Panpan Tochirakul (itochira) - Social Psychology Homework # 3

16 March 2023

1. Based on research about the perception of control with nursing home residents,
what are three things that the director of CMU housing could do to give students
who reside in dormitories a greater perception of control, and therefore help them
be healthier and happier? (3 pts)

Pets such as dogs, cats, or bunnies could be brought into CMU dormitories so that students could
play with the animals for therapeutic purposes. However, to give students a semblance of control
over their lives, each student should be able to decide when these pet visits should occur and for
how long.

The director of CMU housing should also offer students the opportunity to re-style their room,
such as picking out the flooring, furniture, or even paint of their rooms. In addition, students can
decide on the arrangement of furniture in their room and staff will help them organize their room
for their desired arrangements.

Finally, the director should also implement weekly bonding activities for students, emphasizing
that it is up to the student to attend. Students should also be allowed to decide what the activity
would be and make decisions about the activities (e.g. movie night where the students pick out
the movie, game night where students pick out the board game).

2. Kamryn walks in the park and finds newly planted flowers. Next to the flowers, she
sees a sign that says: “Do not pick the flowers”. Surprisingly the sign makes her
want to pick the flowers even more, so she decides to pick a few of them. What
reason would social psychologists give for Kamryn’s action? List the term and
explain how it works. (3 pts)

Kamryn’s action can be explained using the reactance theory, which suggests that when people
feel their freedom to perform a certain behavior is threatened, an unpleasant state of reactance is
aroused, which prompts them to reduce it by performing the threatened behavior. In this case,
Kamryn feels threatened that her freedom in the park is threatened since the sign tells her not to
pick the flowers. As a result, she decides to pick some flowers to reduce this unpleasant state of
reactance caused by her freedom being threatened.
 3. Marta and Ronit are sitting in class listening to an attractive nutritionist talk about
the importance of eating healthy. Marta was impressed by the facts the nutritionist
gave about the benefits of adding more protein to one’s diet. Ronit was impressed
by the good looks and body build of the nutritionist. Both students walk out of the
auditorium convinced that they should start eating healthier.

a. Explain the two main routes to persuasion. Which route did each student
appear to take based? (4 pts)

Marta took the central route to persuasion. This route refers to when people have both the
attention and motivation required to listen carefully and think about the arguments presented,
leading them to elaborate on a persuasive communication. In this case, Marta listened carefully
to the nutritionist’s talk, and was convinced to eat healthier by their logical advice and
arguments.

Ronit, on the other hand, took the peripheral route to persuasion. This route refers to when
people do not elaborate on the arguments in a persuasive communication but are instead swayed
by more superficial cues, such as the attractiveness of the nutritionist. In this case, Ronit found
the nutritionist attractive and was persuaded to eat healthier because of this.

b. Which of the two students is likely to continue to follow the nutritionist advice
weeks later? Why? (2 pts)

Marta is more likely to continue following the nutritionist’s advice because she took the central
route to persuasion. This route allows Marta to think carefully about the compelling arguments
that the nutritionist presented, leading to attitude changes that are long-lasting and resistant to
change. The peripheral route that Ronit took, on the other hand, tends to produce attitude
changes that are temporary and susceptible to further change.
4. Mark graduated from CMU last spring and after having worked for some time, he now
wants to purchase a new vehicle. He has his eyes on a BMW X6. He has always liked the
idea of driving a fancy SUV, however his parents believe the vehicle is not appropriate for
him at all. It is much too large for a single man, and it has poor gas mileage. At over
$70,000 Mark is not certain that he can afford to purchase the vehicle.

a. According to the theory of planned behavior, what are the three determinants of
deliberative behavior? (3 pts)

The three determinants of people’s deliberative behavior are (1) their attitude toward the
behavior, (2) subjective norms, and (3) perceived behavioral control.

b. Mark’s parents do not support his decision to purchase the vehicle. What
determinant of the model is addressed with this statement and explain what it
means in your own words? (2 pt)

The determinant addressed in this situation is the subjective norms determinant. This refers to
people’s belief about how other people they care about will view the behavior. In this case, Mark
wants to buy the BMW but his parents, who he must care about, do not support his decision.

c. Given the facts as they pertain to the model, is Mark likely to purchase the vehicle?
(1 pt)

The subjective norm in this situation refers to Mark’s belief about how his parents do not support
his decision to buy a fancy SUV. Mark’s attitude toward this behavior of purchasing a fancy
SUV can be viewed as positive, since he has always liked the idea of driving a fancy SUV. The
perceived behavioral control refers to Mark’s uncertainty about being able to afford the vehicle.
Judging from these determinants of the model, Mark is unlikely to purchase the vehicle.

d. Mark later discusses his situation with his sister Giselle and asks for her opinion.
Giselle tells Mark that he should be able to purchase any vehicles he wants- after all
he is an independent adult. However, she claims that she hates BMW’s because
they remind her of her ex-boyfriend, Neel who drives a BMW. She and Neel had a
terrible break-up just a few months back and now the very sight of a BMW makes
her nauseous.

What specific theory of the development of attitudes can account for Giselle’s
negative attitude toward BMWs? Provide the name of the theory and explain how
it works. (2 pts)

The theory of classical conditioning can account for Giselle’s negative attitude. This theory
refers to the phenomenon where a stimulus that elicits an emotional response is repeatedly paired
with a neutral stimulus that does not elicit an emotional response. This leads to the neutral
stimulus taking on the emotional properties of the first stimulus. In this case, the neutral stimulus
of a BMWhas become associated with a negative emotional response because of the negative
experience she had with her boyfriend, who drove a BMW. Hence, the sight of a BMW now
elicits a negative response in Neel.