Deck 9: Behavior and Belief

Question 1

A personality inventory that utilizes only those items that have been shown to differentiate particular groups of people is a(n)________ test.
•factor analytic
•self-report
•projective
•empirically derived

Answer 1

•empirically derived

Question 2

Psychologists assess a wide range of emotional and behavioral traits by means of
•reciprocal determinism.
•the Barnum effect.
•personality inventories.
•the spotlight effect.

Answer 2

•personality inventories

Question 3

A frontal lobe area involved in ________ is ________ active in extraverts than in introverts.
•restraining behavior; less
•addictive cravings; more
•empathy; less
•aggression; more

Answer 3

•restraining behavior; less

Question 4

People are especially likely to demonstrate an increase in ________ during their twenties.
•conscientiousness
•extraversion
•openness
•emotional instability

Question 5

Trait theorists are more concerned with ________ personality than with ________ it.
•predicting; assessing
•describing; explaining
•changing; analyzing
•interpreting; observing

Question 6

Being highly imaginative is most closely related to the Big Five trait dimension of
•extraversion.
•openness.
•neuroticism.
•conscientiousness.

Question 7

Factor analysis has been used to identify the most basic
•self-serving biases.
•reciprocal determinants.
•personality traits.
•genetic predispositions.

Question 8

People respond to stress with greater anxiety if they have
•a weak ego.
•an internal locus of control.
•positive character traits.
•a reactive autonomic nervous system.

Question 9

Assessing an individual's standing on the Big Five today has the advantage of providing a ________ personality description.
•Barnum
•flattering
•extraverted
•comprehensive

Question 10

The tendency to accept favorable descriptions of one's personality that could really be applied to almost anyone is known as
•the Barnum effect.
•projection.
•the spotlight effect.
•an internal locus of control.

Question 11

Frida was informed by a professional palm reader: "You generally communicate openly with others,but you have certain dark secrets that even your closest friends could never guess." The fact that Frida was impressed by the palm reader's insight into her personality best illustrates
•the false consensus effect.
•the Barnum effect.
•the spotlight effect.
•an external locus of control.

Question 12

A consistent tendency to be shy is best described as a
•trait.
•projection.
•locus of control.
•factor.

Question 13

By selective breeding,researchers can produce bold or shy birds. This best illustrates that some personality differences among birds are
•projections.
•empirically derived.
•genetically influenced.
•situational.

Question 14

People who take personality inventories can lie in order to create a good impression. This best illustrates that the objectivity in scoring personality inventories does not guarantee that they
•have validity.
•are empirically derived.
•assess several different traits.
•have been subjected to factor analysis.

Question 15

Characteristic patterns of behavior or a disposition to feel and act are called
•dimensions.
•attributional style.
•projections.
•traits.

Question 16

The person-situation controversy involves a debate regarding the influence of ________ and ________ on behavior.
•self-concept; self-esteem
•optimism; pessimism
•environments; traits
•personal control; empowerment

Question 17

Emotional instability is most closely related to the Big Five trait dimension of
•openness.
•neuroticism.
•agreeableness.
•conscientiousness.

Question 18

The MMPI is an example of a
•projective test.
•personality inventory.
•factor analytic test.
•self-esteem test.

Question 19

A person who is careless and disorganized most clearly ranks low on the Big Five trait dimension of
•neuroticism.
•extraversion.
•openness.
•conscientiousness.

Question 20

Arguments as to whether people's behavior is more strongly influenced by temporary external influences or by enduring inner influences best characterize the
•Big Five dimensions.
•person-situation controversy.
•self-serving bias.
•biopsychosocial approach.

Question 21

According to Bandura,reciprocal determinism involves multidirectional influences among
•thoughts,emotions,and actions.
•behaviors,internal personal factors,and environmental events.
•extraversion,openness,and neuroticism.
•self-concept,self-serving bias,and self-esteem.

Question 22

The social-cognitive perspective emphasizes the interactive influences of our traits and our
•temperaments.
•situations.
•emotions.
•self-concepts.

