Deck 11: Culture and Personality

Question 1

The physical items created within a given culture are called __________.

A) cultural differences
B) interpersonal yield
C) social output
D) cultural products

Answer 1

cultural products

Question 2

Culture refers to the customs, values, and __________ characteristic of a nation, an ethnicity group, a class, or a time period.

A) genetics
B) behaviors
C) economics
D) geography

Answer 2

behaviors

Question 3

Which of these groups represents cultural output?

A) song lyrics, TV shows, advertisements, or books from the same cultural setting
B) the dominant personality traits of a nation's populace
C) genetics, biology, and their interaction within a cultural context
D) citizenship status in Belgium, Andorra, and Tuvalu

Answer 3

song lyrics, TV shows, advertisements, or books from the same cultural setting

Question 4

Why are cultural products often a better measure of cultural differences than comparing individuals from different cultures?

A) Individuals usually don't consent to being studied, but products are always freely available.
B) Individuals differ culturally but also differ in terms of genetics, traits, and idiosyncratic experiences.
C) Cultural products represent individually crafted items, which reveal more about a person than traits or life experiences do.
D) There are usually fewer cultural products than there are members of a culture, so a more focused comparison is available.

Question 5

__________ are rules for behavior within a society.

A) Cross-cultural differences
B) Sex differences
C) Social norms
D) Personality dimensions

Question 6

In psychological science, what does the acronym WEIRD stand for?

A) "weigh each individual's recognized differences"
B) wait-evaluate-interview-repeat-demonstrate
C) watch/enter/interrogate/review/dismiss
D) Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic

Question 7

The presence of large land mammals led Europeans toward an agricultural culture based on domestication of wildlife, rather than a hunting and gathering culture. This is an example of a cultural difference based on __________.

A) biology
B) geography
C) national borders
D) language

Question 8

Which group represents a culture within a culture?

A) Lithuanian Americans
B) office workers
C) Brazilians
D) children

Question 9

How are the dimensions of social class, income level, and education level combined into a single cultural measure?

A) They are all aspects of a person's birth cohort.
B) These are the basic elements of a culture.
C) These dimensions, when combined, represent socioeconomic status.
D) They help to define the breakpoints between one generation and another.

Question 10

Rebecca was born in 1981 and Timmy was born in 1996. Which statement about them is correct?

A) They are in the same birth cohort.
B) They are in the same birth cohort but not the same generation.
C) They are not in the same birth cohort or generation.
D) They are not in the same birth cohort but they are in the same generation.

Question 11

Which of these situations represents collective action in service of meeting a social norm?

A) Some construction workers decide to work overtime so they will be paid more than their coworkers.
B) Three typists compete to see who can make the fewest errors in a 10-page document.
C) Amish farmers work together to raise a barn in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support.
D) A family of four decides to move from Wyoming to Arkansas.

Question 12

How do parent-child interactions in the United States differ from those in many Asian countries?

A) Asian parents tend to ask children their preferences, whereas American parents tend to make decisions for their children.
B) Asian parents tend to socialize their children explicitly, whereas American parents tend to let their children deduce social norms on their own.
C) American parents tend to socialize their children explicitly, whereas Asian parents tend to let their children deduce social norms on their own.
D) American parents tend to ask children their preferences, whereas Asian parents tend to make decisions for their children.

Question 13

Why is the mutual constitution model reciprocal in its formulation?

A) Daily life influences the attributes of individuals in a cultural context.
B) Individuals influence cultural values, but cultural values also influence individuals.
C) Institutions and products influence the cultural values held by a group.
D) Cultural values determine the products, life events, and characteristics of individuals in a culture.

Question 14

Why can WEIRD research participants be problematic?

A) They are difficult to identify and therefore are under-represented in most research studies.
B) They tend to score higher on extraversion and lower on neuroticism than the general population.
C) Their behaviors and experiences are likely to be unrepresentative of human beings overall.
D) They generally don't participate in personality research studies.

Question 15

Manny, Moe, and Jack were all born in 2002. They are part of the same __________.

A) social status
B) generation
C) birth cohort
D) socioeconomic status

Question 16

What kind of comparisons are based on average variations across countries or world regions?

A) cross-cultural differences
B) biological differences
C) socioeconomic differences
D) personality differences

Question 17

Residents of the small country of Ruritania adopted the slogan, "Put your own needs before the needs of others."" Over time this saying caught on, such that successive generations of Ruritanians became more individualistic than their forebears. This cultural change is an example of __________.

A) cognitive revolution
B) behavioral inhibition
C) mutual constitution
D) psychodynamic influence

Question 18

The idea that culture shapes individuals and individuals shape culture is known as the __________ model.

A) mutual constitution
B) behavioral
C) cognitive
D) psychodynamic

Question 19

How do children learn the social norms of their culture?

