Darley and Gross (1983) Conducted a Study in Which They

question 121

Multiple Choice

Darley and Gross (1983) conducted a study in which they asked participants to evaluate the intellectual ability of a 9-year-old named "Hannah." Some participants were led to believe that she came from a high socioeconomic (SES) background; others were led to believe she came from a low SES background. Kelley (1950) conducted a study in which students' expectations regarding a guest lecturer's personality were manipulated. Some students were told that the lecturer was a warm person; others were told he was a cold person. Which of the following statements about these studies is accurate?

• A) In both studies, only for perceivers who actually met the target (i.e., Hannah or the lecturer) in person did expectation influence perceptions.
• B) In both studies, perceivers' expectations determined the way they behaved towards the target, which in turn influenced the target's behavior.
• C) In both studies, perceivers' expectations led them to fail to notice clear limitations of the target's actual performance.
• D) In both studies, perceivers' expectations affected their perceptions of the target's performance, even when that performance was identical across conditions.

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Definitions:

Cushing's Syndrome

A hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol.

Addison's Disease

A disorder characterized by insufficient production of certain hormones by the adrenal glands, leading to symptoms like fatigue and weakness.

Target Cells

Cells that are specifically affected by particular hormones, drugs, or pathogenic agents due to the presence of corresponding receptors.

Receptor Molecules

Molecules on the surface of or within cells that bind to specific substances, triggering various cellular responses.