PSY141 Exam Questions Flashcards
__________ was the first to define psychology as the science of behaviour:
a. B. F. Skinner
b. John B. Watson
c. William James
d. Edward Titchener
b. John B. Watson
As a modern science, modern psychology primarily strives for:
a. universal laws, that is to explain all people in the same way
b. culturally specific laws, that is to explain people in terms of the culture and society in which they are born
c. general laws, that is it cannot explain an individual, only a population
d. moral laws, that is it attempts to explain what we should do
a. universal laws, that is to explain all people in the same way
The Theory of Multiple Intelligences was proposed by:
a. Howard Gardner
b. Robert Sternberg
c. Charles Spearman
d. Louis Thurstone
a. Howard Gardner
Dr Tehan conducts basic research on the influences of ageing on memory. It is most likely that Dr Tehan is a _____________ psychologist.
a. health
b. clinical
c. behavioural
d. cognitive
d. cognitive
The idea that dysfunctional thinking underlie psychological disorders is the:
a. behavioural theory of psychological disorders
b. cognitive theory of psychological disorders
c. belief systems theory of psychological disorders
d. humanistic theory of psychological disorders
b. cognitive theory of psychological disorders
In general, people store two kinds of information in long-term memory:
a. everyday and semantic
b. everyday and episodic
c. episodic and semantic
d. procedural and declarative
d. procedural and declarative
Within a neuron, the direction of the nerve impulse moves from:
a. axon to cell body to dendrites
b. dendrites to axon to nucleus
c. dendrite to cell body to axon
d. axon hillock to dendrites to terminal buttons
c. dendrite to cell body to axon
Neurocognitivists claim that the hindbrain and midbrain play an important role in
a. conscious awareness
b. unconscious processes
c. subjective awareness of mental processes
d. conscious arousal
d. conscious arousal
According to cognitive neuroscience, the difference between perception and sensation is:
a. perception refers to the physical stimulation of sensory organs, while sensation refers to the brain organising information
b. perception refers to the brain organising information, while sensation refers to the physical stimulation of sensory organs
c. perception is our subjective interpretation, while sensation is what is actually there
d. perception is an image, while sensation is a feeling
b. perception refers to the brain organising information, while sensation refers to the physical stimulation of sensory organs
When you listen to music, the sound waves are converted into neural impulses for your brain to process. This is called:
a. transformation
b. sensory transmission
c. perceptual coding
d. transduction
d. transduction
Operant Conditioning was first proposed by:
a. J. B. Watson
b. B. F. Skinner
c. Ivan Pavlov
d. Edward Thorndike
b. B. F. Skinner
According to neurocognitivist approach the most important areas for language are:
a. Wernicke’s and Broca’s area
b. dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex
c. the medulla oblongata and the hypothalamus
d. the homunculus and the pineal gland
a. Wernicke’s and Broca’s area
Erikson was one of the first theorists to take the notion of development beyond adolescence seriously. He describes the developmental tasks confronting young adults as:
a. identity versus identity confusion
b. intimacy versus isolation
c. industry versus inferiority
d. generativity versus stagnation
b. intimacy versus isolation
According to the ______ model, people with an underlying vulnerability may develop a psychological disorder under stressful circumstances.
