Bias and Prejudice

Question 1

Define:

attribution theory

Answer 1

Refers to the study of how individuals explain the causes of events and the behaviors of others.

Several important MCAT concepts relate to attribution theory, such as the fundamental attribution error.

Question 2

What are the two main types of attributions?

Answer 2

1. situational
2. dispositional

These are explanations that people provide for behaviors.

Situational attributions relate to another person’s circumstances, while dispositional attributions relate to their personality or character.

Question 3

People who engage in the fundamental attribution error underemphasize which type of attributions?

Answer 3

situational attributions

Situational attributions are explanations for another person’s behavior that relate to that person’s current situation or external circumstances.

Question 4

People who engage in the fundamental attribution error overemphasize which type of attributions?

Answer 4

dispositional attributions

Dispositional attributions are explanations for another person’s behavior that relate to that person’s personality or character traits.

Question 5

Which concept in psychology and sociology refers to a difference between how we attribute our own behavior and how we attribute the behavior of others?

Answer 5

actor-observer bias

Question 6

Jenna recently found out that she had gained about 15 pounds since graduating from college. According to the actor-observer bias, how might she attribute this?

Answer 6

situational causes

For example, Jenna might blame her stressful job, the fact that she hasn’t been able to work out lately due to family obligations, or any other circumstance-related cause.

Question 7

Jenna goes to her high school reunion and sees that an old acquaintance has put on some weight. According to the actor-observer bias, how might she attribute this?

Answer 7

dispositional causes

For example, Jenna might think that her acquaintance has stopped trying to be healthy or eats too much.

Question 8

Fill in the blank.

A driver is briefly stuck behind an extremely slow-moving car. The driver responds by thinking “This guy can’t drive! He shouldn’t be on the road. What an inconsiderate jerk.” This driver is exhibiting ________________ error.

Answer 8

fundamental attribution

Instead of considering situational factors (for example, maybe the car is malfunctioning mechanically), this driver blames the person’s disposition. This is a classic example of the fundamental attribution error.

Question 9

Describe the key difference between the actor-observer bias and the fundamental attribution error.

Answer 9

• The actor-observer bias refers to a discrepancy between how we view our own behavior and how we view the behavior of others.
• The fundamental attribution error deals only with how we view the behavior of others.

Question 10

What is the psychological theory that states we develop attitudes in part by reflecting on our own behavior?

Answer 10

Bem’s self-perception theory

For example, if I work a long day for little pay, I might later reflect on the day and believe that I must have enjoyed the work. This idea that behavior influences attitude goes against the more intuitive idea that attitude influences behavior.

Question 11

In an experiment based on Bem’s self-perception theory, subjects listened to a person enthusiastically describe a terribly boring task. Half of the subjects were told that he was paid $10 for the task, while the rest were told that he was paid $100. Which group of subjects is likely to believe that he enjoyed the task more?

Answer 11

The group told that he was paid $10.

This is highly similar to Bem’s original experiment. The subjects who believed the enthusiastic man was paid very little for a boring task develop the attitude that he must have really enjoyed it.

Question 12

Which concept in psychology and sociology refers to a difference between how we attribute our own behavior under good versus bad circumstances?

Answer 12

self-serving bias

Question 13

Darryl is fired from his job. According to the self-serving bias, how might he attribute this?

Answer 13

situational causes

For example, Darryl might believe that his boss had a grudge against him, that his firing is really the fault of others on his team who didn’t pull their weight, or any other circumstance-related cause.

Question 14

After being fired, Darryl quickly gets a new job with a slight raise. According to the self-serving bias, how might he attribute this?

Answer 14

dispositional causes

For example, Darryl might think that his interviewer clearly must have recognized how smart and talented he is.

Question 15

What is the bias that causes individuals to overemphasize dispositional factors when attributing the behavior of others?

Answer 15

fundamental attribution error

(FAE)

The FAE can be distinguished from the similar concept of actor-observer bias in that the FAE deals only with others’ (not our own) behavior.

Question 16

What is the bias that causes individuals to overemphasize dispositional factors when good things happen to them and situational factors when bad things occur?

Answer 16

self-serving bias

Self-serving bias can be distinguished from the similar concepts of fundamental attribution error and actor-observer bias in that:

1. it deals only with ourselves (not others).
2. it is the only one of these concepts to involve differing attributions depending on the good or bad nature of the situation.

Question 17

What is the bias that causes individuals to overemphasize dispositional factors for others’ actions and situational factors for their own actions?

