d. the tendency to underestimate the power of social influence
Answer: D
Difficulty: 2
Page(s) in Text: 8
Topic: The Power of the Situation
Skill: Factual
60. Nanami and April were playing in the den when April’s mother entered the room and scolded them for making a mess. Nanami decided then and there that April’s mother was a grouch. Nanami’s inference is an example of
a. the fundamental attribution error.
b. availability.
c. automatic thinking.
d. a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2
Page(s) in Text: 8
Topic: The Power of the Situation
Skill: Application
61. Which of the following people have fallen prey to the fundamental attribution error?
a. Cindy, who explains her poor exam performance by pointing out how hard the questions were.
b. Tim, who points to a person who fell down and says, “What a clumsy oaf!”
c. Guillermo, who explains his girlfriend’s tears by saying, “She didn’t get enough sleep last night.”
d. Dien, who points to an erratic driver and says, “Look at that! The roads are slick tonight.”
Answer: B
Difficulty: 3
Page(s) in Text: 8
Topic: The Power of the Situation
Skill: Application
62. When we commit the fundamental attribution error, we ________ the power of ________.
a. overestimate; the situation
b. overestimate; personal influence
c. underestimate; personality characteristics
d. underestimate; personal motivations
Answer: B
Difficulty: 3
Page(s) in Text: 8
Topic: The Power of the Situation
Skill: Factual
63. Which of the following is a consequence of underestimating the power of social influence?
a. We perceive people as more inconsistent and variable than they really are.
b. We overestimate our vulnerability to social situations.
c. We tend to over-complicate simple situations.