Deck 5: The Self: Understanding Ourselves in a Social Context

Question 1

Psychologists who have studied the development of self-concept over the lifespan have found that the self-concept starts out __________ and gradually becomes __________ with increasing age.

A) extremely positive; more realistic
B) concrete; more abstract and complex
C) extremely negative; more positive
D) individually focused; socially focused

Answer 1

concrete; more abstract and complex

Question 2

When asked to finish a sentence beginning "I am…," respondents from Asian countries are more likely to mention __________, because they grew up in a(n) __________ culture.

A) group membership; interdependent
B) extraverted; independent
C) actual self; authoritarian
D) introverted; less oppressive

Answer 2

group membership; interdependent

Question 3

Researchers briefly anesthetized chimpanzees and painted an odorless red dye on their heads. When they awoke and looked in the mirror, the chimps immediately reached to touch their brows and ears where the dye was. These findings suggest that chimps __________.

A) develop a sense of self-recognition comparable to that of two-year-old humans
B) have a complex, multifaceted sense of self.
C) are capable of developing a sense of self-esteem
D) possess a self-concept much like a human's

Answer 3

possess a self-concept much like a human's

Question 4

Singelis (1994) administered his independence and interdependence questionnaire to students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He found that Asian American students agreed more with such statements as "It is important to me to respect decisions made by the group" and "My happiness depends on the happiness of those around me" than did Caucasian American students. These findings suggest that __________.

A) the self-concept is more complex in Western cultures
B) there is a genetic component to the self-concept
C) one's culture influences one's self-concept
D) Hawaii can be thought of as one of the few cultures that shapes the self-concept of its inhabitants

Question 5

Molly is eighteen years old and has an eight-year-old brother, Joe. If they are both asked to answer the question "Who am I?" Molly is likely to answer it in __________ terms than Joe.

A) more concrete
B) less concrete
C) more physical
D) less abstract

Question 6

By what age have human infants demonstrated the development of self-concept using the "red dye" test?

A) Three to six months
B) Twelve to sixteen months
C) Eighteen to twenty-four months
D) Two to four years

Question 7

During a nap, six-month-old Haley has a red dot painted on her forehead. When she awakes, researchers place her in front of a mirror. Which of the following responses is LEAST likely to happen when Haley looks into the mirror?

A) Haley reaches up to her forehead to touch the red dot that has appeared there.
B) Haley turns around to look for her mom.
C) Haley reaches out to touch the baby sitting in front of her.
D) Haley drops her head and begins playing with her toes.

Question 8

Assume that when exposed to a mirror, chimpanzees will use the mirror to aid in grooming (e.g., to pick food from their teeth) and to entertain themselves by making faces. The chimps' behavior in front of the mirror would suggest that __________.

A) mammals have a sense of self
B) many animals are curious and social
C) like humans, mammals are self-aware
D) these great apes have a sense of "self"

Question 9

The development of our sense of self is partly influenced by our culture. People who tend to have an independent view of the self are likely from __________ cultures, whereas __________ cultures are more likely to have an interdependent view of the self.

A) Western; non-Western
B) Indian; Asian
C) Asian; African American
D) non-Western; Western

Question 10

Unique baby names are a sign of a(n) __________ self-construal.

A) interdependent
B) independent
C) complex
D) nonexistent

Question 11

Consider the following self-description: "It's important to me to make others happy. I work hard to cooperate with others and seldom get into arguments. My friends are more important to me than my professional success." A(n) __________ is most likely to have provided such a self-description.

A) teacher living in Berlin, Germany
B) professor living in Minneapolis, Minnesota
C) executive living in Tokyo, Japan
D) writer living in Paris, France

Question 12

"My happiness depends on the happiness of those around me" and "I enjoy being unique and different from others in many respects" are two items from Singelis's (1994) scale, which was designed to measure individual differences in __________.

A) self-esteem
B) cooperation and competition
C) private and public self-consciousness
D) independence and interdependence

Question 13

When people in Western cultures learn about the interdependent view of the self, and people in Asian cultures learn of the independent view of the self, what is the typical reaction?

A) "Of course, they are so similar, it's easy to understand."
B) Many decide to change their view of self and "convert" to the view held by the other culture.
C) Many wish to promote a vision of a unified intradependent view of the self.
D) Many have difficulty understanding how the others could view the world in such a way.

