My question is for pychology I will explain in the description

Question

QUESTION ONE: You get a C on your psychology exam. Given this scenario, describe and give an example of an upward comparison, a downward comparison, a temporal comparison, and a self-serving bias. Which of these comparisons would make you feel better about getting a C on your exam? Which of these comparisons would make you feel worse about getting a C on your exam?

QUESTION TWO: Describe the better-than-average effect. Name at least one area of life in which people tend to show the better-than-average effect (according to research). Give a specific real-world example of this effect.

QUESTION THREE: Little Elijah is full of energy and never sits still. He loves playing with his friends and going on adventures. Luckily, he rarely gets frightened and never cries when he is exploring with friends. Describe the three aspects of temperament. Decide whether Elijah is high or low on each aspect of temperament. What are some long-term implications of temperament?

Answer 1

Hi Julia,

I will answer your question in the same format in which you asked it for clarity.

Question One: You got a C on your Psychology Exam.

1. Upward Comparison - Comparing yourself to someone who performed better than you. Example: "Stacy got an A. She is smarter than me - OR- I am not as smart as Stacy."
2. Downward Comparison - Comparing yourself to someone who did not perform as well as you. Example: "Mark got an F. At least I am smarter than him."
3. Temporal Comparison - Comparing yourself to yourself, just at a different time. Example: "I got an A on the last test. I didn't study as hard as I did before. -OR- I got an F on the last test. I am doing much better than I did before."
4. Self-Serving Bias - A belief that a person holds in order to enhance their self-esteem, even if the belief is untrue. Example: "Psychology just doesn't make sense and the teacher doesn't like me. That is why I got a C."

The downward comparison and the self-serving bias are most likely to help you feel better about your grade on the exam. Downward comparison means you are comparing yourself to someone who got a lower grade, so in this case you would feel better about the grade you received. A self-serving bias would provide an explanation for your grade and make it so the grade is not your fault.

The upward comparison would be most likely to make you feel worse about your grade because you are comparing yourself to someone who scored higher on the test.

The temporal comparison could go either way. If you did better on your last test, you are going to feel worse about the grade you received this time. If you did worse on your last test, you are going to feel better about how you did this time.

Question Two: The better than average effect - This is a type of comparison people do that helps them feel better about a particular characteristic they may have. For example: You got a C on your psychology exam and you know that that is not very good. You feel bad about this so you ask the teacher for the average score for that test. The teacher tells you the average score was a C-. You immediately feel better because you did better than the average and your grade seems like its less your fault.

The better-than-average effect is frequently displayed in new parents who compare their baby's developmental accomplishments to the "average" time frame in which babies meet certain milestones (sitting up, rolling over, walking, etc.)

Question Three: There are nine aspects of temperament. For the information provided on Little Elijah, the easiest three to explain would be Activity Level, Sensitivity, and Adaptability.

1. Activity Level: This is how physically active a child is on their own. Little Elijah appears to have a high activity level because he is "full of energy and never sits still." It is important for Elijah to always be provided with lost of stimulating activities for him to use his energy so that he does not become stressed by his desire to move.
2. Sensitivity: This is how strongly a child reacts to stimuli around them. Little Elijah seems to have low sensitivity. He is not easily startled or bothered by the things around him and doesn't cry often.
3. Adaptability: This is how easily a child will adjust to new situations. Little Elijah would have high adaptability as he is not afraid to explore places he's never been.

Some long-term implications of temperament: Temperament as a child affects personality as an adult. If a child's temperament is nurtured and supported, they are more likely to grow up to have more stable personality traits that align with the traits they displayed as children. Example: A high-energy child who's parents always provided him/her with opportunities to run, jump, and play is likely to grow up to be an active, athletic adult. If a child's temperament is not properly nurtured, they may struggle to develop stable personality traits as an adult. For example: A highly sensitive child who is frequently scared and crying may grow up to have an anxiety disorder if parents do not continuously satisfy that child's need for safety and reassurance.

**It is important to note that these are hypothetic scenarios and that there are many variables that effect development.**

I hope this was helpful! Please reach out to me if you have anymore questions!