If You Stand in the Checkout Line of Any Discount

question 62

Multiple Choice

If you stand in the checkout line of any discount store, you'll see a very odd assortment of items on display: disposable razors, batteries, ballpoint pens, playing cards, trail mix, combination locks, and so on. Retailers call these items "impulse buys," meaning that although people may not come to the store looking for cards, pens, or trail mix, when they see them near the checkout, they'll buy them. An attitude researcher might say that people buy these items because

• A) consumers' attitudes toward such utilitarian items are emotionally based.
• B) these items reflect people's social identity concerns, so they will deliberate quickly about whether to purchase them.
• C) attitudes toward these items may be highly accessible.
• D) intentions are relatively unimportant when people engage in deliberative behaviors like purchases.

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Definitions:

Gender-Typing

Socialization process by which children, at an early age, learn appropriate gender roles.

Sexism-Generalizing

The act of generalizing and applying stereotypes or biases about one gender to individuals, often leading to discrimination.

Gender

Refers to the characteristics, roles, behaviors, and identities that societies consider appropriate for men and women.

Role-Learning

The process of acquiring the behaviors, attitudes, and responsibilities expected of an individual in a particular social or professional role.