Question 1

Which of the following best describes what is meant by a "depth of processing account"?
A) Social stimuli is processed at greater mental depth because it activates a number of different concepts
B) Information that is potentially self-threatening is processed more superficially in a form of psychological self-defense
C) Memory of self-relevant or self-referential information is facilitated because it leaves a more interconnected, enduring memory trace
D) The older the memory, the deeper it is buried within neural networks, making it harder/slower to retrieve

Accepted Answer

A depth of processing account refers to the idea that memory is better retained when it is processed at a deeper level, meaning that it is more connected to other concepts and experiences. Self-referential information is often processed at a deep level because it is inherently more relevant and connected to a person's sense of self.

Question 2

If you happen to bump into an old classmate and find yourself acting exactly the way you did when you were in high school, which of the following would best describe this occurrence?
A) Upward social comparison
B) Self-regulation
C) Transference
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Transference refers to the unconscious transfer of feelings or attitudes from one person to another, often from past experiences. In this case, the individual is transferring their behavioral patterns from high school onto their interaction with their old classmate.

Question 3

Which of the following brain regions appears to be most important in distinguishing between "self" and "other"?
A) Amygdala
B) Left hemisphere of prefrontal cortex
C) Right hemisphere of hippocampus
D) Central temporal sulcus

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere of the prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in distinguishing between "self" and "other," as it is involved in self-awareness, social cognition, and understanding others' perspectives.

Question 4

Which of the following brain regions is not likely to be activated when processing self-schematic information?
A) Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
B) Nucleus accumbens
C) Amygdala
D) Central temporal sulcus

Accepted Answer

The central temporal sulcus is not typically associated with processing self-schematic information. The other brain regions listed, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala, have all been linked to different aspects of self-referential processing.

Question 5

Research shows that people reciprocate warm or cold behavior and contrast dominant or docile behavior when interacting with others. This process is described as ____________ self-construal.
A) Relational
B) Reciprocal
C) Complementary
D) Interdependent

Accepted Answer

This process is described as complementary self-construal, as individuals tend to reciprocate behavior with behavior that complements it, such as warmth with warmth and dominance with docile behavior. Relational self-construal refers to an individual's tendency to prioritize and value relationships, while interdependent self-construal involves a strong sense of connection to others and recognizing the importance of group membership. Reciprocal self-construal involves the reciprocity and mutual benefit of social relationships.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes self-worth based on a comparison of one's self with others?
A) Self-esteem as a sociometer
B) Self-esteem as domain-specific
C) Implicit self-esteem
D) Explicit self-esteem

Accepted Answer

Self-esteem as a sociometer refers to the idea that self-esteem serves as an internal monitor of one's social status and relationships with others. This means that one's self-worth is based on how they compare themselves to others, which is the essence of social comparison theory.

Question 7

A mediocre high school student feels very confident about being admitted to a top-tier university. This is an example of which of the following?
A) Self-enhancement
B) Regulatory fit
C) Self-verification
D) Affective forecasting

Accepted Answer

This scenario reflects self-enhancement bias, which refers to people's tendency to overestimate their abilities or attributes. The student's confidence in their ability to gain admission to a top-tier university is not supported by their actual performance or academic record, but instead reflects a desire to think positively about themselves.

Question 8

Although Sarah doesn't particularly like children, she is getting her teaching credentials because her parents expect her to have a career in early education. This behavior is most in line with which of the following?
A) Socially contingent self-esteem
B) Relational interdependence
C) Regulatory fit
D) Prevention focus

Accepted Answer

Sarah's behavior of getting teaching credentials despite not liking children aligns with prevention focus which is motivated by avoiding negative outcomes or preventing loss. In this case, Sarah is probably avoiding the negative outcome of disappointing her parents or not fulfilling their expectations of her having a career in early education.

Question 9

Julie's self-esteem is severely threatened by receiving a low grade on an English exam, but when she performs poorly in a sports competition, it doesn't bother her at all. Which of the following would best describe this phenomenon?
A) Contingencies of self-worth
B) Multiple possible selves
C) Relational selves
D) Self-esteem independence

Accepted Answer

Contingencies of self-worth refers to the areas of life that individuals draw their self-esteem from. In this case, Julie's self-esteem is contingent on her performance in English, but not sports.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the theory of self-verification?
A) People tend to seek confirmation of their pre-existing self-concepts
B) People exclusively favor information that confirms positive self-views
C) People use introspection to find evidence supporting their pre-existing self views
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The theory of self-verification suggests that people seek out information that confirms their pre-existing self-concepts rather than seeking out information that contradicts their self-concepts. This means that individuals may actively seek out or interpret information in a way that confirms their beliefs about themselves.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes what is meant by "implicit egotism"?
A) People may not consciously realize the extent to which they unrealistically inflate their views of self-worth
B) Our desire to promote ourselves is implicit in almost everything we do
C) People prefer other people and things that resemble the self
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Implicit egotism refers to the unconscious preference people have for things that are associated with themselves, such as names, birthdates, or other personal attributes.

