Social Psychology - Domain Quiz Flashcards
A friend says, “Every time I plan a vacation, there’s always a crisis at home or work so that I can’t go.” Assuming that this is not really true, your friend’s statement best illustrates which of the following?
Select one:
a. psychological reactance
b. deindividuation
c. fundamental attribution bias
d. illusory correlation
For the exam, you want to be familiar with all of the phenomena listed in the answers to this question. Additional information about them is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer D is correct: The illusory correlation is the tendency to believe that two unrelated events are related.
Answer A is incorrect: Psychological reactance is the tendency to resist being influenced by another person when that person’s request is perceived as a threat to personal freedom.
Answer B is incorrect: Deindividuation refers to the state of anonimity that a person experiences as a member of a group and has been linked to an increased willingness to engage in antisocial behavior.
Answer C is incorrect: The fundamental attribution bias is the tendency to overestimate dispositional causes and underestimate situational causes when making attributions about another person’s behavior.
The correct answer is: illusory correlation
A person is exhibiting a ____________ when she tends to pay more attention to messages and experiences that support her view on a controversial issue while ignoring those that discredit her view.
Select one:
a. cognitive consistency bias
b. confirmation bias
c. halo bias
d. self-serving bias
A number of biases have been identified by investigators interested in decision-making and memory.
Answer B is correct: A confirmation bias (Silverman, 1992) is the tendency to believe and pay attention to experiences that support our views and ignore experiences that discredit them.
Answer A is incorrect: Cognitive consistency theory predicts that behaviors that are inconsistent with an established attitude are susceptible to change.
Answer C is incorrect: The halo bias occurs when a person’s status or performance on one dimension affects how a rater rates him or her on all other dimensions.
Answer D is incorrect: A self-serving bias occurs when a person attributes positive outcomes to internal (dispositional) factors and negative outcomes to external (situational) factors.
The correct answer is: confirmation bias
A student who is chronically depressed is most likely to attribute the low score he received on his final exam to:
Select one:
a. his lack of ability.
b. the lack of time he had to study.
c. the difficulty of the exam items.
d. the instructor’s ineptitude.
This question is asking about the learned helplessness model of depression.
Answer A is correct: The studies on learned helplessness have found that people who are depressed often attribute their failures to internal, stable, and global factors.
The correct answer is: his lack of ability.
Based on his investigation of the relationship between affiliation and anxiety, Schachter (1959) concluded that which of the following best accounted for the desire of high-anxiety research participants to wait with other high-anxiety participants?
Select one:
a. demand characteristics
b. evaluation apprehension
c. relief from discomfort
d. social comparison
This question is referring to Schachter’s (1959) “misery loves miserable company” study, which is described in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer D is correct: Because high-anxiety participants preferred to wait with others for a study to begin only when the others were also highly anxious, Schachter concluded that the desire to affiliate is best explained by social comparison – i.e., the participant’s desire to evaluate his or her own anxiety by comparing it to the anxiety of another participant.
The correct answer is: social comparison
Berscheid’s (1983) emotion-in-relationship model proposes that strong positive emotions are LESS likely to be elicited during the later stages of an intimate relationship than in its initial stages because, in the later stages:
Select one:
a. each partner is more self-centered and less other-centered.
b. each partner’s behavior has become more predictable.
c. each partner works harder to be sensitive to the other’s needs.
d. each partner tend to focus more on other relationships.
The emotion-in-relationship model predicts that emotion is aroused by unusual or unexpected events.
Answer B is correct: Berscheid’s model proposes that, in the later stages of a relationship, a partner is less likely to do something that is unexpected. For example, an extravagant birthday present is a pleasant surprise during the first and second year of a relationship but, by the 12th year, has become expected.
The correct answer is: each partner’s behavior has become more predictable.
Equity theory predicts that a person’s satisfaction in a close personal relationship is related to the person’s:
Select one:
a. perceptions of his or her reward or cost ratio and the ratio of the other person.
b. perceptions of the relative utility of the relationship.
c. comparisons between his or her current relationship and past relationships.
d. comparisons between his or her own relationship and the relationships of others.
As its name suggests, equity theory predicts that we are satisfied with relationships that we perceive to be equitable.
Answer A is correct: According to this theory, we evaluate equity by comparing our input or outcome (reward or cost) ratio to the ratio of the other person.
The correct answer is: perceptions of his or her reward or cost ratio and the ratio of the other person.
Research on attraction suggests that competent, intelligent people are:
Select one:
a. liked more when they act in a consistently competent manner.
b. liked more when they occasionally make a blunder.
c. liked more when they hide their intelligence.
d. not liked as much as less competent, less intelligent people.
The research has found that attraction to others is affected by a number of factors including perceptions of the other person’s competence.
Answer B is correct: The studies have confirmed that “to err is humanizing” – i.e., people like competent people most if they occasionally make a small blunder.
The correct answer is: liked more when they occasionally make a blunder.
Rosenhan’s research involving “pseudopatients” who were admitted to psychiatric hospitals:
Select one:
a. confirmed that participation in a research study alters the behaviors of research participants.
b. demonstrated that labeling a person changes the person’s behavior.
c. showed that the environment influences how a person’s behavior is interpreted.
d. showed that “central traits” have a greater impact than other traits on impression formation.
Rosenhan’s (1973) pseudopatient study confirmed that impression formation is affected by the context in which it occurs.
Answer C is correct: Individuals (confederates) who were admitted to a psychiatric hospital as the result of their claim of hearing voices were subsequently judged by the staff (and, to a lesser degree, by fellow patients) as being schizophrenic even though they had stopped faking symptoms and acted normally when interacting with staff and patients. Rosenhan concluded that these results demonstrated the impact of the social environment on impression formation.
The correct answer is: showed that the environment influences how a person’s behavior is interpreted.
Self-verification theory predicts that a husband who has low self-esteem and is overweight and chronically depressed will prefer his wife to:
Select one:
a. not comment on his abilities, weight, and mood.
b. make neutral comments about his abilities, weight, and mood.
c. confirm his negative self-evaluations.
d. challenge his negative self-evaluations.
As its name suggests, self-verification theory predicts that people who have positive self-concepts prefer to interact with others who confirm those self-concepts and vice versa.
