Question 1

In one study, participants received personality feedback before watching either a disturbingly graphic video or a video with neutral content. What were the findings of the study?

Accepted Answer

Participants who received positive, esteem-enhancing feedback were not differentially affected by the videos, suggesting that positive feedback may buffer against the impact of disturbing content.

Question 2

Which of the following phenomena is NOT a mechanism that people use routinely to maintain their self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Self-verification is not a mechanism to maintain self-esteem, but rather a seeking of feedback and information that confirms one's existing self-concept, even if it is negative. The other three options (projection, self-handicapping, compensation) are all mechanisms people use to protect their self-esteem.

Question 3

Ibn prides himself on his ability to carry out risky feats like sky-diving. Recently, Ibn has experienced the unfortunate death of his father, which made him think about his own eventual death. The anxiety-buffer conception of self-esteem suggests that:

Accepted Answer

The anxiety-buffer conception of self-esteem posits that self-esteem serves as a buffer against anxiety, including the fear of death. In Ibn's case, engaging in risky feats that reinforce his self-esteem could serve as a mechanism to manage the increased anxiety about his own mortality following his father's death.

Question 4

The sociometer model primarily suggests that:

Accepted Answer

The sociometer model suggests that self-esteem serves as a gauge or indicator of one's level of acceptance and belongingness in social groups. This means that self-esteem is primarily concerned with how others perceive and respond to the individual, rather than serving a more internal or individualistic purpose.

Question 5

If a person is highly successful in a domain that is important to our self-esteem, we are motivated to _____; if a person is highly successful in a domain that is not very important to our self-esteem, we are motivated to _____.

Accepted Answer

When someone is successful in a domain important to our self-esteem, we tend to distance ourselves to protect our self-view. Conversely, if the domain is not important, we may align ourselves with them to bask in reflected glory.

Question 6

The idea that people respond less defensively to threats to one aspect of themselves if they think about another valued aspect of themselves is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

This is because self-affirmation theory suggests that individuals are less likely to react defensively to threats on a particular aspect of their self-concept if they are focusing on another valued aspect of themselves. This can help to reduce the negative impact of the threat on their overall self-esteem.

Question 7

The theory of symbolic self-completion suggests specifically that:

Accepted Answer

The theory of symbolic self-completion suggests that when people feel a self-defining aspect of themselves is threatened, they compensate by displaying symbols which support their self-definition. This can include displaying possessions, behaviors or belonging to a group that reinforces their identity. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

Question 8

Self-handicapping refers to:

Accepted Answer

Self-handicapping is the act of intentionally creating obstacles or excuses to protect one's self-esteem in the event of failure. This can include behaviors like procrastination, substance use, or blaming external factors for potential failure.

Question 9

Manal has decided that she would like to lose some weight in the coming month. She posts online that this is her goal for the month. What does research based on symbolic self-completion theory suggest will happen?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic self-completion theory suggests that individuals may feel satisfied and self-fulfilled by simply making a statement about a goal they have, leading to a decrease in motivation to actually achieve the goal. Therefore, because Manal has publicly declared her goal to lose weight, she may feel a sense of self-completion and be less likely to follow through on her plan.

Question 10

Assigning to others those traits that people fear they themselves possess is referred to as _____.

Accepted Answer

Projection refers to the tendency to attribute onto others one's own unacceptable thoughts or impulses. This can often occur unconsciously, as individuals struggle to avoid confronting their own negative qualities.

Question 11

Which of the following characteristics is NOT typically listed by research conducted in the United States as a primary contingency on which people base their self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Research conducted in the United States typically lists academic accomplishments, physical attractiveness, and God's love as primary contingencies on which people base their self-esteem. Deference to authority figures is not typically listed as a primary contingency.

Question 12

Which of the following findings has emerged from research on social comparison?

Accepted Answer

People generally think of themselves as better in most respects now than they used to be.

Question 13

Basking in reflected glory refers to people's tendency to _____.

Accepted Answer

Basking in reflected glory refers to the tendency for individuals to associate themselves with successful others. This behavior is often seen in sports fans who use the success of their favorite teams as a symbol of their own status or identity.

Question 14

Which conception suggests that self-esteem primarily serves as a defense against threats?

Accepted Answer

The anxiety-buffer conception posits that self-esteem primarily serves as a defense against threats to one's psychological well-being, buffering individuals against anxiety and negative affect.

Question 15

Manute has often done well on math tests in the past. However, the latest concepts in his math course have been very difficult for him, and he is uncertain about whether he will be able to do well on the upcoming exam. All he finds himself able to think about is how a failure on the test would be harmful to his sense of himself as a math scholar. The night before the test, a friend invites Manute to go to a party. What does research on self-handicapping suggest Manute will do?

Accepted Answer

Research on self-handicapping suggests that Manute might engage in behaviors that create obstacles to his own success, such as going to the party and staying up late, to have an excuse for potential failure on the test.

Question 16

Wong has just received feedback in his gym class that he is not as good of an athlete as he thought he was. If he pursues the defensive strategy of compensation, what is Wong now likely to do?

Accepted Answer

Compensation involves focusing on another area where one can excel to maintain self-esteem, so Wong might focus on his academics.

Question 17

A classic study by Cialdini (1976) and colleagues on people's reactions to their college sports team showed that:

Accepted Answer

The study found that students were more likely to wear school apparel when their college football team had won a game. This is known as the "basking in reflected glory" phenomenon, where individuals associate themselves with successful groups or individuals in order to boost their own self-esteem and social status.

Question 18

At a general level, what is the self-serving attributional bias?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving attributional bias is the tendency to attribute positive events to one's own character while attributing negative events to external factors.

Question 19

In a study on projection, participants were given false feedback suggesting that they were high in a specific negative trait (e.g., dishonesty). They were then given the opportunity to rate another person on various traits. What were the findings of the study?

Accepted Answer

The study found that participants rated the other person as higher specifically on the negative trait they had been falsely told they (the participant) possessed. This is known as projection, as participants projected their own perceived negative traits onto someone else.

Question 20

Which of the following factors is LEAST likely to exert a strong influence on a person's level and sources of self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

While self-verification motivation can have some impact on self-esteem, it is generally not considered as powerful of an influence as culture, genetics, or childhood experiences with reflected appraisals and social comparisons.

Quiz 6: The Key Self-Motives: Consistency, Esteem, Presentation, and Growth