PSY 200 Exam 4

Which of the following statements is the best example of the fundamental attribution error?

The correct answer is: "People live in poor neighborhoods because they lack the motivation to make anything of themselves."

A friend of yours watches the news regularly and often cites statistics from the news reports on high unemployment levels for recent college graduates, environmental degradation, political turmoil in the Middle East, and other bad news. Given the information in this chapter so far, what would you say to your friend?

The correct answer is: "Stress is more likely to make you sick than most of the things you're seeing on the news. Control what you can and don't let the news stress you out."

Why do African Americans have shorter life expectancies than their white counterparts?

The correct answer is: All of the options are true.

Which of the following is a criticism of using BMI to define obesity?

The correct answer is: All of these are criticisms of using BMI to define obesity.

What is the difference between bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder?

The correct answer is: Bulimia nervosa includes both periods of heavy eating and inducing vomiting. Binge eaters have periods of heavy eating but do not induce vomiting.

During her first week in college, Francesca wondered which people in her hall she would befriend. Who of the following is most likely to become Francesca's friend?

The correct answer is: Carly, who is the same age and race as Francesca

What did the studies cited on social drinking find?

The correct answer is: Desire to conform to social norms influenced light drinkers negatively and heavy drinkers positively.

Willis and Jimbo are leaving work in an elevator with three other people. Later that evening, they are at home with their wives. Which situation is most likely to reveal any differences in their personalities?

The correct answer is: Differences are more likely to be revealed at home.

Julio is stressed because he just lost everything in a horrible earthquake. Bill is stressed because there was a traffic jam on his route to work, his washing machine just broke, and his landlord recently raised his rent. In terms of the effects of different types of stressors, who will have a harder time coping?

The correct answer is: Difficult to say-daily hassles can have as great an impact as major stressors

Fatimah was raised by parents who gave her unconditional positive regard. However, Grayson's parents' love was conditional on her living up to their expectations. According to Carl Rogers, which one of the following statements is most probably correct?

The correct answer is: Fatimah has higher self-esteem than Grayson.

Kaitlyn's friends were planning to go to a movie around 11 that night - past Kaitlyn's curfew. To get permission to stay out late, Kaitlyn plans to use the foot-in-the-door strategy. What might she do?

The correct answer is: First, she will ask her mother if she can borrow the car to go out. Then, after her mother agrees, she will request to stay out past curfew.

How do groupthink and group polarization differ?

The correct answer is: Group polarization is the name for the process of a group developing more extreme views about someone or something. Groupthink describes how peer pressure within groups leads to poor decision making.

According to research, which of the following is a behavior demonstrated by happy couples?

The correct answer is: Happy couples express concern for each other even when disagreeing.

Which of the following accurately summarizes the biochemical basis of aggression?

The correct answer is: High serotonin levels facilitate and low serotonin levels hinder the prefrontal cortex's ability to regulate aggressive behavior.

According to the broaden-and-build theory, which of the following is correct?

The correct answer is: Highly resilient people are more likely than those low in resilience to consider novel solutions to life's problems.

Austin and Hallie just witnessed a serious accident where a cyclist crashed while riding through the park. The couple was shocked that none of the nearby people in the crowded park rushed over to help. According to the psychologists who first described the phenomenon of bystander apathy, which factor should increase the chances of the victim receiving help from others?

The correct answer is: If there are fewer bystanders, someone is more likely to help the victim.

Among the following, who most likely has a Type A personality?

The correct answer is: Jerome, who is aggressive and competitive

Which of these scenarios explains how mere exposure has shaped Jess's attitude toward edamame?

The correct answer is: Jess didn't initially like the tiny green beans, but they keep showing up at mealtime, and Jess no longer minds.

Lily and Pat are both stressed out. Lily has a horrible boss, and Pat just lost his job. Lily considers herself a very spiritual person and attends church regularly, while Pat is not at all spiritual or religious. All else being equal, which of the following outcomes is most likely?

The correct answer is: Lily will probably cope better than Pat because she is religious.

Wilt and Lim are both stressed because they are preparing to take a test that they believe is critical to their future success. Both are married, but Lim is happily married while Wilt is unhappily married. All else equal, which of the following outcomes is most likely?

The correct answer is: Lim will cope better with the stress than Wilt.

Lynn was not sure which job candidate to hire, since they all had a handful of strengths and weaknesses. After choosing Dennis, however, she experienced postdecisional dissonance. In other words, what might have happened?

