Deck 13: Social Behavior

Question 1

In terms of personality characteristics,people who are good looking tend to be viewed as

A) sociable, friendly, and warm.
B) dominant and perceptive.
C) intelligent and nonconforming.
D) honest and truthful.

Answer 1

sociable, friendly, and warm.

Question 2

Sharon has only met three musicians who have had full beards,and she has also met three musicians who were clean-shaven.Still,she believes that MOST musicians have beards.Sharon's belief reflects

A) an egocentric slant.
B) an illusory correlation.
C) a confirmation bias.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Answer 2

an illusory correlation.

Question 3

Jim just saw a photograph of a professor whom he has not met.Research suggests that based on the picture,Jim can probably make meaningful inferences about all of the following EXCEPT the professor's

A) income.
B) extraversion.
C) agreeableness.
D) self-esteem.

Answer 3

income.

Question 4

Marsha believes that all news reporters are cynical,doubting individuals who would sell their souls for an exclusive story.In this case,Marsha's beliefs about the traits and behaviors of news reporters are one example of

A) the fundamental attribution error.
B) a confirmation bias.
C) stereotypes.
D) the matching hypothesis.

Question 5

Newton believes that all airline pilots are calm,cool individuals who never get excited or show any strong emotional responses.In this case,Newton's beliefs about the traits and behaviors of airline pilots are one example of

A) the fundamental attribution error.
B) a confirmation bias.
C) stereotypes.
D) the matching hypothesis.

Question 6

The illusory correlation effect occurs when we

A) incorrectly assume that one social trait is the cause of another, simply because we have observed that they are correlated.
B) are motivated to accurately estimate the frequency with which some pattern of social traits occurs.
C) see correlations between social traits that really aren't there, because our expectations distort our memories.
D) fail to see true correlations between social traits, because our expectations distort our memories.

Question 7

The branch of psychology concerned with the way individuals' thoughts,feelings,and behaviors are influenced by others is

A) individual psychology.
B) social psychology.
C) abnormal psychology.
D) cultural psychology.

Question 8

People who are physically attractive are viewed as ____ than less attractive people.

A) more conceited and insecure and less competent
B) more sociable and poised and less competent
C) more friendly, well adjusted, and competent
D) more arrogant, insecure, and competent

Question 9

Which of the following people are MOST likely to be viewed as more competent?

A) older people
B) people who wear conservative attire
C) people who are physically attractive
D) people who mimic our own mannerisms

Question 10

Widely held beliefs about groups of people based on their group membership defines

A) cognitive structuring.
B) cultural direction.
C) stereotypes.
D) schematizing.

Question 11

All of the following statements concerning stereotypes are accurate EXCEPT

A) stereotyping is a normal cognitive process.
B) all social schemas are stereotypes.
C) common stereotypes are based on gender, ethnicity, and occupation.
D) stereotypes are frequently broad overgeneralizations.

Question 12

When people estimate that they have encountered more confirmations of an association between social traits than they have actually seen they have

A) created a stereotype.
B) made an illusory correlation.
C) made a covariation inference.
D) created a social schema.

Question 13

Joel and Kirk both work with a stock brokerage firm.Joel is considered to be extremely attractive,and Kirk is considered to be average in appearance.Based on research that has investigated the effects of physical appearance in person perception,you should predict that

A) Joel will tend to receive better performance evaluations than Kirk, for equivalent work.
B) Kirk will tend to receive better performance evaluations than Joel, for equivalent work.
C) Joel will be perceived as having greater integrity and being more honest.
D) Kirk will be perceived as being more submissive and naïve.

Question 14

Which of the following statements BEST reflects an evolutionary explanation of why we tend to be influenced by physical attractiveness in our perception of others?

A) We have a tendency to identify with those we perceive as attractive.
B) Physically attractive individuals are also likely to be intelligent and hard working.
C) Being around attractive people tends to make us view ourselves more favorably.
D) At one time in our history, physical attractiveness was associated with reproductive potential.

Question 15

The subfield of psychology that studies attitudes,the attribution process,person perceptions,interpersonal attraction,conformity and obedience and group behavior is known as

A) environmental psychology.
B) neuropsychology.
C) sociocultural psychology.
D) social psychology.

