Question 1

Ahmed states that he has high self-esteem and is happy with his life. Based on this information, it is possible to predict:

Accepted Answer

While high self-esteem and happiness are positive indicators, they do not necessarily guarantee a high level of achievement in other areas of life. It is important to gather more information before making any predictions about Ahmed's achievements. Therefore, we can only predict very little about other areas of his life.

Question 2

The cocktail party phenomenon provides evidence that:

Accepted Answer

The cocktail party phenomenon refers to the ability of individuals to focus their attention on a particular stimulus (e.g. a conversation) while filtering out other stimuli in a noisy background (e.g. other conversations). This suggests that people pay attention to and process information that is relevant to the self. It does not relate to extroverts' behavioral inhibition system, gossiping, or preference for being around others.

Question 3

Shariah has noticed that people in her social group have been avoiding her. They no longer call her or ask her to go out with them. Shariah used to have high self-esteem but now she is experiencing low self-esteem. What theory would predict this change in her self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Sociometer theory predicts that self-esteem is driven by the degree to which individuals feel they are valued by others in their social group. In this scenario, Shariah's social group is avoiding her, which may be contributing to her low self-esteem. Social conformity theory would predict that individuals conform to the norms of their group, but does not explain the impact on self-esteem. Self/other comparison theory suggests that individuals compare themselves to others to evaluate their own abilities or traits, but also does not explain the impact on self-esteem. Self-appraisal theory suggests that individuals may evaluate themselves based on their own personal standards, but again, does not specifically address the impact of social exclusion on self-esteem. Therefore, sociometer theory is the best fit for this scenario.

Question 4

Marta has a successful job, is married to a handsome and kind person, and has three intelligent children. What would you predict about Marta's self-esteem based on this information?

Accepted Answer

Self-esteem is influenced by many factors, including personal perceptions and experiences, so it cannot be accurately predicted solely based on external achievements or relationships.

Question 5

Janine loves to get attention in social situations. She often talks about herself and her many achievements (which she usually exaggerates), and believes others should perceive her as especially interesting, worthy, and valuable. Janine has:

Accepted Answer

Janine exhibits several traits of a narcissistic personality, such as seeking attention and admiration, exaggerating her achievements, and having a sense of entitlement to special treatment. This behavior is not consistent with high self-esteem, which is based on a realistic and positive self-concept. Janine does not show signs of social evaluation phobia, as she actively seeks attention and recognition in social situations. Reactive self-concept refers to changes in self-image based on feedback from others, which is not applicable in this scenario.

Question 6

Self-esteem and objective life outcomes are:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Self-esteem and objective life outcomes are:
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Question 7

In which of the following questions will the word kind be processed most efficiently and automatically?

Accepted Answer

The question only has one subject and uses a simple sentence structure, making it the easiest to process and understand quickly.

Question 8

Which of the following is most clearly a knowledge-based construct?

Accepted Answer

A self-schema is a knowledge-based construct that represents a person's views and beliefs about themselves. It is a mental representation of the self, consisting of organized knowledge about the self, including personality traits, abilities, experiences, and values. The other options involve more complex and multidimensional constructs, including emotional, evaluative, and behavioral aspects of the self.

Question 9

Isaac recently experienced a terrible flood which destroyed his home. Isaac believes he would have died in the flood if his neighbour had not rescued him. According to terror management theory, how is Isaac likely to feel after this traumatic experience?

Accepted Answer

According to terror management theory, individuals are motivated to maintain a high level of self-esteem as a way to manage the fear of death. Engaging in meaningful activities that affirm a personal worldview can increase self-esteem. In this case, Isaac may feel grateful to his neighbour for rescuing him, but if he engages in meaningful activities (such as rebuilding his home or helping others who were affected by the flood), he is likely to experience higher than average self-esteem.

