central to Zillman's excitation transfer theory?

Accepted Answer

Zillman's excitation transfer theory argues that arousal generated in one context can be transferred to another context and then mislabeled as being caused by the second context. This can lead to intensified emotional reactions in the second context. The other options may be related to other theories, but they are not central to Zillman's excitation transfer theory.

Question 16

Berkowitz's cognitive neo-association model expands on the type of events that might generate aggression beyond frustration to include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Berkowitz's cognitive neo-association model expands on the type of events that might generate aggression beyond frustration to include all of the aforementioned factors - unpleasant temperatures, physical pain, personal insults, and foul odours.

Question 17

What process occurs when activation of one part of an interconnected neural network, such as hostile thoughts, leads to the activation of other parts, so that an array of interconnected feelings (e.g., arousal), physiological responses (e.g., increased heart rate), and physical expressions (e.g., clenched fists) are collectively experienced?

Accepted Answer

Spreading activation is the process in which activation of one part of a neural network spreads to other interconnected parts, resulting in a collective experience of feelings, physiological responses, and physical expressions. This process is often associated with the experience of emotions or the retrieval of memories.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT likely to contribute to the psychological state of deindividuation?

Accepted Answer

Wearing a name tag would actually have the opposite effect of deindividuation, as it emphasizes the individual's identity and name. Deindividuation is more likely to occur when people feel anonymous and lose their sense of identity, which can be facilitated by factors such as wearing face paint, being in a large group, wearing sunglasses, and wearing the same clothes as everyone else.

Question 19

According to the traditional view, the process of deindividuation results in behaviour becoming ________, whereas the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) proposes that it becomes ________.

Accepted Answer

The traditional view of deindividuation suggests that individuals in large groups or anonymous settings will exhibit deregulated and less inhibited behavior due to a loss of self-awareness. In contrast, the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) argues that in such contexts, behavior becomes more socially regulated and conforming as individuals adhere to group norms and identity.

Question 20

Milgram's studies revealed that obedience increases when the person carrying out the order and administering the shock is ________.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's studies found that obedience increased when the person carrying out the order and administering the shock was closer to the person issuing the order but farther from the victim being shocked. This suggests that physical distance from the victim can desensitize individuals to the harmful effects of their actions and increase obedience.

Quiz 8: Social Cognition