Deck 7: Attitudes, Behavior, and Rationalization

Question 1

Recall that Wilson and his colleagues asked students about a person they were dating.Participants in Group 1 were simply asked for an overall evaluation of their relationship.Participants in Group 2 first were asked to list why they felt the way they did.Following this, they gave their overall evaluation of their relationships.Nearly nine months later, the researchers recontacted all participants and asked about the current status of their relationships.Which of the following statements most accurately captures the study's results?

A) The attitudes of Group 1 participants were better predictors of current relationship status than the attitudes of Group 2 participants.
B) The attitudes of Group 2 participants were better predictors of current relationship status than the attitudes of Group 1 participants.
C) The attitudes of Group 1 participants were much more positive than those of Group 2 participants.
D) The attitudes of Group 2 participants were much more positive than those of Group 1 participants.

Answer 1

The attitudes of Group 1 participants were better predictors of current relationship status than the attitudes of Group 2 participants.

Question 2

Recall that Festinger and Carlsmith gave participants either $1 or $20 for telling others that an experiment was fun and interesting.The experiment entailed turning pegs on a pegboard one quarter turn at a time.Thus, in actuality, the experiment was tedious and boring.Study results showed that

A) neither $1 nor $20 could induce participants to tell other people that the experiment was interesting.
B) after telling people that the experiment was interesting, participants in the $1 condition tended to express a more favorable attitude toward the experiment.
C) participants in the $20 condition reported stronger feelings of guilt over having told people that the experiment was interesting.
D) participants in the $1 condition were less likely to following the experimenter's instructions.

Answer 2

after telling people that the experiment was interesting, participants in the $1 condition tended to express a more favorable attitude toward the experiment.

Question 3

Jesse loves strawberry ice cream, whereas Maria doesn't feel strongly about strawberry ice cream.Which of them would have a longer response latency to a question about his or her attitude toward strawberry ice cream?

A) Jesse would have a longer response latency than Maria.
B) Maria would have a longer response latency than Jesse.
C) They would each have a similar response latency, because they each like ice cream.
D) It would be impossible to measure the response latency for an attitude such as this.

Answer 3

Maria would have a longer response latency than Jesse.

Question 4

Jim is a marketing executive for the Apple Corporation.He wants to predict a person's iPod-related behavior from his or her attitude about iPods.To this end, Jim will administer a survey asking people about their attitude about iPods.Two years later, he will ask these same people to report on their behavior related to iPods.According to research on attitude-behavior consistency, Jim should measure people's attitude and behavior at the same level of specificity.Which of the following pairs of questions best satisfies this criterion?

A) "How positively do you feel about iPods?" and "Have you used an iPod in the last month?"
B) "How do you feel about iPods?" and "Have you used an iPod in the last two years?"
C) "How much do you want to buy an iPod within the next two years?" and "Have you bought an iPod in the last two years?"
D) "How negative do you feel about iPods?" and "How much have you talked about iPods in the last month?"

Question 5

Recall that in one study, the experimenter showed children a set of five toys and asked them how much they liked each one.Then, the experimenter told each child that he or she was free to play with any of the toys except for the child's second favorite toy.In the "mild threat" condition of the experiment, children were told that the experimenter would be "annoyed" if they played with the forbidden toy.In the "severe threat" condition, children were told that the experimenter would be "very angry" if they played with the forbidden toy, and that the child would never see any of the toys ever again.The experimenter then left the room, and each child was covertly observed.Later on, the experimenters asked each child to reevaluate the toys.Consistent with cognitive dissonance theory, results showed that

A) children in the "mild threat" condition tended to view the toy less favorably than children in the "severe threat" condition.
B) children in the "severe threat" condition tended to view the toy less favorably than children in the "mild threat" condition.
C) children in the "mild threat" condition were less likely to play with the toy while the experimenter was away from the room.
D) children in the "severe threat" condition were less likely to play with the toy while the experimenter was away from the room.

Question 6

Studies have shown that attitudes about participating in psychological research predict actual participation much more strongly among people who have previously taken part in research than among people who have not.Which of the following conclusions follows directly from these findings?

