SOC 132 FINAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Constructing an understanding of the social world from the data we get through our
senses.
More narrowly, the process by which we form impressions of other people's traits and
personalities. - Answer -social perception
The way we observe someone's behavior and then infer backward to causes -
intentions, abilities, traits, motives, and situational pressures - that explain why people
act as they do. - Answer -social attribution
What basic mental process is involved in social perception and attribution? - Answer -
categorization
our tendency to perceive stimuli as members of groups or classes rather than as
isolated, unique entities - Answer -categorization
Well-organized structure of cognition about a specific object. - Answer -schema
what are the major types of 'schemas'? - Answer -- Person Schemas- describes others'
personalities. Could be a specific person or types of people.
- Self schemas- schemas we have of our selves
- group schemas- group stereotypes
- role schemas- describes behaviors and attributes typical of a person of a particular
role.
- event schemas- Ideas about what are generally supposed to happen in recurring
social events.
What are the advantages of 'schematic processing'? - Answer -Guiding our memories
by making things easier to remember.
Help us process information faster.
Guide our inferences and judgements about people and objects.
Reduce ambiguity
What is schematic memory, inference and judgment? - Answer -We better remember
things that are either consistent or contradictory to our schemas.
We seek to fill information gaps by resorting to schemas. It also helps us infer new facts
(e.g. a physician's diagnosis).
We form evaluations and attitudes based on schemas.
We better remember things that are either consistent or contradictory to our schemas. -
Answer -schematic memory
We seek to fill information gaps by resorting to schemas. It also helps us infer new facts
(e.g. a physician's diagnosis). - Answer -schematic inference
, We form evaluations and attitudes based on schemas. - Answer -schematic judgement
The more members of a group we interact with, the more complex the schema
becomes. Less complex, on the other hand, leads to more extreme judgements and
evaluations. - Answer -complelxity-extremity effect
What are the disadvantages of 'schematic processing'? - Answer -People tend to overly
accept information that is consistent with a schema (see confirmation bias).
Sometimes schematic inference is false.
Reluctant to discard or revise schemas, people often keep sticking with the schemas
even when they don't fit the reality well. This may lead to inappropriate or inflexible
responses toward the schematized object.
The tendency to seek and favor information that is consistent with one's pre-existing
beliefs whereas disregarding or discrediting information contradictory. - Answer -
confirmation bias
Allows us to make assumptions "about behaviors associated with various personality
traits"
E.g., If x, then y
"When a student was described as 'gifted,' teachers assumed the student was...
emotionally deficient"
Allows us to make inferences BEYOND available information - Answer -implicit
personality theory
Set of characteristics attributed to all members of some specific group
Simplify complex world- encourage inferences about individuals based on "the groups to
which they belong" - Answer -group stereotypes
What are some consequences of stereotyping? - Answer -'overgeneralization'
Can lead to discrimination, denial of rights, resources and opportunities
What are the three cognitive processes of 'selective perception'? - Answer -(i) Persons
notice only the behaviors that support their stereotypes (i.e., confirmation bias)
(ii) Persons dismiss observed counter evidence as being an 'exception to the rule' (i.e.,
subtyping)
(iii) Persons evaluate similar behaviors differently due to group affiliation (i.e., moral
alchemy)
what is this an example of: Persons notice only the behaviors that support their
stereotypes - Answer -confirmation bias
what is this an example of: Persons dismiss observed counter evidence as being an
'exception to the rule' - Answer -subtyping
Constructing an understanding of the social world from the data we get through our
senses.
More narrowly, the process by which we form impressions of other people's traits and
personalities. - Answer -social perception
The way we observe someone's behavior and then infer backward to causes -
intentions, abilities, traits, motives, and situational pressures - that explain why people
act as they do. - Answer -social attribution
What basic mental process is involved in social perception and attribution? - Answer -
categorization
our tendency to perceive stimuli as members of groups or classes rather than as
isolated, unique entities - Answer -categorization
Well-organized structure of cognition about a specific object. - Answer -schema
what are the major types of 'schemas'? - Answer -- Person Schemas- describes others'
personalities. Could be a specific person or types of people.
- Self schemas- schemas we have of our selves
- group schemas- group stereotypes
- role schemas- describes behaviors and attributes typical of a person of a particular
role.
- event schemas- Ideas about what are generally supposed to happen in recurring
social events.
What are the advantages of 'schematic processing'? - Answer -Guiding our memories
by making things easier to remember.
Help us process information faster.
Guide our inferences and judgements about people and objects.
Reduce ambiguity
What is schematic memory, inference and judgment? - Answer -We better remember
things that are either consistent or contradictory to our schemas.
We seek to fill information gaps by resorting to schemas. It also helps us infer new facts
(e.g. a physician's diagnosis).
We form evaluations and attitudes based on schemas.
We better remember things that are either consistent or contradictory to our schemas. -
Answer -schematic memory
We seek to fill information gaps by resorting to schemas. It also helps us infer new facts
(e.g. a physician's diagnosis). - Answer -schematic inference
, We form evaluations and attitudes based on schemas. - Answer -schematic judgement
The more members of a group we interact with, the more complex the schema
becomes. Less complex, on the other hand, leads to more extreme judgements and
evaluations. - Answer -complelxity-extremity effect
What are the disadvantages of 'schematic processing'? - Answer -People tend to overly
accept information that is consistent with a schema (see confirmation bias).
Sometimes schematic inference is false.
Reluctant to discard or revise schemas, people often keep sticking with the schemas
even when they don't fit the reality well. This may lead to inappropriate or inflexible
responses toward the schematized object.
The tendency to seek and favor information that is consistent with one's pre-existing
beliefs whereas disregarding or discrediting information contradictory. - Answer -
confirmation bias
Allows us to make assumptions "about behaviors associated with various personality
traits"
E.g., If x, then y
"When a student was described as 'gifted,' teachers assumed the student was...
emotionally deficient"
Allows us to make inferences BEYOND available information - Answer -implicit
personality theory
Set of characteristics attributed to all members of some specific group
Simplify complex world- encourage inferences about individuals based on "the groups to
which they belong" - Answer -group stereotypes
What are some consequences of stereotyping? - Answer -'overgeneralization'
Can lead to discrimination, denial of rights, resources and opportunities
What are the three cognitive processes of 'selective perception'? - Answer -(i) Persons
notice only the behaviors that support their stereotypes (i.e., confirmation bias)
(ii) Persons dismiss observed counter evidence as being an 'exception to the rule' (i.e.,
subtyping)
(iii) Persons evaluate similar behaviors differently due to group affiliation (i.e., moral
alchemy)
what is this an example of: Persons notice only the behaviors that support their
stereotypes - Answer -confirmation bias
what is this an example of: Persons dismiss observed counter evidence as being an
'exception to the rule' - Answer -subtyping