Question 14

Self-concept is defined as __________.

A) one's perception of the impression one leaves on others
B) the overall set of beliefs that people have about their personal attributes
C) the perception we have of how we fit into the groups around us
D) the perception we have of our role in our culture

Question 15

Residents who live in states that were settled __________ by European Americans tend to have a more independent view of the self than do residents in East Coast states.

A) more recently
B) a long time ago
C) predominantly
D) only

Question 16

The authors of your text explain four components of the self. Which of the following is NOT one of these four functions?

A) Self-control
B) Impression management
C) Self-esteem
D) Self-justification

Question 17

Consider the following self-description: "I have blue eyes and brown hair. I have two sisters. I hate vegetables, but I love ice cream." Such a self-description was most likely provided by the typical __________.

A) two-year-old child
B) eight-year-old child
C) adult
D) high school student

Question 18

Imagine not seeing a high school friend until your twenty-fifth reunion. Based on results from a recent study, which of the following changes would make you think the friend has become a "different person"?

A) The friend has changed an aspect of his morality, such as becoming racist.
B) The friend has straightened his teeth and changed his hair color.
C) The friend has gotten into physical shape and now is a triathlete.
D) The friend has trouble remembering other classmates' names.

Question 19

Whereas Americans have the proverb "The squeaky wheel gets the grease," Japanese have a proverb that states, "The nail that stands out gets pounded down." These two different proverbs mirror social-psychological research that has demonstrated that people in Asian cultures __________.

A) are more authoritarian than Americans
B) are more likely to defer to authority than are Americans
C) have a more interdependent concept of self than do Americans
D) do not hold differentiated self-concepts

Question 20

The authors of your text describe Masako Owada's decision to give up her career and marry the crown prince of Japan. Many Americans viewed her decision as the result of coercion and sexism. How do many Japanese view her decision?

A) The same way Americans view the decision
B) As a show of support to the feminist movement
C) As a natural consequence of being connected and obligated to others
D) As part of her greater goal to promote her own career by obtaining the power of being royalty

Question 21

Researchers asked participants to keep journals of their daily moods and of other variables, such as the weather and how much sleep they got the night before. When asked, many participants reported the amount of sleep the night before was correlated with their moods. When information recorded in the journals was subjected to more systematic statistical analysis, it was found that amount of sleep was not related to participants' self-reported moods. This is most likely because participants __________.

A) relied on causal theories about the relation between mood and sleep
B) underreported the amount of sleep they actually got
C) were distracted when they wrote in their journals
D) were in a bad mood from having to keep the journal

Question 22

Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement about self-awareness?

A) Self-awareness can foster adherence to moral standards.
B) People always find self-focus aversive.
C) Self-focus leads people to attend to discrepancies between their behavior and their standards.
D) People attempt to escape aversive self-awareness through activities such as drinking and watching television.

Question 23

According to self-awareness theory, under which of the following circumstances would an individual be most highly motivated to avoid self-awareness?

A) After giving a successful presentation
B) While reading an engaging novel
C) Directly after receiving a low grade on an important test
D) While helping a friend with her homework

Question 24

Jake and Martin are standing at the counter of the convenience store, and Jake-who has just failed his psychology exam-is animatedly telling Martin that the exam was unfair and that his professor is unreasonable. As he takes his change, Jake sees his image on the security camera. This causes him to wonder whether he actually studied enough for the exam. Jake's self-scrutiny in this situation would be predicted by __________ theory.

A) self-awareness
B) self-perception
C) self-esteem
D) self-verification

Question 25

According to studies discussed in the text, one consequence of analyzing or generating reasons for their attitudes is that people will __________.

A) change their attitudes to bring them in line with the reasons
B) change their list of reasons to bring them in line with their attitudes
C) become self-aware and hold less positive attitudes
D) alter their behaviors to correspond to their original attitudes

Question 26

According to the idea of "telling more than we can know," one reason that introspection is sometimes not an accurate way to learn about oneself is that __________.

A) people have to be extremely self-aware to learn anything about themselves
B) people must rely on controlled processes to effectively introspective
C) mental processes are not observable, and therefore do not actually exist
D) many of our mental processes occur outside our awareness

Question 27

When we are in a state of __________, we evaluate or compare our current behavior against our internal standards and values.

