Chapter 4

Question 1

A term that refers generally to the processes of perception and judgment with which we make sense of our social worlds.

Answer 1

Social Cognition

Question 2

Social Cognition

Answer 2

A term that refers generally to the processes of perception and judgment with which we make sense of our social worlds.

Question 3

Does the first impression matter?

Answer 3

Yes- when researchers formally arranged conversations between students the initial impressions continued to influence their feelings about ea/ other 10wks later.

Question 4

Why do first impressions matter so much?

Answer 4

Because they linger

Question 5

A tendency for the first impressions and our sterotypes in shaping our overall impressions of them.

Answer 5

Primacy effect.

Question 6

Primacy effect

Answer 6

A tendency for the first impressions and our stereotypes in shaping our overall impressions of them. Once a judgment forms- it affects how we use the data that follows.

Question 7

What was the example the text gave of primacy effect?

Answer 7

The order of 5 words describing someone- started with envious then ended with intelligent or vis versa.

Question 8

What was the ‘Hannah’ study where students were shown a video of a girl?

Answer 8

Two different videos were prepared- one was of Hannah being rich playing in a park, the other was of Hannah being poor. No Ps assumed that the rich kid was smarter than the poor kid at this point.

After there was a video shown of Hannah taking an Aptitude test answering some hard questions but blowing some easy ones. The Ps who thought she was poor cited her mistakes and said she was below average while those who thought she was rich noted her success and said she did better than average.

Question 9

Why are the results of the Hannah study particularly worrisome?

Answer 9

B.c they didn’t leap to biased assumptions about Hannah simply by knowing her social class- which would be obvious and easier to correct. Instead, their knowledge of her social class lingered in their minds and determined their biased interpretations of her later actions.

Question 10

Seeking info that will prove previous beliefs to be correct more often than looking for info that will contradict previous knowledge/beliefs

Answer 10

Confirmation bias

Question 11

What was the study that demonstrated confirmation bias?

Answer 11

Asked Ps to find out if a stranger was intro vs extroverted. The two groups adopted very different ways to investigate- asking questions that will fulfill the intro or extro.

Question 12

What is a serious problem with confirmation biases?

Answer 12

We aren’t likely to change our mind. We have a problematic tendency to become overconfident.

Question 13

Who are the best judges of how long relationships will last according to a uni study?

Answer 13

The parents made better predictions but then the roommates were even better yet. (The friends of the females are the most accurate.)

Question 14

How do our external surrounds influence our views on different relationships?

Answer 14

Quite a bit- warm hands vs cold hands- made Ps think more warm or cold thoughts about a stranger.
Sitting on wobbly chair- made Ps increase desire for stability in a relationship.

Question 15

People often judge their partners with ______ that portray their lovers in the best possible light.

Answer 15

Positive illusions

Question 16

What are positive illusions?

Answer 16

A mix or realistic knowledge about our partners and idealized perceptions of them. They don’t ignore the faults- just down play them.

Question 17

Isn’t it dangerous to hold a lover in such high esteem?

Answer 17

Only if the perceptions are completely wrong- otherwise its beneficial to us and them! And, as time goes on we will change our perceptions to better fit them into what we want.

Question 18

The explanation we generate for why things happen- and in particular why a person did or did not do something- are called ____

Answer 18

attributions.

Question 19

Attributions

Answer 19

The explanation we generate for why things happen- and in particular why a person did or did not do something

Question 20

What two ways do we emphasize influences to be?

Answer 20

1. Internal to someone or 2. external to someone.

Eg. Person takes test and does well- internal- studied well. Does poorly- external eg. prof sucked.

Question 21

How can causes be described? (2 spectrums)

Answer 21

Stable or unstable. Controllable or uncontrollable.

Question 22

People generate different explanations for their own behaviour than they do for the similar things they see their partner doing. Ppl often are unlikely aware of this.- if they make an effort in understanding the other’s POV then the conflict becomes less.

Answer 22

Actor/observer effects.

Question 23

3 broad patters that routinely emerge from studies of attributions in relationships.

Answer 23

1. Actor/observer effects
2. Self-serving biases
3. The general pattern of a couple’s attributions helps determine how satisfied they will be with their relationship.

Question 24

Ppl readily take credit for their successes but try to avoid the blame for their failures.

Answer 24

Self-serving biases

Question 25

The manner in which our memories are continually revises and rewritten as new info is obtained.

Answer 25

Reconstructive memory

Question 26

What is a pro of reconstructive memory?

Answer 26

By misremembering their past, partners can remain optimistic about their future.

Question 27

The view that love should be the most important basis for choosing a mate.

Answer 27

Romanticism

Question 28

People who are high in romanticism believe.. (3)

Answer 28

1. Ea. of us only has 1 true love
2. True love will find a way to overcome any obstacle
3. Love is possible at first sight

Question 29

What is another term for ppl with high levels of romanticism?

Answer 29

Destiny beliefs.

Question 30

According to _______ good relationships are believed to develop gradually as the partner work at surmounting challenges and overcoming obstacles. A basic presumption is that with enough effort- almost any relationship can succeed.

Answer 30

Growth beliefs

Question 31

Growth beliefs

Answer 31

According to _______ good relationships are believed to develop gradually as the partner work at surmounting challenges and overcoming obstacles. A basic presumption is that with enough effort- almost any relationship can succeed.