Answer C is correct: Self-verification theory proposes that we seek information that is consistent with our self-evaluations.
The correct answer is: confirm his negative self-evaluations.
The statement, “You fell because you tripped, but I fell because I was pushed” BEST illustrates which of the following?
Select one:
a. self-perception bias
b. actor-observer effect
c. fundamental attribution bias
d. low self-monitoring
In the situation described in the question, you are attributing your own behavior to a situational factor but the behavior of another person to a dispositional factor.
Answer B is correct: The tendency to attribute the behaviors of others to dispositional factors and our own behaviors to situational factors is referred to as the actor-observer effect.
The correct answer is: actor-observer effect
The tendency to overestimate the role of dispositional factors when inferring the cause of another person’s behavior is referred to as the:
Select one:
a. self-serving bias.
b. actor-observer effect.
c. fundamental attribution bias.
d. self-perception bias.
For the exam, you want to be familiar with the characteristics of all of the phenomena listed in the answers to this question, which are described in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer C is correct: This question describes the fundamental attribution bias which is the tendency to attribute the behavior of others to dispositional factors.
The correct answer is: fundamental attribution bias.
According to Moscovici (1985), group members espousing the minority position are most likely to change the opinion of the majority when:
Select one:
a. members supporting the minority position have accumulated “idiosyncrasy credits.”
b. members supporting the minority position are consistent in expressing their opinions without being dogmatic.
c. the number of people representing the minority opinion is only slightly less than the number of people respresenting the majority position.
d. the minority leader is viewed by group members as having legitimate power.
Moscovici contends that, to influence others, people holding a minority position must use different strategies than those who agree with the majority position.
Answer B is correct: Moscovici argues that, to change the opinion of the majority, the minority must present its position in a firm, consistent manner without appearing to be rigid or dogmatic.
The correct answer is: members supporting the minority position are consistent in expressing their opinions without being dogmatic.
According to the elaboration likelihood model, a person is most likely to rely on the “central route” for processing information when:
Select one:
a. he thinks the message is boring.
b. everyone else in the group agrees with the message.
c. the message is within his “latitude of acceptance.”
d. he is in a neutral or slightly negative mood.
The elaboration likelihood model proposes that persuasion can involve either a central or peripheral route and that each route is associated with different conditions and outcomes.
Answer D is correct: According to this model, we are more likely to use the central route for processing a persuasive message when we are in a neutral or slightly negative mood but the peripheral route when we are in a positive mood. See the Social Psychology chapter for additional information on this model.
The correct answer is: he is in a neutral or slightly negative mood.
Aronson and Mills (1959) examined the effects of severity of initiation into an uninteresting group on subsequent attitudes toward the group. Results of their study indicated that, in comparison to women who underwent a mild initiation, women who underwent a severe initiation as a precondition of group membership:
Select one:
a. rated the group as less interesting and enjoyable.
b. rated the group as more interesting and enjoyable.
c. were more likely to drop out of the group at the end of the initation.
d. were more likely to say they disliked fellow group members.
Knowing that the results of the Aronson and Mills study are used to support cognitive dissonance theory would have helped you identify the correct answer to this question.
Answer B is correct: As predicted by cognitive dissonance theory, when women underwent a difficult initiation to get into a dull group, they experienced dissonance, which they attempted to resolve by deciding that the group was interesting and enjoyable.
The correct answer is: rated the group as more interesting and enjoyable.
A supervisor attempts to increase his influence by being sensitive to the needs of his subordinates and by acting as a role model. This supervisor is relying on which of the bases of power identified by French and Raven (1959)?
Select one:
a. referent
b. legitimate
c. expert
d. charismatic
For the exam, you want to be familiar with the six bases of power identified by French and Raven:
coercive: Influencing agent has control over punishments.
reward: Influencing agent has control over valued rewards and resources.
expert: Influencing agent is believed to have superior ability, rewards, and resources.
referent: Target person is attracted to, likes, or identifies with the influencing agent.
legitimate: Target person believes the influencing agent has legitimate authority.
informational: Influencing agent possesses specific information that is needed by the target person.
These are described in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer A is correct: A person has referent power when he or she is admired, liked, or respected by other people and or or is viewed as a role model.
The correct answer is: referent
Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) offered participants in a dull experiment either $1.00 or $20.00 to tell potential participants that the experiment was very interesting and were subsequently asked to evaluate the experiment. The results of the study:
Select one:
a. were consistent with the predictions of both cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory.
b. contradicted the predictions of both cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory.
c. were consistent with the predictions of cognitive dissonance theory but contradicted the predictions of self-perception theory.
d. contradicted the predictions of cognitive dissonance theory but were consistent with the predictions of self-perception theory.
In the Festinger and Carlsmith study, the $1.00 participants were more likely than the $20.00 participants to say they had actually enjoyed the dull experiment.
Answer A is correct: This result was consistent with cognitive dissonance theory (which predicts that we change a cognition or behavior to reduce dissonance) and with self-perception theory (which predicts that we evaluate our internal state by looking at our external behavior).
The correct answer is: were consistent with the predictions of both cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory.
Research on factors that influence attitude change has found that, when the communicator is mildly to moderately credible, attitude change is greatest when the level of discrepancy between the initial positions of the communicator and the recipient of the communication is:
Select one:
a. large.
b. moderate.
c. small.
d. unpredictable.
The studies have found that attitude change is a function of both the initial level of discrepancy and the credibility of the communicator.
Answer B is correct: Change in attitude is greatest when the initial level of discrepancy is in the moderate range, especially when the communicator is mildly to moderately credible.
The correct answer is: moderate.
Sam has always been very fond of bowling. However, his new girlfriend, Sally, hates bowling. According to _________, in this situation, Sam will be motivated to change his feelings about bowling.
Select one:
a. social judgment theory
b. equity theory
c. balance theory
d. the emotion-in-relationship model
For the exam, you want to be familiar with the predictions of all of the theories listed in the answers to this question, and these are described in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer C is correct: Balance theory predicts that people prefer to have consistent cognitions and will be motivated to change a cognition in order to reduce the disequilibrium they feel when they experience inconsistency. It also focuses on the relationships between three entities – the person, another person, and a third person, object, event, or activity.
