171. Which of the following is true about social psychologists’ interest in social problems?
a. Contemporary social psychologists are not interested in social problems.
b. Interest in social problems has arisen only in the last decade.
c. Social problems have been a concern since the beginning of social psychology.
d. Social problems are too complex to be addressed by social psychologists.
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2
Page(s) in Text: 16
Topic: Social Psychology and Social Problems
Skill: Factual
172. In an effort to convince more women to get mammograms, public service ads downplay fear of breast cancer and the discomfort of this cancer detection procedure. Instead such ads point to the benefits of early detection and consequent cure rate. According to the authors of your text, an ad could be designed this way because
a. overly frightened women might engage in denial about the odds that they would contract breast cancer.
b. messages that evoke fear seldom if ever are successful at influencing behavior.
c. people are more likely to watch positive than negative advertising.
d. when it comes to health, people are more motivated to be accurate than to feel good.
Answer: A
Difficulty: 3
Page(s) in Text: 16-17
Topic: Social Psychology and Social Problems
Skill: Conceptual
173. Curtailing the spread of AIDS by using scary television ads to frighten people into practicing safe sex is unlikely to work because
a. it is hard to know whether a given ad is frightening enough.
b. the government will not fund such projects.
c. the contents of such ads are too controversial, and offend most viewers.
d. viewers may protect their self-esteem by denying that the message is relevant to them.
Answer: D
Difficulty: 3
Page(s) in Text: 16-17
Topic: Social Psychology and Social Problems
Skill: Conceptual
174. After reading Chapter 1, if you were to advise producers of a safe-sex television campaign, what would you tell them?
a. Remember that sometimes people would rather feel good than be accurate.
b. AIDS is more likely to be transmitted via intravenous drug use than via sex.
c. Beware of the fundamental attribution error.
d. Remember to provide complete information and get your facts right.