Practice Test Review (Psych)

Question 1

What is a mediating variable?

Answer 1

One that explains the relationship between two other variables.

Question 2

What hormones does the anterior pituitary gland produce?

Answer 2

Endorphines, growth hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone

Question 3

What hormones does the posterior pituitary gland produce?

Answer 3

Vasopressin (kidney fluid reuptake) and oxytocin (bonding)

Question 4

What hormones does the anterior pituitary gland produce?

Answer 4

Endorphins, along with other hormones such as luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and growth hormone

Question 5

What hormones does the adrenal cortex produce?

Answer 5

Aldosterone- which responds to changes in blood pressure and cortisol- which mediates the body’s response to chronic stress

Question 6

What hormones does the adrenal medulla produce?

Answer 6

epinephrine and norepinephrine (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system)

Question 7

Drive reduction theories suggest that depression is caused by what?

Answer 7

A deficiency in arousal

Question 8

What is ethnocentrism?

Answer 8

A world view in which one’s one culture and traditions are seen as inherently superior to those of other people

Question 9

What is attrition bias?

Answer 9

When participants drop out of a long-term experiment or study at unequal levels

Question 10

Differentiate between distress, eustress, and neustress

Answer 10

Distress- negative stress that builds over time and is bad for your body
Eustress- positive type of stress when you perceive a situation as challenging, but motivating
Neustress- neutral type of stress that occurs in response to something that doesn’t directly affect you

Question 11

Discuss the positive/negative and reinforcement/punishment types of conditioning

Answer 11

Positive- addition of stimulus

Reinforcement- increases a behavior

Question 12

What are the three core components of emotion

Answer 12

Physiological arousal, expressive displays, and subjective experiences

Question 13

What is the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion

Answer 13

Emotion processing has three distinct steps: physiological arousal, cognitive interpretation fo the situation, and the experience of the emotion

Question 14

What is the James-Lange theory of emotion

Answer 14

Behavioral and physiological aspects of emotion (increased heart rate) lead to cognitive aspects of emotion (feeling afraid)

Question 15

What is the Cannon-bard theory of emotion

Answer 15

Physiological and cognitive aspects of emotion occur simultaneously and independently

Question 16

What is the Yerkes-Dodson law

Answer 16

People tend to perform their best when they’re moderately emotionally stimulated

Question 17

Describe the Fixed-ratio, variable ratio, variable interval, and continuous reinforcement schedules

Answer 17

A fixed-ratio schedule is when the behavior is reinforced after a specific number of responses. For example, a rat gets a treat every third push of a lever.

Variable-ratio schedules occur when behavior is reinforced after an average, but unpredictable, number of responses. For example, a rat treat dispenser could be set to dispense a treat after an average of 1 out of every 10 presses, but the exact number of presses between rewards will vary.

Fixed-interval schedules occur when behavior is reinforced after a specific amount of time has passed. An example would be semi-monthly paydays.

Variable-interval schedules occur when behavior is reinforced after an average, but unpredictable, amount of time has passed.

Of these methods, variable-ratio schedules are generally considered to be the most effective.

Question 18

What does criterion validity refer to? What does construct validity refer to?

Answer 18

Whether a variable is able to predict a certain outcome. Whether the terms of a study are appropriately defined

Question 19

What is absolute mobility?

Answer 19

Whether or not your living standards are better than your parents

Question 20

Define informational influence

Answer 20

To accept information from others as evidence about reality, can come into play when we are uncertain about information or what might be correct

Question 21

Describe approach-approach conflict, avoidant-approach conflict, approach-avoidant conflict, and double approach-avoidant conflict

Answer 21

In approach-approach conflicts, two options are both appealing.

In avoidant-avoidant conflicts, both options are unappealing

An approach-avoidance conflict is observed when one option has both positive and negative aspects

Double approach-avoidant conflicts consist of two options with both appealing and negative characteristics

Question 22

What is the relationship between attribution theory and fundamental attribution error?

Answer 22

Attribution theory relates to an attempt by an individual to interpret actions by assigning causes to them; fundamental attribution error is when an individual interprets another’s actions incorrectly by overemphasizing internal characteristics instead of external events