Answer 17

actor-observer bias

Actor-observer bias can be distinguished from the similar concept of fundamental attribution error in that actor-observer bias deals with both others’ and our own behavior.

Question 18

Fill in the blank.

Most physicians make sure to have a clean office, provide amenities, and dress neatly when meeting with new potential patients. If a physician believes this will help her land new patients, she believes patients will use ________ __ ___ __________ to form their perception of the doctor.

Answer 18

perceptions of the environment

These shape our perceptions of others. Research shows that people are more likely to perceive someone positively if they are in a relaxed, comfortable environment.

Question 19

What is the bias that both trauma and acute care surgeons and their patients are experiencing, as revealed by a 2014 study showing unconscious preferences for wealthier patients and perceptions of specialists as snobs?

Answer 19

class

Socioeconomic status, class power, and prestige can influence the biases and prejudices an individual may hold.

Question 20

Fill in the blank.

A stockbroker has a stock in his portfolio that is performing poorly, but he refuses to sell it, as it is a stock that his best friend told him about. Those who study ________ bias might argue that he does not want to sell because he does not want to admit that the loss is real and partly his friend’s fault.

Answer 20

emotional

An emotional bias is a distortion in thought or decision-making due to emotional factors. As a result, the person will likely engage in one of two different behaviors:

1. They may believe in something that has a positive emotional effect, even if there is evidence to the contrary.

OR

2. They may be reluctant to accept hard truths that are unpleasant and cause mental suffering.

Question 21

Define:

prejudice

Answer 21

Refers to unfavorable emotional reactions or judgments about a person due to his or her status or membership in a group.

For example, if Winnie is prejudiced against men, she may have a negative emotional reaction when she hears that a job candidate is a man, even though she has never met him.

Question 22

Define:

stereotype

Answer 22

Refers to generalized beliefs about members of a group.

For example, if Winnie holds stereotypes about men, she may believe that all men are untrustworthy or that all men are obsessed with going to the gym.

Question 23

True or false.

The views embodied in stereotypes are always negative.

Answer 23

False

The views embodied in stereotypes are often negative, but not always. For example, many groups are stereotyped as being unusually good at certain activities. However, the existence of even these stereotypes has negative consequences, as they decrease the understanding that every person is an individual and has his or her own personality and strengths.

Question 24

Define:

discrimination

Answer 24

Refers to differential treatment of a person or group based on their status or membership in that group.

Importantly, unlike prejudice or stereotyping, discrimination always involves action, such as denying someone a job or charging them extra for the same product.

Question 25

What is the term for Adam’s view of Asian people if he believes that all Asian people are smarter than others and does not allow for exceptions?

Answer 25

stereotype

Stereotypes are fixed ways of thinking about people in which one classifies others into specific categories without much room for variation.

Question 26

What is the term for the situation in which a man becomes anxious and distracted by societal beliefs about his parenting ability, leading to poor performance as a stay-at-home dad?

Answer 26

stereotype threat

This occurs when worry about conforming to a negative stereotype leads to underperformance on the task involved in the stereotype by a member of the stereotyped group.

Question 27

In a research study, two groups of women are asked to take a math test. Before the test, Group 1 reads articles about women underperforming on academic measures, while Group 2 works on puzzles for the same amount of time. All else being equal, which group is expected to perform worse?

Answer 27

group 1

Te group who read articles about women underperforming academically.

This situation embodies stereotype threat. Almost paradoxically, being aware of a stereotype against us can make us nervous to the point that we fulfill the stereotype.

Question 28

What can form when the effects of stereotype threat are perceived by observers as the fault of the stereotyped group?

Answer 28

a self-fulfilling prophecy

Since stereotype threat causes the stereotyped group to “fulfill” the stereotype, if observers are unaware of the reason behind this, it can contribute further to the stereotype, leading to a vicious cycle.

Question 29

What is exemplified when Danielle, an electronics store employee, is assigned to work as a customer service representative because she is a woman?

Answer 29

discrimination

Remember, discrimination exists whenever an action causes the differential treatment of the members of different groups.

Question 30

What is exemplified when someone reacts negatively to a dating profile upon realizing the person is very short?

As a side note, the person in this example is a real jerk.

Answer 30

prejudice

Prejudice refers to a negative reaction to a person or group based on their characteristics, status, or group membership. Note that this situation is slightly different from stereotyping, as the person in this example didn’t mention any generalized views about short people.

Question 31

What is it called when Diane’s belief that her boyfriend will leave her leads to behaviors like snooping and jealousy, ultimately causing the breakup she feared?

