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Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Individuals tend to judge and perceive themselves:
a.
more honestly than others.
b.
more positively than others.
c.
about the same as others.
d.
more critically than others.
2. At a party your friend got drunk. You later explain that he was stressed out from a recent breakup. What type
of attribution are you making?
a.
fundamental attribution error
b.
faulty attribution
c.
internal attribution
d.
external attribution
3. Which of these is an active strategy for reducing uncertainty regarding a person’s behavior?
a.
observing the person
b.
asking questions of the person
c.
disclosing personal information to the person
d.
questioning someone else who knows the person
4. Wade is highly organized at work and keeps detailed to-do lists on his smartphone. He is never late. What
personality trait does Wade display a high level of?
a.
neuroticism
b.
extraversion
c.
conscientiousness
d.
openness
5. When we perceive and judge our own behavior, we often use the:
a.
fundamental attribution error.
b.
actor-observer effect.
c.
self-serving bias.
d.
Both B and C are correct.
6. Which of these is NOT part of the interpretation phase of the perception process?
a.
salience
b.
schemata
c.
attributions
d.
self-serving bias
7. According to Uncertainty Reduction Theory, which of these is a primary goal of initial interaction?
a.
accept uncertainty
b.
explain perception
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c.
predict behavior
d.
reduce anxiety
8. Perception is a sense-making process in which individuals actively manage information and stimuli by
selecting, organizing, and interpreting information from their environment.
a.
True
b.
False
9. Tomas is often on an emotional roller coaster, and his partner is never sure what mood he is going to be in.
Tomas is both insecure and overly emotional. What personality trait does Tomas display a high level of?
a.
openness
b.
neuroticism
c.
conscientiousness
d.
agreeableness
10. If you ignore the positive or good in someone that you do not like, you are demonstrating the horn effect.
a.
True
b.
False
11. When we pay attention to specific stimuli or information in our environments while simultaneously ignoring
other stimuli, we are engaging in the selection process of perception.
a.
True
b.
False
12. When we categorize people as a group based upon our own schemata while simultaneously ignoring
individual differences, what perceptual process are we illustrating?
a.
self-serving bias
b.
punctuation
c.
stereotyping
d.
algebraic impressions
13. Because of human limitations on processing information, we engage in the selection process of perception
by focusing our attention on specific stimuli while ignoring others.
a.
True
b.
False
14. According to Uncertainty Reduction Theory, people have a basic need to reduce uncertainty in initial
interactions and to increase their ability to explain and predict the behavior of others.
a.
True
b.
False
15. Which of these play(s) an important role in forming Gestalts?
a.
schemata
b.
attributions
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c.
salience
d.
punctuation
16. Chris’s friend Beth had a miscarriage, so he rushes over to her apartment to offer her comfort and
consolation. Chris is displaying:
a.
empathy.
b.
supportiveness.
c.
self-serving bias.
d.
selflessness.
17. According to researchers, gender’s impact on nonverbal communication accounts for only 1 percent of
behavioral differences between women and men.
a.
True
b.
False
18. What process is involved when we direct our attention to specific stimuli while ignoring other stimuli?
a.
perception
b.
perceptual loss
c.
selection
d.
punctuation
19. Leslie likes Jon because he has an extraverted, engaging, and humorous personality. When Leslie’s friend
tells her that Jon can be very impatient and demonstrates road rage on a daily basis, Leslie refuses to believe
her. What perceptual problem is Leslie demonstrating?
a.
fundamental attribution error
b.
halo effect
c.
actor-observer effect
d.
horn effect
20. Characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and acting constitute:
a.
an interpersonal impression.
b.
implicit personality theory.
c.
an algebraic impression.
d.
personality.
21. A husband and wife are having dinner at a restaurant when the wife accuses her husband of paying too
much attention to their server. The husband claims he was just returning her eye contact and smile. Which
process in the organizational stage of perception have the husband and wife engaged in differently?
a.
salience
b.
punctuation
c.
selection
d.
uncertainty reduction
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22. Which of these sentences BEST demonstrates empathic concern?
a.