Question 16

You believe that short men have a tendency to be insecure.The concept of illusory correlation implies that you will

A) overestimate the frequency of insecure short men.
B) underestimate the frequency of insecure short men.
C) accurately estimate the frequency of insecure short men.
D) falsely assume that tall men are naturally secure.

Question 17

Research on physical attractiveness has shown that

A) most people disregard physical attractiveness when forming first impressions of people.
B) judgments of women's personalities are affected by their physical attractiveness, but judgments of men's personalities are not.
C) we tend to ascribe desirable personality characteristics to good-looking people.
D) men are more likely than women to make biased judgments of others based on physical appearance.

Question 18

John observed Gracie,an executive for a large accounting firm,behave in an aggressive and pushy manner with her subordinates.John now believes that most women executives are aggressive and pushy with their subordinates.John's overestimation of the link between women executives and the social traits of "pushy" and "aggressive" is referred to as

A) an illusory correlation.
B) a contravened stereotype.
C) a heuristic overbias.
D) a self-serving attribution.

Question 19

Person perception refers to the process of

A) forming impressions of others.
B) developing an implicit personality theory.
C) predicting the behavior of others.
D) monitoring the impressions you make on other people.

Question 20

A group that one belongs to and identifies with is known as

A) a stereotype.
B) a social schema.
C) an outgroup.
D) an ingroup.

Question 21

Harper is 35 years old,and he has just enrolled in his first university course.On the first day of class he looks over the individuals in the room and sits next to another male student who appears to be in his early 30s.In this case,Harper has likely classified the other student

A) using a self-serving bias.
B) as a member of his ingroup.
C) as the teaching assistant for the class.
D) as someone who has more university experience than Harper.

Question 22

Martha wins three games of backgammon in a row,even though she has never played before.If Martha assumes she has "beginner's luck," she is making an ____ attribution about her success; if she decides backgammon is an easy game,she is making an ____ attribution about her success.

A) internal-stable; internal-unstable
B) internal-unstable; external-unstable
C) external-unstable; internal-stable
D) external-unstable; external-stable

Question 23

Celine just heard that her neighbor,Rodney,was involved in an automobile accident.If Celine concludes that Rodney's children distracted him for a few seconds and that was the reason for the accident,she has

A) made an external attribution.
B) made an internal attribution.
C) made the fundamental attribution error.
D) been influenced by an illusory correlation.

Question 24

Skye scored 100% on her statistics midterm.According to Weiner's attributional model,if Skye makes an internal-stable attribution for her success,she is MOST likely to say

A) "It was just good luck that most of the exam was on the material I had time to study."
B) "I was calm and relaxed the day of the exam because I was able to get a good night's sleep the night before the exam."
C) "I have always been good at statistics, I guess I just have a natural ability in that area."
D) "The professor makes the whole course so easy to understand that it is virtually impossible to do poorly in the class."

Question 25

In making a causal attribution,we first tend to decide if an event was due to

A) subjective or objective causes.
B) usual or unusual causes.
C) positive or negative causes.
D) internal or external causes.

Question 26

Tally just heard that her neighbor,Rupert,was involved in an automobile accident.If Tally concludes that Rupert's reckless driving habits caused the accident,she has

A) made an internal attribution.
B) made a self-serving attribution.
C) made an external attribution.
D) been influenced by an illusory correlation.

Question 27

Eric has joined a new fraternity.Based on the research conducted by Krebs and Denton,if the other fraternity members now consider Eric as part of their ingroup,they are more likely to

A) view him in somewhat negative terms.
B) pay less attention to his actions and ideas.
C) remember things that he does with greater accuracy.
D) view him in a generally positive light.

Question 28

Inferences that people draw about the causes of events and theirs and others' behaviors are known as

A) prejudices.
B) attributions.
C) self-serving biases.
D) stereotypes.

Question 29

A group that one does not belong to or identify with is known as

A) a stereotype.
B) a social schema.
C) an outgroup.
D) an ingroup.

Question 30

A father suggests that his son's low marks in school are due to the child's laziness.The father has made

A) an external attribution.
B) a distinctive attribution.
C) an internal attribution.
D) a situational attribution.

Question 31

Dallas watches as Rhoda missteps in the cafeteria and spills coffee on herself and two other students.If Dallas concludes that Rhoda is an uncoordinated "klutz" who wasn't paying attention to what she was doing,he has

A) been influenced by an illusory correlation.
B) made an internal attribution.
C) made a self-serving attribution.
D) made an external attribution.

