Question 1

In social psychology,a prototype is

Accepted Answer

A prototype in social psychology refers to a cognitive representation of a typical or ideal example of a category, not any of the options listed.

Question 2

Who was the most influential person of the 20th century? Europeans may refer to Hitler,Indians to Gandhi and Americans to Kennedy.These are different responses,so that the category 'influential person' is a(n)

Accepted Answer

The fact that different cultures have different responses highlights the fact that the category "influential person" is not a clear-cut concept with rigid boundaries, but rather a fuzzy set with varying degrees of membership. Therefore, the best choice is D - fuzzy set.

Question 3

Ted's uncle says that students hang out in cafes and pubs and party a lot.Ted's uncle's views are

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ted's uncle says that students hang out...

Question 4

The best definition of a schema is that it is

Accepted Answer

A schema is a mental framework or organization of information that provides a way to interpret and make sense of incoming information. It is a cognitive structure that represents knowledge about a concept or type of stimulus. Schemas can be thought of as templates or blueprints for understanding different types of experiences. For example, a schema for a "restaurant" might include expectations about the environment, the type of food that will be served, and the general atmosphere.

Question 5

Stimuli that share a family resemblance are

Accepted Answer

The answer of Stimuli that share a family resemblance are
...

Question 6

Prototypes of social groups (e.g.,teachers)that are shared by members of a social group (e.g.,students)can be considered

Accepted Answer

Prototypes of social groups that are shared by members of a social group are called social stereotypes. Social attitudes refer to general evaluations of a social object, such as positive or negative emotions towards a group. Groupthink is a phenomenon in which group members prioritize consensus and conformity over individual critical thinking. Social beliefs refer to the shared beliefs and values within a society or subgroup.

Question 7

People use schemas to process information.Schemas function to

Accepted Answer

Schemas serve as mental maps or frameworks we use to organize and process information. They help us interpret new information by connecting it to existing knowledge, encode old information by reinforcing our existing schemas, and fill in gaps in our knowledge by making assumptions based on our existing schema. Therefore, all of the choices - A, B, and C - are correct.

Question 8

Alyson,Cara and Hilda agree that Prince Harry is the perfect male.They

Accepted Answer

Alyson, Cara and Hilda are using a prototype as they see Prince Harry as the ideal example of a perfect male, based on their own beliefs and experiences. This does not necessarily involve generalizing to all males or using a rigid, fixed set of characteristics.

Question 9

Your friend claims that guys in rock bands 'snort drugs,stub out cigarettes on the carpet and steal people's knickers'.Your studies suggest that these descriptions are

Accepted Answer

The descriptions provided by the friend are based on stereotypes, which are preconceived and oversimplified ideas about a group of people. The claim that all guys in rock bands snort drugs, stub out cigarettes on the carpet, and steal people's knickers is likely to be based on limited examples and may not be representative of the entire group. The other options (associative networks and content-free schemas) do not adequately describe the nature of the friend's claim.

Question 10

Prue describes Penny as sloppy,lazy and arrogant.After reading about impression formation in social psychology you reach a conclusion about Prue's cognitive algebra.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Prue describes Penny as sloppy,lazy and arrogant.After...

Question 11

When you started your degree perhaps you were confident of graduating because you are hardworking,at least as intelligent as the average student and otherwise a determined person.Such traits are aspects of your

Accepted Answer

Self-schema refers to the beliefs and ideas that individuals have about themselves. In this case, the belief that one is hardworking, determined and intelligent are part of their self-schema and contribute to their confidence in graduating. Genes, ideal self and ego are not directly related to these traits.

Question 12

Before meeting the new member coming to your seminar group,your friend tells you that the new member,Sue,left school at the age of 14 to work in a factory,and later entered university as a mature student.Then,another member of your group remarks that Sue usually scores A+s in her work.You are uneasy because you don't know what to make of this.But we know the two kinds of information are

Accepted Answer

The two kinds of information provided are stereotype inconsistent, as they contradict each other. Sue's leaving school at 14 to work in a factory may lead one to assume that she may not be academically strong, but the information about her scoring A+s contradicts this assumption. It is essential to avoid stereotyping individuals based on their background or experiences.