a. cause-effect
b. diathesis-stress
c. nature-nurture
d. drive-homeostasis
b. diathesis-stress
Everything has been going wrong for John. No matter what he tries, it does not seem to make any difference. Therefore, he has given up trying. John’s behaviour is an example of:
a. avoidance learning
b. paradoxical conditioning
c. stimulus generalisation
d. learned helplessness
d. learned helplessness
According to Darley and Latané, one reason why people fail to help a stranger in distress is:
a. ethical hedonism
b. bystander intervention
c. dispersal of accountability
d. diffusion of responsibility
d. diffusion of responsibility
The Milgram Experiments were designed to investigate:
a. obedience
b. conformity
c. group processes
d. social identity
a. obedience
The theory that states attitudes are derived from behaviour, rather than vice versa, is called:
a. behavioural attitude theory
b. self-perception theory
c. consequence theory
d. reward theory
b. self-perception theory
The Stanford Prison experiment:
a. was conducted by Zimbardo and was used as evidence that we conform to social roles
b. was conducted by Milgram and was used to as evidence that we obey authority
c. was conduced by Asch and was used to as evidence that we conform to peers
d. was conducted by Darley and Latané and was used as evidence of a bystander effect
a. was conducted by Zimbardo and was used as evidence that we conform to social roles
Tests that attempt to quantify psychological attributes, such as personality traits or intellectual abilities, are referred to as:
a. psychometric instruments
b. intelligence tests
c. phrenological measures
d. personality inventories
a. psychometric instruments
Liam lives in a residential college where they have pizza every Tuesday night. To make it seem like a special occasion, the tables are covered with dark red tablecloths. Unfortunately, Liam was sick one Tuesday night after eating pizza. Now, whenever he sees a dark red tablecloth, he feels nauseous. What is the conditioned stimulus?
a. feels nauseous
b. pizza
c. Tuesday night
d. dark red tablecloth
d. dark red tablecloth
Based on social learning theory, which of the following would be the most effective motto to present to a class for parents who want their children to adopt their standards of behaviour?
a. silence is golden
b. follow my lead
c. do as I say, not as I do
d. because I said so
b. follow my lead
According to Kohlberg, at the third level of moral development, postconventional morality, morality is:
a. abstract, self-defined principles
b. defined by the desire to avoid punishment or obtain reward
c. defined by what they have learned from others, especially authority figures
d. based on the need to maintain law and order.
a. abstract, self-defined principles
The first few hours after hatching are a critical period for goslings because:
a. they are most vulnerable to predators at that time
b. they must quickly initiate the swimming reflex in order to survive
c. they are biologically prepared to follow whatever moving object they see
d. all of the options listed
c. they are biologically prepared to follow whatever moving object they see
Which of the following best exemplifies chunking?
a. Jane remembers the name of her best friend’s mother - an unusual family name - by creating a song in which she sings the syllables of the name to a familiar tune from her childhood
b. Anna recalls important facts for an upcoming history exam by ‘hanging’ each piece of information on a ‘peg’ - in this case, a number - while visualising the fact creatively
c. Alex is able to immediately remember four new phone numbers by recognising that each begins with a familiar exchange, and the final digits of each number represent a familiar date in history
d. Brooke remembers her lines for a school play by memorising one speech at a time, then attaching the speech to a visual image that somehow captures the essence of what she is saying
c. Alex is able to immediately remember four new phone numbers by recognising that each begins with a familiar exchange, and the final digits of each number represent a familiar date in history
Psychology is best defined as:
a. The study of mental illness and its treatments
b. The scientific study of mental processes, behavior, and the interaction between them
c. The study of how society influences human behavior
d. The practice of therapeutic interventions to improve well-being
b. The scientific study of mental processes, behavior, and the interaction between them
Which of the following areas does psychology explore?
a. Behavior, mental processes, and biological influences
b. Only behavior and observable actions
c. Mental health exclusively
d. Social constructs independent of biology
a. Behavior, mental processes, and biological influences
The emergence of psychology as a scientific discipline is most closely associated with:
a. The publication of Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams
b. Wilhelm Wundt establishing the first psychology laboratory in 1879
c. Charles Darwin’s work on evolution
d. The rise of behaviorism in the 20th century
b. Wilhelm Wundt establishing the first psychology laboratory in 1879
What marked the transition from philosophical thought to scientific psychology?
a. Experimental methods to study mental processes
b. The emphasis on introspection without experiments
c. Focus on therapeutic techniques
d. Theories of unconscious drives
a. Experimental methods to study mental processes
Which of the following is NOT a major theoretical perspective in psychology?
