Question 1

"He could do it if he wanted to. He just doesn't like that part of his job, that's all." A statement like this from a supervisor indicates ________.
A) locus of control error
B) the horn effect
C) a halo effect
D) a fundamental attribution error

Accepted Answer

This statement indicates a fundamental attribution error, as it attributes the employee's behavior solely to internal factors (not liking the job task), rather than considering external factors that may be contributing to their reluctance to perform the task.

Question 2

Bill, a manager at a consulting firm, has been keenly analyzing the performance of a new recruit who turns out to be extremely intelligent. He concludes that she will be a good manager in the future even though her interpersonal skills are not half as impressive. This conclusion on Bill's part seems to be the result of ________.
A) stereotyping
B) selective perception
C) the halo effect
D) assumed similarity

Accepted Answer

The halo effect is a cognitive bias where an individual's overall impression of a person influences their judgments of that person's specific traits. In this case, Bill's overall impression of the new recruit as extremely intelligent is influencing his judgment of her potential as a manager, despite her lacking interpersonal skills.

Question 3

People say she will be late for her own funeral. It doesn't matter whether it's a team meeting or a meeting with her son's teacher, Malinda will be late. But she always has a plausible reason, one that is never her fault. Malinda's behavior shows ________.
A) high distinctiveness
B) low distinctiveness
C) high consensus
D) low consensus

Accepted Answer

Malinda's behavior of always being late and making excuses for it shows low distinctiveness, as it is a consistent behavior across different situations. There is no mention of consensus, as it is unclear whether others share her tendency to be late.

Question 4

Underestimating the influence of external factors and overestimating the influence of internal factors when making judgments about others is known as the ________.
A) fundamental attribution error
B) self-serving bias
C) locus of control error
D) halo effect

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) factors and underestimate situational (external) factors when making judgments about others. This means that individuals tend to attribute other people's behavior to their personality or character rather than external circumstances.

Question 5

Anne prefers one-page memos with only the main points of the issue. As a manager, she has limited amounts of time to read about internal problems. So when she prepares memos for her boss, she provides a brief outline of the situation to spare her boss the agony of having to read the boring details. Anne has succumbed to ________.
A) the liking effect
B) assumed similarity
C) the halo effect
D) stereotyping

Accepted Answer

Anne has succumbed to assumed similarity, which is the assumption that others share the same beliefs and will react similarly in the same situation. In this case, Anne assumes her boss prefers brief memos just as she does, without necessarily having evidence to support this assumption.

Question 6

When we make judgments about the behavior of other people, we tend to underestimate the influence of external factors and to overestimate the influence of internal factors. This tendency is called the self-serving bias.

Accepted Answer

The statement describes the fundamental attribution error, not the self-serving bias. The self-serving bias refers to the tendency to attribute our own successes to internal factors and our own failures to external factors.

Question 7

During the interview Ken was so impressed with Barbie's knowledge of aesthetic engineering he offered her the job on the spot. Unfortunately her job performance did not meet his expectations. Ken may have fallen victim to ________.
A) selective perception
B) stereotyping
C) assumed similarity
D) the halo effect

Accepted Answer

The halo effect occurs when one positive characteristic or attribute of a person influences our overall impression of them, leading us to overgeneralize our perception of their abilities or performance. In this case, Ken was impressed with Barbie's knowledge during the interview and that positive perception may have led him to overestimate her job performance without considering other factors.

Question 8

There is no reality beyond perception; we interpret what we see and call it reality.

Accepted Answer

This is a philosophical viewpoint known as subjective idealism, which asserts that reality is ultimately dependent upon perception or consciousness. It suggests that the external world does not exist independently of observation or interpretation.

Question 9

James, a new manager, is a very hard-working. He believes that people who are hardworking will always make sure that the work gets done on time. Even when he is out of the office, he supposes that his subordinates are working diligently because he works diligently most of the time. James's perceptions of his employees are based on ________.
A) stereotyping
B) selective perception
C) halo effect
D) assumed similarity

Accepted Answer

James is assuming that his subordinates are similar to him in terms of their work ethic and diligence, which is an example of assumed similarity. This cognitive bias leads him to believe that others share the same traits or behaviors as he does, without necessarily having evidence to support this belief.

Question 10

"Everyone knows Plutonians are sneaky little wretches who will steal you blind if you aren't careful. Polly is a Plutonian. Therefore, Polly is a thief." This line of reasoning is typical of ________.
A) group association
B) assumed similarity
C) stereotyping
D) the halo effect

Accepted Answer

This line of reasoning is based on stereotyping, which is the application of a generalization to an individual or a group without regard for individual differences. The statement makes an unwarranted assumption that all Plutonians are thieves based on a negative stereotype.

Question 11

Consensus refers to whether an individual displays different behaviors in different situations.

Accepted Answer

Consensus refers to the degree to which other people behave in the same way in a given situation. It does not refer to an individual's behavior in different situations.

Question 12

By using ________, we form a general impression about a person based on only a single characteristic, such as intelligence or appearance.
A) stereotyping
B) selectivity
C) the halo effect
D) assumed similarity

Accepted Answer

The halo effect is the tendency to form a general impression about a person based on one trait or characteristic, which is then used to influence our overall perception or evaluation of the individual. For example, if we perceive someone as physically attractive, we might also assume they are intelligent or friendly, even if we have no evidence to support those beliefs. Stereotyping involves making assumptions or generalizations about a group of people based on certain characteristics or traits, and assumed similarity refers to the tendency to assume that others share our beliefs, values, and attitudes. Selectivity refers to the fact that we often selectively attend to information that confirms our existing beliefs or biases.