Answer 31

self-fulfilling prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that causes itself to come true due to the simple fact that the prediction was made. This happens because beliefs influence actions.

Question 32

What is the sociological model that rates stereotypes along the dimensions of warmth and competence?

Answer 32

stereotype content model

This model categorizes the impressions we have of others into admiration, paternalism, contemptuousness, and enviousness.

Question 33

According to the stereotype content model, low warmth and low competence corresponds to which stereotype?

Answer 33

contemptuous stereotype

“Contemptuous” essentially means “disgusted,” which makes sense here, as the group in question is both disliked (low warmth) and viewed as weak or incompetent (low competence).

Question 34

According to the stereotype content model, high warmth and low competence corresponds to which stereotype?

Answer 34

paternalistic stereotype

Paternalism refers to how we tend to perceive groups that we think of as weak or non-threatening (low competence) but that we still like/view warmly (high warmth).

Question 35

According to the stereotype content model, low warmth and high competence corresponds to which stereotype?

Answer 35

envious stereotype

This refers to how we tend to react to groups that we dislike (low warmth) but that we view as highly effective and/or threatening (high competence).

Question 36

According to the stereotype content model, high warmth and high competence corresponds to which stereotype?

Answer 36

admiration stereotype

This stereotype is usually reserved for members of our in-group and close friends, whom we view as both people we like (high warmth) and people who are competent/effective (high competence).

Question 37

Fill in the blank.

A rival high school swimteam that usually wins the state championship would be viewed with the ________ stereotype.

Choose from the four stereotypes of the stereotype content model.

Answer 37

envious

Rival teams are a classic example of the envious stereotype, since we view them as highly competent, but we are threatened by them or just outright don’t like them (low warmth).

Question 38

Fill in the blank.

Our little old grandmas and grandpas are commonly viewed with the __________ stereotype.

Choose from the four stereotypes of the stereotype content model.

Answer 38

paternalistic

We usually love our older relatives (high warmth), but we (often unfairly) may tend to view them as weak due to their old age and in need of care (low competence).

Question 39

Fill in the blank.

In a hyperindividualistic, capitalist society like the U.S., impoverished people unfortunately may be viewed with the __________ stereotype.

Choose from the four stereotypes of the stereotype content model.

Answer 39

contemptuous

This stereotype is used against groups that are usually disliked or resented (low warmth) and also viewed as ineffectual or weak (low competence). This is clearly not how society should be! However, it certainly is an attitude that currently exists in varying forms throughout the country.

Question 40

Fill in the blank.

In many countries, openly LGBT individuals face hostility and discrimination based on their relationships. This is a consequence of the social _______ surrounding their behavior.

Answer 40

stigma

Stigma is the disapproval and shame felt by people exhibiting characteristics or behavior that their particular society considers wrong or unusual. While the stigma against LGBT individuals has decreased in the U.S. in recent years, it certainly still exists, and it is even more prevalent in many other countries.

Question 41

Describe the difference between individualist and collectivist cultures with regard to the attributions that are commonly made.

Answer 41

Members of individualist societies may be more likely to make dispositional attributions than members of collectivist societies.

On the flip side, a collectivist society, where it is accepted that everyone contributes to a group outcome, is more likely to foster situational attributions than an individualist society, where people are valued for their own personal contributions.

Question 42

Which sociological term refers to judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture, which is often accompanied by the view that one’s own culture is superior?

Answer 42

ethnocentrism

Often accompanied by the belief (conscious or unconscious) that “my society, group, or culture is superior,” ethnocentrism manifests as the judgment of all behavior and attitudes in comparison to one’s own culture, with differences seen as negative.

Question 43

What is the term for an alternative way to view other cultures in a more positive, accepting light than ethnocentrism?

Answer 43

cultural relativism

This is the idea that analyzing or judging someone’s beliefs, values, and behaviors must be viewed from the perspective of their culture. Cultural relativism is considered the positive alternative to ethnocentrism.

Question 44

What is the term for the hostility toward foreigners that can arise in cultures with a high ethnic homogeneity, if taken to extreme lengths?

Answer 44

xenophobia

This is a term that refers to a generalized and irrational dislike, fear, or hatred of “outsiders,” those people who are of different cultures or ethnic groups. This level of fear or hatred goes beyond simple prejudice or racism.

Question 45

What is the technique called in which a subject listens to a speech and repeats identified statements, such as ethnocentric ones, as they are heard?

Answer 45

speech shadowing

This is an experimental technique in which subjects repeat speech immediately after hearing it. In this case, speech shadowing is being used as a technique in a study of ethnocentrism/stereotyping.