The correct answer is: balance theory
Sherif (1935) used the autokinetic effect to study:
Select one:
a. attitude inoculation.
b. psychological reactance.
c. conformity to group norms.
d. bases of social power.
Sherif was among the first researchers to study factors that affect willingness to conform to group norms.
Answer C is correct: Sherif used an ambiguous stimulus (the autokinetic effect) to study conformity to group norms. Additional information about his research is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
The correct answer is: conformity to group norms.
Sherif and Hovland’s (1961) social judgment theory predicts that a person’s “latitude of rejection” is largest when the person:
Select one:
a. has high ego-involvement with the target issue.
b. has an external locus of control.
c. is unfamiliar with the target issue.
d. is in a good mood.
Social judgment theory distinguishes between three categories of judgment that influence how we evaluate persuasive messages:
Latitude of acceptance
Latitude of non-commitment
Latitude of rejection
Answer A is correct: According to this theory, the magnitude of the three categories is affected by the person’s level of ego-involvement with the target issue. Not surprisingly, when a person has high ego-involvement, he or she is less likely to be persuaded (i.e., his or her latitude of rejection is large). Additional information about social judgment theory is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
The correct answer is: has high ego-involvement with the target issue.
To “inoculate” someone against a persuasive message, you would:
Select one:
a. warn the person that she is about to hear a message designed to change her beliefs.
b. provide the person with information that supports her current beliefs.
c. provide the person with strong arguments against her beliefs.
d. provide the person with arguments against her beliefs and weak refutations of those arguments.
McGuire (1969) derived his notion of attitude inoculation from the use of inoculation in medicine.
Answer D is correct: McGuire found that resistance to persuasion was significantly increased with individuals were provided with arguments against their own position and weak counterarguments prior to hearing the persuasive message.
The correct answer is: provide the person with arguments against her beliefs and weak refutations of those arguments.
Which of the following predicts that instituting a law that raises the minimum drinking age for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21 will increase underage drinking among college students?
Select one:
a. the inoculation model
b. cognitive dissonance theory
c. psychological reactance theory
d. the deindividuation model
For the exam, you want to be familiar with all of the phenomena listed in the answers to this question, and these are described in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer C is correct: In the situation described in this question, it is predicted that college students will do the opposite of what is required by law – i.e., they will do the opposite of what is desired in a situation in which their personal freedom is being thwarted. This is referred to as psychological reactance.
The correct answer is: psychological reactance theory
According to Hays (2001), which of the following groups holds privilege?
Select one:
a. Individuals with disabilities
b. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status
c. Immigrants
d. Males
Answer D is correct: According to Hays’ acronym for understanding privilege, ADDRESSING, the following groups hold privilege: individuals between the ages of 30-60, individuals who do not have a disability, individuals who hold secular or Christian beliefs, individuals who claim Euro-American heritage, individuals who are middle or upper class, individuals who are heterosexual, individuals who are not of indigenous heritage, individuals who were born or grew up in the country where they live, and male individuals.
The correct answer is: Males
A national survey finds that, while most people are in favor of integration in the workplace, the majority also oppose affirmative action. This finding is best explained by which of the following?
Select one:
a. illusory correlation
b. contact hypothesis
c. symbolic racism
d. scapegoat theory
Sears and his colleagues (e.g., Sears, 1988) have proposed that traditional blatant forms of racism have been replaced by more subtle forms.
Answer C is correct: Symbolic racism is characterized by a tendency to support equality as an abstract principle while opposing concrete methods for achieving it. Additional information on symbolic racism is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer A is incorrect: Illusory correlation is the tendency to perceive a relationship between events that are not actually related.
Answer B is incorrect: The contact hypothesis proposes that prejudice may be reduced by contact between members of majority and minority groups when members of the groups have equal status and power and are provided with opportunities to disconfirm negative stereotypes.
Answer D is incorrect: Scapegoat theory was derived from the frustration-aggression hypothesis and proposes that prejudice is the result of displaced aggression.
The correct answer is: symbolic racism
Berkowitz’s (1971) version of the frustration-aggression hypothesis proposes that frustration creates a readiness for aggression but that the expression of aggression also requires which of the following?
Select one:
a. an expectation that aggression will be reinforced
b. the belief that aggression is effective
c. high levels of physiological arousal
d. the presence of an aggressive cue
The original frustration-aggression hypothesis has been modified to include other factors.
Answer D is correct: Research by Berkowitz and colleagues found that frustration was more likely to lead to aggression in the presence of a gun or other aggressive cue.
The correct answer is: the presence of an aggressive cue
Herek (1992) attributes violence against gays and lesbians to:
Select one:
a. heterosexism.
b. homophobia.
c. symbolic racism.
d. intergroup prejudice.
As defined by Herek, heterosexism is an “ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes among non-heterosexual forms of behavior, identity, relationships, or community” (1992, p. 150).
Answer A is correct: According to Herek, violence against gays and lesbians is the result of a combination of psychological (individual) and cultural heterosexism.
Answer B is incorrect: Herek views the term homophobia as ambiguous and imprecise and replaced it with three terms – sexual stigma, heterosexism, and sexual prejudice.
Answer C is incorrect: The term symbolic racism is used to describe recent forms of racism that reject some of the beliefs and behaviors associated with traditional (“old-fashioned”) racism.
Answer D is incorrect: Herek does not use the term intergroup prejudice to describe the cause of violence against gays and lesbians.
The correct answer is: heterosexism.
The __________ proposes that aggressive impulses “build up” inside an individual and must be released and that such release reduces the risk for future aggression.
Select one:
a. displaced aggression hypothesis
b. contact hypothesis
c. catharsis hypothesis
d. deindividual model
Several theories have been developed to explain aggressive behavior.
Answer C is correct: One implication of the catharsis hypothesis is that watching someone else engage in violence (e.g., watching a violent TV show) will lead to catharsis, which will then reduce the risk of aggressive behavior in the future. The catharsis hypothesis has not been well-supported by the research.
Answer A is incorrect: Displaced aggression refers to aggression that varies in either type or target from that actually preferred by the aggressor.
Answer B is incorrect: The contact hypothesis was proposed by Allport as a method for reducing hostility and prejudice between members of majority and minority groups.
