Practice Quiz

EPPP Psychology

Category - Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior

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Heather believes that she is destined for failure, that others are “out to get her,” and that she is worthless. On Tuesday, she found out she was accepted to medical school, received an A on a microbiology exam, and got into an argument with her mother. When Heather tells her boyfriend about her day, she focuses on the argument with her mother, saying that it happened because she is a terrible person. She dismisses the two good events in her life, saying “they’re just mistakes.” Heather is focused on the fight with her mother because it matches her:
  1. Anchoring heuristic for her life
  2. Schema for her life
  3. Mental set for her life
  4. Confirmation bias
Explanation
Answer: B - Heather is focused on the fight with her mother because it matches her schema for her life.
A schema is a way of organizing information and categories based on an individual’s thoughts and behaviors. In Heather’s case, she has a very negative schema of her life. Individuals are more likely to notice what fits into their schemas. Thus, Heather is likely to focus on the fight with her mother and ignore (or dismiss) the two good things that happened in her day.
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