Social Cognition: Understanding How We Think About and Interact with Others

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a key aspect of social cognition, as defined in the provided unit description?

Accepted Answer

Relating to one's own self

Answer

Thinking about others

Answer

Influencing others

Answer

Interacting with others

Question 2

Which cognitive shortcut involves creating generalizations about individuals based on their membership in a particular group?

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Priming

Answer

Heuristics

Answer

Framing

Question 3

The process of assigning causes to our own and others' behavior is known as:

Accepted Answer

Attribution

Answer

Perception

Answer

Persuasion

Answer

Social comparison

Question 4

Which theory suggests that we tend to attribute our own successes to internal factors and our failures to external factors?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Actor-observer bias

Answer

Halo effect

Question 5

The process of using information about others to make inferences about ourselves is called:

Accepted Answer

Social comparison

Answer

Projection

Answer

Self-categorization

Answer

Impression formation

Question 6

According to the fundamental attribution error, people tend to:

Accepted Answer

Overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors in explaining others' behavior.

Answer

Overestimate situational factors and underestimate dispositional factors in explaining others' behavior.

Answer

Accurately judge the relative importance of situational and dispositional factors.

Answer

Ignore the role of both situational and dispositional factors in explaining others' behavior.

Question 7

The process by which individuals form impressions of others based on limited cues is known as:

Accepted Answer

Impression formation

Answer

Priming

Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Social facilitation

Question 8

Which of the following is an effective strategy for reducing the influence of cognitive biases?

Accepted Answer

Being aware of one's own biases

Answer

Seeking out information that confirms one's existing beliefs

Answer

Ignoring any information that does not fit with one's expectations

Answer

Minimizing contact with people who hold different views

Question 9

According to the social identity theory, individuals:

Accepted Answer

Identify with groups that they perceive as similar to themselves.

Answer

Seek out groups that they perceive as superior to their own.

Answer

Avoid groups that they perceive as different from themselves.

Answer

Define themselves solely based on their individual characteristics.

Question 10

The tendency to prefer information that confirms one's existing beliefs is known as:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Negativity bias

Answer

Self-serving bias

Question 11

Which of the following is a major area of research in social cognition?

Accepted Answer

Social influence

Answer

Attachment styles

Answer

Cognitive development

Answer

Emotion regulation

Question 12

Which of the following is a fundamental cognitive process involved in understanding and interacting with others?

Accepted Answer

Perception

Answer

Emotion

Answer

Personality

Answer

Intelligence

Question 13

In the persuasion technique called 'foot-in-the-door', individuals are more likely to comply with a larger request after first agreeing to a smaller one. This illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Foot-in-the-door effect

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Door-in-the-face effect

Answer

Lowball technique

Question 14

The tendency to perceive others in a way that reflects our own beliefs and experiences is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Projection

Answer

Transference

Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Priming

Question 15

Which of the following is a type of social norm that outlines appropriate behaviors for specific situations?

Accepted Answer

Scripts

Answer

Values

Answer

Attitudes

Answer

Roles

Question 16

The process of interpreting others' behavior by inferring their underlying causes is known as:

Accepted Answer

Attribution

Answer

Perception

Answer

Empathy

Answer

Stereotyping

Question 17

The tendency to attribute our own successes to internal factors and our failures to external factors is an example of which cognitive bias?

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Question 18

Which of the following is a technique used to influence others' behavior or attitudes through verbal communication?

Accepted Answer

Persuasion

Answer

Priming

Answer

Compliance

Answer

Social influence

Question 19

The tendency to adjust our behavior in accordance with group norms is known as:

Accepted Answer

Social conformity

Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Social loafing

Answer

Groupthink

Question 20

The process of interpreting others' behavior by inferring their underlying intentions is known as:

Accepted Answer

Attribution

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Question 21

The tendency for individuals to perceive themselves more positively than others is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Illusory correlation

Question 22

The cognitive process that drives individuals to reduce inconsistency between their beliefs and behaviors is known as:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Social comparison

Answer

Self-presentation

Answer

Attitude inoculation

Question 23

Which theory proposes that individuals engage in social comparisons to enhance their self-esteem and sense of identity?

Accepted Answer

Social comparison theory

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Self-determination theory

Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Question 24

According to social identity theory, an individual's self-concept is influenced by:

Accepted Answer

Their perception of their similarities and differences in relation to others

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Cultural norms

Answer

Self-serving biases

Question 25

The process of influencing the beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors of others is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Persuasion

Answer

Social comparison

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Attribution

Question 26

The tendency to seek and interpret information in a way that confirms one's existing beliefs is known as:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Illusory correlation

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Self-serving bias

Question 27

Which research finding contradicts traditional beliefs about the causes of aggression?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive processes, like making hostile attributions, can contribute to aggression.

Answer

Poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage are the primary causes of aggression.

Answer

Violent media has no impact on aggressive behavior.

Answer

Frustration alone can trigger aggression without any other factors.

