Question 1

Renata starts grad school this fall and is locked into the program for the next three years because she has accepted a fellowship.Unfortunately,Renata discovers that she hates the field specialization she is in.According to cognitive dissonance theory,Renata is likely to ____.

Accepted Answer

According to cognitive dissonance theory, individuals experience discomfort when they hold two or more conflicting beliefs or values. In this scenario, Renata has conflicting beliefs about her program - she is locked into it for three years but dislikes her field specialization. To resolve this dissonance, Renata is likely to try to find a justification for staying in the program, such as considering how much the fellowship is worth or how it may benefit her future career. Therefore, choice C is the best option.

Question 2

Israel believes that helping the host clean up after a party is the right thing to do.However,he really hates cleaning,and the mess makes him feel disgusted,so he usually does not help.In other words,the cognitive component of Israel's attitude toward cleaning is inconsistent with both the ____ and ____ components.

Accepted Answer

The affective component of Israel's attitude refers to his emotions or feelings towards cleaning, which is described as disgust. The behavioral component refers to his actual behavior or actions towards cleaning, which is described as not helping. Therefore, his cognitive component, which is his belief that helping to clean is the right thing to do, is inconsistent with both the affective and behavioral components. Option C includes both affective and behavioral components.

Question 3

Ed participated in a psychology experiment in which he turned pegs on a board for one hour.Although the task was very boring,the experimenter said,"I will pay you $1 if you tell the next participant that this experiment is the most exciting experiment that you have ever been in." Julie also participated in the same experiment; however,the experimenter offered to pay her $20 to lie to the next participant.According to cognitive dissonance theory,Ed will later report that experiment was ____,and Julie will report that it was ____.

Accepted Answer

Ed, who was paid only $1, is likely to experience more cognitive dissonance because the small reward is insufficient to justify lying, leading him to change his attitude about the experiment to reduce dissonance, thus finding it more exciting. Julie, who received $20, can easily justify her lie with the significant reward, so her attitude towards the experiment is less likely to change, and she may still find it boring.

Question 4

Reece is talking with her friends about what they are likely to experience in their first year of college.Although her health and academic abilities are normal,Reece thinks that she is more likely to get good grades and less likely to get the flu than the average college student.This is an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of unrealistic optimism, which refers to people's tendency to overestimate their likelihood of experiencing positive outcomes and underestimate their likelihood of experiencing negative outcomes.

Question 5

Linda recently met Paulo,a new tenant living in her apartment building.She confides in you that she loves Paulo because Brazilian men are great athletes and lovers.Linda's attitude reflects her ____.

Accepted Answer

Linda's attitude towards Paulo is based on her prejudiced belief that men from Brazil are great athletes and lovers. She is making a generalization about an entire group of people based on their nationality, which is a form of prejudice.

Question 6

Bill is thoughtful and likes to mull over ideas.Ted is uncomfortable with uncertainty.If you are trying to change their attitudes about an important referendum on the November ballot,you would be best to use ____ on Bill and ____ on Ted.

Accepted Answer

Bill, who likes to mull over ideas, would be more receptive to the central route of persuasion, which involves careful and thoughtful consideration of the true merits of the information presented. Ted, who is uncomfortable with uncertainty, might be more effectively influenced by the peripheral route, which relies on superficial cues or associations rather than deep processing of information.

Question 7

Your new housemate comes home from on-campus registration,throws his coat angrily on the floor,goes to his room,and slams the door without greeting you.You conclude that your housemate is a hostile,unfriendly person.Your conclusion is the result of ____.

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) explanations for someone's behavior while ignoring situational (external) factors. In this case, the assumption that the new housemate is a hostile, unfriendly person is based solely on their behavior without considering any situational factors that could be affecting their mood (e.g., a difficult registration process).

Question 8

Barry received an A on his first group project.He believes this grade is the result of his superior intelligence and hard work.He received a D on his second group project,and he attributes this grade to the other group members' poor work and stupidity.What attributional error is Barry demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Barry is demonstrating a self-serving bias by attributing his success to his own abilities while blaming others for his failure.

Question 9

When a child is rewarded for stating a particular view,her or his attitude about that object or concept is influenced.This shows the importance of ____ in attitude formation.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning involves using rewards or punishments to shape behaviors, and it can also influence attitudes. In the given scenario, the child is being rewarded for stating a particular view, which can lead to the child developing a more positive attitude towards that object or concept. The other options (mere-exposure effect, observational learning, and classical conditioning) may also play a role in attitude formation, but they are not as directly relevant to the given scenario.

Question 10

Kelly is a graduate student who is studying relationships.After interviewing over 100 dating couples,she noticed that a large number of these couples actually grew up together in the same neighborhood.This is not surprising to you because of your understanding of ____.

Accepted Answer

The mere-exposure effect is the phenomenon where people tend to develop a preference for things just because they are familiar with them. In this case, the couples grew up together in the same neighborhood, which means they were exposed to each other frequently, leading to the development of a preference for one another.