Question 13

Which kind of information about another person really attracts our attention? Information that is

Accepted Answer

All three options - distinctive, unusual, and negative - have been shown to attract our attention about another person. Distinctive information sets a person apart from others and makes them more memorable. Unusual information is unexpected and tends to stick out in our memories. Negative information is often seen as more important or relevant than positive information and can capture our attention.

Question 14

Let us say that you plan to be a nurse.You might picture yourself with a white coat,comfortable shoes,and a little badge on your lapel.These ideas contribute to your knowledge structure of being a 'nurse',and constitute an instance of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A schema is a mental framework for organizing information and experiences about a certain topic or concept. In this case, the idea of a nurse with a white coat, comfortable shoes, and a badge on their lapel is a schema for the role of a nurse. A fuzzy set would refer to a concept that has unclear or vague boundaries, an attribution refers to an explanation for the cause of behavior or events, and a value is a belief or principle that is important to a person.

Question 15

Stephanie is a firm believer in 'not judging a book by its cover'.In her Introduction to Psychology class,Stephanie has been partnered up with Chris for a group assignment.When she looks across the room to see her new partner,Stephanie finds Chris very physically attractive.Based on her first impressions,Stephanie is likely to judge Chris as

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the "halo effect," where an individual's overall impression of a person (in this case, based on physical attractiveness) influences their beliefs about that person's other traits, such as intelligence and capability.

Question 16

You undertake your personal assessment of Alexandra on a likeability scale ranging from +3 (favourable)to -3 (unfavourable).You rate her as somewhat lazy (-2),but very funny (+3).Overall,you rate her +0.5.Your impression is based on

Accepted Answer

The rating of +0.5 is based on averaging the positive (+3) and negative (-2) traits, which is a characteristic of an averaging approach to impression formation.

Question 17

Cognitive representations of instances in a category are

Accepted Answer

Cognitive representations of instances in a category refer to prototypes. Prototypes are the most typical or representative member of a category that people use to form concepts and mental categories. They are based on the most salient features shared by most members of the category and represent a summary of the typical characteristics of the category.

Question 18

When we perform mental calculations using summation,averaging and weighted averaging,we are actually using

Accepted Answer

Mental calculations using summation, averaging and weighted averaging rely on basic cognitive algebra, which involves manipulating numerical values and performing simple operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in one's mind. Coordinate geometry, cluster analysis and trigonometry are not relevant to these types of calculations.

Question 19

Your brother is having a bachelor's party.Your knowledge about what goes on is based on

Accepted Answer

Both options A and C are valid sources of knowledge about what typically goes on at a bachelor's party. An event schema is a cognitive framework that helps individuals understand and predict what typically happens at a particular type of event or situation. A script is a more detailed cognitive structure outlining the specific sequence of actions and behaviors associated with a particular event, such as a bachelor's party. Men's magazines may also provide some insight into what is typically expected or considered appropriate at such an event. Therefore, options A and C are both reasonable sources of knowledge in this scenario.

Question 20

You met Sarah in your very first Introduction to Psychology lecture.Throughout the semester,you have discovered that Sarah is intelligent,humorous,generous,and really social.However,you have also noticed she is quite lazy and bossy.Using your knowledge of cognitive algebra,you have worked out that your final impression of Sarah as a potential friend is quite high at +3.60.However,your final impression of Sarah as a partner for an assignment is -1.70.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of weighted averaging, where different traits are given different weights. In this case, the positive traits of intelligence, humor, generosity, and sociability have a higher weight in the potential friend impression, while the negative traits of laziness and bossiness have a higher weight in the partner for an assignment impression. This results in a higher overall impression as a friend and a lower overall impression as a partner for an assignment. Averaging would give equal weight to all traits, while stereotyping would involve applying a preconceived notion or generalization about a group to an individual without considering their specific traits. Summation simply involves adding up all the traits without considering their relative weights.

Quiz 2: Social Cognition and Social Thinking