Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

Chapter 04
Social Cognition

Multiple Choice Questions

1. (p. 105) The processes of perception and judgment with which we make sense of our social
world are known as:
A. social cognition.
B. nonverbal understanding.
C. social work.
D. expectancy theory.

2. (p. 105) Dr. Li studies the way romantic partners think about their relationships and the
perceptions they have about one another. Dr. Li is doing research in the area of:
A. attachment theory.
B. associative learning.
C. social cognition.
D. hindsight bias.

3. (p. 106) Researchers have found that first impressions:

A. have almost no effect on later feelings or behavior.
B. have an effect immediately, but the influence is very short term (fades within hours).
C. are always wrong; we know they are wrong so we don't tend to use them later on.
D. have an effect on feelings or behavior months after the initial impression was made.

4. (p. 106) It only takes us a(n) _____ to form an impression about someone's attractiveness,
likeability, and trustworthiness.
A. tenth of a second
B. second
C. minute
D. hour

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

5. (p. 108) Many would view someone described as intelligent, hard-working, and sneaky in a
more positive light than someone described as sneaky, hard-working, and intelligent. This is
an illustration of:
A. the primacy effect.
B. overconfidence.
C. the fundamental attribution error.
D. self-monitoring.

6. (p. 108) The tendency of the first information we receive about others to carry special weight
in shaping our overall impressions of them is known as:
A. associative meaning.
B. hindsight bias.
C. the primacy effect.
D. the priming effect.

7. (p. 109) On an application a potential employee describes herself as friendly. In talking with
references, before you meet her, you ask questions that probe for information that this
expectation is correct. You are engaging in:
A. the fundamental attribution error.
B. the primacy effect.
C. confirmation bias.
D. self-monitoring.

8. (p. 109) The tendency to seek out information that will support our beliefs is known as:
A. overconfidence.
B. confirmation bias.
C. primacy effects.
D. process loss.

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

9. (p. 110) Researchers found that people were _____ in assessing HIV risk status of their partner
early in a relationship and they became _____ as the relationships developed.
A. fairly accurate; even more accurate
B. overconfident; even more overconfident
C. overconfident; more accurate
D. fairly accurate; overconfident

10. (p. 110) Over time in a developing relationship, accuracy with regard to sexual history of the
partner _____ and confidence _____.
A. increases; remains the same
B. remains the same; increases
C. remains the same; remains the same
D. increases; increases

11. (p. 111) Research on our judgments of others suggests that we:
A. make fewer errors in our judgments of others than we realize.
B. have a good estimate of the number of errors we make in judging others.
C. make more errors in our judgments of others than we realize.
D. None of these.

12. (p. 111) At which stage of a relationship are existing beliefs likely to be the most influential?
A. Dating
B. Commitment
C. Marriage
D. Every stage

13. (p. 111) Who are the best predictors of the future of relationships?
A. Both partners
B. Outsiders (e.g., the partners' parents and roommates)
C. Males
D. Females

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

14. (p. 112) As the textbook suggests, individuals do not necessarily ignore their partners'
liabilities; they:
A. pretend those faults are actually assets.
B. help their partners change those faults.
C. consider those faults to be less significant than other people perceive them to be.
D. consider those faults to be more significant than other people perceive them to be.

15. (p. 113) Positive illusions in relationships have been associated with:
A. isolation from those outside the relationship.
B. relationship dissolution.
C. relationship satisfaction.
D. infidelity.

16. (p. 114) In making attributions for conflict in her marriage, Linda sees her own behaviors as
caused by situational factors and the behaviors of her partner as caused by his dispositional
characteristics. Linda's explanations have most clearly been influenced by:
A. the powerlessness bias.
B. the conflict in her relationships.
C. gender stereotypes.
D. the actor/observer effect.

17. (p. 114) Which of the following is an example of a statement involving a self-serving bias?
A. "I did well on that test because it was easy."
B. "I failed that test. I'm so stupid."
C. "The instructor graded the test unfairly; that's the only reason I did poorly."
D. "I was really lucky to do well on that test."