A) Firsthand experience with an attitude object or event strengthens the link between attitude and behavior.
B) There is a general mismatch between attitudes and behaviors.
C) Attitude-behavior consistency is higher when these factors are measured at the same level of specificity.
D) Consciously accessible attitudes predict behavior, whereas subconscious attitudes do not.

Question 7

According to Wilson, why should introspection decrease the correlation between attitudes and behaviors?

A) Introspection decreases perceptions of control and attention to social norms.
B) Introspection decreases the salience of the "real" reasons for our attitudes.
C) Introspection generates emotions that weaken one's attitudes.
D) Introspection increases ambivalence and uncertainty over our beliefs.

Question 8

The ____________ component of an attitude consists of the emotional reactions a person has to the attitude object.

A) cognitive
B) affective
C) behavioral
D) knowledge

Question 9

Michelle has just watched a film that showed several high-speed chases on city streets.On her way home from the theater, she drives much faster than normal.This example illustrates the power of ____________ as a determinant of behavior.

A) self-affirmation
B) dissonance
C) attitude change
D) priming

Question 10

Recall that when anti-Asian sentiments were common in the early 1930s, Richard LaPiere spent two years touring the Unites States with a young Chinese couple.Together, they visited numerous hotels, auto camps, restaurants, and cafes.LaPiere compared the attitudes of people who managed these various establishments with how well (or poorly)these people actually treated the Chinese couple.The text used this study to introduce an important point, namely, that

A) the effect of attitudes on behavior is weaker than many people think.
B) the effect of norms on attitudes is stronger than many people think.
C) the effect of attitudes on behavior is stronger than many people think.
D) the effect of norms on attitudes is weaker than many people think.

Question 11

According to the text, which of the following studies best supports Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory?

A) a study showing that voters express more support for their candidate right before voting than they do right after voting
B) a study showing that people value academic achievement more strongly after reading education-related words than after reading sports-related words
C) a study showing that people express more confidence in a bet right after making it than they do right before making it
D) a study showing that introspection leads to less attitude-behavior consistency than does an absence of introspection

Question 12

Molly knows the history of her home city of Philadelphia, and there are three landmarks downtown that she always shows to friends who visit.This knowledge of Philadelphia is the _____________ component of her attitude toward her city.

A) cognitive
B) affective
C) behavioral
D) knowledge

Question 13

George believes that child safety is important, yet often forgets to use a car seat when taking his toddler to day care.What does this illustrate about the relationship between attitudes and behavior?

A) Attitudes are often poor predictors of behavior.
B) Attitudes and behavior are sometimes unbalanced.
C) Behavior can be automatic, thereby bypassing conscious thought altogether.
D) Attitudes often prime behavior.

Question 14

Boris says he does not like Howard Stern, the "shock-jock" radio personality.According to research by Regan and Fazio that examined the bases of people's attitudes, the relationship between Boris's attitude toward Stern and his Stern-relevant behaviors should be relatively weak if his attitude

A) is extreme (as opposed to moderate).
B) is socially undesirable (as opposed to socially desirable).
C) derives from secondhand information (as opposed to firsthand information).
D) is risky (as opposed to cautious).

Question 15

Department store managers strongly disapprove of shoplifters for many obvious reasons.However, some stores allow shoplifters to leave with merchandise! This is because many stores do not want to create a scene that will disturb good patrons.This scenario illustrates the social psychological argument that

A) attitudes are determined by reasoned action.
B) behaviors are not determined solely by attitudes.
C) prevailing norms of appropriate behavior are irrational.
D) attitudes prompt attitude-consistent behaviors.

Question 16

Candice really likes action films.According to the research on introspection, which of the following is most likely to weaken the association between her attitude toward action films and her intention to go to see an action film at the theater?

A) The basis for an attitude is easy to identify.
B) The basis for an attitude is highly plausible.
C) The basis for an attitude is largely affective.
D) The basis for an attitude is largely cognitive.

Question 17

You want to chat with your friend during class, but you're worried that the professor or other students would notice, so you choose not to talk to your friend.This illustrates

A) that your attitude toward your friend is inconsistent.
B) that your attitude toward class is stronger than your attitude toward your friend.
C) that automatic behavior can be completely separate from your attitudes.
D) that powerful social norms can override the influence of attitudes on behavior.