a. Biological perspective
b. Cognitive perspective
c. Political perspective
d. Sociocultural perspective
c. Political perspective
The cognitive perspective focuses on:
a. The influence of brain structures on behavior
b. How people perceive, process, and remember information
c. The role of unconscious conflicts
d. The impact of external stimuli on observable behavior
b. How people perceive, process, and remember information
Structuralism, as a psychological approach, focuses on:
a. Understanding the purpose of mental processes in adaptation
b. Breaking down mental processes into basic components through introspection
c. Observable behaviors and their reinforcement
d. Unconscious drives and conflicts
b. Breaking down mental processes into basic components through introspection
Functionalism differs from structuralism by emphasizing:
a. The elements of consciousness
b. The practical role of mental processes in adapting to the environment
c. The introspective study of sensations
d. The experimental study of emotions
b. The practical role of mental processes in adapting to the environment
The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes:
a. Observable behaviors and reinforcement
b. The role of unconscious motives, conflicts, and past experiences in behavior
c. The influence of social and cultural factors on development
d. Biological mechanisms driving cognition
b. The role of unconscious motives, conflicts, and past experiences in behavior
Which of the following is NOT associated with the psychodynamic perspective?
a. Defense mechanisms
b. The unconscious mind
c. Operant conditioning
d. Early childhood experiences
c. Operant conditioning
The free-will perspective in psychology suggests that:
a. Behavior is completely determined by environmental and genetic factors
b. Individuals actively choose and control their actions
c. Behavior is influenced by unconscious processes
d. All behavior is predetermined by societal norms
b. Individuals actively choose and control their actions
The determinism perspective argues that:
a. Behavior is a result of conscious decisions
b. Free choice plays a significant role in shaping actions
c. Behavior is shaped by prior causes, such as genetics and environment
d. Individuals act independently of biological or social influences
c. Behavior is shaped by prior causes, such as genetics and environment
Which of the following is a subdiscipline of psychology?
a. Clinical psychology
b. Political psychology
c. Economic psychology
d. Agricultural psychology
a. Clinical psychology
The subdiscipline of developmental psychology focuses on:
a. Treating psychological disorders
b. Understanding how people grow and change throughout life
c. The influence of society and culture on individuals
d. Diagnosing neurodevelopmental conditions
b. Understanding how people grow and change throughout life
Intrinsic motivation is driven by:
a. External rewards such as money or praise
b. Internal satisfaction or interest in the activity itself
c. The need to avoid punishment
d. Social approval from peers
b. Internal satisfaction or interest in the activity itself
Extrinsic motivation is characterized by:
a. Pursuing activities solely for personal growth
b. Engaging in behaviors to obtain external rewards or avoid punishments
c. Participating in activities out of curiosity and enjoyment
d. A lack of interest in achieving goals
b. Engaging in behaviors to obtain external rewards or avoid punishments
Performance-based motivation focuses on:
a. Developing competence and mastering new skills
b. Achieving goals to demonstrate ability and gain recognition
c. Pursuing tasks for enjoyment and personal growth
d. Minimizing the risk of failure
b. Achieving goals to demonstrate ability and gain recognition
Mastery-based motivation is characterized by:
a. Striving to outperform others
b. A desire to improve skills and gain knowledge, regardless of outcomes
c. Avoiding challenges to maintain self-esteem
d. Seeking external validation for achievements
b. A desire to improve skills and gain knowledge, regardless of outcomes
According to Maslow, the first level of the hierarchy consists of:
a. Self-actualization needs
b. Esteem needs
c. Physiological needs
d. Social needs
c. Physiological needs
In Maslow’s hierarchy, self-actualization refers to:
a. The desire for belonging and connection
b. The pursuit of achieving one’s full potential and creativity
c. The need for security and stability
d. Building relationships and friendships
b. The pursuit of achieving one’s full potential and creativity
Emotions are best described as:
a. Random physiological reactions to external stimuli
b. Complex patterns of physiological arousal, cognitive interpretation, and behavioral expression
c. Solely psychological phenomena unrelated to behavior
d. Cultural constructs with no biological basis
b. Complex patterns of physiological arousal, cognitive interpretation, and behavioral expression
Which of the following is NOT a component of emotion?