A) through extensive comparisons with other cultures
B) through formal education in the school system
C) through the process of socialization
D) through trial and error

Question 20

How are generations defined?

A) clearly, based on demographic changes that take place every 5 years
B) arbitrarily, representing 15- to 20-year periods
C) arbitrarily, changing from culture to culture
D) arbitrarily, based on the start of significant historical events

Question 21

__________ made an explicit link between individualism-collectivism and personality traits, arguing that the cultural context directly shaped the personality of individuals in a culture.

A) David Kolb
B) Harry Triandis
C) Edward Thorndike
D) John Watson

Question 22

Erick derives his self-esteem from the pride he feels in being an Albanian; in other words, he is an example of the concept of __________ self-esteem.

A) mutual
B) collective
C) common
D) shared

Question 23

Donaldo has a collectivistic cultural outlook. When asked to describe himself, how might he respond?

A) "I am rugged and handsome."
B) "I am the son of Maria and Marcello."
C) "I am an outgoing, enthusiastic person."
D) "I am 22 years old."

Question 24

A cultural system that prioritizes the needs of the self over the needs of others represents __________.

A) collectivism
B) Darwinism
C) cognitivism
D) individualism

Question 25

Which cultural outlook would emphasize putting personal goals ahead of group goals?

A) communalism
B) individualism
C) interdependency
D) collectivism

Question 26

Which statement represents Chavo's external attribution for Chuck's behavior?

A) "He had no choice, given the situation."
B) "He's lazy."
C) "He's courageous."
D) "He's an outgoing person."

Question 27

An explanation for behavior focusing on the surrounding situation a person is in is known as __________ attribution.

A) fundamental
B) interpersonal
C) internal
D) external

Question 28

The U.S. government allowing citizens to be responsible for their own retirement finances rather than relying on Social Security benefits is an example of __________.

A) individualism
B) constructivism
C) collectivism
D) cognitivism

Question 29

Socialist countries tend to look out for the welfare of all their citizens, valuing the needs of the whole above the needs of the one. Which cultural system is this philosophy aligned with?

A) mutualism
B) constructivism
C) collectivism
D) individualism

Question 30

Employees at a manufacturing plant begin each day by giving each other praise. This is an example of __________.

A) collectivism
B) constructivism
C) individualism
D) cognitivism

Question 31

Which statement represents Kira's internal attribution for Greg's behavior?

A) "He found himself in a difficult situation."
B) "That's just the way Greg is."
C) "The circumstances made him do it."
D) "He's responding to societal pressures."

Question 32

Which cultural outlook would emphasize defining one's identity as part of a larger unit?

A) communalism
B) individualism
C) interdependency
D) collectivism

Question 33

What term is used to describe a culture within a culture?

A) cross-culture
B) social culture
C) cultural diversity
D) subculture

Question 34

What are attributions?

A) stereotypes about a particular individual
B) inferences about causality
C) the basis of attitude formation
D) unique characteristics of an individual

Question 35

If you were raised in a collectivistic culture, how might your friends describe you compared with how you would describe yourself?

A) Your friends would refuse to describe you.
B) Your friends would describe you the same way that you would describe yourself.
C) Your friends would describe you more negatively than you would describe yourself.
D) Your friends would describe you more positively than you would describe yourself.

Question 36

If you were raised in an individualistic culture, how might you describe yourself compared with how your friends might describe you?

A) You would refuse to describe yourself.
B) You would describe yourself the same way that others would describe you.
C) You would describe yourself a little more negatively than others would describe you.
D) You would describe yourself a little more positively than others would describe you.

Question 37

Ada has an individualistic cultural outlook. When asked about her personal attributes, how might she respond?

A) "I am Korean."
B) "I'm one of several brothers and sisters."
C) "I'm a no-nonsense go-getter."
D) "I am my mother's daughter."

Question 38

The cultural difference that has been studied the most is the relationship between __________ and __________.

A) the self; others
B) mother; child
C) father; child
D) husband; wife

Question 39

Explaining a person's behavior by focusing on the individual and her or his personality is known as __________ attribution.

A) fundamental
B) interpersonal
C) internal
D) external

Question 40

What does the term self-enhancement refer to?

A) promoting one's own subculture at the expense of another
B) holding unrealistically positive views of oneself and one's abilities
C) a cultural system that values collective self-esteem
D) making an internal attribution for personal failures

Question 41

How do Americans and Canadians compare in their responses to self-report measures of personality?

A) The average score on agreeableness is about the same in Canada as it is in the United States.
B) The average score on extraversion is about the same in Canada as it is in the United States.
C) The average score on agreeableness is a great deal higher in Canada than it is in the United States.
D) The average score on extraversion is a great deal higher in Canada than it is in the United States.

Question 42

Why are perceptions of national character sometimes more accurate than self-reports from members of that culture?

