Question

Samantha did very well on the chemistry exam. She tells her friends that she did not study very hard for the test, but she really spent numerous hours preparing for the test. This behavior is an example of

a) Self-deception and lack of self-awareness
b) The self-serving bias
c) Accurate self-reporting
d) Honest self-assessment

Answer 1

Samantha's behavior is an example of self-serving bias, where she attributes her success on the exam to her inherent ability rather than the extensive effort she actually put in.

Step-by-step explanation:

Samantha's behavior of telling her friends she did not study very hard for a chemistry exam when in fact she spent numerous hours preparing is an example of self-serving bias. This is a psychological tendency where individuals attribute their successes to internal factors while attributing failures to external factors. In this case, Samantha's desire to be seen in a favorable light has led her to create a misleading portrait of her efforts towards her success. Her behavior fits the pattern of preferring to maintain and enhance self-esteem rather than providing an accurate self-reporting of the effort she put into studying.

The self-serving bias can often lead to an inaccurate portrayal of events and is a concept well-discussed in psychology. Researchers who rely on self-report methods need to consider the possibility that survey respondents may not always provide truthful answers, as they might be inclined to respond in ways that make them look better or protect their self-esteem.