Question 23

Studies of college students' conscientiousness revealed only a modest relationship between a student being conscientious on one occasion and being similarly conscientious on another occasion. This should make psychologists more cautious about overestimating the impact of ________ on behavior.
•personal control
•personality traits
•reciprocal determinism
•possible selves

Question 24

Laura fails to recognize any connection between her unsafe sexual practices and the likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Laura's lack of perceptiveness best illustrates the dangers of
•defensive self-esteem.
•excessive optimism.
•the spotlight effect.
•an external locus of control.

Question 25

Because Mr. Maloney trusts his employees,he treats them kindly. His kindness leads them to work diligently on his behalf,which in turn increases his trust in them. This pattern of trust,kindness,diligence,and increasing trust illustrates what is meant by
•secure self-esteem.
•the spotlight effect.
•external locus of control.
•reciprocal determinism.

Question 26

Sasha believes that the questions on school tests are so unrelated to course work that studying is useless. Sasha's belief most clearly illustrates
•reciprocal determinism.
•the false consensus effect.
•an external locus of control.
•the spotlight effect.

Question 27

Social cues are especially likely to influence our behavior in ______ settings,and personality traits are especially likely to influence our behavior in ______ situations.
•unfamiliar; informal
•unfamiliar; formal
•familiar; formal
•familiar; informal

Question 28

An integrated understanding of Tara's consistent cheerfulness in terms of her supportive peer relationships,her calm temperament,and her perceived internal locus of control best illustrates
•factor analysis.
•self-serving bias.
•a biopsychosocial approach.
•positive psychology.

Question 29

The perception that your fate is determined by luck reflects
•reciprocal determinism.
•self-serving bias.
•an external locus of control.
•the spotlight effect.

Question 30

Resisting the temptation to eat chocolate chip cookies led research participants to subsequently give up sooner than normal on efforts to complete a tedious task. This illustrated that self-control weakens following
•an exertion of energy.
•defensive self-esteem.
•the spotlight effect.
•conscientiousness.

Question 31

People's scores on a test of extraversion are likely to be most strongly correlated with the number of social conversations they initiate during the course of a single
•hour.
•day.
•week.
•month.

Question 32

Compared with those who perceive an external locus of control,people who perceive an internal locus of control are more likely to
•be introverted personalities.
•give others unconditional love.
•conform to social pressure.
•effectively delay gratification of their impulses.

Question 33

The process by which people learn a sense of personal control or personal helplessness has been most strongly emphasized by the
•biopsychosocial perspective.
•trait perspective.
•self perspective.
•social-cognitive perspective.

Question 34

Emma believes that she will succeed in business if she works hard and carefully manages her time. Her belief most clearly illustrates
•reciprocal determinism.
•the Barnum effect.
•positive emotion.
•an internal locus of control.

Question 35

Randy's substandard academic performance is both a result and a cause of his feelings of academic inferiority. This best illustrates the importance of
•self-serving bias.
•the Barnum effect.
•reciprocal determinism.
•the false consensus effect.

Question 36

Which theorists have been most directly criticized for underestimating the variability of behavior from situation to situation?
•social-cognitive
•self
•humanistic
•trait

Question 37

Personality is fruitfully studied at multiple levels of analysis because people are best understood as
•unconscious information processors.
•biopsychosocial organisms.
•demonstrating self-serving bias.
•possessing enduring traits.

Question 38

Sheen is usually animated and talkative when he is with his girlfriend,but he is often quiet and reserved at home. He actively participates in many class discussions but frequently seems reluctant to talk with friends at the campus coffee shop. Sheen's behavior should make us more cautious about overemphasizing the impact of ________ on behavior.
•personality traits
•self-serving bias
•reciprocal determinism
•self-esteem

Question 39

Because Greta is an extravert,she frequently goes to parties where she is encouraged to laugh and socialize with her friends. Because Jim is an introvert,he frequently spends weekends in the library where it's easy to quietly reflect and study. Greta and Jim best illustrate what is meant by
•an external locus of control.
•reciprocal determinism.
•the self-serving bias.
•the Barnum effect.

Question 40

Unlike country,pop,and religious music lovers,those who prefer classical,jazz,blues,and folk music tend to score high on the Big Five trait dimension known as
•extraversion.
•openness.
•neuroticism.
•conscientiousness.