Question 18

When researchers use a Likert scale to assess individuals' attitudes, they

A) ask participants to use numbers to indicate the extent to which they agree with a particular statement.
B) record participants' response latency to a question about their attitude.
C) code the content of participants' spontaneous speech.
D) obtain participants' descriptions of how they would behave in a particular situation.

Question 19

Most of the research on cognitive dissonance has been conducted on Caucasian American students.Recall, however, that Kitayama, Snibbe, Markus, and Suzuki conducted a cross-cultural investigation.In this study, Japanese and Canadian participants were asked to choose between two CDs.In one condition, participants were asked, after ranking a large number of CDs, to choose between two of the middle-ranked CDs.In the other condition, participants were asked to rank the presumed preferences of the "average college student." Results showed that

A) the manipulation made no difference for either the Canadians or the Japanese.
B) the manipulation made a difference for both the Canadians and the Japanese.
C) the manipulation made a difference for the Canadians but not for the Japanese.
D) the manipulation made a difference for the Japanese but not for the Canadians.

Question 20

Research on balance theory has presented participants with various balanced and unbalanced threesomes (triads)and measured their memory for the scenarios and their responses to the people.What has this research found?

A) Participants remember balanced relationships better, but they rate them less favorably than they do unbalanced relationships.
B) Participants remember balanced relationships better and rate them more favorably than they do unbalanced relationships.
C) Participants remember unbalanced relationships better and rate them more favorably than they do balanced relationships.
D) Participants remember unbalanced relationships better but rate them less favorably than they do balanced relationships.

Question 21

Mark has a strong preference for Honda over all other car brands.When it came time to buy a new car, Mark finds that Nissan has released a new car that is more desirable to him, so he buys the Nissan.According to the research described in the textbook, why would this scenario increase dissonance in the wake of Mark's attitude-inconsistent behavior?

A) The behavior was based on introspection.
B) The behavior is irrational.
C) The behavior has long-term consequences that are unpredictable.
D) The behavior is freely chosen.

Question 22

Carol is a student from China and is good friends with Tanja, a student from Germany.According to research on cognitive dissonance, when is Carol more likely to experience dissonance, compared with Tanja?

A) Carol and Tanja will respond similarly across conditions.
B) when choosing between two necklaces for herself
C) when choosing between two pairs of shoes as a gift for her mother
D) if she listens to loud music while shopping

Question 23

According to Heider's theory, which of the following is an example of a triad that is balanced?

A) You like Laura and Donna.Laura dislikes Donna.
B) You dislike Laura and like Donna.Donna also dislikes Laura.
C) You dislike Laura and Donna.Laura also dislikes Donna.
D) You like Laura.You dislike Donna, but Laura likes Donna.

Question 24

To learn whether participants' responses in cognitive dissonance experiments are the product of dispassionate reasoning, Daryl Bem conducted a number of interpersonal stimulations.Which of the following are features of such simulations?

A) asking the participant to write a detailed description of one condition of a dissonance experiment and to predict how other participants will respond to that description
B) asking the participant to read a detailed description of each of the conditions of a dissonance experiment and to indicate how they, themselves, would behave in each of the conditions
C) asking the participant to read a detailed description of one condition of a dissonance experiment and to predict the attitude of the person depicted in the description
D) asking the participant to write a detailed description of each of the conditions of a dissonance experiment and to then tell other study participants that this exercise was fun (even though it was really boring)

Question 25

Let's say a company that makes a consumer product such as laundry detergent asks customers to write a testimonial about the product in exchange for a small chance of winning a prize.What does cognitive dissonance theory predict will happen to consumers who participate and write the testimonial?

A) They will feel positive emotions.
B) They will value social norms over personal norms.
C) They will alter their attitudes.
D) They will engage in uncooperative behavior.

Question 26

Consider the following quote: "How do I know what I think until I hear what I say?" The sentiment expressed in this quote captures the essence of

A) the self-fulfilling prophecy.
B) cognitive dissonance theory.
C) self-perception theory.
D) self-affirmation processes.

Question 27

Both cognitive dissonance theory and balance theory are referred to as ____________ theories.

