Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

According to Sherif's social judgment theory, a person's latitude of acceptance is greatest when:

1. They have high ego-involvement with the target issue

2. They have low ego-involvement with the target issue

3. They enjoy critical thinking

4. They have low enjoyment of critical thinking

The correct answer is: They have low ego-involvement with the target issue

In Sherif's social judgment theory, a person's latitude of acceptance refers to the range of positions on an issue that an individual finds acceptable. This latitude tends to increase when a person has low ego-involvement with the target issue. When individuals are not strongly attached to or personally invested in an issue, they are more open to considering a variety of viewpoints and perspectives that differ from their own. This openness enhances the latitude of acceptance. In contrast, high ego-involvement typically leads to a narrower latitude of acceptance because people with strong ties to their beliefs or attitudes are less willing to entertain opposing views. They may reject positions they perceive as too far from their own, resulting in a more limited range of acceptable opinions. The enjoyment of critical thinking can influence how individuals analyze arguments or viewpoints, but it does not have a direct connection to their latitude of acceptance in Sherif's framework. Thus, the correct focus on low ego-involvement highlights the state in which a person is able to broaden their willingness to accept various viewpoints.