Question 10

Frank feels that he is more valuable and more special than people around him. He is also more focused on his own needs than on the needs of anyone else, and feels angry when someone asks him for help. Frank:

Accepted Answer

Frank's behavior matches the characteristics of a narcissistic personality, which is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and a preoccupation with one's own needs and desires. This is different from having no or low self-esteem, as a narcissist often has an overinflated sense of self-worth. Multiple-personality disorder is now known as dissociative identity disorder and is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states. Frank's behavior does not match the symptoms of this disorder.

Question 11

Most people feel that they are ____________ and this view is ____________.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the "above average effect" or "illusory superiority", where people tend to overestimate their abilities and characteristics in comparison to others. Studies have shown that this bias occurs in various domains, such as driving, intelligence, leadership, and even physical attractiveness. Therefore, the belief of being above average is typically inaccurate.

Question 12

The "better-than-average effect" describes:

Accepted Answer

The "better-than-average effect" is a cognitive bias where most people believe they are above average in various abilities or traits, which statistically is not possible for everyone.

Question 13

Tory was asked, "Do you consider yourself to be a smart person?" Tory immediately answered, "I think I am just as smart as anyone else." Tory's ability to answer effortlessly and automatically, without having to think much about the question, shows that:

Accepted Answer

Tory's quick response suggests that she has a pre-existing idea or schema about her level of intelligence. This implies that she has given thought to the question before and has already formed a belief about herself in relation to it.

Question 14

Jonah used to be an awkward child and didn't have many friends. Consequently, he experienced low self-esteem. Now that he is older, he has developed many solid friendships and feels comfortable around and valued by others. As an adult, his self-esteem has improved dramatically. Which theory would predict this change in self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Sociometer theory proposes that self-esteem reflects the degree to which individuals feel valued and accepted by others, and that it serves as an indicator of social inclusion or exclusion. Accordingly, Jonah's improved self-esteem as an adult may reflect his increased social connections and sense of acceptance within his social groups.

Question 15

Peggy is in a room crowded with people. Everyone is talking and she has a hard time hearing people close by her. Suddenly, from the other side of the room, she hears someone whisper the name "Peggy." Peggy's ability to hear her name is due to:

Accepted Answer

Peggy's ability to hear her name despite the surrounding noise is an example of the cocktail party phenomenon, which refers to the brain's ability to selectively focus on a particular stimulus (such as one's name) while filtering out other stimuli in the environment.

Question 16

The cognitive knowledge structure that guides attention and affects behaviour is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The cognitive knowledge structure that guides attention and affects behaviour is referred to as self-concept. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize one's own emotions and thoughts, self-esteem is the evaluation of one's own worth, and self-evaluative mechanism is not a commonly used term in psychology.

Question 17

Which of the following constructs is most clearly related to social evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Self-esteem is the construct that specifically refers to one's evaluation of oneself in relation to others or society. Self-schema, self-concept, and self-knowledge are all related to one's understanding of oneself, but do not necessarily involve social evaluation.

Question 18

Self-esteem is one's evaluation of one's own __________.

Accepted Answer

Self-esteem refers to one's evaluation or perception of their own self-concept, which includes their beliefs, attitudes, values, and subjective experiences about themselves. It is a measure of how positively or negatively one views oneself. Options A, B, and C are not related to self-esteem.

Question 19

Terror management theory predicts that people will experience the highest self-esteem when:

Accepted Answer

Terror management theory suggests that reminders of mortality (such as sickness and death) can lead individuals to bolster their self-esteem as a defense mechanism against existential anxiety.

Question 20

According to sociometer theory, self-esteem is important because:

Accepted Answer

Sociometer theory proposes that self-esteem is an internal gauge that monitors one's level of social acceptance or rejection. In other words, self-esteem reflects the extent to which one is perceived as a valuable and desirable social partner by others. Therefore, self-esteem serves an adaptive function by motivating individuals to maintain positive social relations that enhance their chances of survival and reproduction.

Quiz 13: Personality