Question 28

According to attribution theory, when people observe a behavior, they first consider:

Accepted Answer

Both internal and external factors

Answer

Internal factors only

Answer

External factors only

Answer

Neither internal nor external factors

Question 29

The process by which people attempt to influence the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors of others is called:

Accepted Answer

Persuasion

Answer

Conformity

Answer

Obedience

Answer

Compliance

Question 30

The tendency to perceive others' behavior as primarily influenced by internal factors is known as:

Accepted Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Actor-observer effect

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Illusory transparency

Question 31

The tendency to conform to group norms even when one's own beliefs differ is most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Normative influence

Answer

Informational influence

Answer

Obedience to authority

Answer

Fear of punishment

Question 32

When we assume that a stranger's behavior is primarily due to their personality, rather than their current situation, we are exhibiting:

Accepted Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Actor-observer bias

Answer

Halo effect

Question 33

Which persuasive technique involves using a well-known person to endorse a product or service?

Accepted Answer

Celebrity endorsement

Answer

Social proof

Answer

Reciprocity

Answer

Scarcity

Question 34

The ability to comprehend and interpret the thoughts and feelings of others is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Theory of mind

Answer

Empathy

Answer

Attribution

Answer

Social categorization

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of social categorization?

Accepted Answer

Facilitates positive social interactions

Answer

Creates in-groups and out-groups

Answer

Simplifies information about others

Answer

Reduces cognitive load

Question 36

The tendency to explain our own behavior by external factors while attributing others' behavior to internal factors is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Actor-observer bias

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Confirmation bias

Question 37

Which of the following is a mental shortcut used to make quick decisions?

Accepted Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Means-ends analysis

Answer

Cost-benefit analysis

Answer

Rational decision-making

Question 38

The tendency to selectively recall information that aligns with our existing beliefs is called:

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Recency effect

Answer

Primacy effect

Answer

Availability heuristic

Question 39

The tendency to perceive others as being more similar to ourselves than they actually are is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Projection bias

Answer

Halo effect

Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Question 40

Which of the following is a fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

Attributing others' behavior to internal factors, even when external factors are present

Answer

Attributing others' behavior to their personality, rather than to situational factors

Answer

Considering our own role in shaping others' behavior

Answer

Assuming that our own thoughts and feelings are representative of others'

Question 41

The process of forming impressions of others based on their physical appearance and behavior is known as:

Accepted Answer

Thin-slicing

Answer

Heuristics

Answer

Priming

Answer

Stereotyping

Question 42

Which of the following is a cognitive bias that leads us to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Belief perseverance

Answer

Hindsight bias

Question 43

Which of the following is a type of persuasion that relies on logical appeals and evidence?

Accepted Answer

Central route persuasion

Answer

Peripheral route persuasion

Answer

Elaboration likelihood model

Answer

Heuristic-systematic model

Question 44

The process of understanding and responding to others' emotional states is known as:

Accepted Answer

Empathy

Answer

Emotional intelligence

Answer

Mind-reading

Answer

Social facilitation

Question 45

The tendency to conform to group norms is known as:

Accepted Answer

Conformity

Answer

In-group favoritism

Answer

Social identity theory

Answer

Groupthink

Question 46

Who proposed the Two-Factor Theory of Emotion?

Accepted Answer

Stanley Schachter

Answer

Stanley Milgram

Answer

Leon Festinger

Answer

Carl Rogers

Question 47

What is the term for the tendency to perceive others in terms of stereotypes?

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism

Answer

Ingroup bias

Answer

Outgroup homogeneity

Answer

Halo effect

Question 48

Which of the following describes the Cognitive Dissonance Theory?

Accepted Answer

The unpleasant feeling that arises when people hold two or more contradictory beliefs

Answer

The tendency to conform to social norms even when we don't agree with them

Answer

The belief that our own behavior is always better than the behavior of others

Answer

The tendency to attribute our behavior to internal factors and others' behavior to external factors

Question 49

What is the primary function of the amygdala?

Accepted Answer

Emotional processing and memory

Answer

Regulation of body temperature

Answer

Hormonal regulation

Answer

Processing of sensory information

Question 50

Which of the following is an example of a prosocial behavior?

Accepted Answer

Helping someone in need

Answer

Cheating on a test

Answer

Lying to someone

Answer

Gossiping about someone

Question 51

What is the term for the process of changing one's attitudes and behaviors to fit in with a group?

Accepted Answer

Socialization

Answer

Social facilitation

Answer

Social loafing

Answer

Persuasion

Question 52

Which of the following is a central element of social cognition?

Accepted Answer

Comprehending social situations

Answer

Making decisions

Answer

Solving math problems

Answer

Understanding language structure

Question 53

The bias that leads people to attribute their successes to internal factors, such as skill or effort, and their failures to external factors, such as bad luck or unfair treatment, is called:

Accepted Answer

Self-serving bias

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Ingroup bias

Question 54

The process of creating a general impression of an individual based on limited information is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping

Answer

Profiling

Answer

Prejudice

Answer

Implicit cognition

Question 55

Which of the following is a characteristic of implicit attitudes?

Accepted Answer

They are effortlessly and automatically activated

Answer

They are easily changed through conscious effort

Answer

They are directly accessible to conscious awareness

Answer

They are acquired through personal experiences