CHAPTER 13
SOCIAL COGNITION AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. John Gibbs, author of Moral Development and Reality, experienced a
significant moral dilemma as a child at
a.
home, where he saw his mother abused by his father.
b.
camp, where he saw a mildly retarded man tormented by campers.
c.
school, where he was pressured into picking on an overweight classmate.
d.
church, where he struggled to understand how good church-going people could say
mean things about others.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 415-416 OBJ: 13.1
2. Social cognition is best defined as
a.
memories for interesting life events.
b.
knowing who gets along with whom.
c.
thinking about the thoughts, feelings, motives, and behaviors of one’s self
and others.
d.
being aware of current "codes" for dressing and dating.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 416 OBJ: 13.1
3. The “false belief” task is used to assess
a.
the difference between a sensorimotor and a preoperational thinker.
b.
the understanding that people may hold incorrect personal beliefs that influence
their behaviors.
c.
a person’s level of religiosity.
d.
how a person would reason about a moral.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 416-417 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
4. Having a theory of mind indicates that an individual
a.
understands the physiological workings of the brain.
b.
can draw inferences.
c.
understands that mental states exist and guide behavior.
d.
can reason about abstract concepts.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
5. Zola puts her toys away in the toy chest and goes to eat dinner. Her brother,
unbeknownst to her, decides to take all of her toys and put them under his bed. As a child
who has a theory of mind, when Zola returns after dinner, she will
a.
look for her toys in the toy chest.
b.
look for her toys where her brother has hidden them.
c.
not remember anything about her toys.
d.
try to think of where her brother likes to hide things.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
1
, 6. While watching her friend Veronica picking out a dress, Betty thinks to
herself, “I know that Veronica really likes to look nice and impress the boys. I bet she will
pick out a very sexy outfit.” Betty’s thoughts indicate that she possesses
a.
postconventional moral thought. c. joint attention.
b.
a morality of justice. d. a theory of mind.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
7. Bubba is a football linebacker attempting to guess what play the opposing
quarterback will call. He thinks to himself, “I know that QB really likes to pass the ball to
score because when he does, the newspapers always write articles about him. Thus, I bet he’ll
pass the ball on the next play.” Bubba’s thoughts indicate that he possesses
a.
postconventional moral thought. c. joint attention.
b.
a morality of justice. d. a theory of mind.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
8. In a study using the false belief task with four-year-olds of average
intelligence, four-year-olds with Down syndrome, and slightly older children with
autism,
Baron-Cohen found that
a.
only the average intelligence children passed the task.
b.
both the average intelligence children and the children with Down syndrome
passed the task.
c.
both the average intelligence children and the children with autism passed the task.
d.
all three groups of children passed the task.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
9. Why do autistic children have difficulty passing the false belief task?
a.
They lack the general intelligence.
b.
They lack the linguistic skills.
c.
They lack a theory of mind.
d.
They engage in too many stereotyped movements.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
10. At or before nine months of age, most children begin to . This activity
is one of the earliest milestones in developing a theory of mind.
a.
talk
b.
show prosocial behavior
c.
engage in joint attention
d.
demonstrate the ability to recognize themselves in a mirror
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
11. One-year-old Andy notices a rag doll sitting in the corner. He is very excited
and begins to point at the doll in the hopes that his mother, Ann, will notice. Suddenly, Ann
notices the doll and the two look at the rag doll together. At this point, this mutual
experience represents
a.
joint attention. c. classical conditioning.
b.
sympathy. d. prosocial behavior.
2
,ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
12. How many of the following (understanding that others people have intentions,
engaging in pretend play, imitation of others) are skills underlying having a theory of mind?
a. 0 c. 2
b. 1 d. 3
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
13. Which linguistic skills provide solid evidence that a child is developing a
theory of mind?
a.
Producing a first word
b.
Cooing
c.
Producing a first grammatically correct sentence
d.
