Exam 5: Social Attribution: Explaining Behavior

The just world hypothesis, believing that good things happen to good people, is used to explain which psychological phenomenon?

According to ________, our confidence that a particular cause is responsible for a given outcome is reduced if there are other plausible causes that might have produced it.

Psychologists who want to measure a person's explanatory style assess each of the following attribution dimensions EXCEPT

Generate an example of a time when you or someone you know committed the fundamental attribution error. Considering the causes of the fundamental attribution error that you learned about in this chapter, how might you explain this particular situation?

Pat is a lower-class man who works at a tire factory for a living. When trying to make sense of why a coworker is late to work, Pat is likely to make which kind of attribution?

In her debate class, Min was assigned to give a "pro-life" speech on abortion. Before her speech, the teacher told everyone that Min had been assigned to take this position, regardless of her true beliefs. Research on the fundamental attribution error suggests that, after class, the other students will

The Westlake Hills Little League team just lost a game. According to research on attribution biases, right after the game, the Westlake Hills coach is likely to say,

The self-serving bias tends to reflect all of the following EXCEPT

Lissett and Janet both responded to a newspaper ad for "friendly and outgoing" sales associates. While interviewing with the store manager, Lissett comes across as extraverted while Janet comes across as shy. After the interviews, the manager thinks about the two applicants. According to the ________ principle, the manager should feel more confident that ________ behavior is a clear reflection of her true self.

Jamal watches how his new girlfriend reacts to a performer at a comedy club. Is she easily amused or is the comedian really that funny? If he compares his girlfriend's response to the comedian to other people in the audience, he is focusing on ________ information.

The ________ holds that people have a tendency to believe that another person's behavior is due to his or her disposition rather than the situation in which that person finds him- or herself.

Bo has repeatedly tried to find a job. After each unsuccessful attempt, he concludes that there is just something about him that will always get in the way of success in his life. Bo is displaying a ________ explanatory style.

Challenge the position that people within the United States are all equally likely to commit the fundamental attribution error. What aspects of American identity relate to this tendency?

Recall that Peterson and Seligman examined the impact of attributions on academic success. Name the three dimensions along which Peterson and Seligman have assessed a person's explanatory style. Then give an example of a belief or type of thought that characterizes each of those dimensions.

Which of the following questions best reflects what attribution theory seeks to explain?

Gloria looks back on her marriage and thinks, "If only I had put more effort into the relationship, Lew and I would still be together." This self-reflection exemplifies

What are the advantages of having an optimistic explanatory style?

Several mountain climbers were trapped on Mount Everest during a blinding snowstorm. Many climbers died on the mountain. One climber made it all the way back to base camp. Unfortunately, however, he collapsed and died mere yards away from the safety of his tent. Because this climber came so close to saving himself, ________ is particularly likely to occur in response to this climber's death.

The ________ is the idea that behavior should be attributed to potential causes that occur along with the behavior.

Pablo and Celia ask a job applicant to talk about her background for a few minutes. Before doing so, the applicant says she has bad allergies, so she might sniffle and speak with a shaky voice. The applicant then talks about herself, and she does, in fact, sniffle and speak with a shaky voice. While the applicant talks, Pablo is attentive. But Celia is tired and her mind wanders a bit. Attribution research suggests that, compared with Pablo, Celia is more likely to