A) cognitive consistency
B) reinforcement
C) priming
D) emotion-based

Question 28

According to the concept of effort justification,

A) enduring chronic hazing should increase one's allegiance to a fraternity.
B) working too hard for a promotion should lead one to underestimate its attractiveness.
C) feeling overwhelmed should prompt a person to give up.
D) receiving tutoring free of charge should increase one's motivation to study.

Question 29

After doing poorly on his biology exam, Jim reminds himself that he is a good artist and a loving boyfriend.Thus, Jim is using ____________ to cope with a potential threat to his self-esteem.

A) thought suppression
B) self-affirmation
C) insufficient justification
D) self-love

Question 30

According to the textbook, the self-perception processes posited by Daryl Bem are particularly likely to be invoked when

A) behavior is inconsistent with attitudes that are relatively vague.
B) behavior is inconsistent with attitudes that are highly resistant to persuasion attempts.
C) attitudes are inconsistent with behaviors that are valued by the culture in which one lives.
D) attitudes are inconsistent with behaviors that people rarely perform in everyday life.

Question 31

If Jeff believes in saving the environment but finds himself deciding to throw away aluminum cans because his college campus does not recycle, he may experience an aversive emotional state due to the inconsistency between two cognitions.This is an example of

A) the elaboration likelihood model.
B) induced compliance theory.
C) self-affirmation theory.
D) cognitive dissonance theory.

Question 32

According to Daryl Bem, self-perception theory is most appropriately applied to situations in which

A) prior attitudes are weak.
B) prior attitudes are about extremely important matters.
C) prior attitudes are unambiguous.
D) Both a and c are correct.

Question 33

Claude Steele's research on self-affirmation suggests that people who are ____________ to self-affirm are generally ____________ than people who are ____________ to self-affirm.

A) more likely; less troubled; less able
B) less likely; less troubled; more able
C) more likely; more ethical; less able
D) less likely; more ethical; more able

Question 34

According to the textbook, research on cognitive dissonance teaches a broad and important lesson about how to influence someone else's attitudes.Specifically, if you want people to ____________ the broader value or message behind what you got them to do, then you should use the ____________ amount of incentive or coercion necessary to induce compliance.

A) polarize; smallest
B) polarize; largest
C) internalize; smallest
D) internalize; largest

Question 35

Consider the following statement: "Making hard decisions triggers dissonance, which in turn triggers processes of rationalization that make us comfortable with our decisions." This statement captures the phenomenon explained by

A) cognitive dissonance theory.
B) discrepancy theory.
C) self-perception theory.
D) attitude inoculation theory.

Question 36

Mark cannot decide which video game to purchase.After thinking it over, he buys the latest fighting game.As he leaves the store, he feels an uncomfortable tension.In order to resolve this tension, Mark must engage in

A) self-perception processes.
B) introspection.
C) self-verification.
D) dissonance reduction.

Question 37

Many people who choose not to have children suspect that homebound, sleep-deprived, and financially strapped parents are fooling themselves when they say that nothing in life brings them more pleasure than parenthood.In other words, these childless people suggest that parents put a lot of energy into ____________ in order to decrease cognitive dissonance.

A) peripheral processing
B) effort justification
C) balancing
D) arousing thoughts

Question 38

Consider the following commonsense saying: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." According to cognitive dissonance theory, trying again should ____________ how much you value the outcome of your efforts.

A) increase
B) decrease
C) not affect
D) increase confusion over

Question 39

According to the textbook, getting paid a lot of money to do things that violate your core values-as compared to getting no money to violate your core values-should

A) not produce much dissonance.
B) produce a lot of dissonance.
C) lead to attitude change.
D) prompt confusion over one's true attitude.

Question 40

Induced compliance is a form of behavior that

A) is inconsistent with one's beliefs, attitudes, or values.
B) increases confidence in one's self-perceptions.
C) harms other people.
D) elicits negative impressions from authority figures.

Question 41

Bradley narrowly escapes a head-on collision while driving from home.Once he arrives, he turns on the television and sees a political ad for the challenger in the local mayoral race, which focuses on how the challenger will change city policies if elected.According to research on terror management, how will he evaluate this ad?

A) He will reject the candidate more emphatically.
B) He will have the same opinion of the candidate as he had before the near miss.
C) He will become a strong supporter of the challenger.
D) He will throw his hat into the ring and run for mayor, too.

