Robert has an important exam the next day. However, instead of ...

[mwit1967]

Robert has an important exam the next day. However, instead of studying for his exam, Robert is out at a party and drinking until the early morning hours. What social-psychological construct can explain Robert's behavior and why would he do this?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Sometimes people find it difficult to correctly interpret why they are experiencing physiological arousal, and look to their situation for a good interpretation.
 
  Consider the evidence for the idea of misattribution of arousal: first, state what misattribution of arousal is; second, under what circumstances is it most likely to happen; and third, how would you use misattribution of arousal to your advantage if you were trying to encourage someone to be attracted to you?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[cam1229]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Robert's behavior can be explained by the construct known as self-handicapping, wherein individuals create obstacles and excuses so that if they fail, it does not hurt their self-perceptions. Robert would do this so that if he succeeded, he can attribute his success to his abilitybut if he failed, he would have an explanation that is external.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: First, misattribution of arousal is when people sense that they are physiologically aroused (i.e., shaky hands, sweaty, pounding heart) and cannot readily interpret why they are aroused because there are multiple interpretations available to them, and thus make an incorrect attribution for their arousal. Second, this is likely to occur when people are in a situation in which there are several possible causes for their arousal, rather than just one. Third, in order to use misattribution of arousal to perhaps enhance how attracted someone is to me, I would put myself and the person I'm attracted to in a situation with high arousal; it may be that we go jogging together, or see a suspenseful movie; perhaps if it's Halloween we would go through a haunted house, or see a loud rock concert. (There are many ways to increase arousal, thus many possible examples a student could use for the third part of the question.)