A) self-awareness
B) self-centeredness
C) self-perception
D) distraction

Question 28

Who most likely believes a causal theory?

A) Isabella, who thinks that rainy days make her sad
B) Ava, who thinks she needs to work harder
C) Daniela, who is calling her grandmother on her birthday
D) Sophia, who is taking her turn to take out the trash

Question 29

Women are most often awarded custody of their children because of the belief that they are the best custodians of children, even though we know that women commit infanticide and abuse. Our belief represents __________.

A) an extrinsic motivation
B) a causal theory
C) an external attribution
D) terror management theory

Question 30

Which of the following is an example of a causal theory for behavior/feelings?

A) "Haste makes waste."
B) "Two wrongs don't make a right."
C) "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
D) "Mondays are bad days."

Question 31

From the perspective of self-awareness theory, alcohol abuse, binge eating, and suicide are alike in that they __________.

A) enable people who feel guilty to punish themselves
B) are more likely to be done by people with interdependent self-concepts
C) are coping mechanisms used by people with low self-esteem
D) provide temporary or permanent relief from unpleasant self-awareness

Question 32

Where do many causal theories such as "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" come from?

A) Introspection
B) Self-perception
C) Culture
D) Evolution

Question 33

__________ refers to the process of looking inward and examining our thoughts, feelings, and motives.

A) Self-actualization
B) Introspection
C) Implicit personality
D) Self-examination

Question 34

Earl wants to understand his self-concept better, so he sits quietly by himself and thinks about who he is and what his values and attitudes are. What is Earl engaging in?

A) Self-awareness
B) Self-conceptualization
C) Introspection
D) Meditation

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a way that people escape aversive self-awareness?

A) Solving crossword puzzles
B) Watching television
C) Binge eating
D) Getting drunk

Question 36

One of the limitations of using introspection as a source of information about the self is that __________.

A) it takes up valuable cognitive resources
B) we cannot objectively observe our own behaviors
C) it may result in our being self-centered
D) some reasons for our behavior are outside of our conscious awareness

Question 37

It's Halloween, but you don't want to be running back and forth to answer the door. To avoid any "tricks," you decide to leave a large container of candy on the porch. You've just read about self-awareness theory, and you have a hunch about how to keep greedy trick-or-treaters from taking more than their fair share of the candy. You decide to __________.

A) install a one-way mirror to catch and punish offenders, and to make an example of them
B) place a large mirror behind the candy, so that children can see themselves as they approach
C) set up a tape-recorder that plays songs about cooperation and giving
D) place a picture of the Wicked Witch of the West behind the candy to warn them of what will happen if they take too much

Question 38

According to the authors of your text, feelings like love or sadness are often difficult to explain because __________.

A) humans are incredibly self-serving
B) we are unaware of many of our basic mental processes
C) environmental stimuli override internal signals
D) they are frequently the result of social interactions

Question 39

Researchers asked high school juniors what they were thinking at several points throughout the day. They found that the more students were thinking of themselves, __________.

A) the more they were using their smartphones
B) the more likely they were in a bad mood
C) the less exercise they were getting
D) the less time they spent sleeping

Question 40

One evening after work, Barbara arrives home in a very bad mood. Noticing this, her husband James asks her why she seems so angry and upset. Barbara hadn't thought about her mood before James mentioned it, and now she thinks hard about what has caused her to be so sullen. She decides that it was because she was hungry and tired, and she tells James so. Barbara is __________ her behavior.

A) constructing a causal theory about
B) making an excuse for
C) attempting to discount
D) overjustifying

Question 41

At the amusement park, Keon's heart begins beating rapidly and his palms begin to sweat. He reasons that since he is next in line for the roller coaster, he must be feeling exhilarated. This sequence of events in which Keon first perceives his arousal and subsequently labels it is consistent with the __________.

A) two-factor theory of emotion
B) predictions of self-verification theory
C) theory of self-monitoring
D) theory of the looking glass self

Question 42

While completing a personality test, Craig comes to an item that asks him if he sees himself as shy and introverted. Craig reflects on some of his recent behavior. He reasons that since he generally does not talk much in class discussions and tends to avoid large parties, he must be shy and introverted. Which of the following strategies for self-knowledge is Craig using?

