Social Psychology Test 2 Content

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following factors can influence social perception?

Family origin and experiences (correct)

Weather conditions

Social media presence

Global economic trends

What role do nonverbal cues play in perceptions of others?

They provide no significant information about individuals.

They can often alter the perception based on context. (correct)

They are less important than verbal communication.

They are only relevant in professional settings.

How can first impressions be misleading?

They cannot be changed over time.

They are always based on accurate information.

They rely solely on verbal communication.

They may be based on superficial characteristics. (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a form of nonverbal communication?

Written messages Signup and view all the answers

How do environmental cues impact perceptions?

They can enhance or distort the message received. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does attribution theory focus on in social psychology?

How individuals interpret the causes of behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason nonverbal communication can convey more than verbal communication?

Tone can change the meaning of spoken words. Signup and view all the answers

In social psychology, how are perceptions described?

Subjective and varying among individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the actor-observer bias?

The tendency to attribute our own actions to external factors and others' actions to their personality. Signup and view all the answers

In Kelly's Covariation Model, which factor indicates that an individual's behavior is consistent across similar situations?

Consistency Signup and view all the answers

Which situation would suggest a dispositional attribution according to Kelly's Covariation Model?

The individual consistently behaves the same way across situations. Signup and view all the answers

According to the actor-observer bias, how do individuals typically view their own behaviors?

As reliant on external situational factors. Signup and view all the answers

What does high consensus indicate in Kelly's Covariation Model?

Other people behave similarly in the same situation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of mirror neurons in communication?

They allow us to connect by mimicking expressions and emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the six basic facial expressions?

Guilt Signup and view all the answers

How does yawning function in terms of non-verbal communication?

It can show emotional connection and is contagious. Signup and view all the answers

Which pair indicates a complex emotional blend in facial expressions?

Angry eyes with a smile Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about sarcasm?

Only tone of voice changes its meaning. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes universal facial expressions?

They convey emotions that are understood regardless of language. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of complex emotional blends?

They can convey mixed messages. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about non-verbal communication is true?

It can convey messages without using words. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Fundamental Attribution Error?

The tendency to consider only personal traits when judging behavior. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of aggressive driving, what do observers typically assume?

Aggressive driving is a result of the driver's personality. Signup and view all the answers

How does personal mood affect attributions?

Mood can influence whether attributions are positive or negative. Signup and view all the answers

What might a customer assume when a waitress appears unhappy?

The waitress is inherently rude. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ice cream example illustrate about relationship satisfaction?

Satisfaction influences how actions are attributed to thoughtfulness or ulterior motives. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when someone becomes irritable after drinking coffee?

They attribute their irritability to the person they are speaking with. Signup and view all the answers

What do people commonly neglect when making attributions about others' behavior?

The external factors influencing behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Why might a partner suspect ulterior motives after receiving ice cream?

They are dissatisfied in their relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the Fundamental Attribution Error in the workplace?

Assuming a colleague is bad at their job due to one poor performance. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the act of attributing others' actions to their intrinsic qualities while ignoring context?

Dispositional Attribution. Signup and view all the answers

What do display rules dictate?

The emotions that are acceptable to express in different social contexts. Signup and view all the answers

Why can cultural misunderstandings occur in communication?

Because display rules vary significantly between different cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of how gestures can differ in meaning across cultures?

The okay symbol can be seen as vulgar in certain countries. Signup and view all the answers

What does Implicit Personality Theory suggest?

People base their perceptions on limited information, often leading to stereotypes. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the type of attributions according to Attribution Theory?

Internal attributions concern personal traits while external attributions concern situational factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an effect of cultural display rules?

They are universally applicable across all cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the assumptions made based on Implicit Personality Theory?

This can lead to reinforcing negative stereotypes. Signup and view all the answers

How do schemas affect our perceptions of others?

They help organize knowledge but can lead to incorrect assumptions. Signup and view all the answers

What might an individual in the U.S. assume about an attractive person based on their appearance?

They are likely to possess positive traits like kindness and intelligence. Signup and view all the answers

What might be an internal attribution for someone's behavior according to Attribution Theory?

They are inherently a rude person. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Perceptions are formed through personal experiences and familial influences.
Social psychology studies group interactions and subjective judgments, recognizing wide variability in perceptions.
An exercise involving a gentleman's appearance challenged students' assumptions about education and profession, emphasizing the fallibility of first impressions.

Nonverbal Communication and Perceptions

Nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language, heavily influence perceptions of others.
First impressions frequently rely on nonverbal communication, which can be misleading.
Environmental and prior learnings impact how nonverbal cues are interpreted.

Non-Verbal Communication

Encompasses facial expressions, postures, tone of voice, and body language, often conveying deeper meanings than spoken words.
Sarcasm illustrates how tone can alter interpretation of verbal messages, influencing listener understanding.

Mirror Neurons and Empathy

Mirror neurons facilitate emotional connection by enabling mimicking of facial expressions and emotions.
Contagious cues, such as yawning, indicate emotional bonds, stronger among close individuals.

Universal Facial Expressions

Six basic facial expressions are universally acknowledged: anger, disgust, sadness, happiness, surprise, and fear.
Expressions convey emotions across cultures, but complex emotions like guilt might not have universal recognition.

Display Rules and Cultural Differences

Display rules dictate culturally specific norms for emotional expression, learned through socialization.
These rules vary across cultures, affecting how emotions are exhibited (e.g., men may be socialized against crying).
Gestures can hold different meanings globally; for instance, the “okay” symbol is positive in the U.S. but offensive in Australia.

Implicit Personality Theory

Refers to assumptions made about others based on minimal information, typically leading to stereotypes.
Attractive individuals are often assumed to possess positive traits based solely on appearance, revealing the influence of schemas on perceptions.

Attribution Theory

Investigates how people explain behaviors and events, distinguishing between internal (personality) and external (situational) attributions.
The Fundamental Attribution Error occurs when behavior is over-attributed to personality, neglecting situational influences.

Traffic Behavior Attribution

People observing aggressive driving often ascribe it to the driver's character, overlooking factors like traffic conditions.

Fundamental Attribution Error

This error shows the tendency to misinterpret others' behavior based strictly on presumed disposition and ignore situational contexts.
Mood influences attributions; positive moods lead to favorable judgments, whereas negative moods can result in harsher evaluations.

Actor-Observer Bias

A cognitive bias where individuals attribute their own actions to external factors while ascribing others' behaviors to personality traits.
Understanding the dynamics of actor (performer), observer (watcher), and target (recipient) helps clarify these attributions.

Kelly's Covariation Model

A model aiding in behavior attribution by examining consistency, distinctiveness, and consensus.
Consistent behavior suggests a dispositional attribution; distinctive behavior indicates situational causes.
High consensus among observers points to external factors, while low consensus implies internal traits.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the key concepts from the Social Psychology lecture, covering slides 1-27. Students will explore topics such as social perception, nonverbal communication, and attribution theory, enhancing their understanding of how perceptions are formed in social contexts.