Answer D is incorrect: The deindividuation model predicts that people may be more willing to act aggressively when acting as a group member than when acting alone because of the anonymity that the group provides.
The correct answer is: catharsis hypothesis
With regard to the reduction of racial or ethnic discrimination, Gordon Allport (1954) concluded that:
Select one:
a. folkways must always precede stateways.
b. stateways must always precede folkways.
c. it is not always necessary for folkways to precede stateways.
d. it is necessary for folkways and stateways to change simultaneously.
Answer C is correct. As defined by Allport (1954):
Folkways are personal attitudes and beliefs, while stateways are laws.
Allport concluded that stateways can effectively precede folkways. In other words, he believed that laws prohibiting discrimination can be effective even when they do not reflect public consensus.
The correct answer is: it is not always necessary for folkways to precede stateways.
Zimbardo’s (1972) prison study illustrated the impact of which of the following on behavior?
Select one:
a. psychopathology
b. group conformity
c. deindividuation
d. social roles
In Zimbardo’s (1972) prison study, students were randomly assigned to enact the role of either a prisoner or prison guard and were placed in an environment that simulated an actual prison.
Answer D is correct: Zimbardo’s (1972) prison study confirmed that people often alter their behaviors so that they are consistent with assigned roles: Even though students had been randomly assigned to the role of prisoner or guard, they quickly adopted behaviors consisted with their roles.
The correct answer is: social roles
A person is most likely to be helped in an emergency situation when:
Select one:
a. there is a single bystander.
b. there are several bystanders.
c. there are several bystanders of the same gender.
d. there are several bystanders of the opposite gender.
This question is asking about the results of research on bystander intervention.
Answer A is correct: The studies have found that, the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely that a victim will receive assistance. See the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials for additional information about bystander intervention.
The correct answer is: there is a single bystander.
Movie viewers are most likely to say they feel uncomfortable in a crowded movie theater when the movie is:
Select one:
a. a violent action film.
b. a sexually arousing film.
c. an amusing comedy.
d. a boring documentary.
The effects of crowding depend on several factors including the nature of the situation in which it occurs.
Answer D is correct: Research on crowding has found that people tend to be bothered most by crowding in unarousing, uninteresting situations (e.g., while watching a boring documentary).
The correct answer is: a boring documentary.
Research by Sherif et al. (1961) suggests that, to decrease hostility between groups of junior high school students, you would be best advised to:
Select one:
a. increase opportunities for social contact under pleasant conditions.
b. have a respected member of the community speak to the students about the benefits of cooperation.
c. assign the students goals that can be achieved only through intergroup cooperation.
d. have each group select a represenative to discuss ways to reduce hostility.
This question is asking about the results of Sherif et al.’s Robber’s Cave Study. Additional information about this study is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
Answer C is correct: The results of the Robber’s Cave study found that the most effective way for reducing intergroup hostility was to introduce SUPERORDINATE GOALS that could be accomplished only through intergroup cooperation.
The correct answer is: assign the students goals that can be achieved only through intergroup cooperation.
Research investigating the effects of the “jigsaw method” in the classroom has demonstrated that it:
Select one:
a. increases aggression, especially toward the provocateur.
b. reduces racial or ethnic stereotyping.
c. increases intergroup competition.
d. has a negative effect on academic achievement.
The jigsaw method involves having teams of students work together to complete an assignment, with each member being assigned a different task or aspect of the assignment.
Answer B is correct: The jigsaw method has been found to have a number of beneficial effects, including raising self-esteem, improving cooperation, and reducing racial or ethnic stereotyping. In terms of academic achievement, it tends to improve the performance of minority-group children and either increases or has no effect on the performance of majority-group children.
The correct answer is: reduces racial or ethnic stereotyping.
The basic premise of the Zeigarnik effect is that:
Select one:
a. we tend to remember unfinished tasks better than finished ones.
b. we tend to remember novel or unusual tasks better than familiar ones.
c. we tend to remember difficult tasks better than easy ones.
d. we tend to remember interesting tasks better than boring ones.
Zeigarnik used Lewin’s field theory to explain the consequences of unresolved tension.
Answer A is correct: Zeigarnik found that our memory tends to be better for uncompleted tasks than for completed ones when tasks are performed under nonstressful conditions, apparently because uncompleted tasks create “psychic tension.”
The correct answer is: we tend to remember unfinished tasks better than finished ones.
When faced with an approach-avoidance conflict:
Select one:
a. the closer we get to the goal, the stronger our desire to approach it.
b. the closer we get to the goal, the stronger our desire to avoid it.
c. regardless of our proximity to the goal, the desire to approach the goal is equal to the desire to avoid it.
d. the closer we get to the goal, the more similar the intensity of our desires to approach and avoid it.
Lewis and his colleagues identified four types of intraindividual conflict:
approach-approach
avoidance-avoidance
approach-avoidance
double approach-avoidance.
Answer B is correct: One of the reasons why an approach-avoidance conflict is difficult to resolve is because, the closer we get to the goal, the stronger the avoidance motive and, conversely, the farther we get from the goal, the stronger the approach motive. This causes us to waiver during the decision-making process.
The correct answer is: the closer we get to the goal, the stronger our desire to avoid it.
With regard to the effects of crowding, which of the following is true?
Select one:
a. Men are less likely than women to be stressed by crowded situations.
b. Men are more likely than women to act aggressively in crowded situations.
c. Men and women are equally likely to react negatively in crowded situations.
d. Men and women react aggressively in crowded situations to about the same degree but manifest their reactions in different ways.
Research has found that the impact of crowding is affected by several factors including gender.
Answer B is correct: The studies have found that, in general, men are more stressed than women by crowded situations and are more likely to react aggressively and in other negative ways.
The correct answer is: Men are more likely than women to act aggressively in crowded situations.
The predictions of social exchange theory are most applicable to our relationships with:
Select one:
A. close friends.
B. parents.
C. romantic partners.
D. business associates.
Even if you’re unfamiliar with the predictions of social exchange theory, you may have been able to identify the correct answer to this question by noticing that one of the answers is unlike the others.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT The research suggests that social exchange theory does not apply to people we are very close to (e.g., close friends, parents, and romantic partners) but, instead, to individuals we have more formal relationships with or have recently met (e.g., business associates, acquaintances, and strangers).