a. Cognitive appraisal
b. Behavioral expression
c. Physiological arousal
d. Long-term mood states
d. Long-term mood states
The James-Lange theory of emotion suggests that:
a. Emotion arises from physiological arousal and behavioral reactions
b. Cognitive interpretation occurs before emotional experience
c. Emotions and physiological reactions occur simultaneously
d. Emotions are based solely on cultural learning
a. Emotion arises from physiological arousal and behavioral reactions
The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion emphasizes:
a. The role of unconscious conflicts in emotional development
b. Cognitive labeling of physiological arousal to identify emotions
c. Direct connections between stimuli and emotional responses
d. The simultaneous experience of emotion and arousal
b. Cognitive labeling of physiological arousal to identify emotions
Which of the following best describes how a neuron functions?
a. Neurons communicate through the exchange of chemicals in the synapse and electrical signals along the axon.
b. Neurons work independently and do not require synaptic communication.
c. Neurons generate responses through direct muscle stimulation.
d. Neurons transmit signals only in one direction without any feedback.
a. Neurons communicate through the exchange of chemicals in the synapse and electrical signals along the axon.
The part of the neuron responsible for receiving signals is:
a. Axon
b. Dendrites
c. Myelin sheath
d. Synaptic cleft
b. Dendrites
The central nervous system consists of:
a. The brain and spinal cord
b. The brain and peripheral nerves
c. The spinal cord and sensory organs
d. All nerves and the endocrine system
a. The brain and spinal cord
Which part of the nervous system is responsible for voluntary muscle movement?
a. Sympathetic nervous system
b. Parasympathetic nervous system
c. Somatic nervous system
d. Autonomic nervous system
c. Somatic nervous system
The firing of a neuron is important because:
a. It is unrelated to cognitive processes but supports reflexes.
b. It represents the communication of information in the brain, essential for cognition and behavior.
c. It occurs only when individuals are learning new skills.
d. It is primarily responsible for regulating blood flow.
b. It represents the communication of information in the brain, essential for cognition and behavior.
Neural firing patterns in the prefrontal cortex are associated with:
a. Reflexive actions
b. Higher-order thinking, decision-making, and planning
c. Basic survival functions like breathing
d. Emotional responses exclusively
b. Higher-order thinking, decision-making, and planning
Damage to the frontal lobe can result in:
a. Impaired memory storage
b. Difficulty with emotional regulation, decision-making, and planning
c. Inability to process visual stimuli
d. Loss of balance and coordination
b. Difficulty with emotional regulation, decision-making, and planning
Which of the following is most likely a result of damage to the hippocampus?
a. Problems with long-term memory formation
b. Loss of fine motor skills
c. Impaired ability to regulate breathing
d. Difficulty interpreting sounds
a. Problems with long-term memory formation
Neurotransmitters are responsible for:
a. Generating electrical impulses in the neuron’s dendrites
b. Transmitting chemical messages between neurons at the synapse
c. Coordinating muscle movement directly
d. Transporting oxygen to the brain
b. Transmitting chemical messages between neurons at the synapse
Which neurotransmitter is associated with mood regulation and depression?
a. Dopamine
b. Serotonin
c. Acetylcholine
d. Glutamate
b. Serotonin
Sensory receptors play a key role in:
a. Translating external stimuli into neural signals for the brain to process
b. Interpreting complex stimuli without brain involvement
c. Relaying emotional responses to the body
d. Generating motor responses in muscles
a. Translating external stimuli into neural signals for the brain to process
Which sensory system is responsible for detecting changes in pressure and vibration?
a. Visual system
b. Auditory system
c. Somatosensory system
d. Vestibular system
c. Somatosensory system
Which of the following is NOT a criterion used to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior?
a. Statistical rarity
b. Violation of social norms
c. Personal distress or impairment
d. The frequency of positive emotions
d. The frequency of positive emotions