I’d love to get your thoughts on this.
b.
I know just how you feel.
c.
I hope you’re doing okay.
d.
Seeing it from your side makes a lot of sense.
23. The human tendency to credit ourselves, not the environment or external causes, for our successful behavior
is called a self-serving bias.
a.
True
b.
False
24. If Marcus won a bet by predicting the point spread for the Super Bowl and claims it was due to his
understanding of probability and statistics, what attribution is he making?
a.
fundamental attribution error
b.
external attribution
c.
self-serving bias
d.
actor-observer effect
25. Which of these is NOT a characteristic of salient communication?
a.
It is visually and audibly stimulating.
b.
It is consistent with our goals and is seen as important.
c.
It deviates from our expectations.
d.
It is predictable.
26. If Joanna attributes negative outcomes to external sources while simultaneously attributing positive
outcomes to her own internal or personal characteristics, she is demonstrating a self-serving bias.
a.
True
b.
False
27. Which of these is NOT one of the major influences on the perception process?
a.
culture
b.
negativity
c.
personality
d.
gender
28. Using “I know” messages is an effective way to demonstrate empathy toward our relational partners.
a.
True
b.
False
29. An attribution is our way of explaining other people’s responses and behaviors toward us.
a.
True
b.
False
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30. Ellen communicates well with her partner Carmen. When they experience miscommunication, Ellen is able
to ask her partner questions to clarify her understanding. Ellen is demonstrating what perceptual skill in her
relationship?
a.
positivity bias
b.
salience
c.
perception-checking
d.
empathy
31. If a person is able to view something from another’s perspective, he or she is offering empathy.
a.
True
b.
False
32. Empathy consists of perspective-taking and empathic concern.
a.
True
b.
False
33. We tend to pay more attention to positive than to negative characteristics of others.
a.
True
b.
False
34. Paul thinks that Professor Lee is a poor instructor and finds her class too challenging. After spending hours
revising a paper, he tells a friend that the class requires too much time. What perceptual process is affecting
Paul?
a.
horn effect
b.
halo effect
c.
actor-observer effect
d.
consistency effect
35. If your girlfriend says she goes to the gym after work because you are never home and you go out for drinks
after work because she is working out, then your difference in perception is due to:
a.
punctuation.
b.
stereotyping.
c.
fundamental attribution error.
d.
negativity effect.
36. Many factors influence the selection stage of the perception process. Which of these is NOT one of these
factors?
a.
salience
b.
communication that deviates from our expectations
c.
communication that is viewed as important
d.
punctuation
37. When we perceive others as outgroupers, we are more likely to:
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a.
feel more connected to them.
b.
give them more resources.
c.
see them as similar to us.
d.
form negative impressions of them.
38. A halo effect may occur when we attribute positive motives to someone’s actions without having actually
observed those particular qualities.
a.
True
b.
False
39. Which of these is involved in the perception-checking process?
a.
checking your self-concept
b.
checking your attributions
c.
checking your self-esteem
d.
checking your self-realization
40. The three stages of the interpersonal perception process are salience, organization, and interpretation.
a.
True
b.
False
41. We form algebraic impressions as a result of forming quick first impressions of others.
a.
True
b.
False
42. The fundamental attribution error results from attributing others’ behaviors to social or environmental, rather
than internal or personal, causes.
a.
True
b.
False
43. Empathy mindset involves:
a.
demonstrating respect for others.
b.
believing that empathy can be developed and controlled.
c.
avoiding outgroupers.
d.
assuming that empathy is an automatic, uncontrollable response.
44. The Gestalts we form of other people may be either positive or negative impressions.
a.
True
b.
False
45. The actor-observer effect results from the innate human tendency to make internal or dispositional
attributions concerning one’s own behavior.
a.
True
b.
