Module 74

Claire has had several car accidents that she blames on other drivers. When her boyfriend has an accident, she is quick to blame his carelessness behind the wheel. Claire's difference in blame is due to

• peripheral route persuasion.

• cognitive dissonance.

• the fundamental attribution error.

• the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

• central route persuasion.

A feeling, often influenced by a belief, that predisposes one to respond in a particular way to people and events is known as

• central route persuasion.

• a role.

• social psychology.

• the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

• an attitude.

The discomfort we feel when our attitudes are not in line with our actions is called

• cognitive dissonance.

• the power of the situation.

• the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

• role playing.

• the fundamental attribution error.

Rhonda has just learned that her neighbor Patricia was involved in an automobile accident at a nearby intersection. The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error may lead Rhonda to conclude:

• “Patricia's recklessness has finally gotten her into trouble.”

• “Patricia's brakes must have failed.”

• “They need to improve the visibility at that corner.”

• “Patricia's children probably distracted her.”

• “The road must have been wet and slippery.”

Which branch of psychology is most directly concerned with the study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another?

• developmental psychology

• social psychology

• personality psychology

• experimental psychology

• clinical psychology

How does our explanation of strangers' behavior differ from that of our own behavior?

• We explain strangers' behavior in terms of informational influence and our own behavior in terms of normative influence.

• We explain strangers' behavior in terms of situational constraints and our own behavior in terms of personality traits.

• We explain strangers' behavior in terms of environmental influences and our own behavior in terms of hereditary influences.

• We explain strangers' behavior in terms of normative influence and our own behavior in terms of informational influence.

• We explain strangers' behavior in terms of personality traits and our own behavior in terms of situational constraints.

Opinion change resulting from incidental cues such as a speaker's attractiveness illustrates

• informational social influence.

• peripheral route persuasion.

• superordinate goals.

• social facilitation.

• central route persuasion.

After they had first agreed to display a 3-inch “Be a Safe Driver” sign, California home owners were highly likely to permit the installation of a very large and unattractive “Drive Carefully” sign in their front yards. This best illustrates

• the mere exposure effect.

• the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.

• the fundamental attribution error.

• social facilitation.

• deindividuation.

Opinion change resulting from a thoughtful focus on the content of arguments illustrates

• central route persuasion.

• normative social influence.

• social facilitation.

• cognitive dissonance.

• peripheral route persuasion.

The participants in Philip Zimbardo's simulated prison study

• were assigned the roles of prisoner or guard on the basis of their personality test scores.

• found it very difficult to play the role of prison guard.

• were so endangered by their role-playing experience that the study was discontinued.

• became a cohesive unit when they pursued superordinate goals.

• were selectively chosen in order to maximize their effectiveness as prisoners or guards.