The correct answer is: Lynn became glad she had chosen Dennis, who had some notable strengths. When she thought about the other candidates, their weaknesses were at the front of her mind.

Marissa is very hopeful, Rose is very curious, and Manuel is neither. Which of the three may be at greater risk of hypertension?

The correct answer is: Manuel

Which of the following is one factor cited in the"What to Believe?" section on why people believe being a victim of terrorism is more likely than dying of heart disease or other preventable disease?

The correct answer is: Measuring how eating dessert impacts one's odds of getting heart disease versus the ease of correlating getting on an airplane with dying in a hijacked aircraft is challenging.

Which of the following may explain why it is so difficult to quit smoking?

The correct answer is: Nicotine triggers the release of dopamine.

Which of these scenarios is an example of normative influence on behavior?

The correct answer is: Nobody at Emily's new office wore sandals or denim, so she decided not to either.

According to the text, how do perspective giving and perspective taking differ?

The correct answer is: Perspective giving involves sharing experiences of discrimination. Perspective taking involves imagining oneself in another's position.

Betsy is a high-powered attorney and is under considerable stress for prolonged periods of time. Her sister Bernice is an organic farmer and leads a very quiet, relatively stress-free life. Unlike Bernice, who never seems to get sick, Betsy is constantly catching colds. Which of the following does the above scenario best illustrate?

The correct answer is: Prolonged periods of stress weaken the immune system.

Which story most accurately demonstrates what social psychologists know about the roles of competition and cooperation in prejudice?

The correct answer is: Rupert and Sean had always been rivals in school. It did not help that they played on different club hockey teams. However, after being paired together for a science project, they realized they had a lot in common and became friends.

Winston always seems to have a cold. Bethany seldom gets colds or the flu, but she has been diagnosed with hypertension. Russell seldom sees his doctor except for regular exams and when he has sports-related injuries. Whose outlook on life is likely the most positive?

The correct answer is: Russell's

The more specific an attitude is, the more predictive of a behavior it is. Which scenario best exemplifies this?

The correct answer is: Sean's attitude toward spanking is more predictive of whether he will spank his kids than his attitude toward parenthood in general.

Hannah has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was given only six months to live and is very stressed. If Hannah uses emotion-focused coping to deal with her stress, what would you expect her to do?

The correct answer is: She may attempt to distance herself from the problem by ignoring the diagnosis and continuing to live her life the way she always has.

Jacqueline has just moved from Kansas to Illinois to attend college. She is having a lot of trouble settling in, but some people in her dorm seem friendly and helpful. Research concerning social support suggests which of the following?

The correct answer is: Simply knowing that she has friends who care about her will reduce Jacqueline's stress.

In the marketing campaign described, drinking was considered a social norm. Which of these explanations accurately describes how?

The correct answer is: Social norms are cultural standards of behavior. People conform to social norms to avoid embarrassment. At a party, this means that students would drink two to three drinks.

Which of the following accurately describes how stress impacts the immune system?

The correct answer is: Stress impairs the production of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, leaving the body more vulnerable to illness.

Which of the following major biases explains the psychological reasoning described in this box?

The correct answer is: Taking mental shortcuts

Which of the following explains why 40 percent of people worry about being a victim of terrorism, but not dying of heart disease, even though the latter is over 30,000 times more likely?

The correct answer is: The availability heuristic, which refers to believing information that is easy to imagine or remember.

Which of the following is true about the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis?

The correct answer is: The hypothalamus messages the pituitary gland to signal the adrenal gland to release cortisol and norepinephrine into the bloodstream. These and other hormones account for some of our physical symptoms of stress.

Which of the following statements about relationships is least accurate?

The correct answer is: The most successful romantic couples are couples with opposite traits.

Sofia is a refugee from a war-torn nation. She is poor, depressed, and malnourished. Adding to her misery, she is now suffering from pneumonia. According to the biopsychosocial model, her illness can be explained by which of the following?

The correct answer is: The stress of being a refugee of war is difficult to bear, and cultural differences and lack of energy (due to poor nutrition) make it harder for her to seek out social support. In other words, all of these stressors worsen the effects of each other.

According to years of research, people witnessing someone in need are less likely to help when which of these is true?

The correct answer is: There are many bystanders.

Three doctors are arguing about the development of heart disease in their patients. Dr. Jenkins suggests that it has a genetic basis, Dr. Rice argues that it has to do with personality type, and Dr. Aroni claims it has to do with living in a stressful environment. Who is most correct?