The correct answer is: business associates.
Research on the intergroup contact hypothesis has demonstrated that antagonism between members of two groups is most likely to be reduced when:
Select one:
A. members of the two groups are initially provided with numerous opportunities for casual (superficial) contact.
B. members of the two groups are provided with incentives for getting along while interacting.
C. the leaders from each group meet to discuss the issues underlying the antagonism before group members interact.
D. interactions between group members provide opportunities to disconfirm negative stereotypes.
The research has shown that, for interpersonal contact to reduce intergroup hostility, certain conditions must be met.
a. Incorrect Casual contact may actually provide opportunities for continued expressions of hostility.
b. Incorrect The research on the intergroup contact hypothesis has not found this to be an effective method for reducing intergroup hostility.
c. Incorrect Having leaders meet to discuss the issues would likely be subsequently viewed by group members with suspicion, resulting in even more problems.
d. CORRECT Of the answers given, this one is most consistent with the research. Intergroup contact is most likely to reduce hostility when it provides opportunities for learning that negative stereotypes about members of the opposing group are untrue.
The correct answer is: interactions between group members provide opportunities to disconfirm negative stereotypes.
In a research study, prison inmates and counselors working at the prison were asked to explain why the inmates had committed their crimes. In response, the inmates cited situational factors, while the counselors attributed the offenses to the dispositional characteristics of the inmates. Which of the following predicts the outcome of this study?
Select one:
A. fundamental attribution bias
B. self-serving bias
C. actor-observer effect
D. false consensus effect
The answers to this question are all attribution biases or other cognitive biases that you’ll want to be familiar with for the licensing exam.
a. Incorrect The fundamental attribution bias is the tendency to overestimate the role of dispositional factors when making attributions about the behaviors of others. Since the fundamental attribution bias only explains the counselors’ attributions about the crimes committed by the inmates, this answer is only partially correct and not the best answer of those given.
b. Incorrect The self-serving bias refers to the tendency to make dispositional attributions for our successes but situational attributions for our failures.
c. CORRECT The actor-observer effect addresses the discrepancy in an actor’s and observer’s attributions for the actor’s behavior. It predicts that actors tend to attribute their own behaviors to situational factors, while observers tend to attribute the actors’ behaviors to dispositional factors.
d. Incorrect The false consensus effect is the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others agree with us.
The correct answer is: actor-observer effect
Research by Herek (2000) and others on the attitudes of heterosexual men and women toward gays and lesbians has found that all of the following have been linked to higher levels of sexual prejudice EXCEPT:
Select one:
A. younger (versus older) age.
B. high levels of authoritarianism.
C. conservative political views.
D. lower levels of education.
The research has been fairly consistent with regard to characteristics associated with high levels of sexual prejudice.
a. CORRECT Older (not younger) age has been linked to higher levels of sexual prejudice. All of the characteristics listed in the other answers have been linked to higher levels of sexual prejudice among heterosexual men and women.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
The correct answer is: younger (versus older) age.
Self-verification theory predicts that a person with low self-esteem will prefer to receive evaluations from others that:
Select one:
A. confirm his/her own negative self-evaluations.
B. refute his/her own negative self-evaluations.
C. avoid addressing his/her self-evaluations.
D. are clearly non-evaluative.
Swann, Pelham, and Krull’s (1989) self-verification theory predicts that people prefer confirmation of their self-concept.
a. CORRECT Self-verification theory predicts that a person with low self-esteem will prefer evaluations from others that confirm his/her own negative self-evaluations.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
The correct answer is: confirm his/her own negative self-evaluations.
Those with privilege may hold beliefs that they are superior to others or others are inferior to them, that they have the power to impose standards, and that their reality is the same experience for everyone. This sort of worldview is known as:
Select one:
A. Ethnocentric monoculturalism
B. Prejudice
C. Racism
D. Discrimination
The correct answer is A. Ethnocentric monoculturalism is a worldview sometimes exhibited by those who hold privilege.
Answers B, C, and D may also be exhibited by individuals in privileged groups, however, the views described in the question are better defined as ethnocentric monoculturalism.
The correct answer is: Ethnocentric monoculturalism
Lewin’s (1936) field theory predicts that human behavior is a function of:
Select one:
A. the persons attitude, values, and beliefs.
B. the persons actual and perceived abilities.
C. the characteristics of the person and the persons environment.
D. the antecedents and consequences of the behavior.
Lewin’s (1936) field theory is expressed by the following formula: B = f(P,E), where B is behavior, P is person, and E is environment.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT Lewin described behavior as a function of interactions between the person’s characteristics (e.g., heredity, personality, health) and the characteristics of the person’s social environment.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: the characteristics of the person and the persons environment.
In a research study, a social psychologist offers participants either $1.00 or $20.00 to tell potential participants that a dull experiment was very interesting. With regard to cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory, which of the following is true?
Select one:
A. Cognitive dissonance theory predicts that participants in the $1.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment, while self-perception theory predicts that participants in the $20.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment.
B. Self-perception theory predicts that participants in the $1.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment, while cognitive dissonance theory predicts that participants in the $20.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment.
C. Cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory both predict that participants in the $1.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment than will those in the $20.00 condition.
D. Cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory both predict that participants in the $20.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment than will those in the $1.00 condition.
Cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory make the same prediction about the outcome of the study described in this question but do so for different reasons.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT Cognitive dissonance theory predicts that participants in the $1.00 condition will report liking the dull experiment more than will those in the $20.00 condition in order to reduce the dissonance they feel about describing the dull study as interesting to potential participants. In contrast, self-perception theory predicts that participants in the $1.00 condition will report greater liking for the dull experiment because they will evaluate their actual opinion of the study by looking at their overt behavior (telling others that the experiment was interesting).
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: Cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory both predict that participants in the $1.00 condition will subsequently report greater liking for the dull experiment than will those in the $20.00 condition.
In Zimbardo’s (1972) prison study, students were randomly assigned to enact the role of either a prisoner or prison guard and were placed in an environment that simulated an actual prison. Results of the study indicated that:
Select one:
A. introverted prisoners and extroverted prison guards more easily adapted to their roles than did extroverted prisoners and introverted prison guards.
