Question 1

Believing that the world is a "just place" tends to:

Accepted Answer

The belief in a "just world" can lead individuals to blame victims for their misfortunes, as it challenges the notion that the world is inherently fair if bad things happen to good people without cause. This can result in derogation or blaming of those who suffer, rather than fostering a more compassionate or equitable response.

Question 2

The research study about "Mark Flick" the basketball player demonstrated that people use stereotypes of African Americans that:

Accepted Answer

The study showed that people often stereotype African American athletes as having superior athletic skills but lower intelligence compared to their white counterparts.

Question 3

The "ultimate attribution error" has been defined by Pettigrew as:

Accepted Answer

The ultimate attribution error refers to the tendency for people to make attributions that are consistent with their beliefs or prejudices about others, rather than considering situational factors. It is often seen in intergroup conflicts, where members of one group will attribute negative behavior of members of another group to dispositional factors, rather than considering situational factors. Thus, choice B is the best answer.

Question 4

When trying to predict the behavior of a single individual, the most useful information will be:

Accepted Answer

Information specific to that individual is the most useful because it takes into account their unique circumstances, experiences, and personality traits. Group membership, dominant attitudes, and stereotypes can provide some general insights, but they are not necessarily accurate or applicable to every individual within that group.

Question 5

Suppose Fred and Margaret are both being persuaded about the best way to repair lawnmowers and the best way to choose paint colors to decorate a kitchen. Based on the recent work by Sistrunk and David, you would expect:

Accepted Answer

Sistrunk and David's work suggests that individuals are more easily persuaded in areas stereotypically associated with their gender. Therefore, Fred would likely be more persuaded about mower repair (a stereotypically male domain), and Margaret about decorating (a stereotypically female domain).

Question 6

Prejudice is defined as a negative attitude toward all members of a distinguishable group based solely on their membership in that group. Being an attitude, which of the following is the most accurate statement?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice has a cognitive component in the form of stereotypes, a behavioral component in terms of discrimination, and an emotional component in the form of negative feelings towards the group.

Question 7

Suppose you are a subject in an experiment and are asked to make a parole decision about two criminals, a Latino, Jos Ortega, and an upper-middle-class white man, Matthew Smith. Both men were convicted of embezzling funds from the bank in which they worked. Generalizing from a similar study conducted by Bodenhausen and Wyer, you would most likely recommend parole for:

Accepted Answer

According to the study conducted by Bodenhausen and Wyer, being from an upper-middle-class background can generate more positive stereotypes and assumptions about a person's character. Therefore, in this case, the subject is more likely to recommend parole for Matthew who fits this description, rather than Jos who is described as a Latino.

Question 8

Duncan's research study showed a video of an argument between a black man and a white man that resulted in one them shoving the other man. Research participants were more likely to see the act as aggressive rather than playful if:

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is due to racial biases and stereotypes that influence perception. When the black man is the one doing the shoving, both black and white participants are more likely to view the act as aggressive, reflecting societal biases about race and aggression.

Question 9

What conclusion did Carl Word and his associates arrive at after conducting experiments on whites interviewing minorities for a job?

Accepted Answer

Carl Word and his associates found that white male interviewers spent less time with blacks and sat farther away, which caused the interviewee to become more nervous. This indicates racial bias and discrimination during the interview process.

Question 10

The fact that babies as young as three months will show a preference for faces of their own race indicates that:

Accepted Answer

The fact that babies as young as three months will show a preference for faces of their own race indicates that categorization is a fundamental cognitive process. It does not imply that prejudice is genetic or that categorization always results in prejudice.

Question 11

Jorge states, "I always knew that that white guy Johnson was a sneak. I'm not at all surprised that they finally caught him stealing money out of the cash drawer." Jorge's statement is best thought of as an example of:

Accepted Answer

Jorge's statement reflects hindsight bias, as he is making it seem like it was inevitable for Johnson to get caught stealing, when in reality, it may not have been so obvious beforehand. Hindsight bias refers to the tendency for people to overestimate how predictable an event was after it has occurred.

Question 12

The first step in prejudice is ________, and the second step is ________.

Accepted Answer

The first step in prejudice is categorization, which involves placing individuals into distinct groups based on observable characteristics. The second step is creating a stereotype, which involves attributing certain traits or qualities to those groups based on inadequate or incomplete information.

Question 13

Frank has started working in an office recently where Mary has worked for several years. Mary is prejudiced against Jewish people, and Frank just happens to be Jewish. While eating her lunch at work one day, Mary noticed that Frank had saved his lunch bag after eating rather than throwing it in the trash. "How cheap can you get?" Mary thinks. "Those Jews won't spend a nickel if they don't have to!" What Mary doesn't know is that Frank is an avid environmentalist who tries to recycle as many resources as he can. Mary's comment is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The ultimate attribution error is the tendency to attribute negative behavior of an individual belonging to a group to that entire group, rather than to the individual's own circumstances or personality. Mary's comment about Frank is an example of this, as she uses Frank's behavior to support her negative stereotype about Jewish people.

Question 14

If a prejudice is largely cognitive, it is based in misinformation and:

Accepted Answer

Prejudices that are largely cognitive, based in misinformation, can be relatively easy to change through education and exposure to diverse perspectives. The lack of an emotional component can make it easier to challenge and correct these types of prejudices.

Question 15

Attribution theory is most concerned with explaining the:

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory is focused on understanding how people interpret and explain the causes of behavior, particularly the behavior of others. It explores the ways in which people make judgments about the causes of behavior, such as whether it is due to personal or situational factors.

Question 16

Frey and Gaertner, in a study involving prejudice and helping, found that:

Accepted Answer

Frey and Gaertner's study found that whites were more likely to discriminate against a black person when they could rationalize their behavior, suggesting that discrimination was more likely when it could be justified by other factors.

Question 17

The many examples of recent incidents of prejudice by the authors at the beginning of Chapter 7 illustrate that:

Accepted Answer

The examples given at the beginning of Chapter 7 indicate that prejudice is still a prevalent issue in society, and has been for a long time, suggesting that it is a fundamental aspect of the human condition. The other options are not supported by the examples or the text.

Question 18

A stereotype reflects the belief that a particular attribute is characteristic of the group as a whole,

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes are generalized beliefs about a group, and they often ignore the variability that exists within that group. Therefore, option B is the best choice because it accurately reflects this aspect of stereotypes. Option A also mentions the variability within the group, but it implies that individuals might not conform to the stereotype, which is not always the case. Option C is incorrect because behavior is just one aspect of a stereotype, and stereotypes can also include beliefs, attitudes, and values. Finally, option D is incorrect because stereotypes can be positive or negative.

Question 19

According to the ultimate attribution error, if subjects thought a harm-doer was black, they would be more likely to attribute his action to ________. When they thought he was white, they would be more willing to attribute his action to ________.

Accepted Answer

The ultimate attribution error suggests that people are more likely to attribute negative actions of individuals from out-groups (e.g., racial minorities) to their personality or dispositional factors, while attributing similar actions of in-group members (e.g., racial majority) to situational factors.

Question 20

Bodenhausen's study of "morning people" and "evening people" suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Bodenhausen's study suggests that we are all more likely to stereotype when we are not at our best. This means that our ability to control stereotypes decreases when we are experiencing cognitive overload or are not fully awake and alert. It is not specific to morning people or evening people. Thus, option C is correct. Option A and B are incorrect because they attribute stereotype propensity to either morning or evening people, which is not what the study suggests. Option D is incorrect because it suggests that we are not susceptible to cognitive misers when it comes to stereotyping, which is not accurate.

Quiz 7: Prejudice