Saying, “I whistle because I am happy”
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
14. The ability to explain one’s behavior as being driven by what one wants is
the basis of psychology.
a.
classical conditioning c. operant conditioning
b.
physiological d. desire
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
15. Little Debbie, who is two years old, loves cupcakes and hates fruit pie. She has
observed that her mother hates cupcakes and loves fruit pies. If Debbie were handed a plate
with a piece of pie and a different plate with a cupcake, and was asked to give one to her
mother, Debbie would most likely
a.
hand mom the pie. c. hand mom both plates.
b.
hand mom the cupcake. d. keep both plates for herself.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
16. Someone with a belief-desire psychology understands that
a.
people do not always hold accurate beliefs, but these beliefs still influence
behavior.
b.
beliefs accurately reflect what we desire.
c.
desires shape our behavior.
d.
people develop accurate beliefs based on interactions with others.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
17. Understanding belief-desire psychology means understanding
a.
that most people are driven to obey laws.
b.
that some beliefs that influence behavior are not accurate.
c.
that wants and desires are a poor motivation for a behavior.
d.
the pain others feel when they make tough decisions.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
3
, 18. Which of the following is NOT necessary for attaining a theory of mind?
a.
Some language skills c. Experience interacting with other
people
b.
Symbolic thinking skills d. Being human
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 418-419 OBJ: 13.1
19. Which neurological component has been implicated in the development of a
theory of mind?
a.
Mirror neurons c. Tympanic membrane cells
b.
Glial cells d. Substantia nigra cells
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 419 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
20. Mirror neurons are activated when a person
a.
is performing an action and sees someone else performing the same action.
b.
says what someone else is thinking.
c.
engages in an activity witnessed the previous day.
d.
sees and speaks a word at the same time.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 419-420 OBJ: 13.1
21. Difference in mirror neuron activity in the right temporoparietal area of
the brain may explain the lack of theory of mind that characterizes children with
a.
ADHD. c. PKU.
b.
Down syndrome. d. autism.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 419 OBJ: 13.1
22. Davis was born Deaf to Deaf parents who signed to him at an early age. How
would this be most likely to affect his acquisition of a theory of mind?
a.
He would show slightly slower development than that of a sensory-normal child.
b.
He would show a similar development as that of a Down syndrome child.
c.
He would show a similar development as that of an autistic child.
d.
He would show similar development to that of a sensory-normal child.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 420 OBJ: 13.1
23. The key factor in determining whether being born Deaf will result in a delay in
the acquisition of a theory of mind appears to be
a.
how well parents are able to communicate with the child.
b.
whether the deafness was the result of fetal alcohol syndrome or rubella.
c.
the number of mirror neurons the child has in their cochlea.
d.
the use of signing by parents (which almost always results in a delay).
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 420 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
4
SOCIAL COGNITION AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. John Gibbs, author of Moral Development and Reality, experienced a
significant moral dilemma as a child at
a.
home, where he saw his mother abused by his father.
b.
camp, where he saw a mildly retarded man tormented by campers.
c.
school, where he was pressured into picking on an overweight classmate.
d.
church, where he struggled to understand how good church-going people could say
mean things about others.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 415-416 OBJ: 13.1
2. Social cognition is best defined as
a.
memories for interesting life events.
b.
knowing who gets along with whom.
c.
thinking about the thoughts, feelings, motives, and behaviors of one’s self
and others.
d.
being aware of current "codes" for dressing and dating.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 416 OBJ: 13.1
3. The “false belief” task is used to assess
a.
the difference between a sensorimotor and a preoperational thinker.
b.
the understanding that people may hold incorrect personal beliefs that influence
their behaviors.
c.
a person’s level of religiosity.
d.
how a person would reason about a moral.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 416-417 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
4. Having a theory of mind indicates that an individual
a.
understands the physiological workings of the brain.
b.
can draw inferences.
c.
understands that mental states exist and guide behavior.
d.
can reason about abstract concepts.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
5. Zola puts her toys away in the toy chest and goes to eat dinner. Her brother,
unbeknownst to her, decides to take all of her toys and put them under his bed. As a child
who has a theory of mind, when Zola returns after dinner, she will
a.
look for her toys in the toy chest.
b.
look for her toys where her brother has hidden them.
c.
not remember anything about her toys.
d.
try to think of where her brother likes to hide things.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
1
, 6. While watching her friend Veronica picking out a dress, Betty thinks to
herself, “I know that Veronica really likes to look nice and impress the boys. I bet she will
pick out a very sexy outfit.” Betty’s thoughts indicate that she possesses
a.
postconventional moral thought. c. joint attention.
b.
a morality of justice. d. a theory of mind.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
7. Bubba is a football linebacker attempting to guess what play the opposing
quarterback will call. He thinks to himself, “I know that QB really likes to pass the ball to
score because when he does, the newspapers always write articles about him. Thus, I bet he’ll
pass the ball on the next play.” Bubba’s thoughts indicate that he possesses
a.
postconventional moral thought. c. joint attention.
b.
a morality of justice. d. a theory of mind.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
8. In a study using the false belief task with four-year-olds of average
intelligence, four-year-olds with Down syndrome, and slightly older children with
autism,
Baron-Cohen found that
a.
only the average intelligence children passed the task.
b.
both the average intelligence children and the children with Down syndrome
passed the task.
c.
both the average intelligence children and the children with autism passed the task.
d.
all three groups of children passed the task.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
9. Why do autistic children have difficulty passing the false belief task?
a.