Question 32

Alphonse failed his geology midterm.According to Weiner's attributional model,if Alphonse makes an external-unstable attribution for his failure,he is MOST likely to say

A) "It was just bad luck that most of the exam was on the one chapter I didn't study."
B) "I was really tired during the exam because I had to work the late shift the night before the exam."
C) "I just can't seem to catch on in my geology classes, and I don't think I'll ever learn all those terms."
D) "That professor has impossible exams; if I retake the class with a different professor I'll probably do much better."

Question 33

Evolutionary psychologists ascribe much of the bias in person perception to cognitive mechanisms that have been shaped by

A) parental attitudes.
B) natural selection.
C) childhood experiences.
D) relationships with others.

Question 34

Tina recently lost over half the money she had put away for her retirement.If Webster concludes that Tina lost the money because the stock market took a significant downturn,he has

A) made an internal attribution.
B) made the fundamental attribution error.
C) been influenced by an illusory correlation.
D) made an external attribution.

Question 35

Patty is a member of a jury and she has voted "guilty." All the other jury members have voted "not guilty." At this point in time,the other jury members should classify Patty

A) as a member of their ingroup.
B) using a confirmation bias.
C) as a member of their outgroup.
D) as outside their latitude of acceptance.

Question 36

You've just been awarded a full scholarship for next year,which you perceive as confirmation of your superior intellectual ability.According to Weiner's model,you are making an ____ attribution about your success.

A) internal-stable
B) internal-unstable
C) external-stable
D) external-unstable

Question 37

What is the main reason we tend to make attributions about the causes of events,others' behavior,and our own behavior?

A) We have a strong need to understand our experiences.
B) Attribution making was selected for at some point in our ancestral past.
C) We have an unconscious urge to psychoanalyze the behavior of others.
D) Having access to information about others tends to fulfill our need for power.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a reason evolutionary psychologists propose to explain the biases associated with person perception?

A) there was a need to quickly categorize others as friend or foe
B) physical attractiveness was associated primarily with friends and not foes
C) physical attractiveness was associated with reproductive potential of females
D) physical attractiveness was associated with health and vigor of males

Question 39

According to evolutionary psychologists,we tend to view members of outgroups

A) as role models.
B) as superior to us.
C) as potential mates.
D) in terms of various negative stereotypes.

Question 40

Attribution refers to

A) positive feelings toward another person.
B) widely held beliefs that people have certain characteristics because of their membership in a particular group.
C) the process of forming impressions of others.
D) inferences that people draw about the causes of their own behavior and the behavior of others.

Question 41

The tendency to blame victims for their misfortune,so that one feels less likely to be victimized in a similar way,defines

A) defensive attributions.
B) offensive attributions.
C) the self-serving bias.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Question 42

Unjustly blaming victims for their misfortune defines

A) an ingroup/outgroup effect.
B) a stereotypic response.
C) a risky shift.
D) a defensive attribution.

Question 43

Jane's eight-year-old son brought a note home from school stating that he was involved in a fight at recess.Which of the following is an example of an external attribution that Jane might make to explain her son's behavior?

A) he's just like his father
B) he always gets in fights
C) the other child probably started the fight and he was protecting himself
D) he probably couldn't help himself since he doesn't have much self-control

Question 44

Observers tend to attribute actors' behavior to ____ factors and actors tend to attribute their own behavior to ____ factors.

A) situational; dispositional
B) dispositional; situational
C) dispositional; dispositional
D) situational; situational

Question 45

You are likely to attribute your own failing grade on a test to ____; your roommate is more likely to attribute your failing grade to ____.

A) an unfair test; your poor study habits
B) your poor study habits; an unfair test
C) a poor teacher; an unfair test
D) your own stupidity; a poor teacher

Question 46

When Darren's classmate earns a "D" on an essay for their history class,Darren figures the classmate is unmotivated and should have spent more time working on the paper and less time socializing.The classmate is disappointed with her grade,but she knows she didn't have much time to work on the essay because she had to work double-shifts the entire week before the paper was due.The different attributions for the low grade on the essay illustrate

A) the actor-observer bias.
B) defensive attributions.
C) the self-serving bias.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question 47

The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency of

A) observers to favor external attributions in explaining the behavior of others.
B) observers to favor internal attributions in explaining the behavior of others.
C) actors to favor external attributions in explaining the behavior of others.
D) actors to favor internal attributions in explaining the behavior of others.

