Question 1

Observers tend to attribute actors' behaviour to ____ factors and actors tend to attribute their own behaviour to ____ factors.

Accepted Answer

Observers often attribute the behavior of others to internal or personal factors (a phenomenon known as the fundamental attribution error), while actors (those engaging in the behavior) are more likely to attribute their own behavior to external or situational factors.

Question 2

Sally and Neil have been married for 15 years. They have an extremely warm and trusting relationship, and even though Neil frequently travels on business, Sally never worries about him seeing other women. According to Hatfield and Berscheid, Sally and Neil share

Accepted Answer

Sally and Neil's relationship is characterized by warmth and trust, suggesting a strong emotional bond that has developed over time. This type of love is referred to as companionate love, which is based on mutual respect, affection, and a deep commitment to one another. Reciprocal love refers to a situation where both partners experience the same level of passionate love for each other, while consummate love involves the presence of all three components of love (passion, intimacy, and commitment) in a relationship. While Sally and Neil likely experience some passion and commitment in their relationship, the emphasis on trust and emotional closeness suggests that they have primarily developed companionate love over the course of their 15-year marriage.

Question 3

Whenever Sipho sees Dalene he can feel his heart start to pound with excitement. Even though Sipho and Dalene have only dated a few times, Scott often becomes jealous when Dalene talks to other men. He also finds he can't get her out of his mind when they are apart. According to Hatfield and Berscheid, Sipho is experiencing

Accepted Answer

Sipho's intense feelings of excitement, jealousy, and obsession with Dalene are typical of the experience of passionate love according to Hatfield and Berscheid's model of love. This type of love is characterized by strong emotional and physical arousal, an intense desire and longing for the other person, and a fear of rejection or separation. These feelings are often more intense in the early stages of a relationship and can gradually evolve into companionate love over time.

Question 4

Putting personal goals ahead of group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The behavior described in the question is indicative of individualism, where an individual places more importance on their own personal goals and attributes rather than the goals and identity of a group.

Question 5

What is the main reason we tend to make attributions about the causes of events, others' behaviour and our own behaviour?

Accepted Answer

We have a natural inclination to understand and make sense of our experiences, including the behaviour of others and ourselves. This enables us to better navigate our social interactions and environments.

Question 6

In the research on romantic attraction which of the following did researchers discover to be the key determinant of a person's initial attraction to someone else?

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that physical attractiveness is the key determinant of a person's initial attraction to someone else. While similarity, reciprocity, and attributional style may be important factors in developing and maintaining a relationship, physical attractiveness is the primary factor that initially draws people to one another.

Question 7

You are likely to attribute your own failing grade on a test to ____; your roommate is more likely to attribute your failing grade to ____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the actor-observer bias, where the actor (you) attributes their actions to situational factors (an unfair test), while the observer (your roommate) attributes the actor's actions to dispositional factors (your poor study habits).

Question 8

Compared with attractive people, less attractive people

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that less attractive individuals may place less emphasis on physical appearance in themselves and others. They also tend to more frequently choose partners who are similarly less attractive rather than pursuing those who are much more attractive.

Question 9

The tendency to attribute other people's behaviour to internal factors and our own behaviour to situational influences is known as

Accepted Answer

The actor-observer bias describes the tendency to attribute other people's actions to their character or personality (internal factors) while attributing our own actions to the situation or environment (external factors). This bias highlights a difference in how we explain behaviors depending on whether we are the actor or the observer.

Question 10

An actor tends to attribute the cause of his behaviours differently than observers, in large part, because an actor has

Accepted Answer

Actors have more knowledge concerning situational factors as they are directly experiencing the situation and have access to information that observers might not have. Observers are typically more externally focused and may not be aware of all the situational factors that influenced the actor's behavior.

Question 11

The idea that males and females of approximately equal physical attractiveness are likely to select each other as partners refers to the

Accepted Answer

The matching hypothesis proposes that people choose partners who are similar in physical attractiveness to themselves. This theory suggests that individuals of equal physical attractiveness are more likely to select each other as partners, therefore A is the correct choice. The propinquity hypothesis refers to the idea that people are more likely to form relationships with those who are in close proximity to them. The attitude-behaviour consistency principle suggests that people are more likely to engage in behaviors that are consistent with their attitudes. The attributional outcome principle refers to the tendency to make causal attributions based on the outcomes of a situation.

