Exam 43: Social Thinking

We have a tendency to explain the behavior of strangers we have observed in only one type of situation in terms of ________ and to explain our own behavior in terms of ________.

The fundamental attribution error is illustrated in our tendency to underestimate the extent to which others' behavior is influenced by

Fernando's favorable attitude toward capital punishment began to change when he was asked to offer arguments opposing it in a university debate class. His attitude change is best explained by ________ theory.

The participants in Philip Zimbardo's simulated prison study

Which theory describes how we explain others' behavior as being due to internal dispositions or external situations?

Marilyn judges her professor's strict class attendance policy to be an indication of his overcontrolling personality rather than a necessity dictated by the limited number of class sessions in a course that meets only once a week. Her judgment best illustrates

Compared with central route persuasion, peripheral route persuasion tends to

The fundamental attribution error involves

Vanna is tempted to shoplift a gold necklace even though she has negative feelings about shoplifting. Vanna is LEAST likely to steal the merchandise if

Bart complied with his friends' request to join them in smashing decorative pumpkins early one Halloween evening. Later that night, he was surprised by his own failure to resist their pressures to throw eggs at passing police cars. Bart's experience best illustrates the

Attitudes are ________ that guide behavior.

Carol is restless during class because her professor's distressed facial expressions lead her to believe that he dislikes teaching. The professor, on the other hand, is distressed because he sees Carol's restlessness as an indication that she lacks any motivation to learn. At this point, both student and professor should be informed of the dangers of

The fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to underestimate the impact of ________ and to overestimate the impact of ________ in explaining the behavior of others.

Philip Zimbardo devised a simulated prison and randomly assigned college students to serve as prisoners or guards. This experiment best illustrated the impact of

Two neighboring nations are each stockpiling weapons. Each sees its neighbor's actions as an act of aggression and its own actions as self-defense. Evidently, these nations are victims of

Central route persuasion is most likely when people

We are most likely to experience cognitive dissonance if we feel

Ksana insists that her boyfriend's car accident resulted from his carelessness. Her explanation for the accident provides an example of

The fundamental attribution error is likely to lead observers to attribute a stranger's

Caitlin concluded that her husband was late for dinner because he was caught in heavy traffic. Her conclusion best illustrates