Question 42

Cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory differ in that self-perception theory emphasizes that

A) aversive physiological arousal influences our attitudes.
B) internal conflict influences our attitudes.
C) experiences with other people influence our attitudes.
D) inference processes about our behaviors influence our attitudes.

Question 43

Lucy's family is poor.Although they wish they were more prosperous, they take comfort in the love and support they provide to each other.As a result, Lucy's family does not endorse proposed changes to the laws that would provide them with better health insurance.Their behavior can be explained by

A) self-perception theory.
B) self-affirmation theory.
C) system-justification theory.
D) balance theory.

Question 44

According to self-perception theory, people come to understand themselves and their attitudes in the same way that they come to understand others and their attitudes.

Question 45

George listens to music while studying for his biology test.While he studies, he nods his head in time to the music.Over time, George realizes he likes biology a lot more than he initially did.Why is this?

A) George's nonverbal head nods to the music while studying biology were an indication of approval that he then associated with the subject.
B) It is because George put so much effort into studying.
C) George's nonverbal head nods to the music while studying biology served a self-verification function.
D) The nonverbal head nods induced dissonance.

Question 46

According to the textbook, why is it a good idea for incumbent politicians to campaign for maintaining the safety and security of their countries?

A) because it allows people to maintain balance
B) because people are motivated to maintain the status quo, particularly when their own mortality is made salient
C) because it helps people justify their effort
D) because it facilitates self-perception processes

Question 47

According to Daryl Bem's self-perception theory,

A) people reflect on their attitudes, which then lead to behaviors that reflect these attitudes.
B) people infer their own attitudes from their behaviors and the context in which these behaviors occur.
C) people influence each other's self-concept through mutual mimicry and positive reinforcement.
D) a person's sense of self is determined by his or her values, beliefs, and preferences.

Question 48

Consciously recognized attitudes always determine both deliberative and automatic behaviors.

Question 49

According to terror management theory, if Jennifer, an American, hears news of a terrorist attack that occurred at a hotel she just checked out of, she will be more receptive to persuasive messages that argue against the American way of living.

Question 50

Sophia loves to read books.Her parents think that reading books is important, so they reward her with $5 every time she reads a book.Over time, Sophia realizes that she really doesn't love books all that much.What is this an example of?

A) the impact of locus of control on attitude formation
B) the consistency between parents' attitudes and children's behavior
C) the overjustification effect
D) mortality salience

Question 51

Attitude-behavior consistency should be higher when the attitude and the behavior are measured at the same level of specificity.

Question 52

Induced compliance does not produce attitude change.

Question 53

Attitudes are based solely on our affective response toward objects.

Question 54

The conditions that prompt cognitive dissonance are the same for all cultures.

Question 55

Balance theory is a specific example of a broader class of theories concerning cognitive consistency and attitudes.

Question 56

Cacioppo and colleagues have examined how arm movements can influence attitudes by asking participants to view Chinese characters while either extending an arm away or flexing an arm toward themselves.Which of the following BEST sums up the results of this research?

A) The arm movements did not affect participants' attitudes toward the different Chinese characters.
B) The participants had more favorable attitudes toward the characters they viewed while extending an arm away, compared with while flexing an arm.
C) The participants had more favorable attitudes toward the characters they viewed while flexing an arm, compared with while extending their arm.
D) Participants who nodded their heads showed the most positive attitudes toward the characters.

Question 57

Jackie's parents always taught her that she ought to "put on a happy face" and always appear happy, even when she is not.According to research on self-perception theory, what effect does this behavior have on her corresponding internal state?

A) It makes her seem like a fake.
B) It works-behaving as if she is happy can actually make Jackie feel happier.
C) It does not work and actually makes some people even unhappier.
D) None of the above are correct.

Question 58

Self-perception processes are engaged primarily when one's prior attitudes are weak or unclear.

Question 59

According to cognitive dissonance theory, people betting on horses at the racetrack should feel less confident after placing their bets than before placing their bets.

Question 60

Dissonance theory suggests that people ____________ their attitudes as a result of dissonance, whereas self-perception theory suggests that people _____________ their attitudes from observing their behaviors.

A) infer; change
B) change; infer
C) increase; decrease
D) change; change