18. (p. 115) Distress-maintaining attributions include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. viewing negative behaviors as deliberate.
B. viewing negative behaviors as routine.
C. viewing positive behaviors as unintended.
D. viewing positive behaviors as habitual.

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

19. (p. 115) Sue's husband forgot their anniversary. Sue views her husband's behavior as
something he did because his boss assigned him a big project at work and she does not think
he'll do something like this in the future. Sue is making what kind of attribution?
A. Distress-maintaining attribution
B. Relationship-enhancing attribution
C. Observe-biased attribution
D. Insecure attribution

20. (p. 115) The tendency to blame your partner for any conflict is an example of:
A. a positive illusion.
B. a relationship enhancing belief.
C. an overconfidence perspective.
D. a self-serving bias.

21. (p. 115) Relationship-enhancing attributions involve which of the following factors?
A. Accurately identifying a partner's transgressions
B. Actor/observer effects
C. Giving credit for positive actions and excusing transgressions
D. Identifying one's own contributions to the relationship

22. (p. 117) Which form of memory has been found to help couples stay optimistic about the
future?
A. Implicit
B. Explicit
C. Reconstructive
D. Illusory

23. (p. 117) When we reconstruct memories we tend to:

A. forget disappointments in our relationships if we are currently happy.
B. forget disappointments in our relationships if we are currently unhappy.
C. always believe our relationships are getting better.
D. have less vivid and detailed memories about our relationships.

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

24. (p. 117) By misremembering the past, partners can:

A. remain optimistic about the future.
B. continue to live a lie.
C. lose the love they share for each other.
D. become miserable.

25. (p. 117) Romanticism is:

A. being intensely in love.
B. a set of beliefs about love.
C. a good prognostic sign that a relationship will last.
D. All of these.

26. (p. 117) All of the following statements are aspects of romanticism EXCEPT which one?
A. One can fall in love at first sight.
B. Love means knowing what your partner wants without them having to tell you.
C. There is one "true" love.
D. Love can overcome any obstacle.

27. (p. 118) All of the following statements are examples of dysfunctional relationship beliefs
EXCEPT which one?
A. Men and women are different.
B. People who really care about each other can read each other's minds.
C. I deserve a great relationship.
D. Great relationships just happen.

28. (p. 118) The belief that in a truly good relationship partners never disagree is a _____ belief.
A. dysfunctional
B. growth
C. destiny
D. true

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

29. (p. 119) After breaking up with his girlfriend, Scott remarked, "I guess she wasn't my true
love. I should have known it from the beginning; it took us a while to really click and we had
too many things standing in the way of our relationship." It is likely Scott is high in:
A. self-monitoring.
B. destiny beliefs.
C. growth beliefs.
D. overconfidence.

30. (p. 120) The belief that good relationships are the result of hard work is an example of:
A. realistic belief.
B. growth belief.
C. dysfunctional belief.
D. defeatist belief.

31. (p. 121) Hearing rumors about her new roommate, Jamilla expects this roommate to be
unfriendly and conceited. Because of this expectation Jamilla is not very warm or open.
Several weeks later Jamilla finds that her roommate is unfriendly. This may be an example
of:
A. growth beliefs.
B. overconfidence.
C. self-fulfilling prophecy.
D. positive illusions.

32. (p. 121-122) Which of the following factors is NOT part of the self-fulfilling prophecy
process?
A. The person with the self-fulfilling stereotype forms an expectation about the target.
B. The person with the self-fulfilling belief subtly communicates his expectations to the
target.
C. The target responds in a fashion that confirms the perceiver's expectation.
D. The perceiver realizes his or her role in producing the target's behavior.

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

33. (p. 122) In the classic University of Minnesota study of self-fulfilling prophecies in the
physical attractiveness domain:
A. before the participants began talking, the experimenter gave each male subject fake
information about the female participant's socioeconomic status.
B. the female target with whom the subjects interacted was selected to be attractive or
unattractive, depending on the experimental condition.
C. the male subjects thought they knew what the female target looked like but could not see
her during the conversation.
D. priming was used to create a physical attractiveness stereotype.