A) Self-presentation
B) Self-perception
C) Self-esteem
D) Self-enhancement

Question 43

A basic tenet of self-perception theory is that we infer our feelings from our behavior when __________.

A) the reasons for our attitudes or feelings are ambiguous
B) the reasons for our attitudes or feelings are clear
C) we can easily identify external reasons for our feelings
D) we think about how others perceive us

Question 44

Carl experiences sweaty palms, a racing heart beat, and butterflies in his stomach. As he scans the dark alley he is walking down, he hears an angry, growling dog approaching. Carl immediately labels what he is feeling as fear. This is a correct interpretation according to the __________.

A) self-perception theory of emotion
B) Cannon-Bard theory of emotion
C) two-factor theory of emotion
D) self-awareness theory of emotion

Question 45

Schachter and Singer's (1962) experiment in which participants were injected with epinephrine-allegedly as part of a study of the effects of a vitamin compound on vision-is one of the most famous studies in social psychology because the experiment showed that __________.

A) participants can become very angry and upset when research is unethical
B) emotions can be the consequence of self-perception processes
C) when arousal is sufficiently high, the situation makes no difference
D) anger is easy to identify, but elation is more difficult

Question 46

Schachter's (1964) two-factor theory of emotion suggests that we first experience __________ and then subsequently seek to __________.

A) physiological arousal; label the emotion appropriately
B) compunction; reduce cognitive dissonance
C) cognitive dissonance; label the emotion appropriately
D) physiological arousal; reduce self-awareness

Question 47

__________ theory posits that when our attitudes or feelings are ambiguous, we infer our internal states by observing our own behaviors and the situations in which they occur.

A) Impression management
B) Introspection
C) Self-perception
D) Self-enhancement

Question 48

Beyond causal theories, what other information do people have available during introspection about the reasons for their feelings and behaviors?

A) Knowledge of how they have responded in the past
B) Self-help books that explain the reasons for feelings
C) Knowledge of reasons that other people have for having those same behaviors or feelings
D) Cross-species research on the cause of behaviors or feelings

Question 49

According to the tenets of self-perception theory, which of the following audience members would report that he or she really loved the taping of Late Show with David Letterman?

A) Tim, who sat right in front of the flashing "Applause" sign
B) Julie, who could see that Dave was looking at her
C) André, whose hands stung from clapping so much
D) Debra, whose friends nudged her to get her to applaud

Question 50

Cliff was asked if he liked country music. He remembered that his roommate had turned on some country music the other day and he listened to it for a while. What did Cliff report when asked if he liked country music?

A) He assumed that because he had listened to it, he liked it.
B) Because he had not turned it on, he stated that he didn't really like country music.
C) Because his roommate had turned it on, he said he especially liked it, because he wants to be like his roommate.
D) He assumed that he didn't like it, because it wasn't his radio.

Question 51

Recall Schachter and Singer's study in which participants were given an injection, then exposed to either a very happy or very angry confederate, then asked about their mood. Which of the following is an independent variable in this study?

A) Participant's mood
B) Gender of the participant
C) Receiving the injection of epinephrine or a neutral compound
D) How many times they hula-hooped with the confederate

Question 52

According to Schachter's two-factor theory of emotion, the two factors necessary to experience an emotion are __________.

A) physiological arousal and motivation
B) physiological arousal and appropriate explanation
C) physiological arousal and psychological arousal
D) psychological interest and ability

Question 53

In Schachter's theory of emotion, we observe our behavior and then __________.

A) compare it to others' behaviors
B) explain to ourselves why we are behaving that way
C) describe how we use that behavior to get what we want
D) analyze that behavior compared with how we have behaved before

Question 54

When asked to explain our own behaviors, self-perception processes are more likely to operate when our feelings are __________ and when we __________.

A) weak or unclear; list the reasons for those feelings
B) clear; engage in introspection
C) weak or unclear; think about the situation and our behavior
D) clear; think about the situation and our behavior

Question 55

Self-perception theory argues that when our attitudes or feelings aren't clear, we often infer them by observing __________.

A) how other people are behaving
B) our emotional reactions
C) our own behavior
D) others' reactions to us

Question 56

If you are experiencing physiological arousal (heart pounding, feeling warm and a bit shaky), according to the two-factor theory of emotion, what would you do next to provide an interpretation of the arousal?