B. prisoners and prison guards more easily adapted to their roles when they were paid for participating in the study than when they were not paid.
C. prisoners and prison guards both quickly adapted to their assigned roles to such an extreme that the study had to be terminated early.
D. prisoners and prison guards actively resisted their assigned roles and often deliberately engaged in role reversal.
Zimbardo’s (1972) prison study confirmed that people often alter their behaviors so that they are consistent with assigned roles.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT Within the first six days of Zimbardo’s prison simulation study, students assigned the role of guard became very aggressive and authoritarian (e.g., they issued arbitrary commands to prisoners to do push-ups and refused requests to go to the bathroom), while those assigned the role of prisoner quickly lapsed into depression and helplessness and began exhibiting signs of both physical and emotional distress. Because of the rapid decay of the behavior of both prison guards and prisoners, the study was halted prematurely.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: prisoners and prison guards both quickly adapted to their assigned roles to such an extreme that the study had to be terminated early.
A co-worker says, “It never fails. Every time I plan to go hiking with my children, it rains.” Assuming that your co-worker’s claim is not really true, her statement is best described as a manifestation of which of the following?
Select one:
A. false consensus bias
B. hedonic relevance
C. base rate fallacy
D. illusory correlation
In this situation, your co-worker is overestimating the relationship between two events (hiking and raining).
a. Incorrect The false consensus bias is the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others agree with us.
b. Incorrect Hedonic relevance is a potential source of bias when making attributions about the behavior of another person and refers to the extent to which the other person’s behavior has positive or negative consequences for us.
c. Incorrect The base rate fallacy refers to the tendency to consider statistical probability rates as false and, as a result, to rely on irrelevant information rather than statistical information when making a judgment.
d. CORRECT The tendency to overestimate a relationship between two variables is referred to as illusory correlation. Illusory correlation is most likely to occur when the two events or other variables are distinctive (e.g., occur relatively infrequently).
The correct answer is: illusory correlation
According to Herek (1991), harassment of and violence against lesbians and gay men is the result of:
Select one:
A. an antisocial predisposition.
B. extreme authoritarianism.
C. homophobia.
D. heterosexism.
Herek (1991) describes the harassment of and violence against lesbians and gay men as an extension of the heterosexism that pervades society.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Herek (1991) defines heterosexism as “an ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes among non-heterosexual forms of behavior, identity, relationships, or community” (p. 150). His research has linked a combination of individual (psychological) and cultural heterosexism to violence against lesbians and gay men.
The correct answer is: heterosexism.
Research on persuasion has found that people who argue against their own self-interest are:
Select one:
A. usually viewed by listeners as untrustworthy.
B. usually viewed by listeners as credible.
C. viewed as reliable by uninformed listeners only.
D. viewed as knowledgeable by listeners who have low-esteem.
The studies have found that a communicator’s credibility is affected by a number of factors including his/her apparent motives for advocating a particular position.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
b. CORRECT Walster, Aronson, and Abrahams (1966) found that communicators are usually considered credible by listeners when they are arguing against their own self-interest, apparently because they are perceived as more trustworthy when doing so.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
The correct answer is: usually viewed by listeners as credible.
During a family therapy session, the therapist tells the 8-year old son that he should keep annoying his sister, even though it makes her very mad. The boy says, “I don’t have to if I don’t want to.” The boy’s response to the therapist’s request is best described as a manifestation of which of the following?
Select one:
A. paradox
B. double-bind
C. source derogation
D. psychological reactance
Note that this question is asking about the boy’s behavior, not the therapist’s.
a. Incorrect The therapist is using paradox, but this question is asking about the boy’s behavior.
b. Incorrect Double-bind communication presents a “mixed message” (e.g., contradictory verbal and nonverbal messages) and is not relevant to the situation described in this question.
c. Incorrect Source derogation refers to defending oneself against persuasion by criticizing the source of the message.
d. CORRECT Psychological reactance occurs when we do the opposite of what is requested or desired by another person because we feel our freedom-of-choice is being restricted. In family therapy, paradox is sometimes used to elicit resistance (psychological reactance) in order to promote change.
The correct answer is: psychological reactance
In a research study on bystander intervention, a participant hears someone (a confederate) fall and cry out in pain in an adjacent room. In this situation, the participant is most likely to respond to this apparent need for help when the participant is:
Select one:
A. alone.
B. with a friend.
C. with a stranger.
D. with three or more other participants.
Studies on bystander intervention have found that a person in need is most likely to receive help when there is only one bystander.
a. CORRECT Research has shown that a bystander is more likely to intervene when alone than when in the presence of others, regardless of whether the others are strangers or friends.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
d. Incorrect The greater the number of bystanders, the greater the bystander apathy (i.e., the less likely a person will receive assistance).
The correct answer is: alone.
_____________ predicts that our perceptions of fairness in a relationship are more important than the absolute costs and rewards of being in that relationship.
Select one:
A. Social comparison theory
B. Social judgment theory
C. Equity theory
D. Self-verification theory
Of the theories listed in the answers, only one explicitly addresses the costs and rewards of a relationship.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT According to equity theory, people consider a relationship equitable when they believe their reward/cost ratio is proportional to the reward/cost ratio of the other person.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: Equity theory
A father is quite upset about his 11-year old son’s recent unwillingness to do as he is told, and he tells his son, “I’m the boss around here and you must do as I say.” The father is relying on which type of social power to control his son’s behavior?
Select one:
A. expert
B. referent
C. legitimate
D. coercive
French and Raven (1959) distinguished between six types of social power - COERCIVE, REWARD, EXPERT, REFERENT, INFORMATIONAL, and LEGITIMATE. Additional information about them is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
a. Incorrect When using expert power, an individual emphasizes his/her superior knowledge or expertise. The father would be using expert power if he had said, “You’ll do what I say because I know what’s best for you.”
b. Incorrect Referent power refers to the ability of an individual or group to control the behavior of others because of their desire to identify with that individual or group. The father would be relying on referent power if he said “You should do what I say because you’re part of this family.”
c. CORRECT When using legitimate power, the individual emphasizes his/her position of power or authority and the other person’s obligation to comply. In this situation, the father is relying on his position as “boss” to control his son’s behavior.
d. Incorrect Coercive power is being used when an individual influences the behavior of others through the control of punishments. The father would be using coercive power if he said, “If you don’t do what I say, you’ll have to stay in your room all weekend.”
