Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour

Question 1

During which of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development do children begin to understand conservation (quantity is constant despite changes in shape).

Answer 1

The preoperational stage, between 2-7 years old.

Question 2

At what age do children generally enter the formal operational stage of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development?

Answer 2

Around age 12.

Question 3

Define the James-Lange theory of emotion.

Answer 3

Nervous system arousal leads to a cognitive response in which the emotion is labelled.

Question 4

Define the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion.

Answer 4

The simultaneous arousal of the nervous system and cognitive response lead to action.

Question 5

Define the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion.

Answer 5

Nervous system arousal and interpretation of context lead to a cognitive response.

Question 6

What is the primary neurotransmitter used by the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 6

Acetylcholine.

Question 7

What are the 3 needs prevalent in self-determination theory?

Answer 7

1. Autonomy
2. Competence
3. Relatedness

Question 8

What does the two-factor theory of emotion stipulate?

Answer 8

Emotion requires not only physiological arousal but also context-dependent cognitive interpretation.

Question 9

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, from highest to lowest priority?

Answer 9

1. Physiological
2. Safety
3. Love and belonging
4. Esteem
5. Self-actualization

Question 10

What is agoraphobia?

Answer 10

Fear of open or crowded spaces/becoming trapped or embarrassed.

Question 11

What is acrophobia?

Answer 11

Fear of heights.

Question 12

What is monophobia?

Answer 12

Fear of being alone.

Question 13

What is Atychiphobia?

Answer 13

Fear of failure.

Question 14

What occurs in operant conditioning when the reinforced behaviour ceases to be reinforced?

Answer 14

Extinction of the target behaviour.

Question 15

What is meant by “group polarization”?

Answer 15

The tendency for a group as a whole to take a more extreme position than the individual points of view of members of the group.

Question 16

What is the basis for social cognitive theory?

Answer 16

People will change behaviour or attitudes based on observation.

Question 17

What are some examples of “agents of socialization”?

Answer 17

Advertising, family, friends, media, etc. (pressure to conform?)

Question 18

Define self-selection bias.

Answer 18

Any situation in which individuals select themselves into a group, causing a biased sample with nonprobability sampling.

Question 19

Define social constructivism.

Answer 19

The constructed expectation that a given event will have certain necessary components (ex: always having rice as part of dinner).

Question 20

Define Weber’s law.

Answer 20

The ability of a person to discern differences at low magnitudes (weight, touch) which they would not identify at high magnitudes?

Question 21

How did Weber measure the just noticeable difference of perception? What term describes this?

Answer 21

By increasing the variance between two stimuli until a difference was identified. This method is called “discrimination”.

Question 22

Which psychological theory concludes that behaviour is based on reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 22

The behaviourist perspective (/model/theory).

Question 23

Describe dissociative disorder.

Answer 23

A person puts themselves in a special state (thrills, drugs, alcohol, etc.) that removes the feelings of unpleasant memories.

Question 24

Describe fundamental attribution error.

Answer 24

We have a tendency to explain someone’s behaviour in terms of their personality rather than external factors.

Question 25

Describe confirmation bias.

Answer 25

Favouring information that confirms your previously existing beliefs or biases.

Question 26

Describe cognitive dissonance.

Answer 26

An inconsistency between an attitude or cognition, and the behaviour which ensues.

Question 27

Describe belief perseverance.

Answer 27

The inability of people to change their beliefs even when faced which facts which contradict or refute these beliefs.

Question 28

What are the 3 components of attitude?

Answer 28

1. Affective (emotional) 2. Behavioural 3. Cognitive

Question 29

Describe intergenerational mobility.

Answer 29

A change in social status across generations or changes in social class from parents' to child's generation.

Question 30

What are the 4 categories presented in Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

Answer 30

1. Sensorimotor 2. Preoperational 3. Concrete operational 4. Formal operational

Question 31

To which demographic do Piaget's stages of cognitive development apply?

Answer 31

Infants and young children.

Question 32

What is meant by a "mediating variable" in a study?

Answer 32

A variable which helps to explain the relationship between two other variables.

Question 33

Define crystallized intelligence. When does this peak?