A) Look for cues from the environment
B) Introspect
C) Use self-awareness
D) Recall the last time you consumed caffeine

Question 57

According to the text, self-perception theory is most closely related to which other theory in social psychology?

A) Cognitive dissonance theory
B) Self-awareness theory
C) Self-esteem maintenance theory
D) Attribution theory

Question 58

Imagine that you are a participant in the experiment conducted by Schachter and Singer (1962). You were injected with a vitamin compound called Suproxin and told that you might experience an increased heart rate, hand tremors, and sweaty palms. Further imagine that while completing a questionnaire, the person in the room with you begins to act angry, tears up the questionnaire, and storms from the room. You are likely to __________ because __________.

A) ignore this situational cue; you know the source of your arousal
B) become angry too; situational cues have helped you label your arousal
C) remain calm; to become angry would cause cognitive dissonance
D) ignore the source of your arousal; the situation was so powerful

Question 59

According to self-perception theory, we infer the kind of person we are and what our attitudes are by __________.

A) engaging in introspection about the reasons for our behaviors
B) comparing our behaviors to our internal values and standards
C) looking to others to see how they respond to us
D) observing our own behaviors, just as we would observe others' behavior

Question 60

Lisa is most likely to conclude that she likes classical music when __________.

A) she presets her car radio to a classical music station
B) she cannot pick up other stations on her car radio
C) her husband chooses the stations on the car radio
D) the car radio gets stuck on a classical music station and she cannot change it

Question 61

Misattribution of arousal can best be defined as the process by which people make __________.

A) mistaken inferences about what is causing them to feel as they do
B) poor choices when faced with a difficult decision
C) inferences about their own emotions through introspection
D) correct assumptions about threatening aspects of their situation

Question 62

Simone runs simply because it gives her pleasure to exercise outside and to leave her daily worries behind as she works up a sweat. In this instance, Simone is __________ to run.

A) extrinsically motivated
B) intrinsically motivated
C) justifying her desire
D) generating a reason

Question 63

According to the authors, programs that provide children large monetary rewards for reading __________.

A) encourage students to value reading
B) are prohibitively expensive to implement
C) may actually reduce their enjoyment of reading
D) are effective only with younger students

Question 64

If you are using the misattribution of arousal principle to plan a first date, and you really want your partner to be attracted to you, which of the following activities would you choose?

A) Ride the roller coasters at an amusement park
B) Get tickets to see a slow-moving art film
C) Go out for coffee and make sure your date orders decaf
D) Have a nice meal and wine at a quiet, dimly lit restaurant

Question 65

Recall that Dutton and Aron (1974) had an attractive female confederate approach men either on a high, narrow, swaying suspension bridge or on the other side of the bridge, where they were sitting. More men called the woman after she approached them on the scary bridge. Why?

A) Men appraised the confederate as attractive before they became aroused.
B) Men misattributed their fear as sexual attraction.
C) Only men with high self-esteem would attempt to cross the bridge.
D) Men on the bridge were more likely to have broken up with their romantic partners.

Question 66

The principal of a local elementary school plans to implement a "Reading for Cash" program, whereby children would be given cash rewards for reading. Before investing in this plan, the principal asks for your assessment. Because __________ tend to __________, you would probably tell her that the program would not be an effective way to increase interest in reading.

A) external rewards; reduce any inherent intrinsic interest
B) external rewards; increase any inherent intrinsic interest
C) any forms of encouragement; reduce intrinsic motivation
D) intrinsic interests; weaken over time regardless of incentives

Question 67

Suppose that Lauren has always wanted to go out with Sam. She calls him up and asks him to go to a movie with her, and he accepts enthusiastically. Just prior to calling Sam, Lauren took some allergy medicine. Under which of the following conditions will she experience the most joy?

A) The allergy medicine she just took, she knows, makes her hyper and excited.
B) The allergy medicine she just took, unknown to her, causes mild arousal.
C) The allergy medicine she just took, she knows, causes mild arousal.
D) The allergy medicine she just took, unknown to her, causes relaxation and sleepiness.

Question 68

Which of the following situations best exemplifies the misattribution of arousal?