The correct answer is: legitimate
Cognitive dissonance theory is most useful for understanding:
Select one:
A. interpersonal attraction.
B. minority influence.
C. self attributions.
D. attitude change.
According to cognitive dissonance theory, inconsistencies in cognitions produce tension (dissonance), which motivates the individual to modify one of his/her cognitions. Additional information about cognitive dissonance theory is provided in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Cognitive dissonance theory is useful for understanding the circumstances in which a person changes his/her attitudes or beliefs - i.e., it predicts that attitude change is, in some cases, an attempt to alleviate dissonance.
The correct answer is: attitude change.
A movie viewer is most likely to report feeling uncomfortable in a crowded movie theater when he/she is viewing a ________ film.
Select one:
A. frightening horror
B. sexually arousing
C. humorous
D. boring
The consequences of crowding depend on several factors including the nature of the environment and task.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Research by Worchel and Brown (1984) found that crowding is experienced as less uncomfortable or stressful in attention-grabbing, arousing situations than in uninteresting situations. They conclude that this difference is due to the fact that crowding produces arousal and, when the arousal can be attributed to the circumstances, it is not experienced as unpleasant. However, when the arousal cannot be attributed to the circumstances (e.g., when the movie is boring), it is experienced as unpleasant.
The correct answer is: boring
Which of the following strategies would probably be least effective for reducing aggressiveness in children?
Select one:
A. exposure to a nonaggressive model
B. opportunities for catharsis
C. social skills training
D. a threat of retaliation from a high-status person
Note that this question is asking for the most ineffective method for reducing aggression.
a. Incorrect The research has shown that exposure to models can increase both positive and negative behaviors.
b. CORRECT Catharsis has not been found to be an effective way to reduce aggressive behavior. In fact, there is evidence that it may actually increase aggression.
c. Incorrect In many cases, aggressiveness is due to a lack of alternative behaviors. Consequently, social skills training is often effective because its goal is to replace undesirable behaviors (e.g., aggression) with more desirable ones.
d. Incorrect The research has shown that a threat of retaliation reduces aggression, at least in certain circumstances (e.g., when the threat comes from a person with high status or power and is not accompanied by provocation).
The correct answer is: opportunities for catharsis
In his book, The Nature of Prejudice, Gordon Allport concludes that:
Select one:
A. stateways cannot change folkways.
B. stateways can only intensify existing folkways.
C. stateways are often in advance of folkways.
D. folkways always precede stateways.
Answer C is correct. In contrast to the traditional view that “stateways cannot change folkways” (e.g., you cannot legislate against racial prejudice), Allport asserts that, at least in the United States, stateways are often in advance of folkways. Allport proposes that, while laws do not prevent violations altogether, they do act as a restraint and can, therefore, break the vicious cycle of racial prejudice and discrimination. In other words, by terminating the overt signs of prejudice through legislation, the open expression of prejudice is discouraged and, eventually, thoughts and attitudes “fall into line.”
The correct answer is: stateways are often in advance of folkways.
Aronson and Linder’s (1965) gain-loss theory predicts that we will like a person most when his/her evaluations of us are:
Select one:
A. initially positive and remain positive.
B. initially negative but become positive.
C. initially positive but become negative.
D. initially and subsequently neutral.
Gain-loss theory (Aronson and Linder, 1965) is a theory of personal attraction.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
b. CORRECT Gain-loss theory predicts that an evaluation sequence involving a change from a negative to a positive evaluation will result in greater liking for the evaluator than will a consistent positive evaluation sequence and, conversely, that an evaluation sequence involving a change from a positive to a negative evaluation will result in greater dislike for the evaluator than will a consistent negative evaluation sequence.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response b.
The correct answer is: initially negative but become positive.
Moscovici (1985) found that individuals with a minority opinion are most likely to change the minds of those holding the majority opinion when those with the minority opinion:
Select one:
A. express their opinion as consistently as possible.
B. use ingratiation techniques to gain the acceptance of members of the majority.
C. initially agree with the majority position and gradually introduce their own opinion.
D. point out the ways in which they agree with the majority.
Moscovici (1985) was interested in the factors that increase the likelihood that a minority can sway the opinion of the majority.
a. CORRECT Moscovici found consistency to be the key factor in determining whether a minority would successfully change the opinion of the majority.
b. Incorrect This was not found by Moscovici to be an effective way for a minority to alter the opinion of the majority.
c. Incorrect Maintaining a consistent position is more effective than is initially agreeing with the majority.
d. Incorrect This has not been found to be an effective way for a minority to alter the opinion of the majority.
The correct answer is: express their opinion as consistently as possible.
Heider’s (1958) balance theory describes attitude change as a function of which of the following?
Select one:
A. categories of judgment
B. fear arousal
C. cognitive consistency
D. behavioral intentions
Balance theory focuses on the relationships between three entities (the person, another person, and a third person, object, or event) and proposes that the relations between these entities may be balanced or unbalanced.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT According to balance theory, when the relationships between the entities are unbalanced, the person experiences a state of disequilibrium (inconsistency) and is motivated to change his/her attitude toward one of the entities. See the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials for additional information on balance theory.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: cognitive consistency
Which of the following has been used to explain the phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik effect?
Select one:
A. bystander apathy
B. intergroup cooperation
C. deindividuation
D. psychic tension
The Zeigarnik effect refers to the tendency to recall uncompleted tasks better than completed tasks.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Zeigarnik was a student of Lewin and proposed that it is easier to recall uncompleted tasks (at least in some conditions) because they create a state of “psychic tension.”
The correct answer is: psychic tension
Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behavior predicts that attitudes are good predictors of a person’s behavior when the measure of attitudes assesses the person’s:
Select one:
A. intrinsic motivation.
B. ego involvement.
C. behavioral intention.
D. past behavior.
The name of Ajzen’s theory – i.e., the theory of planned behavior – may have helped you identify the correct response even if you’re not familiar with its assumptions.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
c. CORRECT The theory of planned behavior predicts that the accuracy of a measure of a person’s attitude is increased when the measure assesses the three factors that determine the person’s behavioral intention – i.e., the person’s attitude toward engaging in the behavior, what the person believes other people think about the behavior, and the person’s perceived behavioral control.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response c.