Question 32

False predictions that become true because they lead ppl to behave in ways that make the erroneous expectations come true.

Answer 32

Self-fulfilling prophecies.

Question 33

What was the example study of the self-fulfilling prophecy in the text book? (yes photo)

Answer 33

Men were told they were either talking to an attractive or unattractive woman on the phone. (Fake photo). The men treated the women differently and then the women responded. The women who were presumed to be attractive really did sound more alluring and the women who talked with relatively detached men who thought they were unattractive thought they sounded pretty drab.

Question 34

What was the example study of the self-fulfilling prophecy in the text book? (no photo)

Answer 34

Ps were told that they were about to talk to someone that already has an opinion of them- they already like or dislike you. If you are liked- you act more engaging or visversa if you’re disliked.

Question 35

What are 2 motives related to self-concepts?

Answer 35

1. Self-enhancement- the desire for positive, complementary feedback
2. Self-verification- the desire for feedback that is consistent with one’s existing self-concept

These go hand in hand for ppl who like themselves.

Question 36

How do motives coexist in ppl with negative self-concepts?

Answer 36

They like praise and compliments from others- but once they get a chance to think about them they don’t believe/trust the feedback. Therefore ppl who accurately recognize your deficits but still like you satisfy both motives.

Question 37

Imagine you have a lousy self-concept and you’re paired with a RM who constantly tells you there’s no reason to doubt yourself. You want to stay right?

Answer 37

Wrong- the motive to protect and maintain our existing self-concepts is so strong that ppl with neg. self-concepts want to leave. they’d rather have someone who dislikes them.

Question 38

What is the marriage shift?

Answer 38

Originally we want ppl who like and accept them. But as things get more serious ppl want feedback that supports their self-concepts.

Question 39

We want ppl to like us. We often try to influence the impressions of us that others form.

Answer 39

Impression management.

Question 40

Why is impression management a significant idea? (2)

Answer 40

1. Nearly anything we do in the presence of others may be strategically regulated in the service of impression management. eg. women eating less on date.
2. It is a pervasive influence of social life. We always think about what others are thinking.. we show certain characteristics to ppl to connect with them.

Question 41

4 different broad strategies of impression management.

Answer 41

1. Ingratiation- when we seek acceptance for others we do favours and compliment them. Common in romance.
2. Self promotion- often used in workplace.
3. Intimidation
4. Supplication- presenting oneself as inept or infirm. eg. too tired to do the dishes.
   (first 2 are positive)

Question 42

What type of ppl have many friends that if invited to a party would not particularly mesh well together?

Answer 42

High self-monitors. These ppl have a ballet friend, a tennis friend etc. etc. where low self-monitors would have fewer people come to a party but these people would have more in common with one another.

Question 43

Do you get more accurate at inferring what your partner is thinking?

Answer 43

No, longer periods of very close contact seem to gradually result in less accuracy as time goes by.

Question 44

A set of abilities that describes a person’s talents in perceiving, using, understanding and managing emotions.

Answer 44

Emotional intelligence- when ppl are high in this they enjoy more satisfying and more intimate interactions.

Question 45

What were the results of the emotional intelligence study where men watched videos of women discussing their divorces?

Answer 45

The men who could read the womens’ thoughts and feelings were more more satisfied with their own marriages. The men who were really angry or bitter/hostile were more likely to beat their wives.

Question 46

Can you improve how well people can understand their partners?

Answer 46

Yes- training and practice can help! One study Ps took a 10hr empathy course and could still better understand their partners emotions 6m later.

Question 47

Other people are more likely to know things about you that you DON’T know. Why? (2)

Answer 47

1. They have a different POV- can notice behaviour that can escape your notice.
2. They’re more objective. We have self-serving biases. Eg. they probs know how attractive we are.

Ppl are unaware of your unspoken fears, good intentions and other private experiences.

Question 48

What was found when a couple looked at attractive photos of ppl that their partner were going to meet later?

Answer 48

The more attractive (threatening) the photos were and the closer their relationship was- the less accurately dating partners perceived ea/ other’s thoughts and feelings.

BUT ppl with preoccupied attachment style were actually more accurate in judging their partners when they were looking at the attractive photo.

Question 49

What happened with preoccupied attachment style ppl when they were doing the attractive photo test?

Answer 49

Ppl with preoccupied attachment style were actually more accurate in judging their partners when they were looking at the attractive photo. This upset them and then they rated their relationship as unfavourable.

Question 50

When we first meet others, we jump to conclusions b/c of stereotypes and ____. ___________ then affect our selection of subsequent data, and __________ leads us to put unwarrented faith in our judgements.

Answer 50

1. Primacy effects
2. Confirmation biases
3. Overconfidence

Question 51

The explanations we generate for why things happen are called ____

Answer 51

attributions

Question 52

Partners are affected by ________ and ______ biases , and they tend to employ either ________ or _____________ patterns of attribution.

Answer 52

1. Actor/observer effects
2. Self-serving biases
3. Relationship-enhancing
4. Distress-maintaining

Question 53

What is an example of a dysfunctional relationship belief?

Answer 53

Destiny beliefs. Growth beliefs are more realistic and profitable.

Question 54

How well do we know our partners?

Answer 54

We often don’t understand them as well as we think we do. But as couples develop and spend more time together they typically understand ea/ other better.