What Term Describes a Person Who Typically Expects the Worst

question 68

Multiple Choice

What term describes a person who typically expects the worst so that they can be surprised or even relieved when the worst does not happen?

• A) defensive optimists
• B) defensive pessimists
• C) strategic pessimists
• D) reverse optimists

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Definitions:

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

A theory suggesting that people experience discomfort (dissonance) when their beliefs or behaviors are inconsistent with one another, often leading to changes to reduce the dissonance.

Philip Zimbardo

Philip Zimbardo is a psychologist well-known for his 1971 Stanford prison experiment which highlighted the impact of situational forces on human behavior.

Reliability

The consistency and dependability of a measurement tool or test over time, ensuring that the same results can be repeated under similar conditions.

Validity

The extent to which a test or instrument measures what it is supposed to measure.