False
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46. Which of these describes an ingrouper?
a.
someone who shares similar values to you
b.
someone who has different attitudes from you
c.
someone who has different beliefs from you
d.
someone you view as untrustworthy
47. If the chairperson of the Federal Reserve predicts that inflation will continue, you might interpret this
prediction as credible and accurate. This is an example of which influence on interpreting information?
a.
schemata
b.
openness
c.
punctuation
d.
salience
48. Which of these judgments are we most likely to make when deciding whether someone is an ingrouper or an
outgrouper?
a.
how similar the person is to us
b.
how dissimilar the person is to us
c.
how positive our impressions of the person are
d.
All of the options are correct.
49. People who share fundamentally similar attitudes, values, and beliefs with you are considered ingroupers.
a.
True
b.
False
50. Which of these does NOT influence the interpretation stage of perception?
a.
schemata
b.
attributions
c.
actor-observer effect
d.
punctuation
51. As we perceive others, we are more influenced by negative characteristics than positive characteristics.
a.
True
b.
False
52. Which of these is(are) used in the punctuation process during the organization stage of perception?
a.
cause-effect
b.
related events
c.
schemata
d.
chronological sequence
53. Which of these conclusions can be made about gender differences?
a.
Women and men are substantially similar.
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b.
Women and men are substantially dissimilar.
c.
Women and men are essentially similar and respond similarly.
d.
Women use indirect language, whereas men use direct language.
54. Punctuation occurs in the organization stage of perception and refers to structuring information and events
in chronological order.
a.
True
b.
False
55. During the organization phase of perception, we engage in punctuation, where we tend to make internal
attributions, crediting ourselves for our own behavior.
a.
True
b.
False
56. Saying “I hope you are doing okay” and “I feel terrible you are going through this” are effective ways of
demonstrating empathic concern.
a.
True
b.
False
57. Salience relates to the importance you place on the attributes you perceive in others.
a.
True
b.
False
58. Culture, gender, and personality are three examples of filters that influence the way we perceive people and
events in our lives.
a.
True
b.
False
59. When we perceive and judge others, we commonly:
a.
form a negative Gestalt.
b.
feel secure in our initial interactions.
c.
attribute their behavior to internal, personal causes.
d.
judge them more positively than we do ourselves.
60. If you overindulge at a Chinese buffet and later explain that everyone overeats at buffets, what perceptual
error are you demonstrating?
a.
fundamental attribution error
b.
salience
c.
internal attribution
d.
actor-observer effect
61. Psychologists define five primary personality traits. Which of these is NOT one?
a.
agreeableness
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b.
openness
c.
introversion
d.
neuroticism
62. You know your romantic partner is online, but she has not responded to your instant message, so you
assume she is losing interest in you. What kind of attribution are you making?
a.
internal attribution
b.
external attribution
c.
true perception
d.
actor-observer effect
63. When you are winning at poker and explain to others at the table that you are good at cards and tend to have
good luck, what type of attribution error are you making?
a.
self-serving bias
b.
fundamental attribution error
c.
actor-observer effect
d.
external attribution
64. In interpreting information, we form attributions, which are defined as:
a.
explanations for others’ behaviors and comments.
b.
mental structures that define concept characteristics.
c.
stimuli that attract one’s attention.
d.
judgments about the characteristics of other people.
65. What has linguist Deborah Tannen suggested is a primary difference in communication between women and
men?
a.
Men tend to focus on problems.
b.
Women tend to focus on problems.
c.
Men tend to focus on solutions.
d.
Men tend to offer emotional support.
66. Implicit personality theories operate similarly to stereotyping.
a.
True
b.
False
67. Gestalts are formed as the result of a specific positive or negative observation we have of another person.
a.
True
b.
False
68. Stereotyping automatically leads to negative generalizations about other people, cultures, and genders.
a.
True
b.
