Question 1

The purpose of identity protection techniques is to prevent damage or harm to the actor's social identity as perceived by the target or targets.

Accepted Answer

Identity protection techniques aim to prevent harm or damage to the actor's social identity as perceived by others, such as their reputation or personal information.

Question 2

Billy engages in self-handicapping just before taking the same test you are taking now by telling the instructor, "I have a migraine headache today, so I doubt I can show you what I really know."

Accepted Answer

Billy is engaging in self-handicapping by creating an excuse for potentially performing poorly on the test, despite the fact that the excuse has nothing to do with his actual ability to do well on the test.

Question 3

The general purpose of self-handicapping is to assure that a person's poor performance was the cause of failure rather than an external factor.

Accepted Answer

The general purpose of self-handicapping is to create external excuses for potential failure, so that if a person performs poorly, the failure can be attributed to the handicap rather than a lack of ability.

Question 4

Self-handicapping is often used to help the person preserve an image of competence while at the same time drawing sympathy.

Accepted Answer

Self-handicapping is a strategy where individuals create an external explanation or excuse for their potential failure in order to protect their image of competence. By doing so, they gain sympathy and understanding for their shortcomings.

Question 5

The results of an experiment suggested that people of low status are more likely to engage in self-handicapping because they usually suffer from low self-esteem.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The results of an experiment suggested that...

Question 6

Self-handicapping is more likely to take place when the results of a performance will be publicly known, such as the safety performance of a supervisor's group.

Accepted Answer

Self-handicapping is a strategy people use to protect their self-esteem and maintain their self-image by creating excuses for their potential failure before performance takes place. This behavior is more likely to occur when the results of a performance will be publicly known, as it provides an opportunity for the individual to protect their image from potential failure. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 7

Sam attains high status from having been a key designer of Google's website. So when Sam joins a new Internet search firm the group will not expect too much good performance from him during his first year with the company.

Accepted Answer

Sam's previous success at Google suggests that he may have valuable skills and knowledge that could be applied to his new job, making it reasonable for the group to have high expectations for his performance.

Question 8

Individuals with high status within the group are often treated in such a way to facilitate their success, such as being given more opportunities to perform for the group.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the "Matthew Effect" (the rich get richer), where individuals who already have advantages are given additional opportunities to excel, while those without such advantages are further marginalized.

Question 9

Kristina, who has high status based on her education and work history, experiences non- contingent success when she receives a promotion without having done much to deserve it.

Accepted Answer

Non-contingent success refers to success that is not dependent upon one's own efforts, but rather on external factors such as luck or social status. In this case, Kristina's high status based on her education and work history likely played a role in her promotion, making it an example of non-contingent success.

Question 10

Procrastination can be used for self-handicapping because when the person gets bogged down in small tasks that block attaining a key goal, the person can say, "I would have gotten the job done on time if I hadn't gotten sidetracked."

Accepted Answer

Procrastination can be used as a self-handicapping strategy where the person avoids taking action towards a key goal by getting bogged down in small tasks and later uses it as an excuse for not completing the task on time.

Question 11

Perfectionism often backfires as a method of self-handicapping because perfectionists may appear obsessed over details, and they often miss deadlines.

Accepted Answer

Perfectionists often get caught up in details and may postpone submitting work until they feel it is perfect. This can lead to missed deadlines and a reputation for being overly obsessed with details, which can backfire when it comes to self-handicapping strategies.

Question 12

A gender difference noted in self-handicapping is that women engage more frequently in self-handicapping than men.

Accepted Answer

Men are generally found to engage in self-handicapping strategies more frequently than women. This is often attributed to societal and cultural expectations regarding masculinity and the need to maintain a certain image or status.

Question 13

A series of three studies found that women have less tolerance than men for self- handicapping on test performance by both men and women.

Accepted Answer

The studies found that women are less tolerant of self-handicapping on test performance by both men and women compared to men.

Question 14

Damage control is an officially prescribed set of activities for managers and professionals to overcome embarrassing mistakes they have made in dealing with employees and customers.

Accepted Answer

Damage control refers to efforts to minimize or mitigate the negative impacts of a situation, not specifically to prescribed activities for managers to overcome embarrassing mistakes with employees and customers.

Question 15

The simple statement, "I goofed" can be an effective form of damage control.

Accepted Answer

Admitting a mistake and taking responsibility for it can often help to defuse a situation and prevent further damage.

Question 16

Apologizing is a weak approach to impression management by self-protection because the person who apologizes is likely to lose credibility.

Accepted Answer

Apologizing can actually be a strong approach to impression management if done correctly. It can demonstrate accountability and a willingness to make things right. However, insincere or frequent apologies can lead to a loss of credibility. The effectiveness of an apology depends on the situation and the sincerity behind it.

Question 17

According to the self-protection method of accounts, the actor will explain how an inner weakness led him or her to making a mistake or creating another problem.

Accepted Answer

The self-protection method of accounts typically involves the actor explaining their actions by attributing them to external circumstances or pressures, rather than admitting to an inner weakness or personal failing.

Question 18

The perceived sincerity of an excuse contributes to whether or not the excuse will be accepted by others.

Accepted Answer

Perception of sincerity is a key factor in determining whether others will accept an excuse or not. If the excuse is perceived as insincere or dishonest, it is less likely to be accepted.

Question 19

When recovering from a major error on the job, one of the recommended approaches is to find somebody else to blame for what went wrong.

Accepted Answer

Blaming others for one's own mistakes is not a recommended approach in professional settings. Instead, it is important to take ownership of the error, learn from it, and work towards finding solutions to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Question 20

Learning how to manage anger is important in the workplace because outbursts will often damage a person's social identity.

Accepted Answer

Outbursts of anger in the workplace can lead to negative perceptions of a person's emotional intelligence, professionalism, and ability to work well with others, ultimately damaging their social identity and reputation in the workplace. Learning how to manage anger in a constructive way can help prevent these negative consequences.

Quiz 7: Self-Protection Techniques