Question 12

When Darren's classmate earns a "D" on an essay for their history class, Darren figures the classmate is unmotivated and should have spent more time working on the paper and less time socialising. The classmate is disappointed with her grade, but she knows she didn't have much time to work on the essay because she had to work double-shifts the entire week before the paper was due. The different attributions for the low grade on the essay illustrate

Accepted Answer

The actor-observer bias is illustrated here, as Darren (the observer) attributes his classmate's poor performance to dispositional factors (lack of motivation), while the classmate (the actor) attributes her performance to situational factors (having to work double shifts).

Question 13

Steve and Stacey have been a couple for several years. Their love is characterised by warm feelings and affection. They enjoy spending time together and describe themselves as lovers and friends. Steve and Stacey's love is best described as

Accepted Answer

Steve and Stacey's relationship is characterized by warmth, affection, and a strong friendship. This type of love is best described as companionate love, which is often seen in long-term relationships where partners have a deep level of emotional intimacy and mutual respect. While they may not experience the intense passion of early-stage relationships, their love has matured into a stable, supportive bond.

Question 14

Putting group goals ahead of personal goals and defining one's identity in terms of the group is called

Accepted Answer

Collectivism is a cultural value that emphasizes the importance of putting the goals and needs of the group ahead of one's own personal goals and needs. In collectivist cultures, individuals often define their identity in terms of their membership in a group, such as a family or community. Functionalism is a theoretical approach in sociology that focuses on how social structures and institutions function to maintain stability in society. Individualism, on the other hand, is a cultural value that emphasizes the importance of personal autonomy and independence. Attributionism is not a recognized term in psychology or sociology.

Question 15

Although physical attractiveness strongly influences interpersonal attraction, many individuals of average and below average attractiveness are involved in long-term relationships. This apparent paradox is BEST explained by the

Accepted Answer

The matching hypothesis suggests that people are attracted to others who are similar in attractiveness level. Therefore, individuals of average or below average attractiveness may be in long-term relationships with partners who are also of similar attractiveness level.

Question 16

Romantic relationships characterised by a couple's complete absorption in one another, and that include strong emotions and tender sexual feelings are termed

Accepted Answer

Passionate love is characterised by intense emotions, strong sexual feelings, and complete absorption in one another. This type of love is usually experienced at the beginning of a relationship when the couple is still getting to know each other and the relationship is new and exciting.

Question 17

Joe has been calling Jade each evening and talking with her every day at lunch, but now he is deeply despondent because she is out of town. Joe is in the throes of

Accepted Answer

Joe's behavior of calling Jade every evening and talking with her every day at lunch suggests that he is experiencing passionate love, which is characterized by intense emotional and physical longing for the other person. His current despondency in her absence further supports this idea. Companionate love, communal love, and sexual infatuation are not consistent with Joe's behavior or emotional state.

Question 18

Cross-cultural studies on mate preferences find that people all over the world value all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural studies on mate preferences find that people all over the world value kindness, intelligence, and good health when choosing a partner. However, passion may not always be a valued trait in some cultures, as it can be seen as impulsive or irresponsible. Therefore, the correct answer is D, passion.

Question 19

Actors and observers tend to give different explanations for the same instance of behaviour because

Accepted Answer

Situational pressures such as external factors or personal circumstances that may have influenced the behavior may not be readily apparent to an observer, leading to different explanations being given by actors and observers.

Question 20

Similarity of personal characteristics is influential in

Accepted Answer

Similarity of personal characteristics has been found to be influential in both romantic relationships and friendships. Research has shown that individuals tend to prefer and seek out relationships with others who share similar values, interests, attitudes, and personality traits. This similarity leads to greater levels of attraction, satisfaction, and long-term success in the relationship.

Quiz 13: Social Psychology

Observers tend to attribute actors' behaviour to factors and actors tend to attribute their own behaviour to factors.