A) Perceptions of national character are based on a broader cultural viewpoint than are self-reports.
B) National character doesn't change over time.
C) National character is usually well established and agreed on, whereas self-reports lack reliability.
D) Perceptions of national character are collected by combining many individual self-reports.

Question 43

A common stereotype is that Americans are __________.

A) introverted
B) extroverted
C) neurotic
D) conscientious

Question 44

White Americans score higher than __________ on the dominance facet of extraversion.

A) Native Americans
B) Asian Americans
C) white Americans
D) Hispanics

Question 45

In the United States, __________ have the lowest self-esteem on average when compared with whites.

A) American Indians
B) Latinos
C) Asian Americans
D) African Americans

Question 46

When answering questions on a personality test, Francisco thinks about other men he knows and compares himself to them. What is Francisco relying on?

A) reference-group effect
B) perception of national character
C) mutual constitution
D) power distance

Question 47

In the 1950s, __________ of girls received one of the ten most popular names.

A) one-fourth
B) one-half
C) two-thirds
D) three-fourth

Question 48

Researchers investigated conscientiousness in 25 countries. In which country were bank clocks the most accurate?

A) Germany
B) Indonesia
C) Switzerland
D) Greece

Question 49

What does the term relational mobility refer to?

A) the shift from making an internal to an external attribution
B) a progression from individual self-esteem to collective self-esteem
C) the ease with which a person can move in and out of relationships
D) a person's ability to move from one subculture to another

Question 50

Black Americans score moderately higher than __________ on the sociability facet of extraversion.

A) Native Americans
B) Asian Americans
C) white Americans
D) Hispanics

Question 51

Where were most personality questionnaires developed?

A) Canada
B) Great Britain
C) France
D) the United States

Question 52

The term __________ refers to a cultural system of rules that minimize ambiguity.

A) uncertainty avoidance
B) certainty avoidance
C) uncertainty attribution
D) certainty attribution

Question 53

In the United States, who scores highest on extraversion?

A) Native Americans
B) Asian Americans
C) white Americans
D) black Americans

Question 54

In the 1950s, __________ of American boys received one of the ten most popular names.

A) one-half
B) one-third
C) two-thirds
D) one-fourth

Question 55

Mario is a child who obeys his parents without question. What kind of culture might he be from?

A) high power-distance
B) low power-distance
C) no power-distance
D) medium power-distance

Question 56

Based on her cultural background, who is most likely to see failure as an opportunity for improvement?

A) Amber, a resident of London, England
B) Sherri, a resident of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
C) Fumiko, a resident of Osaka, Honshu, Japan
D) Whitney, a resident of Butte, Montana

Question 57

In traditional collectivistic cultures, divorce is __________.

A) four times as likely to occur than in an individualistic culture
B) widely accepted
C) twice as likely to occur than in an individualistic culture
D) rare

Question 58

People primarily compare themselves to __________.

A) other people in other cultures
B) other people in their own culture
C) their imagined self
D) their past selves

Question 59

Participants in a research study were told to select a gift from a group of three green pens and one orange pen. Which gift were Americans more likely to select?

A) one green pen
B) two green pens
C) the orange pen
D) three green pens

Question 60

In the United States, __________ have the highest self-esteem on average when compared with whites.

A) American Indians
B) Latinos
C) Asian Americans
D) African Americans

Question 61

How does cultural change occur through the process of mutual constitution?

Question 62

Barry scores high in extraversion. How would this likely affect his view of power distance?

Question 63

What is relationship mobility like in collectivistic cultures? Give an example of marriage and divorce.

Question 64

What is power distance?

Question 65

Evaluate the idea that cross-cultural differences arise from geography.

Question 66

How do cultural products illustrate cross-cultural differences?

Question 67

You are a researcher exploring cultural differences on the Big Five personality dimensions. How can you get around reference-group effects?

Question 68

What does the term "perception of national character" refer to?

Question 69

Why might people from individualistic cultures find personality to be a more useful and relevant concept compared to people from collectivistic cultures?

Question 70

Becca is a member of a collectivistic society. Knowing this, what can you predict about her values, goals, and behaviors?

Question 71

How do individualistic and collectivistic societies differ in their attributional style? Provide an example.

Question 72

You are from the United States and your friend Duc is from Vietnam. How might you differ in the way you would each finish the phrase, "I am . . . "?

Question 73

What type of attributions do members of individualistic cultures tend to make?

Question 74

Define what a subculture is, and give three examples of subcultures within the United States.

Question 75

Define what social norms are, and provide an example of a norm.

Question 76

What is the mutual constitution model?

Question 77

You read about a major bank robbery on both a United States news site and a Japanese news site. How might the focus of each story differ?

Question 78

How are members of an individualistic culture likely to describe themselves?

Question 79

How do self-assessments of self-esteem in individualistic cultures compare with those same assessments among people from collectivistic cultures? Use the United States and other countries that have been studied as examples.

Question 80

What are cultural products?