CH-1 Psychology and Life – Psychology and Life : Exam Guide

Chapter 1: Psychology and Life 1) How is psychology best defined? A) The scientific study of the mind and consciousness. B) The scientific study of the mental processes of individuals. C) The scientific study of mental disorders and abnormal behaviour. D) The scientific study of the behaviour of individuals and their mental processes. Answer: D Rationale: Psychological conclusions are based on scientific study of how organisms adjust to their environments, and on internal events of the human mind such as thinking and planning. 2) When conducting psychological research, what should the conclusions be based upon? A) the beliefs held by the majority of people. B) the fundamental concept of common sense. C) the opinions of respected researchers in the field. D) the application of the scientific method. Answer: D Rationale: The scientific method consists of steps that help us analyze and solve problems in orderly ways, based on objectively collected information. 3) What is the primary subject matter of psychology? A) observable behaviour of humans. B) unobservable behaviour of humans. C) observable behaviour of other species of animals. D) observable behaviour of humans and other species of animals. Answer: D Rationale: Psychologists examine the behaviour of humans in their environments and in their social and cultural contexts. Psychologists also study other species in their natural habitats or in the research laboratory. 4) Dr. Dehane has conducted a research study. When drawing conclusions about behaviour, what should Dr. Dehane rely upon? A) Personal beliefs B) Common sense C) Objectively collected information D) Everyday observations of people Answer: C Rationale: Psychological conclusions are based on evidence that gives psychologists a factual basis for drawing conclusions by using the scientific method. 5) Which statement is MOST consistent with the perspective taken by psychologists? A) Human behaviour is of primary interest. B) Mental processes are of less value than observable behaviour. C) Observable behaviour and mental processes are of interest. D) Theoretically, behaviour should only be studied in a controlled research laboratory. Answer: C Rationale: Psychologists focus on the behaviour of individuals in various settings, while sociologists study social behaviour of groups or institutions, and anthropologists study behaviour in the broader contexts of culture. 6) When compared to the work of sociologists and anthropologists, what are psychologists most likely to focus more upon? A) social institutions. B) individual behaviour. C) cultural differences in behaviour. D) the behaviour of people in groups. Answer: B Rationale: Psychologists focus on the behaviour of individuals in various settings, while sociologists study social behaviour of groups or institutions and anthropologists study behaviour in the broader context of culture. 7) An individual’s curiosity about how the human mind works is coupled with a fascination with computer science and artificial intelligence. What emerging area of science is being described? A) social B) health C) cognitive D) biological Answer: C Rationale: Psychologists' questions about how the mind works are related to theory and research in computer science, philosophy, linguistics and neuroscience. 8) Two psychologists are discussing the relative importance of the various levels of analysis researchers may use. Which statement are they most likely to agree upon? A) The broadest level of analysis is the most important. B) The narrowest level of analysis is the most important. C) Some levels of analysis are less important than others. D) Different levels of analysis address different questions. Answer: D Rationale: Each level of analysis gives information to the researcher that is important to understanding different aspects of behaviour and mental processes. A level of analysis may be very narrow (i.e. an individual's reaction time) to very broad (i.e. cultural influences on the individual). 9) An educational psychologist has decided to do research on reading behaviour. If this topic was approached from the broadest level of analysis, what would most likely be studied? A) Lip movements made while reading a page of text B) Cross-cultural variations in attitudes toward reading C) Eye movements made while reading a page of text D) Left and right brain hemispheric differences in the processing of foreign languages Answer: B Rationale: At the broadest level of analysis, researchers study the whole person within social and cultural contexts, including cross-cultural differences and similarities. 10) When investigating behaviour, researchers may use different levels of analysis. Which research question exemplifies the broadest, most global level of analysis? A) What are the origins of prejudice? B) Are there gender differences in prejudice? C) Are there differences in how various racial groups express prejudice? D) What is the role of early childhood experiences in the formation of prejudice? Answer: A Rationale: The broadest level of analysis describes complex social and cultural contexts of behaviour and mental processes. 11) What must psychologists do first to make accurate observations about behaviour? A) Predict behaviour B) Explain behaviour C) Control behaviour D) Describe behaviour Answer: D Rationale: Psychologists use levels of analysis to answer different questions and to gather various types of information; each level of analysis is a part of the objective description of behaviour. 12) To investigate behaviour, researchers may use different levels of analysis. Which research question exemplifies the narrowest, most specific level of analysis? A) What are the causes of mental illness? B) Which brain structures are associated with paranoid schizophrenia? C) Are food additives responsible for the occurrence of certain types of mental illness? D) Are there differences in the prevalence of mental illness in different countries? Answer: B Rationale: This level of analysis explores smaller and smaller units of behaviour; it is a description of specific influences on behaviour. 