Question 1

If all humans have access to the same cognitive tools, what is the role of culture?

Accepted Answer

Culture can determine which cognitive tools individuals use more frequently or prioritize. For example, some sociocultural groups may prioritize collective decision-making, while others may prioritize individual decision-making. This can influence which cognitive tools are used more frequently or emphasized within a particular cultural context.

Question 2

Eva runs an unscrupulous organization that attempts to scam money from people while posing as a charity. Based on the research by Shariff and Norenzayan (2007), the best strategy for doing this involves

Accepted Answer

Research by Shariff and Norenzayan (2007) suggests that priming concepts related to fairness and morality can influence behavior, so mentioning fairness could make the scam seem more legitimate.

Question 3

According to the authors of your text, people raised in which of the following countries would be most likely to have a holistic thinking style?

Accepted Answer

The authors of the text suggest that people raised in China are more likely to have a holistic thinking style compared to those raised in Western cultures like the United States, Italy, and Great Britain. This is due to cultural differences in values, beliefs, and socialization practices. In China, there is a greater emphasis on collectivism, interconnectedness, and harmony, which encourages a more holistic perspective.

Question 4

Iain is from Australia, where people drive on the left-hand side of the road. When he moved to the United States, his accident rate was higher than any of his friends'. Why might this be?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Iain is from Australia, where people drive...

Question 5

Adele is from France, where rabbits are eaten regularly. She can tell you the most tender part of the rabbit, how long to cook one, and how big a rabbit you would need to feed five people. Marsha is from the United States, where rabbits are pets, and bring colored eggs to children in the spring. She hasn't a clue about how to cook one, even if she wanted to. This example best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The answer of Adele is from France, where rabbits are...

Question 6

Nisbett (2003) suggested that the difference in ways of thinking came from differences in East and West philosophical traditions. With that in mind, how would you expect your new roommate, who is from Korea, to think?

Accepted Answer

Nisbett (2003) proposed that East Asian cultures, such as Korea, tend to think holistically, focusing on relationships and context, influenced by their philosophical traditions.

Question 7

You've rented the movie Sophie's Choice. There is a scene in which Sophie, a recent immigrant from Poland, is both surprised and amused that Americans have so many words for the concept "fast." She reports that in Polish, there is only one word. You've just read Chapter 3 (Social Cognition), and a friend asks you why the cultures differ in that regard. What would you say?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You've rented the movie Sophie's Choice. There...

Question 8

Culture can influence our schemas by influencing

Accepted Answer

Culture can influence what we notice and remember, and therefore can shape our schemas. For example, if a culture places a high value on collectivism, individuals within that culture may be more likely to remember information related to the collective rather than the individual.

Question 9

Based on information from your text about cultural differences in thinking, complete the analogy: Western: _________:: Eastern: __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on information from your text about...

Question 10

When people tend to focus on the properties of objects without consideration of the context, this is described as a(n) ___________ thinking style.

Accepted Answer

An analytic thinking style is characterized by a focus on the properties of objects or situations, often at the expense of considering context or other factors that may influence the situation. This style of thinking is often associated with Western cultures and is contrasted with a more holistic thinking style that considers the broader context and multiple perspectives. Automatic and heuristic thinking styles are not necessarily related to a focus on object properties versus context.

Question 11

Which of the following does not belong?

Accepted Answer

Options A, B, and C are all related to seeing the big picture and looking at things in a holistic way, while option D relates to breaking things down into smaller parts and analyzing them individually. Therefore, option D does not belong.

Question 12

Zuzanna had a hard time remembering the names of streets when she traveled because they were in a different language. In addition, the buildings did not look like what she was used to, so she got lost several times. These problems emphasize the role of schemas in

Accepted Answer

Schemas are mental categories that help people organize information and make sense of the world around them. They influence what people notice and remember, as well as their expectations and interpretations of events. In this case, Zuzanna's difficulty in remembering street names and getting lost suggests that her schemas for navigating in a different language and environment were underdeveloped or inadequate.

Question 13

In a 1932 study, a Bantu herdsman readily recalled the details of a cattle transaction, but the Scotsman had to look up his written record of the event. According to your text, what can best explain this difference in memory ability?

Accepted Answer

The passage suggests that Bantu culture places a strong emphasis on cattle herding, which likely leads to a well-developed schema or mental framework for remembering details related to this activity. This can explain why the Bantu herdsman was able to recall the details of the cattle transaction more readily than the Scotsman. The other answer choices are not supported by the information given in the passage.

Question 14

Why do schemas differ from culture to culture?

Accepted Answer

Schemas are mental frameworks that organize our knowledge and guide our behavior. Different cultures prioritize different things, which means they will have different schemas based on their unique experiences and values. For example, collectivist cultures place greater emphasis on social relationships and group harmony, whereas individualistic cultures value autonomy and independence.

Question 15

Researchers Miyamoto, Nisbett, and Masuda compared photographs of city scenes in the U.S. and Japan. They found that on average, city scenes in Japan contained more

Accepted Answer

The researchers found that city scenes in Japan contained more objects and information, such as signs, posters, and displays. This is in contrast to the U.S., where city scenes tended to have more large, uniform buildings and fewer visual stimuli.

Question 16

Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his colleagues involved showing participants two similar pictures and asking them to find the differences between them. Nisbett and colleagues found a(n) ___________ difference in how participants described the differences.

Accepted Answer

Nisbett and his colleagues found cultural differences in how participants described the differences between two similar pictures.

Question 17

Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his colleagues suggest that people who grow up in East Asian cultures think more ___________ than people who grew up in Western cultures.

Accepted Answer

The studies suggest that people who grow up in East Asian cultures think more holistically, meaning they focus on the relationships between different elements rather than breaking them down into individual components. In contrast, people who grow up in Western cultures tend to think more analytically, breaking things down into individual components to understand them.

Question 18

Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his colleagues involved showing participants two similar pictures and asking them to find the differences between them. Nisbett and colleagues found that East Asian participants were more likely to focus on details such as

Accepted Answer

The answer of Several studies conducted by Nisbett and his...

Question 19

Researchers Miyamoto, Nisbett, and Masuda compared photographs of city scenes in the U.S. and Japan. They found that on average, city scenes in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers Miyamoto, Nisbett, and Masuda compared photographs...

Question 20

When a researcher interviewed both a Scotsman and a Bantu herdsman about the particulars of a cattle transaction, the Scot ________, whereas the Bantu herdsman ________.

Accepted Answer

The Scotsman likely relied on his literacy skills and consulted written notes about the cattle transaction, while the Bantu herdsman would have relied on his memory and recalled details without notes.

Quiz 3: Social Cognition: How We Think About the Social World