Answer 33

The ability to make use of skills, knowledge, and experience. Peaks in middle adulthood.

Question 34

Define fluid intelligence. When does this peak?

Answer 34

The capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge. Peaks in early adulthood.

Question 35

What differentiates a primary circular reaction from a secondary circular reaction during child development?

Answer 35

Primary: repeated behaviour which the child finds soothing Secondary: repeated behaviour which affects their environment.

Question 36

What term describes a graph which increases steadily until the increase tapers off at some maximum value?

Answer 36

A logarithmic graph.

Question 37

Describe Korsakoff's syndrome.

Answer 37

A memory disorder often caused by alcohol abuse which can cause a person to confabulate.

Question 38

What differentiates a behaviourist perspective from a humanist one?

Answer 38

Behaviourist: focused on action Humanist: focused on cognition/emotion

Question 39

How do you calculate the just noticeable difference according to Weber's law?

Answer 39

JND = change / original | Always a percent of the original stimulus.

Question 40

Describe the Hawthorne effect.

Answer 40

Individuals change their behaviour because they are aware they are being studied.

Question 41

The social cognitive perspective is based upon _______.

Answer 41

Expectations of others.

Question 42

Which brain structure is most closely linked to the fear response?

Answer 42

The amygdala.

Question 43

Describe Erik Erikson's intimacy versus isolation crisis.

Answer 43

Adults 20-24 realize their ability/inability to have intimate relationships with others.

Question 44

Define conflict theory.

Answer 44

Anger or dissatisfaction based on inequality.

Question 45

What differentiates a social more and a social folkway?

Answer 45

A matter of scale. Social mores are more broadly applicable, while folkways are specific.

Question 46

Define inductive reasoning.

Answer 46

A method of reasoning in which the premises are viewed as supplying evidence for the truth of the conclusion.

Question 47

What area of the brain deals with processing and displaying negative emotions?

Answer 47

The prefrontal cortex.

Question 48

What area of the brain coordinates and regulates muscular activity?

Answer 48

The cerebellum.

Question 49

What area of the brain is primarily involved with controlling autonomic functions and coordinating body movements?

Answer 49

The medulla oblongata.

Question 50

What does "negative punishment" mean?

Answer 50

The removal of a desired stimulus.

Question 51

What differentiates "escape reinforcement" and "avoidance reinforcement"?

Answer 51

Escape: bad things are happening how do I stop them Avoidance: bad things will happen if I don't stop them

Question 52

What is meant by "stereotype threat"?

Answer 52

The awareness of a negative stereotype for your demographic can make you more likely to conform to the stereotype.

Question 53

Which part of the CNS is respinsible for voluntary movement?

Answer 53

The cerebrum (cerebral cortext) is responsible for all higher thought and voluntary action.

Question 54

What does the trait perspective of personality stipulate?

Answer 54

That personality can be broken into countless stable traits which are ubiquitous across people and cultures.

Question 55

Define "groupthink".

Answer 55

Individuals in a group want to eliminate conflict and so conform to group norms when faced with difficult choices.

Question 56

What structure can be thought of as the brain's "sensory relay station"?

Answer 56

The thalamus sorts sensory stimuli before routing it to the target areas of the cortex.

Question 57

What is meant by a "primacy effect"?

Answer 57

The tendency to remember information presented at the beginning of a series.

Question 58

classical conditioning is most closely related to which psychological approach?

Answer 58

The behaviourist approach.

Question 59

what differentiates a cognitive process from an affective process?

Answer 59

Cognitive: thought-driven Affective: emotion-driven

Question 60

How are the sound-responsive ion channels in the cochlea gated?

Answer 60

Mechanically, via the hair cells.

Question 61

What is the best way to measure a person's level of sympathetic arousal?

Answer 61

Electrical conductivity of the skin.

Question 62

What term is used to describe the mapping of social relationships among individuals?

Answer 62

Social network analysis.

Question 63

What type of memory refers to the performance of particular types of actions (ex: riding a bike)?

Answer 63

Procedural memory.

Question 64

In sociology, ______ groups are considered more stable.

Answer 64

Larger groups.

Question 65

What does conflict theory emphasize?

Answer 65

The competition between groups over the allocation of societal resources.