LCH2019

Introduction to
Communication Studies
PERCEIVING AND UNDERSTANDING
CHAPTER 3 (PP. 41-47, 53-56)
SUGGESTED ANSWER (ACTIVITIES 4-5)
B. Self-serving Bias: Activity 4
(Suggested Answer)
Investigations have shown that happy and unhappy
couples have distinct attribution styles:
• Happy couples make relationship-enhancing
attributions.
• Attribute nice things a partner does to internal, stable,
2
and global reasons (e.g. ___)
• Attribute unpleasant actions by a partner to external,
4
unstable, and specific factors (e.g. ___)

• Unhappy couples use reverse attribution patterns.

• Explain nice actions as resulting from external, unstable,
3
and specific factors (e.g. ___)
• See negative actions as stemming from internal, stable,
1
and global factors (e.g. ___)
Activity 5 (Suggested Answer)
• Which of the following are factual statements? (p.60)
a. There are 50 states in the United States.
b. People from small towns are friendly.
c. Actors are egotistical.
d. German shepherds tend to suffer from hip dysplasia.
e. Students who come to class late are disrespectful.
f. Acid rain can destroy trees.
g. College students take jobs to earn money for dating and clothes.
h. Older students aren’t career oriented.
i. Evelyn made a total score of 690 on her SAT.
j. Evelyn would not do well in college.