psy ch 1 test

Question 1

Changes in behavior and cognitive processes over time are studied by

Answer 1

evolutionary psychologists

Question 2

The theory of ________ states that organisms that are better suited for their
environment will survive and reproduce, while those that are poorly suited for their
environment will die off.

Answer 2

evolution by natural selection

Question 3

Human eggs and sperm each contain 23 ________, which are composed of long strands of
________.

Answer 3

chromosomes; DNA

Question 4

________ asserts that our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and
our environment interacts with our genes to determine where within those boundaries
we will fall.

Answer 4

range of reaction

Question 5

The space between two neurons is called the ________.

Answer 5

synapse

Question 6

A(n) ________ is the electrical signal that typically moves from the neuron’s cell
body down the axon to the axon terminals.

Answer 6

action potential

Question 7

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are drugs commonly prescribed for
________.

Answer 7

depression

Question 8

The two major divisions of the nervous system are the ________ and ________.

Answer 8

central; peripheral nervous systems

Question 9

________ is a state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions (such as body
temperature) are maintained at optimal levels.

Answer 9

homeostasis

Question 10

Which of the following brain processes is not a function of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 10

breathing

Question 11

Which of the following brain processes is not a function of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 11

breathing

Question 12

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing ________.

Answer 12

motor information to body areas, such as arms, legs, and face temperature, touch, and pain

Question 13

Randolf is walking down the street of his hometown, after being away for several
years, when he smells the scent of freshly baked pie coming from a local baker. He
suddenly has vivid memories of walking down this street as a child, holding both of
his parents’ hands, and swinging between them, feeling relaxed and happy. This is
because the sense of smell projects directly to the ________, which is responsible
for emotional memories.

Answer 13

limbic system

Question 14

Jeremy has Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects
motor skills. In addition to motor symptoms, Jeremy has noticed changes in his mood.
It is likely that Jeremy’s ________ is producing less ________ than it needs to.

Answer 14

substantia nigra; dopamine

Question 15

The effects of neurotransmitters tend to be ________, whereas the effects of
hormones tend to be ________.

Answer 15

faster; longer lasting

Question 16

The ________ nervous system is responsible for responses such as pupil dilation,
increased heart rate, and increased respiration.

Answer 16

sympathetic

Question 17

The ________ nervous system is responsible for stimulating digestion and causing the
bladder to contract.

Answer 17

parasympathetic

Question 18

One example of ________ is the differences between hemispheres in the areas
underlying language function.

Answer 18

lateralization

Question 19

Which of the following areas is located in the frontal lobe of the brain?

Answer 19

Broca’s area

Question 20

Elaina has been diagnosed with a small brain tumor. She first went to see her doctor
after experiencing symptoms such as feeling very cold, almost fainting, a reduced
appetite, and reduced sexual desire. Which of the following structures is her tumor
most likely affecting?

Answer 20

hypothalamus

Question 21

Kelsey had a CT scan that showed a tumor in the right frontal cortex. Which of the
following behavioral symptoms most likely prompted the scan to take place?

Answer 21

motor skill deficits in the left side of her body

Question 22

Which choice is an accurate definition of a hypothesis?

Answer 22

A tentative explanation

Question 23

Psychology refers to the ________.

Answer 23

scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Question 24

Which of the following choices refers to a broad explanation or group of
explanations for some aspect of the natural world that is consistently supported by
evidence over time?

Answer 24

scientific theory

Question 25

The empirical method of study is based on ________.

Answer 25

observation of phenomena.

Question 26

Which individual wrote Principles of Physiological Psychology and is credited with
establishing a scientific laboratory of Psychology at the University of Leipzig?

Answer 26

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 27

Which of the following is a criticism of structuralism?

Answer 27

The process was highly subjective.

Question 28

Functionalist psychologists focus on the function of behavior and ________.

Answer 28

the operation of the whole mind rather than the individual parts

Question 29

A(n) ________ , also known as an operant chamber, is an instrument that isolates an
animal from the external environment and allows a researcher to control that
animal’s rewards and punishments

Answer 29

Skinner box

Question 29

For which concept is Abraham Maslow best known?