The correct answer is: behavioral intention.
A therapy client is exhibiting a depressive attributional style when she consistently attributes the negative events she experiences to:
Select one:
A. internal, stable, and global factors.
B. external, stable, and global factors.
C. internal, unstable, and specific factors.
D. external, unstable, and specific factors.
Researchers interested in causal attribution distinguish between three attributional dimensions: internal/external, stable/unstable, and global/specific.
a. CORRECT Abramson, Seligman, and Teasdale (1978) found that people who are depressed often exhibit signs of learned helplessness. In other words, they tend to attribute negative events to internal, stable, and global factors.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
d. Incorrect See explanation for response a.
The correct answer is: internal, stable, and global factors.
The elaboration likelihood model predicts that the recipient of a persuasive message is more likely to use the peripheral route of information processing when:
Select one:
A. the person delivering the message is a well-liked and trusted celebrity.
B. the recipient is in a neutral or slightly negative mood.
C. the message is considered important or personally relevant by the recipient.
D. the recipient has a high need for cognition.
The elaboration likelihood model (Petty and Cacioppo, 1980) distinguishes between central and peripheral processing routes. The central route involves active, effortful cognitive processing (cognitive elaboration), while the peripheral route involves reliance on simple decision-making rules.
a. CORRECT A listener is more likely to use the peripheral route (i.e., rely on peripheral cues) when the person delivering the message is attractive or well-liked,
b. Incorrect A recipient who is in a neutral or slightly negative mood is more likely to use the central route for processing a communication.
c. Incorrect A person is more likely to use the central route when the message is important or personally relevant.
d. Incorrect This is the opposite of what is true. People with a high need for cognition (i.e., those who usually think carefully about issues) are more likely to rely on the central route.
The correct answer is: the person delivering the message is a well-liked and trusted celebrity.
According to Kelman (1961), the possible responses to social influence are:
Select one:
A. compliance, identification, internalization
B. conformity, compliance, obedience
C. compliance, conformity, internalization
D. rejection, concession, compliance
As noted in the Social Psychology chapter of the written study materials, Kelman (1961) distinguished between three types of responses to social influence.
a. CORRECT These are the three responses identified by Kelman.
b. Incorrect See explanation above.
c. Incorrect See explanation above.
d. Incorrect See explanation above.
The correct answer is: compliance, identification, internalization
Research on __________ has found that people tend to pay more attention to information that confirms their beliefs about themselves than to information that contradicts those beliefs.
Select one:
A. propositions
B. heuristics
C. schemas
D. metamemory
Researchers interested in how people interpret their experiences distinguish between several phenomena including schemas, prototypes, and scripts.
a. Incorrect Researchers interested in declarative knowledge define propositions as simple ideas that are either true or false.
b. Incorrect Heuristics are “mental shortcuts” that help us process complex information.
c. CORRECT Schemas (schemata) are organized mental networks of information that are based on prior experience or knowledge and that influence our interpretation of or reaction to current experience. Research on schemas has found that people tend to pay attention to and recall schema-consistent information better than information that is inconsistent with their current schemas. For example, a person who considers herself to be a very independent person will be able to recall many examples of her independence but few, if any, examples of times when she acted in dependent ways.
d. Incorrect Metamemory refers to awareness of one’s own memory processes.
The correct answer is: schemas
Participants in a research study are injected with epinephrine which produces mild arousal. One-half of the participants are told to expect arousal while the other half are told that the injection will have no physiological side effects. Each participant is then placed in a waiting room with a confederate who has been instructed to act in an angry manner. Subsequently, participants who were told to expect arousal from the epinephrine report no change in their emotional state, while those who were told to expect no side effects report feeling angry. Results of this study provide evidence for which of the following?
Select one:
A. attribution theory
B. dissonance theory
C. self-serving bias
D. self-perception theory
In the study described in this question, participants in one group have an explanation for their arousal (the epinephrine), while participants in the other group do not.
a. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
b. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
c. Incorrect See explanation for response d.
d. CORRECT Results of the study are consistent with self-perception theory, which predicts that, in ambiguous situations, a person’s self-attributions are based on observations of cues in the external environment (e.g., the behavior of others).
The correct answer is: self-perception theory
According to Hays (2001), would a 25-year-old individual be considered privileged?
Select one:
A. Yes, their age affords them rights that other age groups do not receive
B. No, the age group that is privileged is between 30-60 years
C. No, age is not included in the groups Hays identified
D. Yes, 25-year-olds are more able-bodied than older individuals
The correct answer is B. According to Hays, regarding age and generational influences, individuals between the ages of 30 and 60 hold privilege, so answers A, C, and D are incorrect. Regarding answer D, Hays did identify individuals without disabilities as holding privilege, however the question focuses on the individuals age, not level of ability.
The correct answer is: No, the age group that is privileged is between 30-60 years
Research on prejudice indicates that certain conditions can reduce intergroup hostilities. Which of the following conditions would be MOST effective for reducing racial prejudice displayed by groups of White and African American children?
Select one:
A. the children are required to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal
B. the children are confronted with a “common enemy”
C. contact between the children occurs daily over an extended period of time
D. the children are provided with norms that prescribe courtesy and friendliness
Research on intergroup hostility has contributed greatly to the understanding of the variables that contribute to prejudice. One of the most consistent findings is that intergroup hostilities (e.g., prejudice) can be reduced by having groups work on a common goal (Cook, 1978; Sherif, 1966).
a. CORRECT When children are required to cooperate in order to achieve a common (“superordinate”) goal, prejudice is likely to decrease.
b. Incorrect Sherif (1966), for example, found that the introduction of a common enemy merely widened the scope of conflict.
c. Incorrect Research has generally not supported the notion that increased contact alone is sufficient to reduce prejudice. In fact, Sherif (1966) found that increased contact under pleasant circumstances only provided more opportunities for the expression of hostility.
d. Incorrect Research has not supported the notion that prejudice can be reduced simply if children are provided with norms that prescribe courtesy and friendliness.
The correct answer is: the children are required to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal
