Suppose that Sipho has just asked Phindi whether she would like to study with him for an upcoming English exam.Phindi is struggling in the class, and she knows that Sipho is an excellent English student, so she enthusiastically agrees.Meanwhile, Sipho interprets her enthusiasm as a sign that she might have a crush on him, and he therefore suggests that the two of them grab a bite to eat together before studying; 'Phindi is very attractive,' he thinks to himself, 'so why not?' Phindi , meanwhile, who is completely clueless about what is on Sipho's mind, muses to herself, 'Well, that is so nice of him to think that I might be hungry; what a nice study partner!' The fact that Sipho and Phindi interpret things so differently here is most consistent with ____.
A)error management theory
B)self-determination theory
C)reactance theory
D)risk aversion theory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Error management theory suggests that individuals make cognitive errors due to evolutionary adaptations that helped them prioritize certain types of information over others in order to enhance survival and reproduction. In this scenario, Sipho's interpretation of Phindi's enthusiasm may be a cognitive error resulting from his evolved bias towards interpreting positive signals from potential mates. On the other hand, Phindi's interpretation may be a result of her bias towards seeing others in a positive light in order to maintain social harmony and cohesion.

Suppose That Sipho Has Just Asked Phindi Whether She Would