AP Psychology Unit 4: Attribution Theory and Perception Quiz

What is the primary focus of attribution theory?

• Explaining the causes of behaviors

• Predicting future behaviors

• Assessing personality traits

• Measuring intelligence

Which bias involves attributing our own actions to situational factors but others' actions to dispositional factors?

• Self-serving bias

• Actor-observer bias

• Fundamental attribution error

• Confirmation bias

What is the fundamental attribution error?

• Overemphasizing situational factors for others

• Underestimating internal factors for oneself

• Underestimating external factors for oneself

• Overemphasizing internal factors for others

How does an optimistic explanatory style interpret negative events?

• As temporary and external

• As permanent and internal

• As temporary and internal

• As permanent and external

What is a characteristic of a person with an internal locus of control?

• Believing outcomes are due to luck

• Feeling powerless to change events

• Relying on others for success

• Taking responsibility for their actions

Which effect explains why repeated exposure to a stimulus can increase our liking for it?

• Recency effect

• Placebo effect

• Mere exposure effect

• Halo effect

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

• An expectation that has no impact on behavior

• A random occurrence with no explanation

• A prediction that never comes true

• A belief that leads to its own fulfillment

How does upward social comparison affect individuals?

• It has no impact on self-perception

• It can motivate or discourage depending on the perceived gap

• It leads to feelings of superiority

• It always boosts self-esteem

What is relative deprivation?

• Experiencing a lack of basic needs

• Feeling worse off compared to others

• Achieving more than expected

• Feeling satisfied with one's resources

Which type of social comparison involves comparing oneself to someone perceived as worse off?

• Lateral comparison

• Downward comparison

• Internal comparison

• Upward comparison