They lack the general intelligence.
b.
They lack the linguistic skills.
c.
They lack a theory of mind.
d.
They engage in too many stereotyped movements.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
10. At or before nine months of age, most children begin to . This activity
is one of the earliest milestones in developing a theory of mind.
a.
talk
b.
show prosocial behavior
c.
engage in joint attention
d.
demonstrate the ability to recognize themselves in a mirror
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
11. One-year-old Andy notices a rag doll sitting in the corner. He is very excited
and begins to point at the doll in the hopes that his mother, Ann, will notice. Suddenly, Ann
notices the doll and the two look at the rag doll together. At this point, this mutual
experience represents
a.
joint attention. c. classical conditioning.
b.
sympathy. d. prosocial behavior.
2
,ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
12. How many of the following (understanding that others people have intentions,
engaging in pretend play, imitation of others) are skills underlying having a theory of mind?
a. 0 c. 2
b. 1 d. 3
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
13. Which linguistic skills provide solid evidence that a child is developing a
theory of mind?
a.
Producing a first word
b.
Cooing
c.
Producing a first grammatically correct sentence
d.
Saying, “I whistle because I am happy”
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 417 OBJ: 13.1
14. The ability to explain one’s behavior as being driven by what one wants is
the basis of psychology.
a.
classical conditioning c. operant conditioning
b.
physiological d. desire
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
15. Little Debbie, who is two years old, loves cupcakes and hates fruit pie. She has
observed that her mother hates cupcakes and loves fruit pies. If Debbie were handed a plate
with a piece of pie and a different plate with a cupcake, and was asked to give one to her
mother, Debbie would most likely
a.
hand mom the pie. c. hand mom both plates.
b.
hand mom the cupcake. d. keep both plates for herself.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
16. Someone with a belief-desire psychology understands that
a.
people do not always hold accurate beliefs, but these beliefs still influence
behavior.
b.
beliefs accurately reflect what we desire.
c.
desires shape our behavior.
d.
people develop accurate beliefs based on interactions with others.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
17. Understanding belief-desire psychology means understanding
a.
that most people are driven to obey laws.
b.
that some beliefs that influence behavior are not accurate.
c.
that wants and desires are a poor motivation for a behavior.
d.
the pain others feel when they make tough decisions.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 418 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
3
, 18. Which of the following is NOT necessary for attaining a theory of mind?
a.
Some language skills c. Experience interacting with other
people
b.
Symbolic thinking skills d. Being human
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 418-419 OBJ: 13.1
19. Which neurological component has been implicated in the development of a
theory of mind?
a.
Mirror neurons c. Tympanic membrane cells
b.
Glial cells d. Substantia nigra cells
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 419 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
20. Mirror neurons are activated when a person
a.
is performing an action and sees someone else performing the same action.
b.
says what someone else is thinking.
c.
engages in an activity witnessed the previous day.
d.
sees and speaks a word at the same time.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 419-420 OBJ: 13.1
21. Difference in mirror neuron activity in the right temporoparietal area of
the brain may explain the lack of theory of mind that characterizes children with
a.
ADHD. c. PKU.
b.
Down syndrome. d. autism.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 419 OBJ: 13.1
22. Davis was born Deaf to Deaf parents who signed to him at an early age. How
would this be most likely to affect his acquisition of a theory of mind?
a.
He would show slightly slower development than that of a sensory-normal child.
b.
He would show a similar development as that of a Down syndrome child.
c.
He would show a similar development as that of an autistic child.
d.
He would show similar development to that of a sensory-normal child.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 420 OBJ: 13.1
23. The key factor in determining whether being born Deaf will result in a delay in
the acquisition of a theory of mind appears to be
a.
how well parents are able to communicate with the child.
b.
whether the deafness was the result of fetal alcohol syndrome or rubella.
c.
the number of mirror neurons the child has in their cochlea.
d.
the use of signing by parents (which almost always results in a delay).
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 420 OBJ: 13.1
KEY: WWW
4
