Social Psychology Quiz Review T3

____ is the field which studies how nature and nurture interact to predict attitudes and behaviors.

• Behavioral genetics

• Attitude psychology

• Prosocial behavior psychology

• Dual attitude approach

Answer explanation

Behavioral genetics is the field that studies how nature and nurture interact to predict attitudes and behaviors, making it the correct choice.

Jonathan grew up in a large family where his father went to work and his mother homeschooled and cared for all of the children. As an adult he now holds the attitude that all women are good at caring for children. Jonathan’s attitude is an example of:

• Impression management

• Self-affirmation theory

• Implicit association

• Cognitive dissonance

Answer explanation

Jonathan's attitude that all women are good at caring for children is an example of implicit association, where he associates women with caregiving based on his upbringing.

Researchers often have difficulty accurately measuring people’s attitudes. To increase accuracy of their data, they will formulate questions in unique ways. For example, instead of asking participants how likely they are to refuse help from a 20-year-old male, they might ask how likely participants are to refuse help from a 20-year-old white male wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. This is an example of:

• Self-perception theory

• Impression management

• The Specificity principle

• Theory of planned behavior

Answer explanation

The Specificity principle involves formulating questions in a detailed and specific manner to increase the accuracy of data collection, as seen in the example provided.

The theory of planned behavior proposes that behaviors are predicted by:

Answer explanation

Behaviors are predicted by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control according to the theory of planned behavior.

Anna believes it makes a big difference for the earth to reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, she often buys bottled water out of convenience even though it makes her feel uncomfortable to support single-use plastics. Anna’s experience is an example of:

• Associative meaning

• Theory of planned behavior

• Need for cognition

• Cognitive dissonance

Answer explanation

Anna's discomfort from buying bottled water despite believing in reducing, reusing, and recycling demonstrates cognitive dissonance, which is the psychological discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors.

The GCU Women’s Soccer team is Sal’s favorite sports team. He never misses a Lopes game and is always in the front row with his team shirt on. In this example, the GCU women’s soccer team is:

• A context variable

• A dual attitude

• An attitude object

• An opinion

Answer explanation

The GCU women’s soccer team is considered an attitude object in this example because it is the target of Sal's positive attitude and behavior.

Characteristics of a speaker, such as credibility or attractiveness, can make a message more or less persuasive. ______ refers to who is giving the persuasive message.

• Recipient variable

• Context variable

• Message variable

• Source variable

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Source variable' as it refers to who is giving the persuasive message, which includes characteristics like credibility or attractiveness.

______ refers to the content of the message. Factors include personal importance and framing.

• Recipient variable

• Context variable

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Context variable' as it refers to the content of the message, influenced by personal importance and framing.

________ refers to the audience the message is meant for.

• Recipient variable

• Context variable

• Message variable

• Source variable

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Recipient variable' as it refers to the audience the message is meant for.

Distractions, forewarning, and repetition are all examples of factors affecting a ________.

• Recipient variable

• Context variable

• Message variable

• Source variable

Answer explanation

Distractions, forewarning, and repetition are all examples of factors that are part of the context variable, which influences how a message is received and understood.