The correct answer is: They all are correct, because disease has biological, psychological, and social origins.

Jamie wants to persuade her parents to let her go to Europe with her school choir. Which approach is most likely to convince them to say yes?

The correct answer is: Using descriptive, compelling reasons that will stick in her parents' minds while they mull over their decision.

Which scenario is an example of the type of attribution Sheila would make if she and John were in an unhappy marriage?

The correct answer is: When John cooks Sheila a romantic dinner, Sheila immediately wonders whether John is making up for a bad deed.

Roland was hiking in the Alaskan wilderness when he suddenly encountered a mother grizzly bear and her cubs. He rapidly engaged in __________ to determine whether the bear was a threat. He then engaged in __________, during which he considered curling up in a fetal position and playing dead.

The correct answer is: a primary appraisal; a secondary appraisal

Lainey has a part-time job working in a restaurant after school. The chef constantly gets orders wrong, and the customers blame Lainey, which makes Lainey feel very stressed. She has learned to very carefully check each dish before taking it to the customers. For Lainey, the chef's mistakes are __________, and checking each order is a __________ response.

The correct answer is: a stressor; coping

Sharon's daughter just got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Ted, but Sharon is not happy about this news. Ted does not have a stable job, and he is also a bit overweight, both of which lead Sharon to believe that Ted is lazy. Sharon struggles with her weight too, but she blames this on her thyroid problem. Sharon's assessment of Ted is an example of which of the following biases?

The correct answer is: actor/observer discrepancy

Which of the Big Five traits reflects the extent to which a person is trusting and helpful?

The correct answer is: agreeableness

Selye's GAS has three phases. Which of the following lists them in their correct order of occurrence?

The correct answer is: alarm; resistance; exhaustion

Three friends are arguing over who among them is legitimately stressed: Lourdes, who just found out she is pregnant; Linda, who is having her extended family stay with her during the holidays; and Lotti, who is getting married in six months. Which of these women can claim to be experiencing a stressor?

The correct answer is: all of them

Human beings typically engage in prosocial, altruistic behavior. According to your text, why do we engage in this behavior?

The correct answer is: all of these

Anna, who has very high self-esteem, is likely to attribute her failing grade on a test to __________. However, when she does well, she is more likely to attribute her success to __________.

The correct answer is: an unfair professor; her hard work

Sandy has a terrible fear of becoming fat, and so she starves herself. Rhonda, who also is concerned about her body image, alternates between binge eating and purging. If clinically diagnosed, Sandy would likely receive a diagnosis of __________, and Rhonda would probably be diagnosed as having __________.

The correct answer is: anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervosa

Traits determined largely by biological processes are referred to as which of the following?

The correct answer is: basic tendencies

Which of the following does not contribute to well-being and ability to cope?

The correct answer is: being single

Even though she admits that she fears becoming fat and alternates between binge eating and vomiting, Rebecca does not believe she has an eating disorder. However, she would possibly receive a clinical diagnosis of which of the following?

The correct answer is: bulimia nervosa

Although several people were nearby when the old man collapsed in the park, nobody immediately stepped forward to help. What term describes this failure of the observers to offer help?

The correct answer is: bystander apathy

Sylvia is home alone with nothing to do except watch television. She finds herself paying close attention to an infomercial, which outlines five good reasons she should purchase her own food dehydrator. Sylvia is persuaded and decides to place an order. According to the elaboration likelihood model, this infomercial's persuasion took which route?

The correct answer is: central

Dr. Barker is an experienced medical professional, but he is also a smoker. In order to reduce inevitable __________, he probably needs to change his behavior and quit smoking, because it will be very difficult for him to change his attitude and stop believing that smoking is bad for his health.

The correct answer is: cognitive dissonance

Doug and Danni have been a couple for several years. They are very devoted to helping and taking care of each other. Marcy and Martin have only been dating for a month but feel a very strong desire to be together. Doug and Danni are experiencing __________ love, while Marcy and Martin are experiencing __________ love.

The correct answer is: companionate; passionate

Gilbert finds his coworkers intrusive and annoying. When a coworker asks whether Gilbert has seen the stapler, Gilbert responds in a loud, hostile tone, "How dare you accuse me of taking the stapler!" Research indicates Gilbert is most likely to have increased risk for which of the following?