A) You ask for second helpings and infer that you must have been really hungry.
B) You just got a huge raise at your part-time restaurant job and now find the customers less enjoyable than before.
C) You are exhausted after an all-nighter, take two caffeine tabs to stay awake, and panic when you see the content of your psychology exam.
D) You were rejected from a law school to which your friend was admitted, so you feel resentful of her success.

Question 69

You assume that Franklin is intrinsically motivated to write a course paper because __________.

A) it will increase his chances of making the Dean's List
B) it is a requirement to pass the course
C) he wants his professor to write him a letter of recommendation
D) Franklin seems to savor immersing himself in writing

Question 70

While riding a harrowing roller coaster, Jim notices that the person sitting next to him is extremely attractive, and he resolves to get her phone number when the ride is over. Jim is probably doing this because he is __________.

A) misattributing his arousal from the roller coaster ride to sexual attraction
B) inferring a social compatibility based on mutual interest
C) correctly inferring, based on introspection, that he is attracted to this person
D) suffering from a mixed mindset because of the excitement from the roller coaster

Question 71

Which of the following is most likely to increase intrinsic motivation?

A) Large incentives
B) Internal attributions
C) External attributions
D) Self-perception processes

Question 72

Why does misattribution of arousal happen?

A) You are aware of arousal and have a single interpretation available.
B) You are unaware of your arousal level.
C) You are aware of arousal but there are multiple plausible causes for it.
D) You are unaware of your arousal but are interpreting your situation.

Question 73

Recall that Dutton and Aron (1974) had an attractive female confederate approach men either on a high, narrow, swaying suspension bridge or on the other side of the bridge, where they were sitting. In thinking about processes of misattribution of arousal, which group of men was more likely to call the confederate later and ask her for a date?

A) Those who had rested for a while.
B) Those who were approached on the bridge.
C) Both groups were equally likely to call because the confederate was so attractive.
D) Neither group called the confederate because they misattributed the arousal to anxiety.

Question 74

Pablo had always gotten much satisfaction out of caring for his brothers and sisters when they were sick. A few months ago, Pablo's father convinced him to take a job at a hospital as a nurse's aide so that he could earn money doing what he enjoyed. Now that Pablo has been working at the hospital for a while, he no longer enjoys caring for sick people as much as he did before he took the job. One reason for Pablo's attitude change may be that the job has undermined his __________ for helping others.

A) intrinsic motivation
B) extrinsic motivation
C) external justification
D) internal justification

Question 75

Leonie really likes Giorgi and would like for him to like her. Based on the research presented in this chapter, what should she suggest they do for a date?

A) Go to a theme park with five roller coasters
B) Have a quiet dinner at an Italian restaurant
C) Take in a silent movie at a historic theater
D) See a piano recital at school

Question 76

__________ refers to the desire to undertake an activity because of external rewards, not because we find it interesting or enjoyable.

A) Intrinsic motivation
B) Compliance
C) Extrinsic motivation
D) Social comparison

Question 77

In the study by Greene, Sternberg, and Lepper (1976), they gave students a math game to play for fun. They measured how much time the children played with the math game prior to any incentive. Then they implemented a reward system to see if they could increase the willingness to play with the game. During the reward program, time spent playing the game increased, and then the reward program was stopped. When compared to control participants, students who were part of the reward program __________ interest in playing the games once the reward program was stopped.

A) lost significantly more
B) gained significantly more
C) lost significantly less
D) gained significantly less

Question 78

__________ refers to the desire to engage in an activity because we enjoy it, not because we expect external rewards.

A) Intrinsic motivation
B) Extrinsic motivation
C) Hedonic motivation
D) The overjustification effect

Question 79

In evaluating programs in which children are offered rewards (e.g., money, pizza) for reading books, a social psychologist might remind us that __________.

A) rewards do not have an effect if children don't like reading in the first place
B) punishers are more effective than rewards where humans are concerned
C) rewards might convince children that they are reading simply to secure pizza or money
D) excessive rewards will undermine the children's self-esteem

Question 80

Why would cognitive attributional processes be involved in helping us label emotions?

A) All arousal has a cognitive component.
B) All arousal is social in origin.
C) In many situations, there is more than one plausible cause for arousal.
D) Extreme arousal short-circuits rational cognitive processes.