In an Experiment, a Man Asked People in Bakeries for a Pastry

question 249

Multiple Choice

In an experiment, a man asked people in bakeries for a pastry while claiming they did not have enough money to pay for it. Half the time he was dressed poorly and the other half well-dressed. If the man was polite when he asked for the pastry, the research results showed that he was

• A)three times more likely to be given the pastry if he was well-dressed and polite than when he was poorly dressed and polite.
• B)three times more likely to be given the pastry if he was poorly dressed and polite than when he was well-dressed and polite.
• C)equally likely to be given a free pastry with a polite request no matter how he was dressed.
• D)rarely given a pastry no matter how he was dressed or whether he was polite or not.

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Definitions:

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to take credit for success but deny responsibility for failure.

Attribution Error

A cognitive bias that occurs when individuals incorrectly attribute causes for behaviors or events, often underestimating situational factors and overestimating personal factors.

External Attribution

The process of attributing one's own actions or the behaviors of others to external factors or situational causes.

Cultural Products

Objects, symbols, or practices that possess particular meaning within a culture, including literature, art, music, and traditions.