Answer 29

Proposing a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behavior

Question 30

Which of the following exemplifies the unconditional positive regard component of
client-centered therapy?

Answer 30

Abby tells her therapist that she tripped a small child who got in her way, and
her therapist accepts this information without judgment.

Question 31

Which of the following is not part of feminist psychology?

Answer 31

favoring women over men

Question 32

Who was the first African American to receive a PhD in psychology in the United
States?

Answer 32

Francis Cecil Sumner

Question 33

In looking at the area of multicultural psychology, what is a recognized deficit of
this particular area of study?

Answer 33

It can describe what happens between cultures, but not explain why those
differences occur.

Question 34

Which famous female psychologist completed all of the requirements for a doctorate in psychology but was denied that degree because of her sex?

Answer 34

Mary Whiton Calkins

Question 35

Cognitive psychology focuses on studying ________.

Answer 35

thoughts and their relationship to our experiences and our actions

Question 36

When studying personality traits, someone who is hardworking, dependable, and
organized will score high on the ________ trait.

Answer 36

conscientiousness

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of research someone might conduct in the area
of health psychology?

Answer 37

whether people working at a desk are more likely to be obese

Question 38

Which of the following is a common requirement of a PhD across different schools
and/or countries?

Answer 38

A dissertation

Question 39

The first woman to earn the PhD degree in psychology was ________.

Answer 39

Margaret Floy Washburn

Question 39

A(n) ________ is a well-developed set of ideas that proposes an explanation for
observed phenomena.

Answer 39

theory

Question 40

This organization, one of the largest professional groups of psychologists in the
world, was founded in 1892.

Answer 40

The American Psychological Association

Question 41

The scientific process is ________, involving both inductive and deductive
reasoning.

Answer 41

circular

Question 41

Psychological knowledge is advanced through a process known as ________, which
involves a prescribed series of steps designed to achieve the desired knowledge.

Answer 41

the scientific method

Question 42

Dr. Guttierez is examining a research question and has posted a hypothesis, but his
student points out, “Dr. G., the assumption that you have made cannot be disproven
no matter what data we gather!” This research study suffers from an absence of
________.

Answer 42

falsifiability

Question 43

________ is an anthropologist who contributed to our understanding of chimpanzee
behavior in the wild, using naturalistic observation.

Answer 43

Jane Goodall

Question 44

________ is/are often conducted with large numbers of participants and can even be
conducted by phone, email, or mail.

Answer 44

surveys

Question 45

________ is a reduction in the number of research participants as some drop out of
the study over time.

Answer 45

attrition

Question 46

________ assesses the consistency of observations by different observers.

Answer 46

Inter-rater reliability

Question 47

A negative correlation means ________.

Answer 47

one variable decreases as the other increases

Question 48

The belief that strange behavior is linked to the occurrence of a full moon is an
example of a(n) ________.

Answer 48

illusory correlation

Question 49

A(n) ________ is a description of how the researchers will measure the variables of
interest.

Answer 49

operational definition

Question 50

In a ________ study, both the researchers and the participants are unaware of the
group assignments.

Answer 50

double-blind

Question 51

A(n) ________ is conducted in order to determine whether there are meaningful
differences between two groups in a study.

Answer 51

statistical analysis

Question 52

Lesley, a sociology major, believes that money is the key to happiness. Her friend
Stephen, a psychology major, believes that good health is the key to happiness. How
might the two friends resolve their disagreement?

Answer 52

They could research peer-reviewed articles to see if either perspective is
supported. They could

Question 53

The fact that some well-known studies have been repeated without finding results
consistent with those in the initial report describes a(n) ________ that is
currently affecting research in psychology and other fields.

Answer 53

replication crisis

Question 56

________ (IRB) reviews research that is involves the use of human participants.

Answer 56

Institutional Review Board

Question 57

In the study of personality, the ________ model includes different traits that are
believed to underlie each individual’s basic tendencies.

Answer 57

Five Factor