Question 11

Terrance,a Canadian,is watching the Olympics.Whenever his country wins an event,Terrance boasts about the skills and talents of the Canadian athletes.Whenever another country wins an event,he claims that the athletes of that country "got lucky." Terrance is demonstrating ____.

Accepted Answer

Terrance is demonstrating the ingroup/outgroup bias, which is the tendency for people to attribute the behaviors of ingroups (in this case, Canadian athletes) to internal factors such as skills and talents, while attributing the behaviors of outgroups (athletes from other countries) to external factors such as luck. This bias is a common example of social categorization, which refers to the process of dividing people into social groups based on certain characteristics (in this case, nationality).

Question 12

Which of the following is not a component of an attitude?

Accepted Answer

Attitudes consist of cognitive (thoughts/beliefs about a person or object), affective (emotions/feelings towards a person or object), and behavioral (actions/intentions towards a person or object) components. Biology is not typically considered a component of attitudes.

Question 13

A dean at of the University of Illinois is interested in changing students' attitudes about drinking.According to your text,students who use the peripheral route to attitude change will be most likely influenced by ____.

Accepted Answer

Students who use the peripheral route to attitude change are more likely to be influenced by characteristics of the person delivering the message, such as the speaker's attractiveness, credibility, or perceived expertise, rather than the actual content or validity of the argument.

Question 14

Bauer and McKinley elementary schools are involved in a canned food drive to see which school donates the most cans to a local homeless shelter.Alan,a student at Bauer elementary,says,"All the kids at McKinley elementary are just donating so they can win the contest.We're donating to help feed the homeless!" Alan's comment demonstrates ____.

Accepted Answer

Alan's comment demonstrates the ultimate attribution error, where he attributes negative motives to the out-group (McKinley students) while attributing positive motives to his in-group (Bauer students).

Question 15

Elise believes that anyone who listens to "boy bands" (especially N'Sync)is an idiot.One day,however,Elise realizes the song she is dancing and singing to is the latest N'Sync song.Elise,now aware of the inconsistency between her attitude and her behavior,decides that listening to boy bands is not so bad after all.Elise's attitude change is best explained by ____.

Accepted Answer

Elise's realization that her behavior contradicts her previous attitude creates cognitive dissonance, which leads her to change her attitude to align with her behavior. This is a key principle of cognitive dissonance theory.

Question 16

Booyoung believes that all Irish people have pale skin,speak with thick accents,and like corned beef and potatoes.She also believes that all motorcycle riders wear leather jackets.Booyoung is displaying ____.

Accepted Answer

Booyoung is displaying stereotypes, as she is making generalizations about entire groups of people based on limited characteristics or traits. Stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination if left unchecked.

Question 17

Devin is running to catch a bus when he sees a person trip and fall.As Devin is getting on the bus,he sees another man walk right past the person in need of help.Devin thinks to himself,"I can't believe that man didn't help that person.He is really a selfish person.I would have helped,if I hadn't been in such a hurry." He is displaying ____.

Accepted Answer

The actor-observer effect is the tendency to attribute our own behavior to external factors, while attributing the behavior of others to internal factors. In this case, Devin is attributing the man's behavior to selfishness, while attributing his own behavior to being in a hurry.

Question 18

Marco believes that it is very important to vote.He finds it difficult to find the time to vote on election day,but he does go to vote.Marco's belief about voting represents the ____ component of his attitude,and his presence at the polls represents the ____ component of his attitude.

Accepted Answer

Marco's belief about voting represents the cognitive component of his attitude because it reflects his thoughts and beliefs about the importance of voting. His presence at the polls represents the behavioral component of his attitude because it reflects his actual behavior or action related to voting. Affective component of attitude represents a person's emotions and feelings towards something, which is not reflected in this scenario. Option A and B are incorrect because they mix up the order of the components in relation to Marco's attitude towards voting.

Question 19

Calisha is watching a commercial for asthma medicine.Calisha has asthma and is very interested in this product.She pays close attention to the commercial and rationally thinks about its message.According to the elaboration likelihood model,whether Calisha is persuaded by the message depends on ____.

Accepted Answer

The elaboration likelihood model suggests that when a person is highly motivated and able to think critically about a message, the central route of persuasion is more likely to be taken. This means that the person will focus on the quality of the arguments being presented rather than peripheral cues such as the spokesperson's appearance or credentials. Therefore, Calisha's persuasion by the asthma medicine advertisement depends on the quality of the arguments presented.

Question 20

Jim has negative attitudes toward exam review sessions.Jim's instructor explains that review sessions can help to focus study efforts.Jim thinks carefully about this explanation and then changes his attitude using the ____ route to attitude change.

Accepted Answer

The central route to attitude change is characterized by careful consideration of the arguments and evidence presented, leading to a thoughtful and long-lasting change in attitude. Jim's careful consideration of his instructor's explanation suggests that he is using the central route.

Quiz 16: Social Psychology