Question 41

Good study habits and self-discipline are most likely to be dampened by
•an internal locus of control.
•the false consensus effect.
•self-serving bias.
•a pessimistic attributional style.

Question 42

When faced with an ever-increasing number of consumer product choices,people often experience the discomfort of
•self-serving bias.
•the false consensus effect.
•information overload.
•the spotlight effect.

Question 43

Martin Seligman's positive psychology differs from the humanistic perspective in that it
•denies humankind's capacity for evil.
•focuses more on a person's defensive self-esteem.
•emphasizes the use of scientific methods.
•has less application to educational settings.

Question 44

The social-cognitive perspective suggests that the best way to predict a political candidate's performance effectiveness after election is to assess that individual's
•current feelings of personal control.
•specific political goals for the future.
•general feelings of optimism about the future.
•past performance in situations involving similar responsibilities.

Question 45

Sexually active undergraduate women who do not consistently use contraceptives often perceive themselves as less vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy than do other undergraduate women. This best illustrates
•low self-esteem.
•the Barnum effect.
•the spotlight effect.
•unrealistic optimism.

Question 46

The social-cognitive perspective is LEAST likely to be criticized for neglecting the importance of
•environmental influences.
•unconscious motives.
•personality traits.
•genetic influences.

Question 47

Unrealistic optimism could best be described as a(n)
•self-serving bias.
•spotlight effect.
•false consensus effect.
•external locus of control.

Question 48

In assessing candidates for spy missions during World War II,U.S. Army psychologists subjected them to simulated undercover conditions. This best illustrates the use of an assessment strategy favored by the ________ perspective.
•trait
•biopsychosocial
•social-cognitive
•humanistic

Question 49

After expending willpower by stifling prejudice during laboratory tasks,research participants were temporarily less
•hungry.
•aggressive.
•pessimistic.
•sexually restrained.

Question 50

After experiencing inescapable brutalities as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp,Mr. Sternberg became apathetic,stopped eating,and gave up all efforts to physically survive the ordeal. Mr. Sternberg's reaction most clearly illustrates
•defensive self-esteem.
•the spotlight effect.
•learned helplessness.
•an internal locus of control.

Question 51

Learned helplessness is MOST likely to be associated with
•self-serving bias.
•an external locus of control.
•the false consensus effect.
•introversion.

Question 52

Compared with European-American students,Asian-American students express a somewhat greater ________ about their future performance,which may help to explain their impressive academic achievements.
•secure self-esteem
•self-serving bias
•false consensus effect
•pessimism

Question 53

If you're a junior doctor and want to predict how well you will do on a surgical skills exam,you would be best advised to
•ask your professional peers for their candid predictions of your exam performance.
•complete a true-false test that will predict your exam performance.
•simply make your own personal prediction of your exam performance.
•complete the MMPI,which will predict your exam performance.

Question 54

Compared with those who made a purchase choice from among 30 different brands of jam or chocolate,those who chose from among just 6 brands expressed
•less self-esteem.
•more satisfaction with their choice.
•less agreeableness.
•more learned helplessness.

Question 55

Our ignorance of what we don't know helps to sustain
•confidence in our own abilities.
•a pessimistic attributional style.
•learned helplessness.
•an external locus of control.

Question 56

Contemporary psychologists are most likely to consider ________ to be of pivotal importance to personality.
•personality types
•positive emotions
•the sense of self
•the ego

Question 57

Learned helplessness is most likely to promote
•secure self-esteem.
•an internal locus of control.
•self-serving bias.
•pessimism.

Question 58

Dogs strapped into a harness and given repeated and unavoidable shocks developed
•an internal locus of control.
•autonomic reactivity.
•learned helplessness.
•the false consensus effect.

Question 59

In the long run,people who practice self-regulation through physical exercise and time-managed programs experience an increase in
•openness.
•emotional stability.
•the spotlight effect.
•self-control.

Question 60

The best indicator of a person's level of optimism is his or her
•conscientiousness.
•locus of control.
•attributional style.
•self-serving bias.

