Men Have a Reputation for Not Wanting to Ask for Directions

question 109

Multiple Choice

Men have a reputation for not wanting to ask for directions. A Harris study conducted for Lincoln Mercury indicated that 42% of men and 61% of women would stop and ask for directions. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2012 population estimate was that for individuals 18 or over, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women. This exercise addresses this age group. Calculate the probability that the driver stops to ask for directions.

• A) 0.518
• B) 0.420
• C) 0.316
• D) 0.390

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Definitions:

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency for people to over-emphasize personality-based explanations for behaviors observed in others while underestimating the influence of external factors.

Schematic Processing

A cognitive process that uses social schemata to organize and interpret information about the social world.

Schemas

Cognitive frameworks or concepts that help individuals organize and interpret information, based on past experiences and knowledge.

Subtractive Rule

When making attributions about the influence of personal dispositions on a behavior, the observer subtracts the perceived impact of situational forces from the personal disposition implied by the behavior itself.