False
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69. If you yell at your roommate and later explain that your behavior was related to stress at work, what type of
error are you making?
a.
fundamental attribution error
b.
internal attribution
c.
self-serving bias
d.
actor-observer effect
70. Celeste is gregarious and is often found talking with her colleagues at the office kitchen. What personality
trait does Celeste display a high level of?
a.
openness
b.
neuroticism
c.
agreeableness
d.
extraversion
71. A person who believes that empathy is an uncontrollable, automatic response is less likely to experience
empathy toward outgroupers.
a.
True
b.
False
72. Which of these is NOT involved in the human perception process?
a.
selection
b.
organization
c.
interpretation
d.
response
73. Which of these is a method used for reducing uncertainty in one’s initial interactions with others?
a.
passive strategies
b.
assertive strategies
c.
questioning strategies
d.
inactive strategies
74. Which of these factors influences the interpretation stage of the perception process?
a.
schemata
b.
stereotypes
c.
organizing
d.
selecting
Enter the appropriate word(s) to complete the statement.
75. Mental structures we use to interpret information during the perception process are known as _______.
76. The human tendency to attribute others’ behavior to internal causes rather than to social or environmental
forces is called the _______.
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77. _______ is a phase of the perception process in which we structure information into coherent, meaningful
patterns in our minds.
78. According to _______, our primary goal in initial interactions is to reduce the feeling of uncertainty about
our conversation partners so their behavior is more predictable and explainable.
79. Personal beliefs about different personalities and the ways in which traits cluster together are explained in
_______.
80. The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting information from our senses is _______.
81. _______ is a process of structuring information into a chronological sequence.
82. The tendency to negatively interpret the communication and behaviors of people for whom we have
negative Gestalts is called the _______.
83. The tendency to assign external causes to one’s own behavior is known as the _______.
84. _______ are explanations for the comments and behaviors of others.
85. _______ is the process of assigning meaning to information we have selected.
86. _______ is the degree to which particular people attract our attention.
87. _______ is the tendency to make internal attributions about one’s own successful behaviors.
88. The _______ is a tendency to form negative Gestalts.
89. The _______ is our tendency to positively interpret information about someone for whom we have
established a positive Gestalt.
90. We _______ because it simplifies the perception process, replacing complexities with generalizations about
individuals.
91. _______ is a term describing a general sense of a person that is either positive or negative.
92. _______ is the process in which humans categorize others as a social group based upon mental schemata.
93. _______ is an individual’s characteristic way of thinking, feeling, and acting, based on his or her traits.
94. _______ involve comparing and assessing positive and negative characteristics to form impressions of
others.
95. The belief that empathy can be developed or controlled is the _______.
96. _______ is focusing our attention on specific stimuli found in our environment.
97. _______ are mental pictures of who people are and how we feel about them.
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98. _______ is the process of trying to feel and understand the thoughts and emotions of others.
99. Explain the difference between the halo effect and the horn effect.
100. What’s the difference between an internal attribution and an external attribution?
101. Define perception and identify the three stages of the process.
102. Explain the five-step process of perception-checking.
103. How does punctuation impact the organization stage of the perception process?
104. How does salience impact the selection stage of the perception process?
105. What is a practical benefit of perspective-taking?
106. How do algebraic impressions impact how we form interpersonal impressions of others?
107. Define and give an example of how implicit personality theories work.
108. What are the three strategies for reducing uncertainty? Give an example of each strategy.
109. Define empathy and its two components.
110. Define the negativity effect, and explain its role in how we perceive others.
111. Identify two interactive strategies for reducing uncertainty.
112. Explain the difference between the cultural concepts of ingroupers and outgroupers.
113. How can you overcome stereotypes?
114. Identify the Big Five personality traits.
115. Explain what the fundamental attribution error is and why it is so common.
116. How can offering empathy be used to improve the accuracy of our perceptions?
117. How do attributions play a role in the interpretation stage of the perception process?
118. Explain why we often make the perceptual error of self-serving bias.
119. Explain how we form impressions using stereotypes. Is stereotyping always negative? Provide an example.
120. Discuss the relationship between gender and perception. What are some common misconceptions about the
ways in which women and men communicate differently?
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