Question 48

Ralph watches as a customer with at least 40 items lines up at his express checkout line.He decides the customer must be a real "idiot" to miss the sign that indicates Ralph's checkout line is an express line with a limit of 10 items.Ralph's attribution for the cause of the customer's behavior is consistent with

A) the fundamental attribution error.
B) drawing an illusory correlation.
C) a self-serving bias.
D) a defensive attribution.

Question 49

When the causes of a person's behavior are attributed to situational demands and environmental constraints,it is referred to as

A) a stable attribution.
B) an unstable attribution.
C) an external attribution.
D) an internal attribution.

Question 50

Warren tells Cokie that he can't believe it,but he scored 98% on his linear algebra midterm.Cokie decides that Warren must be very bright if he earns such high grades in math courses.Cokie's attribution for the cause of Warren's high grade is consistent with

A) drawing an illusory correlation.
B) a self-serving bias.
C) a defensive attribution.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Question 51

According to the notion of defensive attribution,we tend to explain the setbacks that befall other people in terms of

A) internal causes.
B) external causes.
C) stable causes.
D) defensive causes.

Question 52

As a result of the fundamental attribution error,if you observe a construction worker relaxing under a tree,you would be MOST likely to conclude that the worker

A) is taking his scheduled work break.
B) is lazy.
C) is taking a well-deserved break after strenuous work.
D) is taking a break because it is hot and humid today.

Question 53

An actor tends to attribute the cause of his behaviors differently than observers,in large part,because an actor has

A) less knowledge concerning situational factors.
B) less knowledge concerning his personality.
C) more knowledge concerning situational factors.
D) more knowledge concerning his personality.

Question 54

If you tend to overemphasize internal characteristics in explaining the behavior of others,you are evidencing the

A) false consensus effect.
B) situational attributional tendency.
C) self-serving bias.
D) fundamental attribution error.

Question 55

When the causes of a person's behavior are attributed to personal dispositions,traits,abilities,and feelings,it is

A) an external attribution.
B) an internal attribution.
C) a stable attribution.
D) an unstable attribution.

Question 56

When an observer is biased in favor of making internal attributions in explaining others' behavior,the observer is making

A) a stereotypical error.
B) the self-serving error.
C) the self-effacing error.
D) the fundamental attribution error.

Question 57

Actors and observers tend to give different explanations for the same instance of behavior because

A) only actors themselves can accurately explain their own behavior.
B) only outside observers can accurately explain actors' behavior.
C) observers tend to possess more knowledge than the actors.
D) situational pressures may not be readily apparent to an observer.

Question 58

Weiner suggested that when making attributions for success and failure,people focus on the ____ dimension concerning causes that contribute to the behavior.

A) stable-unstable
B) internal-external
C) unique-common
D) optimistic-pessimistic

Question 59

Observers tend to attribute actors' behavior to ____ factors and actors tend to attribute their own behavior to ____ factors.

A) external; internal
B) internal; external
C) external; external
D) internal; internal

Question 60

The tendency to attribute other people's behavior to internal factors and our own behavior to situational influences is known as

A) the fundamental attribution error.
B) a stereotype.
C) the actor-observer bias.
D) the foot in the door technique.

Question 61

Similarity of personal characteristics is influential in

A) only romantic relationships.
B) only friendships.
C) both romantic relationships and friendships.
D) neither romantic relationships nor friendships.

Question 62

Research on factors contributing to building relationships seems to support the adage

A) "similarity breeds contempt."
B) "similarity breeds liking."
C) "similarity builds uncertainty."
D) "similarity builds discrimination."

Question 63

The idea that males and females of approximately equal physical attractiveness are likely to select each other as partners refers to the

A) matching hypothesis.
B) propinquity hypothesis.
C) attitude-behavior consistency principle.
D) attributional outcome principle.

Question 64

Putting personal goals ahead of group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes is referred to as

A) hedonism.
B) dispositional attributional bias.
C) egocentrism.
D) individualism.