The correct answer is: coronary heart disease

Jacob needs a few extra bucks to fill his gas tank. His dad does not like giving him money, so although Jacob only needs about $20, he asks his dad for $50. The plan works perfectly. While his dad scoffs at the request for $50, he hands over $20 without his usual balking. Which technique has Jacob used?

The correct answer is: door in the face

Sabrina has been recently diagnosed with heart disease. To cope, she compares her own condition to that of her uncle, who has just received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and has been given only six months to live. Sabrina is apparently engaging in which strategy to make herself feel better?

The correct answer is: downward comparison

Vanessa has been diagnosed with breast cancer. To cope, she has been drinking more alcohol, seeking second and third opinions, and telling herself that there must be some mistake. Vanessa is engaging in which of the following?

The correct answer is: emotion-focused coping

As a baby, Racine had intense reactions to stimuli, cried often, and was easily frightened. Racine's behavior best reflects which aspect of temperament?

The correct answer is: emotionality

Which of the following would help an individual alleviate mild depression, lose weight, and improve his or her health?

The correct answer is: exercising regularly

According to Selye, if your body's defenses are declining after dealing with a prolonged period of stress, you are at which phase of the GAS?

The correct answer is: exhaustion

After a long period of prolonged stress, Kerry collapses, a result of reaching which phase of Selye's GAS?

The correct answer is: exhaustion

As discussed in your textbook, a psychology study conducted in the 1970s compared men raised in the northern part of the United States to men raised in the South. When a confederate in the study was verbally aggressive, southern men responded by

The correct answer is: exhibiting increases in cortisol and testosterone.

David is about to teach his own class for the very first time and has little experience speaking in front of groups. Shortly before his class begins, his heart rate increases, his palms sweat, and his stomach aches. Which stress response is David experiencing?

The correct answer is: fight or flight

Someone attempts to mug you and steal your cell phone, and you notice your heart rate speeding up and your breathing getting heavier. Which type of stress-related response are you engaging in?

The correct answer is: fight-or-flight response

The Jingle Belles a cappella group is considering new members cautiously. Each new member has a big effect on the rest of the group, so tryouts are lengthy, and personality plays a role too. When considering whether to admit Destiny to the group, the current members are initially somewhat skeptical. After discussing Destiny's vocal skills and other social factors, the group becomes even more skeptical and decides not to risk adding Destiny to their roster. What is this phenomenon called?

The correct answer is: group polarization

Gerald is a psychologist who assesses the personalities of prison inmates. He takes time to hear each client's story and perspective, working to understand each inmate's perceptions. Gerald's approach to personality assessment is

The correct answer is: humanistic.

Carl's first job was as a camp counselor. The hours were grueling, and the pay was practically nothing. Carl spent most of the summer broke, miserable, and wondering why he had accepted the job. However, ten years later, his outlook was different. He remembered this job fondly and considered it a worthwhile life experience. Which effect describes his shift in thinking?

The correct answer is: justification of effort

Which phenomenon may explain why some people want to join a fraternity or sorority badly enough that they will endure weeks of humiliation and physical discomfort to gain membership?

The correct answer is: justification of effort

The first time she had bubble tea, Maria thought it was weird and gross, but all of her friends loved the strange tapioca in the bottom of their drinks and often drank it in front of her, so Maria decided to give it another try. What shaped her attitude toward bubble tea?

The correct answer is: mere exposure effect

As a university that ran the marketing campaign described, drinking two to three drinks at a party is an example of what?

The correct answer is: normative influence

Researcher Stanley Milgram wanted to understand why normal citizens would follow orders to injure or kill innocent people during World War II. He wanted to know what factors influence people to follow orders given by an authority figure. In other words, he wanted to understand which phenomenon?

The correct answer is: obedience

Neil and Gretchen recently started dating, and they feel an overwhelming urge to be together all of the time and to have sex as often as possible. Armando and Jenny have been married for several years, and they each feel lucky to be married to their best friend. Neil and Gretchen are experiencing __________ love, while Armando and Jenny's relationship has evolved into __________ love.

The correct answer is: passionate; companionate

Tonya knows that people seeing her billboard will be busy driving or talking or otherwise distracted. Instead of outlining thoughtful reasons for why people should call her real estate firm, she decides to limit the billboard to a picture of a beautiful house with an attractive, happy family standing out front. According to researchers Petty and Cacioppo, which route will the information on the billboard target?

The correct answer is: peripheral

Which of the following could be an unintended consequence of a marketing campaign intended to reduce binge drinking?