34. (p. 123) People who often perceive snubs when none are intended are high in:
A. impression management.
B. rejection sensitivity.
C. destiny beliefs.
D. romanticism.

35. (p. 125) With regard to self-perceptions, people typically seek all of the following reactions
from other people EXCEPT which kind?
A. Reactions that challenge us to reflect on who we really are
B. Reactions that are complimentary
C. Reactions that are self-enhancing
D. Reactions that are consistent with our self-concept

36. (p. 125) When someone is searching for positive, complimentary feedback, they are
motivated by:
A. self-enhancement.
B. self-verification.
C. self-fulfillment.
D. self-monitoring.

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37. (p. 126) Researchers have found a marriage shift where:

A. self-verification motives become more important.
B. self-enhancement motives become more important.
C. self-fulfillment motives become more important.
D. self-monitoring motives become more important.

38. (p. 126) All of the following statements are true of individuals with negative self-concept
EXCEPT which one?
A. They like praise.
B. They do not believe praise.
C. They often date people who compliment them.
D. They prefer it if their spouses support their negative self-concept.

39. (p. 128) Impression management involves:

A. narcissism.
B. strategic self-presentation.
C. manifesting the same (socially desirable) persona across different relationships.
D. All of these.

40. (p. 129) The goal of _____ is to get others to recognize and respect us.
A. affiliation
B. ingratiation
C. intimidation
D. self-promotion

41. (p. 129) Alan is sure to tell his boss about every new client he gets for their firm, and he is
sure to pass along any compliments he gets from those clients. Which impression strategy is
Alan using?
A. Ingratiation
B. Self-promotion
C. Intimidation
D. Supplication

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

42. (p. 130) George affects a dangerous persona so that people will do what he wants. This is the
impression strategy of:
A. self-promotion.
B. supplication.
C. intimidation.
D. ingratiation.

43. (p. 131) What form of impression management involves presenting oneself as inept or
infirm?
A. Ingratiation
B. Intimidation
C. Self-promotion
D. Supplication

44. (p. 131) Which of the following is true about impression management?
A. We go to more trouble to maintain favorable images with our intimate partners than with
strangers.
B. Individuals high in self-monitoring tend to have more friends than individuals low in self-
monitoring.
C. Individuals high in self-monitoring are less attentive to the impression they make than
individuals low in self-monitoring.
D. Individuals low in self-monitoring tend to create unstable impressions.

45. (p. 131) Who is likely to have friends who are "activity specialists" (friends who are good for
specific activities) but are compatible in few other ways?
A. Extroverts
B. High self-monitors
C. Low self-monitors
D. Introverts

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Chapter 04 - Social Cognition

46. (p. 133) How does impression management in close relationships differ from impression
management in casual friendships?
A. Impression management is more important in close relationships.
B. In close relationships, management often involves creating positive impressions of partners
as well as of oneself.
C. Impression management in casual relationships continues long after it ends in close
relationships.
D. All of these.

47. (p. 134) According to the textbook, are women better judges of others than men are?
A. No. Men are actually better judges.
B. No. Men and women are equally good judges of others in everyday circumstances.
C. Yes, but when men are motivated they can be as good as women.
D. Yes. In every circumstance women are better judges.

48. (p. 134-135) The accuracy of our perceptions of others is influenced by all of the following
qualities EXCEPT which one?
A. Extraversion
B. Motivation
C. Time spent together
D. Religion

49. (p. 135) The set of abilities that describe a person's talents in perceiving, using,
understanding, and managing emotions is:
A. emotional valence.
B. emotional intelligence.
C. self-monitoring.
D. self-understanding.

50. (p. 137) In the context of perceiver influence, inaccurate perceptions can change:
A. the perceived for the worse.
B. the perceived for the better.
C. both for the worse and for the better.
D. neither for the worse or for the better.

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