Question 65

Sally and Neil have been married for 15 years.They have an extremely warm and trusting relationship,and even though Neil frequently travels on business,Sally never worries about him seeing other women.According to Hatfield and Berscheid,Sally and Neil share

A) reciprocal love.
B) companionate love.
C) passionate love.
D) consummate love.

Question 66

Which of the following factors is NOT one that influences a person's initial attraction to someone else?

A) similarity in values
B) similarity in attitudes
C) attributional style
D) physical attractiveness

Question 67

Nicole is a 30-year-old lawyer who holds very conservative views.She always votes the straight Republican ticket in every election.At a New Year's Eve party she meets Frank who is also a 30-year-old lawyer,but who holds very liberal views.He tells Nicole that he would never think of voting for a Republican candidate.Based on the research by Rosenbaum,you should predict that Nicole will

A) be attracted to Frank because they are both lawyers.
B) be attracted to Frank because they are similar in age.
C) dislike Frank because he holds opposite political views.
D) be attracted to Frank because he holds opposite political views.

Question 68

Whenever Scott sees Diana he can feel his heart start to pound with excitement.Even though Scott and Diana have only dated a few times,Scott often becomes jealous when Diana talks to other men.He also finds he can't get her out of his mind when they are apart.According to Hatfield and Berscheid,Scott is experiencing

A) passionate love.
B) companionate love.
C) consummate love.
D) reciprocal love.

Question 69

According to the romantic love as an attachment perspective,one's intimate relationships in adulthood follow the same form as one's attachments first formed

A) to caregivers in infancy.
B) to peers in childhood.
C) to one's adult role models in childhood.
D) to one's first romantic partners in adolescence.

Question 70

The person who would be most likely to engage in defensive attributions would be one who

A) come from a collectivistic culture.
B) believes that the world is just and fair.
C) is low in extraversion.
D) is physically attractive.

Question 71

Steve and Stacey have been a couple for several years.Their love is characterized by warm feelings and affection.They enjoy spending time together and describe themselves as lovers and friends.Steve and Stacey's love is best described as

A) attached love
B) companionate love
C) mature love
D) passionate love

Question 72

Putting group goals ahead of personal goals and defining one's identity in terms of the group is called

A) collectivism.
B) functionalism.
C) individualism.
D) attributionism.

Question 73

Romantic relationships characterized by a couple's complete absorption in one another,and that include strong emotions and tender sexual feelings are termed

A) passionate love.
B) intimate love.
C) companionate love.
D) committed love.

Question 74

Joe has been calling Jill each evening and talking with her everyday at lunch,but now he is deeply despondent because she is out of town.Joe is in the throes of

A) companionate love.
B) sexual infatuation.
C) communal love.
D) passionate love.

Question 75

Although physical attractiveness strongly influences interpersonal attraction,many individuals of average and below average attractiveness are involved in long-term relationships.This apparent paradox is BEST explained by the

A) similarity hypothesis.
B) matching hypothesis.
C) companionate love hypothesis.
D) least common denominator hypothesis.

Question 76

Leslie tends to engage in sex to reduce her feelings of insecurity and to enhance the closeness of her relationship Most likely Leslie has ____ attachment style.

A) a secure
B) a manipulative
C) an avoidant
D) an anxious-ambivalent

Question 77

In the research on romantic attraction which of the following did researchers discover to be the key determinant of a person's initial attraction to someone else?

A) similarity
B) reciprocity
C) attributional style
D) physical attractiveness

Question 78

Compared with attractive people,less attractive people

A) delude themselves into thinking their partners are more attractive than they really are.
B) are indifferent to physical appearance.
C) place less emphasis on the importance of physical attractivess.
D) try to date people who are much more attractive than themselves.

Question 79

Carissa was born and raised in Peru; Olga was born and raised in the Netherlands.Based on evidence from cross-cultural studies comparing individualistic and collectivist cultures,Carissa is likely to be

A) more prone to the fundamental attribution error.
B) less likely to experience cognitive dissonance.
C) more likely to experience cognitive dissonance.
D) less prone to the fundamental attribution error.

Question 80

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate concerning attitudes?

A) People are more likely to be attracted to someone with dissimilar attitudes.
B) People are more likely to be attracted to someone with similar attitudes.
C) People are equally likely to be attracted to people with similar and dissimilar attitudes.
D) People are not attracted to others based on their attitudes because attitudes and attraction are independent.