Question 1

According to the "think-drink" effect research, which of the following participants will be most aggressive toward the research confederate?

Accepted Answer

The "think-drink" effect suggests that participants who believe they have been consuming alcohol will exhibit more aggression than those who do not believe they have been drinking. Therefore, Jake, who believes he has had five strong drinks, is the most likely to be aggressive toward the research confederate.

Question 2

Based on research presented in the text, who would likely have the highest salary on the professional hockey team?

Accepted Answer

Aggression in professional hockey is often rewarded, as it can be seen as a sign of a player's toughness and commitment to the game. Players who spend more time in the penalty box for aggressive behavior might be perceived as more valuable or impactful, potentially leading to higher salaries.

Question 3

__________ theory posits that we learn to aggress by observing and imitating others.

Accepted Answer

Social-cognitive learning theory proposes that we acquire aggressive behavior by observing and imitating others in our social environment. This perspective highlights the role of modeling and vicarious reinforcement in shaping aggressive behavior.

Question 4

Well-controlled laboratory experiments and field studies have revealed that alcohol consumption contributes to aggression by __________.

Accepted Answer

Alcohol consumption has been shown to disrupt cognitive processes, including the way we process information. This can lead to misperceptions and misinterpretations of social cues, making individuals more likely to engage in aggressive behavior.

Question 5

Which statement below most accurately reflects the relationship between alcohol and aggression?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that alcohol consumption can interfere with our ability to accurately interpret social cues and attribute ambiguous behavior to situational factors, leading to an increase in aggressive behavior. It is not accurate to say that alcohol makes all people more aggressive or that violence-prone people are most likely to be high alcohol consumers. While it is true that being in a situation where violence is condemned can reduce the likelihood of aggressive behavior, this does not negate the effects of alcohol on social cognition.

Question 6

Gary, a northern male who has a reputation for violence, has been drinking with his friends. Stan approaches Gary and insults his girlfriend. Gary and Stan get into a fistfight. Which of the following best explains why Gary and Stan began to fight? Research suggests that __________.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that alcohol lowers our social inhibitions and allows us to act impulsively. This may have led Gary to react aggressively to Stan's insult towards his girlfriend, resulting in the fight.

Question 7

In Bandura's famous "Bobo" doll study, he had some children watch a woman aggress against an inflated doll, while other children did not watch an aggressive act. Bandura found that the children who watched someone beat up the doll were later __________.

Accepted Answer

Bandura found that the children who watched someone beat up the doll were more likely than control-group children to behave aggressively against a similar doll.

Question 8

Based on social-cognitive learning theory, what is one reason why parents who were abused as children are more likely to abuse their own children in turn?

Accepted Answer

Social-cognitive learning theory posits that individuals learn by observing and modeling the behavior of others. Parents who were abused as children may have learned that violence is an acceptable way to discipline and control children. This learned behavior may then be reinforced through internal and external rewards, leading to a higher likelihood of perpetrating abuse themselves.

Question 9

Of the following people, who would be most likely to demonstrate aggressive behavior?

Accepted Answer

Pain can increase irritability and the likelihood of aggressive behavior, making Gerald, who is in considerable pain, the most likely to demonstrate aggressive behavior.

Question 10

Glen and Stacy are at a park with friends. Another couple begins taunting them and saying rude things. Based on research presented in this chapter regarding provocation, who is likely to behave aggressively?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that both men and women have a similar likelihood of behaving aggressively when provoked. Additionally, the presence of others can increase the likelihood of aggression, as people may feel the need to save face or defend their reputation in front of their friends.

Question 11

Based on the research presented in the text, if a group of 4-year-old girls wanted the play purse that another girl was given, what are they most likely to do?

Accepted Answer

Research on social behavior in young children suggests that they often use social exclusion as a strategy to influence peers, such as not playing with someone until they get what they want.

Question 12

Research examining the "think-drink" effect gave some participants a nonalcoholic drink, some a weak alcohol drink, and some a strong alcohol drink to see how aggressive they would be. The participants were also told how much alcohol they were getting, but the researchers did not necessarily tell them the truth about the amount. What is (are) the independent variable(s)?

Accepted Answer

The independent variables are the amount of alcohol participants received (whether it was a weak or strong drink) and the amount of alcohol they were told was in the drink.

Question 13

Jeff is participating in a research study where he is given several drinks. He is told that the goal is to get his blood alcohol level to a point just shy of the legal driving limit. However, he is really only getting a nonalcoholic mixer and fruit juice. How will Jeff behave toward another participant who just insulted his favorite sports team and managed to spill a drink on Jeff's shoes. Why?

Accepted Answer

CJeff is likely to behave more aggressively due to the expectation effects of alcohol, even though he hasn't consumed any. This is because he believes he has consumed alcohol, which can lead to disinhibited behavior (A) and because the belief itself can be physiologically arousing, leading to aggression (C).

Question 14

Bushman and his colleagues (2007) found that the more respected a person or institution is, the greater their influence as a role model for aggression. They found this effect holds for __________.

Accepted Answer

Bushman and his colleagues (2007) found that the influence of respected individuals or institutions as role models for aggression holds for both nonreligious and religious people, indicating that respect can enhance the impact of role models across different belief systems.

Question 15

A little girl watches a television cartoon in which a woman yanks a child by the hair and screams at her. After seeing the cartoon, the little girl acts out this same interaction with her doll. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of social-cognitive learning, which involves the acquisition of behaviors by observing others and the consequences of those behaviors. The little girl learned the aggressive behavior from the cartoon and then imitated it with her doll.

Question 16

Desdemona is having a bad day. As she runs to answer the phone, she bangs her knee on the coffee table. Cursing and limping, Desdemona grabs the phone and is rude to the person at the other end of the line. This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Desdemona's aggression is directed towards the person on the phone, which is not serving any instrumental purpose, but rather a result of her pain and frustration. Therefore, it is better described as hostile aggression caused by pain.

Question 17

Research demonstrates that, when shown a model who responds to provocation in a restrained, pleasant manner, children __________.

Accepted Answer

Research has found that children who observe a model respond to provocation with calm and pleasant behavior are less likely to respond with aggression when they themselves are provoked. This suggests that positive role models can have a powerful impact on shaping children's behavior and reducing aggressive responses.

Question 18

Which of the following findings provides the soundest support for the assertion that we learn aggression by observing others and imitating them?

Accepted Answer

The finding that children who watch an adult assault a "Bobo" doll will imitate that behavior in the laboratory provides the most direct evidence that we learn aggression by observing others and imitating them. This study by Albert Bandura in 1961 is one of the most famous and influential in social psychology and has been replicated many times. It shows that children who observe a model behaving aggressively are more likely to display aggressive behavior themselves, particularly if the model is seen as similar to themselves, the behavior is rewarded, and the child is provoked.

Question 19

A teacher at a preschool tries to show some rowdy children how to "play nice." She shows them a doll hitting her, and her hugging the doll in response. The teacher's behavior is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The teacher is modeling nonaggressive behavior by showing the children how to respond to violence with kindness and affection.

Question 20

Extrapolating from the research on relational aggression, which of the following would be the best thing a parent could teach a young girl?

Accepted Answer

Teaching a young girl to have a thick skin about what other people think and encouraging her to develop healthy friendships can help her navigate the social complexities of adolescence and avoid engaging in relational aggression. The other options of running, carrying a cell phone, or being prepared to physically defend oneself are not effective solutions to relational aggression.

Quiz 12: Aggression: Why Do We Hurt Other People Can We Prevent It