Question 1

What are 3 benefits or rewards one gains from striving for mastery?

Accepted Answer

Striving for mastery helps us to: 1) form and hold accurate opinions and beliefs about the world, 2) these beliefs help guide us to effective and satisfying actions, and 3) our desire for long-term rewards can motivated us to enhance our skills and knowledge and improve ourselves in other ways.

Question 2

Your text describes two fundamental axioms. Which of the following provides the best illustration of the pervasiveness of social influence?

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates the power of social norms and the influence they can have on an individual's behavior, even in the absence of direct pressure from others. Jan is motivated to conform to his parents' expectations, even in a social situation where alcohol consumption is commonly accepted. The other scenarios may also involve social influence to some extent, but B provides the clearest example of this fundamental axiom.

Question 3

At the beginning of chapter 1, the different perceptions of football fans from Princeton and Dartmouth were compared. This real world example demonstrates which basic principle?

Accepted Answer

The example illustrates all the given principles: A) how people construct their reality based on their experiences and affiliations, B) the tendency to value one's own group more highly, and C) conservatism in the sense of adhering to one's own views or group norms.

Question 4

Which of the following is the best example of applied research?

Accepted Answer

Applied research is focused on solving practical problems and has direct implications for addressing real-world issues. The study of support group attendance and long term health outcomes for patients with cancer is an example of applied research as it has direct implications for improving the health outcomes of patients. Theoretical relations and understanding the impact of cognitive load on perceptions do not have direct practical applications.

Question 5

On which of the following are social psychologists most likely to focus?

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists are likely to focus on both basic and applied research. Basic research aims to increase our understanding of social behavior and the underlying processes, while applied research can lead to practical solutions for social problems. Social psychologists often conduct both types of research to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Question 6

Research has shown that individuals from _______ are more likely to explain behaviors as being due to characteristics of the actor, whereas individuals from _______ are more likely to explain behaviors as being due to other people's social expectations.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals from North America are more likely to explain behaviors as being due to characteristics of the actor, whereas individuals from China are more likely to explain behaviors as being due to other people's social expectations.

Question 7

Professor Bakker just gave a lecture on the embodiment perspective. It is most likely that Professor Bakker included which of the following pieces of information in his lecture?

Accepted Answer

The embodiment perspective focuses on the way individuals use their own bodies to gain an understanding of the world around them. The concept of mimicking others' facial expressions falls under this perspective and is likely to have been included in Professor Bakker's lecture. Choice A is more related to the field of neuroscience, Choice B is too broad, and Choice C focuses on cultural differences rather than embodiment.

Question 8

Dr. Lee is interested in studying the interpersonal relationships among college roommates. Given her interest in studying such relationships, Dr. Lee's research focuses primarily on:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Lee's interest in studying the interpersonal relationships among college roommates suggests a focus on social processes, which relate to how individuals interact with each other and how their behaviors and attitudes are influenced by social contexts. Cognitive processes refer to how individuals think and perceive information, affective processes refer to emotional responses, and personality processes refer to individual traits and dispositions. While these other processes may also be relevant to Dr. Lee's research, social processes are likely the primary focus.

Question 9

Because of social psychology's preexisting focus on people's perceptions and interpretations of events, which of the following 'revolutions' in the 1960s was not considered a revolution at all in the area of social psychology?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive revolution, which emphasized mental processes and how people think, perceive, remember, and learn, was not considered a revolution in social psychology because the field already focused on perceptions, interpretations, and cognitive aspects of social behavior.

Question 10

According to Kurt Lewin (1936), which two factors are the biggest influence on an individual's behavior?

Accepted Answer

Kurt Lewin's theory emphasizes that behavior is determined by both an individual's current goals and the social environment in which they exist. While personality, upbringing, genes, thoughts and feelings can all play a role in behavior, Lewin viewed these two factors as the primary determinants.

Question 11

Which of the following was NOT an important area of social psychological study during the Second World War?

Accepted Answer

The study of how humans have evolved to solve certain problems such as detecting cheaters was not an important area of social psychological study during the Second World War. The other options were relevant, as they focused on issues such as food rationing, propaganda, and healthcare.

Question 12

Which of the following events impacted the development of social psychology in the 1930s and 1940s?

Accepted Answer

All of the events listed impacted the development of social psychology in the 1930s and 1940s. The rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi domination led to the study of attitudes, prejudice, and propaganda. The influx of European researchers to America brought new ideas and perspectives to the field. The search for answers to practical problems created by the war led to research on group dynamics, leadership, and persuasion.

Question 13

With which of the followings statements would social psychologists and behaviorists be most likely to agree?

Accepted Answer

Both social psychologists and behaviorists believe that psychology is a science that should study behavior, and that behavior is influenced by environmental stimuli. Therefore, the best choice is D, which includes all of the above statements.

Question 14

Behaviorists like B.F. Skinner and John Watson believed that psychologists should study:

Accepted Answer

Behavioral psychologists, like Skinner and Watson, emphasized the importance of studying observable behavior rather than thoughts, emotions, or feelings which cannot be directly observed or measured. They believed that behavior is learned through experience and that by understanding the environmental factors that influence behavior, psychologists could predict and control behavior.

Question 15

The earliest textbooks on social psychology suggested all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The earliest textbooks on social psychology emphasized innate tendencies and instincts as explanations for social behavior, and recognized the influence of others, but did not restrict the study to only observable behavior.

Question 16

Which of the three motivational principles described in your text refers to people's desire to understand and predict events in their social worlds?

Accepted Answer

The principle that refers to people's desire to understand and predict events in their social worlds is "People strive for mastery". This principle suggests that individuals seek to acquire knowledge and develop skills that will enable them to better navigate their environments and achieve their goals.

Question 17

Caroline just watched a documentary on her favorite author, who was known to be an alcoholic. The next day, while on the bus, Caroline saw a man walking unsteadily down the street. Based on the principle of accessibility, it is likely that Caroline will interpret this behavior as due to the man…

Accepted Answer

The principle of accessibility suggests that the information most recently accessed or brought to mind will have the greatest influence on our interpretation of behavior. In this case, Caroline just watched a documentary about an author known for being an alcoholic, so alcoholism is likely to be the most accessible explanation for the man's unsteady walking. Therefore, Caroline will interpret this behavior as due to the man being drunk.

Question 18

Chapter 1 of your text opened with a real world example of the 1951 football game between Princeton and Dartmouth. Explain how this football game represents 3 of the basic principles described at the end of this chapter.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chapter 1 of your text opened with...

Question 19

Compare and contrast the embodiment perspective with research on neuroscience. How might each study perceptions of facial expressions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the embodiment perspective with...

Question 20

Compare and contrast cultural psychology and evolutionary psychology. How would each perspective approach the study of helping among groups?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast cultural psychology and evolutionary...

Quiz 1: What Is Social Psychology