AP Psych 623-636

In high school, Britta and Debbie were best friends. They thought they were a lot alike, as did everyone else who knew them. After high school, they went on to very different colleges, careers, and life courses. Now, at their twenty-fifth reunion, they are shocked at how little they have in common. Bandura would suggest that their differences reflect the interactive effects of environment, personality, and behavior, which he refers to as: A) reciprocal determinism. B) personal control. C) identification. D) the self-serving bias.

A

Research has shown that individuals who are made to feel insecure are subsequently: A) more critical of others. B) less critical of others. C) more likely to display a self-serving bias. D) less likely to display a self-serving bias.

A

With which of the following statements would a social-cognitive psychologist agree? A) People with an internal locus of control achieve more in school. B) "Externals" are better able to cope with stress than "internals." C) "Internals" are less independent than "externals." D) All of the above are true.

A

Regarding the self-serving bias, psychologists who study the self have found that self-affirming thinking: A) is generally maladaptive to the individual because it distorts reality by overinflating self-esteem. B) is generally adaptive to the individual because it maintains self-confidence and minimizes depression. C) tends to prevent the individual from viewing others with compassion and understanding. D) tends not to characterize people who have experienced unconditional positive regard.

B

Which of the following is a major criticism of the social-cognitive perspective? A) It focuses too much on early childhood experiences. B) It focuses too little on the inner traits of a person. C) It provides descriptions but not explanations. D) It lacks appropriate assessment techniques.

B

Research on locus of control indicates that internals are ________ than externals. A) more dependent B) more intelligent C) better able to cope with stress D) more sociable

C

An example of the self-serving bias described in the text is the tendency of people to: A) see themselves as better than average on nearly any desirable dimension. B) accept more responsibility for successes than failures. C) be overly critical of other people. D) do both a. and b.

D

Because Ramona identifies with her politically conservative parents, she chose to enroll in a conservative college. After four years in this environment, Ramona's politics have become even more conservative. Which perspective best accounts for the mutual influences of Ramona's upbringing, choice of school, and political viewpoint? A) psychoanalytic B) trait C) humanistic D) social-cognitive

D

(Close-Up) During a class discussion, Trevor argues that the recent "positive psychology" is sure to wane in popularity, since it suffers from the same criticisms as humanistic psychology. You counter his argument by pointing out that, unlike humanistic psychology, positive psychology: A) focuses on advancing human fulfillment. B) is rooted in science. C) is not based on the study of individual characteristics. D) has all of the above characteristics.

B

In studying personality, a social-cognitive theorist would most likely make use of: A) personality inventories. B) projective tests. C) observing behavior in different situations. D) factor analyses.

C

James attributes his failing grade in chemistry to an unfair final exam. His attitude exemplifies: A) internal locus of control. B) unconditional positive regard. C) the self-serving bias. D) reciprocal determinism.

C

The behavior of many people has been described in terms of a spotlight effect. This means that they: A) tend to see themselves as being above average in ability. B) perceive that their fate is determined by forces not under their personal control. C) overestimate the extent to which other people are noticing them. D) do all of the above.

C

Which of the following statements about self-esteem is not correct? A) People with low self-esteem tend to be negative about others. B) People with high self-esteem are less prone to drug addiction. C) People with low self-esteem tend to be nonconformists. D) People with high self-esteem suffer less from insomnia.

C

Today's personality researchers focus their work on: A) basic dimensions of personality. B) the interaction of persons and environments. C) grand theories of behavior. D) a. and b.

D

Which perspective on personality emphasizes the interaction between the individual and the environment in shaping personality? A) psychoanalytic B) trait C) humanistic D) social-cognitive

D