Question 1

People are more critical of their ________ selves than of their ________ selves.

Accepted Answer

People tend to be more critical of their past actions and decisions than of their current selves, often reflecting on what they could have done differently with the benefit of hindsight.

Question 2

Which of the following is MOST likely to be associated with high self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias refers to the tendency for individuals to take credit for their successes and blame external factors for their failures. This mindset is often associated with high self-esteem as individuals who have a positive self-image tend to have a more favorable outlook on their abilities and achievements.

Question 3

Accepting ourselves without undue dependence on the approval of others best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Undue dependence on the approval of others suggests insecurity and low self-esteem. Secure self-esteem allows for self-acceptance and self-validation, regardless of others' opinions. Thus, D is the best choice as it directly relates to the concept of accepting oneself without relying on external validation.

Question 4

Andy,a high school sophomore,lacks self-discipline,fails to plan ahead,and is excessively anxious. He is quickly frustrated by challenging tasks and frequently becomes overly critical of others. Use the psychoanalytic,humanistic,and social-cognitive perspectives to give three contrasting explanations of Andy's behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Andy,a high school sophomore,lacks self-discipline,fails to plan...

Question 5

Narcissism is associated with

Accepted Answer

Narcissism is associated with risk-taking behaviors and a sense of entitlement, which can lead to more gambling and more cheating. Individuals with narcissistic traits may engage in these behaviors believing they are deserving of success or are unlikely to face negative consequences.

Question 6

Larry studies diligently because he is haunted by an image of himself being unable to get a job after graduation. Larry's diligence best illustrates the motivational impact of

Accepted Answer

Larry's diligence is motivated by a possible future version or image of himself being unable to get a job after graduation. This best illustrates the motivational impact of possible selves, which are the images individuals hold of who they might become, want to become, or are afraid of becoming.

Question 7

A person whose self-esteem is momentarily threatened is especially likely to

Accepted Answer

When a person's self-esteem is momentarily threatened, they may engage in defensive behavior to protect their ego. This can include criticizing the shortcomings of others in order to feel better about themselves. This behavior is known as "downward social comparison." So, option B is the best choice in this case. Option A is unlikely because people with low self-esteem are more likely to conform to social pressure. Option C and D are not directly related to self-esteem being threatened.

Question 8

If we are nervous about our personal appearance after adopting a new hairstyle,we are likely to ________ the extent to which others notice our nervousness and we are likely to ________ the extent to which they notice our new hairstyle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we are nervous about our personal...

Question 9

Kelly loves to boast about her accomplishments and becomes very upset when anyone criticizes her. Kelly most clearly demonstrates

Accepted Answer

Kelly's behavior of boasting about her accomplishments and becoming upset when criticized is indicative of defensive self-esteem. This means that Kelly is likely compensating for feelings of inadequacy by overemphasizing her positive traits and reacting defensively when those traits are questioned or criticized.

Question 10

Which technique would psychologists use to assess whether a cluster of characteristics that includes ambition,determination,persistence,and self-reliance reflects a single personality trait?

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis is a statistical technique that can be used to explore the underlying structure of a set of variables. By analyzing how strongly different characteristics are correlated with each other, psychologists can identify which ones tend to cluster together and may therefore reflect a single personality trait. Projective testing involves presenting ambiguous stimuli to participants and interpreting their responses, which may not be as reliable or objective. Empirically derived testing involves developing a test based on data from a sample of people, which may not be specifically related to the cluster of characteristics in question. Situational testing involves observing behavior in specific situations, which may not provide a comprehensive picture of personality traits.

Question 11

Athletes often attribute their losses to bad officiating. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The self-serving bias is the tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors (such as their own talents or hard work) while attributing their failures to external factors (such as bad luck or other individuals). Athletes who attribute their losses to bad officiating are exhibiting the self-serving bias, as they are blaming an external factor for their defeat.

Question 12

Overestimating the extent to which others notice and evaluate our appearance and performance is called

Accepted Answer

The term "spotlight effect" refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate the degree to which others notice and evaluate their appearance and performance. This can lead to self-consciousness and anxiety in social situations, as individuals may feel as though they are constantly under scrutiny. Option A refers to the belief that one's life is primarily influenced by external factors beyond their control, while option B refers to the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to one's own abilities and negative outcomes to external factors. Option D refers to a defensive response to low self-esteem, in which individuals may become protective of their self-worth and avoid situations in which they may be criticized or rejected.

Question 13

Research on self-perception indicates that most people

Accepted Answer

Research has found that most people tend to view themselves favorably compared to others, which is known as the "better-than-average" bias. They tend to rate themselves as above average in various areas, such as intelligence, driving ability, and attractiveness. This bias is common across cultures and age groups.

Question 14

Tonya demonstrates personality traits at parties with her friends that are very different from those she exhibits when she participates in class activities. Using your knowledge of both the person-situation controversy and reciprocal determinism,explain why the variability of Tonya's behavior in different situations is not surprising.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tonya demonstrates personality traits at parties with...

Question 15

A person who experiences defensive self-esteem is ________ to demonstrate self-serving bias and is ________ to feel angry when criticized.

Accepted Answer

A person with defensive self-esteem is likely to demonstrate self-serving bias, which means they attribute their successes to internal factors (e.g. their abilities) and their failures to external factors (e.g. bad luck). They are also likely to feel angry when criticized because they are overly invested in maintaining their high self-esteem and view criticism as a threat to their self-worth.

Question 16

Jacinda failed her last history midterm. Which of the following conclusions would be most representative of a self-serving bias on Jacinda's part?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias is a common type of cognitive bias that involves attributing successes to internal or personal factors while attributing failures to external factors. In this case, choice D ("I think the test questions were ambiguous and confusing.") is an example of self-serving bias because Jacinda is attributing her failure not to her own lack of preparation or ability, but to the external factor of the test questions being poorly designed.

Question 17

Psychologist Jean Twenge refers to today's new generation as Generation Me because it expresses more

Accepted Answer

Psychologist Jean Twenge's concept of Generation Me implies that today's new generation is more self-focused and has an inflated sense of self-importance, which can be indicative of narcissistic tendencies.

Question 18

Although Rolf frequently cheats on classroom tests,he justifies his behavior by erroneously thinking that most other students cheat even more than he does. His mistaken belief best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Rolf's justification for his behavior is an example of self-serving bias, which is the tendency to perceive oneself favorably and attribute positive outcomes to internal factors while attributing negative outcomes to external factors. Rolf is essentially putting himself in a positive light by assuming that others cheat more than he does, which supports his belief that he is not a bad or uncommonly dishonest student.

Question 19

Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely than those with low self-esteem to

Accepted Answer

Individuals with high self-esteem have a positive sense of self-worth and are more likely to have confidence in their abilities, leading them to work persistently at difficult tasks. They are also more likely to take credit for their successes and dismiss negative feedback or criticism. Therefore, options B, C, and D are not likely traits of individuals with high self-esteem.

Question 20

In every one of 53 countries surveyed,people typically expressed self-esteem above the midpoint of the most widely used self-esteem scale. This best illustrates the pervasiveness of

Accepted Answer

The statement that people typically expressed self-esteem above the midpoint of the most widely used self-esteem scale suggests that people generally have a positive view of themselves, which is indicative of the self-serving bias. This bias refers to the tendency for people to take credit for positive outcomes while blaming external factors for negative outcomes.

Quiz 9: Behavior and Belief

People are more critical of their selves than of their selves.