Question 61

People are more critical of their ________ selves than of their ________ selves.
•past; current
•current; past
•possible; impossible
•impossible; possible

Question 62

Which of the following is MOST likely to be associated with high self-esteem?
•the spotlight effect
•self-serving bias
•an external locus of control
•reciprocal determinism

Question 63

Accepting ourselves without undue dependence on the approval of others best illustrates
•reciprocal determinism.
•possible selves.
•positive psychology.
•secure self-esteem.

Question 64

Andy,a high school sophomore,lacks self-discipline,fails to plan ahead,and is excessively anxious. He is quickly frustrated by challenging tasks and frequently becomes overly critical of others. Use the psychoanalytic,humanistic,and social-cognitive perspectives to give three contrasting explanations of Andy's behavior.

Question 65

Narcissism is associated with
•less gambling and less cheating.
•less gambling and more cheating.
•more gambling and less cheating.
•more gambling and more cheating.

Question 66

Larry studies diligently because he is haunted by an image of himself being unable to get a job after graduation. Larry's diligence best illustrates the motivational impact of
•secure self-esteem.
•empiricism.
•possible selves.
•the spotlight effect.

Question 67

A person whose self-esteem is momentarily threatened is especially likely to
•demonstrate an independence from social pressure to conform.
•criticize the shortcomings of others.
•experience an internal locus of control.
•be motivated by a introversion.

Question 68

If we are nervous about our personal appearance after adopting a new hairstyle,we are likely to ________ the extent to which others notice our nervousness and we are likely to ________ the extent to which they notice our new hairstyle.
•overestimate; underestimate
•underestimate; overestimate
•overestimate; overestimate
•underestimate; underestimate

Question 69

Kelly loves to boast about her accomplishments and becomes very upset when anyone criticizes her. Kelly most clearly demonstrates
•the spotlight effect.
•the false consensus effect.
•defensive self-esteem.
•learned helplessness.

Question 70

Which technique would psychologists use to assess whether a cluster of characteristics that includes ambition,determination,persistence,and self-reliance reflects a single personality trait?
•projective testing
•factor analysis
•empirically derived testing
•situational testing

Question 71

Athletes often attribute their losses to bad officiating. This best illustrates
•learned helplessness.
•the spotlight effect.
•self-serving bias.
•the Barnum effect.

Question 72

Overestimating the extent to which others notice and evaluate our appearance and performance is called
•external locus of control.
•self-serving bias.
•the spotlight effect.
•defensive self-esteem.

Question 73

Research on self-perception indicates that most people
•feel more personally responsible for their failures than for their successes.
•view themselves very favorably in comparison to most others.
•underestimate the accuracy of their beliefs and judgments.
•are unrealistically pessimistic about their personal future.

Question 74

Tonya demonstrates personality traits at parties with her friends that are very different from those she exhibits when she participates in class activities. Using your knowledge of both the person-situation controversy and reciprocal determinism,explain why the variability of Tonya's behavior in different situations is not surprising.

Question 75

A person who experiences defensive self-esteem is ________ to demonstrate self-serving bias and is ________ to feel angry when criticized.
•unlikely; likely
•likely; unlikely
•unlikely; unlikely
•likely; likely

Question 76

Jacinda failed her last history midterm. Which of the following conclusions would be most representative of a self-serving bias on Jacinda's part?
•"I really didn't prepare well enough for that test."
•"I wasn't concentrating as hard as I should have during the test."
•"I lack ability in history."
•"I think the test questions were ambiguous and confusing."

Question 77

Psychologist Jean Twenge refers to today's new generation as Generation Me because it expresses more
•openness.
•narcissism.
•secure self-esteem.
•optimism.

Question 78

Although Rolf frequently cheats on classroom tests,he justifies his behavior by erroneously thinking that most other students cheat even more than he does. His mistaken belief best illustrates
•the spotlight effect.
•reciprocal determinism.
•an external locus of control.
•self-serving bias.

Question 79

Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely than those with low self-esteem to
•work persistently at difficult tasks.
•experience an external locus of control.
•dismiss flattering descriptions of themselves as untrue.
•underestimate the accuracy of their own beliefs.

Question 80

In every one of 53 countries surveyed,people typically expressed self-esteem above the midpoint of the most widely used self-esteem scale. This best illustrates the pervasiveness of
•extraversion.
•the spotlight effect.
•self-serving bias.
•an external locus of control.