The correct answer is: portrayal of nondrinkers as violators of social norms

Middle-aged Miles hates his job and is deciding whether or not to change careers. To cope with the stress of his situation, he is talking with a counselor and taking direct action to explore new career and educational opportunities. By so doing, Miles has adopted which approach to coping with his stress?

The correct answer is: problem-focused

Amy and Carmine went to different psychologists to take a personality test. Amy's psychologist asked her to look at and interpret a series of ambiguous pictures. Carmine's psychologist administered a written test with a series of true-or-false questions regarding his beliefs and feelings. Amy's psychologist used a(n) __________ measure of personality, while Carmine's psychologist used a(n) __________ measure of personality.

The correct answer is: projective; objective

Hank feels fine when things are going well, but he becomes a grouch whenever adversity hits. Hank appears to be low in which potentially health-promoting attribute?

The correct answer is: resilience

Hans is an extravert and is very sociable. Mickey is introverted and prefers solitude. According to Eysenck's theory, we would likely expect different levels of activity in which region of these men's brains?

The correct answer is: reticular activating system

For an experiment, Sarah must write a description of herself every hour. After the first hour, when Sarah is at school, she writes, "I am a student." An hour later, she is working in her job at a nursing home and writes, "I am young." Both "student" and "young" are part of Sarah's __________, but in these different situations she has different __________.

The correct answer is: self-schema; working self-concepts

When Cody arrived at the gym, it was relatively empty. She started riding a stationary bike at a leisurely pace. Once a few other people sat down at nearby bikes, she began to speed up her pace and push herself a bit more. What is this phenomenon called?

The correct answer is: social facilitation

According to the "What to Believe" section, which aspect of the biopsychosocial model accounts for 40 percent of people fearing being a victim of terrorism?

The correct answer is: social factors

According to John Gottman, which of the following behaviors (if repeated regularly) poses a serious threat to a relationship?

The correct answer is: stating a complaint about one's partner after the partner states a complaint

If Marilyn starts cooking nice dinners for her husband and children whenever she is stressed out, her behavior can be qualified as a form of which response?

The correct answer is: tend-and-befriend response

Tina attributes her poor performance on the quiz to her teacher's inability to teach the material. However, she believes that other students who did not do well on the quiz failed because they did not study hard enough. Tina's reasoning illustrates

The correct answer is: the actor/observer discrepancy

Both of Aiden's parents and all of his grandparents have diabetes. Although Aiden knows he should take care of himself by exercising more and maintaining a healthy diet, he thinks that getting diabetes is inevitable for him. It doesn't help that his mother bakes him cookies every week. As a result of the combination of his poor diet, pessimism about exercise, and genetic predisposition, Aiden gains weight and begins to show symptoms of diabetes. Which of the following does this case illustrate best?

The correct answer is: the biopsychosocial model

Dominic just saw a red truck rear-end a little white sedan at a stoplight. When the teenage driver of the truck stepped out, Dominic felt sure that the teen was careless, texting while driving, or both. Dominic's bias can be explained by which of the following?

The correct answer is: the fundamental attribution error

The decision to use either emotion-focused or problem-focused coping often depends on

The correct answer is: the perceived ability to control the stressor.

Which of the following terms concerns a positive state that includes striving for optimal health and life satisfaction?

The correct answer is: well-being

Casey is jealous of his sister Yvette, who seems to get special treatment because she is very physically attractive. Yvette always breezes through airport security, and whenever she gets pulled over for speeding, she is able to talk her way out of getting a ticket. From which stereotype does Yvette benefit?

The correct answer is: what is beautiful is good

According to the five-factor theory, which of the following describes neuroticism?

The correct answer is: worried vs. calm

The Sandersons have been married for over 40 years. They are a happy couple, and they tend to overlook each other's bad behavior or respond constructively. What is this process called?

accommodation

Patti is fairly reserved and tends to be a wallflower. But last night, at a rock concert, she felt her inhibitions disappear, and she danced right along with the rest of the crowd. What process affected Patti?

deindividuation

Maya and her family moved into a new house over the summer, and she dreaded having to start at a new school, where she would have to interact with girls whom her old friends had despised. However, after a few weeks in the new school, Maya realized that both groups of girls were pretty similar. Maya's experience dispelled her

prejudice

Porche has always been a very trusting person. She also has many close friends whom she can rely on, especially in times of stress. Porche probably has high levels of

oxytocin