Question 13

The age of the perceiver can influence the perceiver's perceptions.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that age can affect how people perceive and interpret information. Older individuals may rely more on prior experiences and knowledge when perceiving stimuli, while younger individuals may be more open to new information and experiences. Additionally, age-related changes in sensory abilities, such as vision and hearing, may also affect perception.

Question 14

People in the accounting department generally arrive 15 minutes early. So does Valerie, who is late today. This situation shows ________.
A) high consensus
B) low consensus
C) high consistency
D) low consistency

Accepted Answer

The answer of People in the accounting department generally arrive...

Question 15

"All attractive people are productive. Abigail is attractive; therefore, Abigail is productive." This is an example of the halo effect.

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of the false correlation fallacy, where a relationship is assumed between two variables without sufficient evidence. The halo effect is a cognitive bias where a person's positive qualities are assumed based on one perceived positive trait, such as attractiveness.

Question 16

When people judge someone on the basis of their perception of a group to which that person belongs, they are using the shortcut called ________.
A) stereotyping
B) self-serving bias
C) assumed similarity
D) the halo effect

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping is the shortcut used to judge someone on the basis of their perceived group membership, i.e., assuming they possess certain traits or behaviors because of their belonging to a particular group. The other options do not fit this definition. Self-serving bias is the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to oneself and negative outcomes to external factors, while assumed similarity is the assumption that others have beliefs and attitudes similar to one's own. The halo effect is the tendency to generalize from one positive trait to make positive assumptions about a person's other traits.

Question 17

In ________, the observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics than by those of the person observed.
A) stereotyping
B) self-serving bias
C) assumed similarity
D) the halo effect

Accepted Answer

Assumed similarity occurs when an observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics, beliefs, and experiences than by the actual characteristics of the person being observed. This leads to the assumption that others are similar to oneself even when this might not be the case.

Question 18

________ theory explains how we judge people differently depending on what meaning we ascribe to a given behavior.
A) Perception
B) Behavior
C) Attribution
D) Stereotype

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory explains how we judge people differently depending on the meaning we attach to their behavior. It suggests that we try to understand the cause of a behavior, whether it is due to internal factors (personality, ability, effort) or external factors (situational factors, luck). This understanding affects our perception of the person and their behavior.

Question 19

If everyone who's faced with a similar situation responds in the same way, we can say the behavior shows ________.
A) reliability
B) consistency
C) consensus
D) internal attribution

Accepted Answer

Consensus refers to the degree to which people in a situation or group would all agree or behave similarly. If everyone facing a similar situation responds in the same way, we can assume that there is a consensus in their behavior. Reliability refers to consistency in measurement, consistency refers to behavior being the same across time and situations, and internal attribution refers to the tendency to attribute behavior to internal or dispositional factors rather than external factors.

Question 20

________ is the tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors such as ability or effort while putting the blame for personal failure on external factors such as luck.
A) Locus of control error
B) Stereotyping
C) Fundamental attribution error
D) Self-serving bias

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the self-serving bias, where individuals tend to take credit for their successes and attribute failures to external factors in order to maintain positive self-esteem.

Quiz 15: Understanding and Managing Individual Behavior

"He could do it if he wanted to. He just doesn't like that part of his job, that's all." A statement like this from a supervisor indicates ________.

People say she will be late for her own funeral. It doesn't matter whether it's a team meeting or a meeting with her son's teacher, Malinda will be late. But she always has a plausible reason, one that is never her fault. Malinda's behavior shows ________.

Underestimating the influence of external factors and overestimating the influence of internal factors when making judgments about others is known as the ________.

When we make judgments about the behavior of other people, we tend to underestimate the influence of external factors and to overestimate the influence of internal factors. This tendency is called the self-serving bias.

During the interview Ken was so impressed with Barbie's knowledge of aesthetic engineering he offered her the job on the spot. Unfortunately her job performance did not meet his expectations. Ken may have fallen victim to ________.

There is no reality beyond perception; we interpret what we see and call it reality.

"Everyone knows Plutonians are sneaky little wretches who will steal you blind if you aren't careful. Polly is a Plutonian. Therefore, Polly is a thief." This line of reasoning is typical of ________.

Consensus refers to whether an individual displays different behaviors in different situations.

By using ________, we form a general impression about a person based on only a single characteristic, such as intelligence or appearance.

The age of the perceiver can influence the perceiver's perceptions.

People in the accounting department generally arrive 15 minutes early. So does Valerie, who is late today. This situation shows ________.

"All attractive people are productive. Abigail is attractive; therefore, Abigail is productive." This is an example of the halo effect.

When people judge someone on the basis of their perception of a group to which that person belongs, they are using the shortcut called ________.

In ________, the observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics than by those of the person observed.

________ theory explains how we judge people differently depending on what meaning we ascribe to a given behavior.

If everyone who's faced with a similar situation responds in the same way, we can say the behavior shows ________.

________ is the tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors such as ability or effort while putting the blame for personal failure on external factors such as luck.