A selection committee was interviewing applicants for a new position in the media department of the college.The psychologist on the committee found it very interesting that a majority of the committee believed that the applicant who was a former beauty queen was the most intelligent, likeable, and socially skilled of all the applicants, although two of the other candidates had considerably more education and experience with college publications.The majority of the committee is exhibiting
A) the fundamental attributional error.
B) the halo effect.
C) the social exchange theory.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The majority of the committee is exhibiting the halo effect, which is the tendency to let an overall positive impression of a person affect our judgment of their specific traits. In this case, the committee members see the former beauty queen as socially skilled and likeable, and that positive impression overshadows the fact that other candidates may have more education and experience.

A Selection Committee Was Interviewing Applicants for a New Position