Deck 2: Using Perception to Understand Self and Others

Question 1

When the brain is selecting stimuli from all those that surround us, __________ are most likely to be selected.

A) stimuli that do not change
B) stimuli that are less intense
C) stimuli that are novel or unexpected
D) stimuli that do not move

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Donna takes an exam and doesn't think she did well. When the teacher returns the exam, Donna mistakenly thinks the "A" at the top of the paper is an "F." Her misperception is due primarily to

A) selective distortion.
B) paying attention to two stimuli at once.
C) multi-tasking.
D) laws of organization.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The second step in the perceptual process is __________ data.

A) selecting
B) interpreting
C) gathering
D) organizing

Answer 3

D

Question 4

At a party where you don't know anybody, you meet a group of women who are standing together. Later, you meet one of these women, and you picture the group with whom she stood at the party. You are using which law of organization?

A) proximity
B) similarity
C) closure
D) ambiguity

Question 5

As you drive, a car that passes you is going very fast and swerving between lanes. Suddenly, you hear another car's horn. You assume the horn was in response to the dangerous driving you witnessed. Your assumption is referred to as

A) selection of stimuli.
B) organization of data.
C) interpretation of data.
D) ambiguous figures.

Question 6

Some studies suggest that women have a more finely tuned sense of smell than men do. If this is true, then this would be which factor affecting perception?

A) organizational
B) selective distortion
C) psychological
D) physiological

Question 7

After a stressful day at the office, Angela is annoyed when she walks into her house and finds her son playing loud music. He is surprised that she finds the music loud. Angela's perception of the music is affected by which factors?

A) psychological
B) physiological
C) co-culture
D) stereotyping

Question 8

The degree to which you see yourself as valuable and worthwhile is self-________.

A) image
B) esteem
C) concept
D) stereotype

Question 9

Which of the following is true of Barnlund's theory of self-orientation?

A) When two people communicate, four entities are actually communicating.
B) Self-concept is irrelevant.
C) Each person communicates from within an understanding of who he or she is.
D) Reflected appraisal refers to our self-image.

Question 10

What does the Plus-2 Concept add to Barnlund's theory?

A) Self-orientation
B) An "other" orientation
C) Reflected appraisal
D) Co-culture

Question 11

Which of the following is true about forming an accurate self-concept?

A) Self-concepts change frequently.
B) Appraisals from others do not affect the self-concept.
C) Self-concepts cling to stagnant thinking.
D) People do not tend to hold irrational beliefs.

Question 12

When Frank fails his math class in the fall semester, he blames it on his teacher. When he passes math the next semester, he prides himself on his hard work. His self-concept is affected by

A) self-serving bias.
B) self-fulfilling prophecy.
C) rational-emotive behavior.
D) impression management.

Question 13

As you walk into a job interview, you think, "There's no way I will get this job." This thought makes you so nervous that the interview goes badly, and you don't get the job. The outcome is due to

A) angel effect.
B) devil effect.
C) self-fulfilling prophecy.
D) rational-emotive behavior.

Question 14

Which of the following are true of first impressions?

A) We can easily avoid forming them.
B) They do not play a role in job interviewing.
C) They are the result of the self-serving bias.
D) We often fail to revise them even after we receive new information.

Question 15

Because Reiko is Japanese, you assume she likes sushi. This is an example of

A) self-talk.
B) stereotyping.
C) impression management.
D) self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 16

Which of the following is true about stereotyping?

A) Stereotyping refers only to impressions of people from different races or ethnic backgrounds.
B) Stereotyping illustrates how our perceptions are reality.
C) Stereotyping shows that people are not unique but are essentially the same.
D) Stereotyping can be a benefit when we have limited time or limited information.

Question 17

Jillian is such a cute little girl that adults often assume that she is sweet and well-behaved. What phenomenon is occurring?

A) Devil effect
B) Angel effect
C) Halo effect
D) Attribution effect

Question 18

The desire for consistency between past and present experiences is known as

A) fundamental attribution error.
B) perceptual constancy.
C) rational-emotive behavior.
D) self-serving bias.

Question 19

When Henry is late to work, his boss believes this is due to Henry's poor work ethic. The reason, however, is that Henry's commuter train sometimes runs slowly. The boss's belief is

A) fundamental attribution error.
B) perceptual constancy.
C) projection.
D) self-serving bias.

Question 20

Over-estimating the role of character traits while under-estimating the role of the situation is

A) perceptual constancy.
B) self-fulfilling prophecy.
C) first impression.
D) fundamental attribution error.

Question 21

You are relieved to get a "C" in Economics, so you are surprised when your classmate is disappointed when she receives the same grade. Your assumption that she will feel as you do is

A) fundamental attribution error.
B) perceptual constancy.
C) projection.
D) self-serving bias.

Question 22

According to Heider, attribution theory involves which steps?

A) perceive, judge, attribute
B) perceive, judge
C) select, judge, project
D) select, judge

Question 23

Which of the following self-reflection steps does the book recommend?

A) Show the same "face" to everyone you meet.
B) Use negative self-talk to motivate improvement.
C) Become aware of the difference between polished image and impressions used to manipulate.
D) Use your self-serving bias filter to interpret other people's words and actions.

Question 24

Non-judgmentally paying attention to your thought process is known as

A) mindfulness.
B) reframing.
C) perception checking.
D) perceptual constancy.

Question 25

Your friend slams the door shut as she walks into your house, so you ask, "Is something wrong?" You are using

A) self-fulfilling prophecy.
B) devil effect.
C) perception checking.
D) perceptual constancy.

Question 26

The first step in the perception process is ___________ data.

Question 27

The stage of the perceptual process in which we attach meaning to words and make predictions is _________.

Question 28

When sensory organs interfere with accurate perception, this is due to ___________ factors.

Question 29

The degree to which we see ourselves as valuable and worthwhile is our self- ___________.

Question 30

According to Barnlund, when two people are talking, the number of entities actually involved is _______.

Question 31

When we predict an outcome of an event and then behave in a way that produces that outcome, we have engaged in ___________.

Question 32

Making assumptions about people based on the groups to which they belong is ________.

Question 33

The tendency to think that other people will think, feel, and act the same way we do is_______.

Question 34

When we ask others for an appraisal of our strengths and weaknesses in order to improve the accuracy of our self-concept, we are seeking __________.

Question 35

Recasting a situation from another person's perspective is __________.

Question 36

A little boy is staying home alone for the first time when a tree branch falls onto the roof. He makes a perceptual error, concluding that the noise is a burglar breaking into his house. Describe the way he might have experienced this event, moving through the three stages of the perceptual process.

Question 37

The book lists six barriers to an accurate self-concept. Describe five of these, providing examples of each. The examples can be personal, from your own experience.

Question 38

Describe a time you made a perceptual error when decoding the message another person sent. This could have occurred with someone you met for the first time or with someone you have known longer. Which perceptual problems affected your communication?

Question 39

To improve our self-concept, the book recommends that we use self-reflection and that we seek feedback. Explain the steps involved in each.

Question 40

What are the four steps for correct perception checking and the reasons for each step?