Question 12

Which of the following best characterizes self-evaluation maintenance theory?
A) People are motivated to maintain a consistent self-concept, even if the concept is not always favorable
B) The success of a close other can either threaten or enhance a person's self-views, depending on the self-relevance of the domain of the success
C) Positive illusions about the self and one's abilities can function as a psychological "buffer" to mitigate the effects of self-threats
D) Motivation to have an accurate view of one's self leads people to assess their strengths as well as their weaknesses

Accepted Answer

Self-evaluation maintenance theory suggests that the achievements of people close to us can impact our self-esteem in different ways, depending on whether we see their area of success as relevant to our own self-concept. If the domain is highly relevant to us, their success might threaten our self-view, but if it's not, their success might actually boost our self-esteem.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes what is meant by "sociometer" theory?
A) Self-esteem is a measure of how others are evaluating you
B) Specialized neural mechanisms monitor interpersonal processes
C) Measuring self-schemas can only be done in social situations
D) Fragile self-views require frequent reinforcement from others

Accepted Answer

Sociometer theory proposes that self-esteem serves as a sociometer, or an internal monitor of social acceptance or rejection. In other words, self-esteem reflects how individuals believe others are evaluating them.

Question 14

Which of the following is responsible for integrating diverse self-relevant processing in different parts of the brain?
A) Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
B) Left-hemisphere interpreter
C) Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is responsible for...

Question 15

Using a highly successful person as a role model and aspiring to that person's success could be considered an example of which of the following?
A) Upward social comparison
B) Possible self
C) Promotion focus
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Aspiring to the success of a highly successful person involves upward social comparison, where a person compares themselves to someone who is doing better than them. It also involves creating a possible self, where a person envisions themselves reaching a similar level of success. Additionally, it can be seen as having a promotion focus, where a person is focused on achieving success and making progress towards their goals.

Question 16

The so-called "Golden Rule," do onto others as you would have them do onto you, assumes that others' preferences are similar to your own. This could be a potentially-problematic case of which of the following?
A) Social projection
B) Stimulation theory
C) Self-regulatory assumption
D) Introspection heuristics

Accepted Answer

The "Golden Rule" assumes that others' preferences are similar to your own, which is a case of social projection. Social projection is the tendency to assume that others share our beliefs, values, and preferences.

Question 17

John is extremely motivated to win a large research grant; he thinks about it constantly and works very hard on his proposal. When thinking about this goal, which of the following brain regions is likely to be activated?
A) Right frontal cortex
B) Medial prefrontal cortex
C) Left frontal cortex
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of John is extremely motivated to win a...

Question 18

Possible and feared selves influence which of the following?
A) How we think about ourselves
B) How we select social roles
C) What situations we seek access to
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Possible and feared selves can influence all aspects of our self-concept and behavior, including how we think about ourselves, which social roles we choose to take on, and what situations we seek access to. Therefore, the correct answer is all of the above.

Question 19

Which of the following would NOT be a good example of self variability?
A) Relational selves
B) Behaving more childishly towards your mother than towards your spouse
C) Spontaneously deciding to change jobs
D) Seeming serious in the office but jovial at a bar

Accepted Answer

Self variability refers to the differences in how a person may present or perceive themselves in different contexts or relationships, such as being more serious in professional settings and more relaxed in social settings. Spontaneously deciding to change jobs does not reflect variability in self-presentation or self-perception across different contexts or relationships, but rather a personal decision or action that could be influenced by a variety of factors.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes what is meant by self-encoding in "person-situation-interaction" terms?
A) We have many different concepts of ourselves, and context determines which aspect will be activated
B) We encode representations of ourselves primarily based on our interactions with other people
C) There is a hierarchy of importance in encoding self-concepts. Most influential is the underlying person, followed by the situation the person is in, and finally the interaction between the two
D) Self-concepts are typically encoded as three separate nodes. The first encodes characteristics of the person, the second encodes aspects of experienced situations, and the third encodes likely ways in which they may interact

Accepted Answer

Self-encoding, in person-situation-interaction terms, means that we have many different concepts of ourselves, and context determines which aspect will be activated. This means that our self-concepts are not fixed but are influenced by our interactions and experiences in various situations.

Quiz 5: Section 1 : Self in Social Cognition

Which of the following best describes what is meant by a "depth of processing account"?

If you happen to bump into an old classmate and find yourself acting exactly the way you did when you were in high school, which of the following would best describe this occurrence?

Which of the following brain regions appears to be most important in distinguishing between "self" and "other"?

Which of the following brain regions is not likely to be activated when processing self-schematic information?

Research shows that people reciprocate warm or cold behavior and contrast dominant or docile behavior when interacting with others. This process is described as ____________ self-construal.

Which of the following best describes self-worth based on a comparison of one's self with others?

A mediocre high school student feels very confident about being admitted to a top-tier university. This is an example of which of the following?

Although Sarah doesn't particularly like children, she is getting her teaching credentials because her parents expect her to have a career in early education. This behavior is most in line with which of the following?

Julie's self-esteem is severely threatened by receiving a low grade on an English exam, but when she performs poorly in a sports competition, it doesn't bother her at all. Which of the following would best describe this phenomenon?

Which of the following best describes the theory of self-verification?

Which of the following best describes what is meant by "implicit egotism"?

Which of the following best characterizes self-evaluation maintenance theory?

Which of the following best describes what is meant by "sociometer" theory?

Which of the following is responsible for integrating diverse self-relevant processing in different parts of the brain?

Using a highly successful person as a role model and aspiring to that person's success could be considered an example of which of the following?

The so-called "Golden Rule," do onto others as you would have them do onto you, assumes that others' preferences are similar to your own. This could be a potentially-problematic case of which of the following?

John is extremely motivated to win a large research grant; he thinks about it constantly and works very hard on his proposal. When thinking about this goal, which of the following brain regions is likely to be activated?

Possible and feared selves influence which of the following?

Which of the following would NOT be a good example of self variability?

Which of the following best describes what is meant by self-encoding in "person-situation-interaction" terms?