Question

question 36
2 points
which of the following is an example of a self - serving bias?
a leonard gets a bad grade in his psychology class and a good grade in his sociology class, so he believes he should study harder to prepare for his next psychology exam.
b leonard gets bad grades in sociology and psychology, so he switches his major to biology because he will like it more.
c leonard gets good grades in sociology and psychology, so he sends his professors a card thanking them for what good professors they are.
d leonard attributes earning a good grade in his psychology class to the fact that he is an exceptionally hard working student who is also incredibly smart. he blames the poor grade he received in his sociology class on having a bad teacher who gave hard exams.

Explanation:

Self - serving bias is the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to internal factors (like one's own abilities or efforts) and negative outcomes to external factors (like bad luck or others' actions).

• In option A, Leonard is taking responsibility for his bad grade (a sign of no self - serving bias as he is not blaming external factors for the bad grade).
• In option B, Leonard is changing his major due to disliking the subjects, not showing the self - serving bias pattern of internalizing good and externalizing bad.
• In option C, Leonard is thanking professors for good grades (external attribution for good outcome, which is the opposite of self - serving bias).
• In option D, Leonard attributes a good grade (positive outcome) to his own hard work and smartness (internal factors) and a bad grade (negative outcome) to a bad teacher (external factor), which is a classic example of self - serving bias.

Answer:

D. Leonard attributes earning a good grade in his psychology class to the fact that he is an exceptionally hard working student who is also incredibly smart. He blames the poor grade he received in his sociology class on having a bad teacher who gave hard exams.