13) What should be of utmost importance to a research psychologist when describing behaviour? A) To use a broad level of analysis B) To use a narrow level of analysis C) To collect the facts as they exist D) To collect facts that are consistent with the hypothesis. Answer: C Rationale: It is important to avoid letting biases, prejudices or expectations influence collection of data. Description must be based on objective collection of data, rather than subjective points of view. 14) How does the psychologist's goal of explanation differ from the psychologist's goal of description? A) Explanations are objective. B) Explanations are based on data. C) Explanations use a lower level of analysis. D) Explanations deliberately go beyond what can be observed. Answer: D Rationale: Psychologists strive to describe behaviour objectively by collecting the facts as they exist. Explanations go beyond that to look for patterns in behaviour and mental processes. Explanations demonstrate that behaviour is influenced in most cases by a combination of factors, some of which can be directly observed and some of which cannot. 15) A basketball player stays late after practice in an effort to improve performance. Other players talk about this individual as being highly motivated to succeed and hard-working. How are these variables best characterized? A) descriptive B) situational C) internal D) environmental Answer: C Rationale: Some explanations for behaviour exist within the individual and tell us something unique about the individual. These internal factors usually combine with external ones to fully explain behaviours and mental processes. 16) In the context of the goal of explanation, what does the concept of "informed imagination" imply? A) The widest level of analysis B) The researcher's use of objective methods C) Creativity in synthesizing what is known and not yet known D) Discovery of cause-effect relationships by systematic experimentation Answer: C Rationale: Informed creativity is a process of examining a diverse collection of data and drawing conclusions about patterns or even causes of behaviour and mental processes. Conclusions are based on facts gathered from research and from the trained psychologist's insights into human experience. 17) How are different explanations of behaviour usually judged? A) By how consistent they are with the hypothesis B) By how well they combine situational and environmental variables C) By how well they can make accurate and comprehensive predictions D) By how consistent they are with the experiences of the general public Answer: C Rationale: If explanations of behaviour are based on research and creative synthesis of information, it is likely that we can say that the behaviour will happen in a particular way in the future; if this is the case, prediction has been accurate and comprehensive. If not, further research is needed to search for a more comprehensive and accurate explanation of the behaviour. 18) While playing golf, Tom catches his opponent cheating. Tom’s subsequent belief that his opponent also probably cheats on his income tax is most consistent with which of the psychologist's research goals? A) control B) prediction C) description D) explanation Answer: B Rationale: Predictions are statements about the likelihood that certain behaviours will occur. If you believe that your opponent is a cheater, you are likely to predict that he will act that way in other situations as well. 19) Two students are discussing their teacher's inability to remember student names. One attributes the inability to a poor memory, but the other believes it is due to a lack of motivation. How should researchers judge which of the two explanations is best? A) By attributing the inability to remember to a situational variable B) By measuring how strongly each student feels about their explanation C) By attributing the inability to remember to a dispositional variable D) By determining how well each explanation predicts behaviour in new situations Answer: D Rationale: Accurate explanations of the underlying causes of behaviour allow researchers to make accurate predictions about the future. Causal explanations rely on examination of objective data and synthesis of what is known with trained insights into human experience. 20) Which scenario best reflects the psychological goal of control? A) A girl discovers that she can make her brother cry by teasing him. B) A pet owner expects that her dog will be waiting for her when she gets home. C) A child likes ice cream because it tastes sweet. D) A poet writes a poem describing a beautiful snowfall. Answer: A Rationale: Control is making behaviour happen or not happen. 21) Which psychological goal is achieved when therapeutic programs are designed to help people substitute more positive behaviours for negative behaviours? A) control B) prediction C) explanation D) description Answer: A Rationale: Psychologists have devised ways to help people gain control over problematic aspects of their lives; people learn ways to make behaviours happen or not happen in their lives to increase quality of life. 22) The types of interventions that allow people to improve the quality of their lives is most directly the result of which goal of psychological research? A) control B) prediction C) explanation D) Description Answer: A Rationale: Changing behaviour (making it happen or not happen) is one way of improving quality of life. Psychological interventions help people identify changes that are needed and help them make changes in behaviours that will have an effect on quality of life. 23) Treatments for mental illness, the ability of people to eliminate unhealthy behaviours such as smoking and initiate healthy behaviours such as exercise, and the development of positive parenting practices are all consistent with which idea? A) Psychology is based on common sense. B) Psychological knowledge can be used to help improve quality of life. C) Explanation and prediction are the two most important psychological goals. D) The use of animal participants has minimal relevance to modern psychological research. Answer: B Rationale: Quality of life is improved when we change behaviours (make them happen or not happen). Making behaviours happen or not happen is part of the ability to control behaviour, which gives psychologists ways of helping people improve the quality of their lives. 24) How has much of the history of psychology been characterized? A) By the belief that ideas matter greatly B) By general agreement about the subject matter of psychology C) By uncertainty with respect to the definition of psychology D) By considerable agreement among researchers as to appropriate methodologies Answer: A Rationale: At the core of all the many forces that led to the emergence of modern psychology is the principle that ideas matter. 25) In 1908, Hermann Ebbinghaus wrote that "Psychology has a long past, but only a short history." Which statement best captures the idea that Ebbinghaus was expressing? A) Psychologists, like philosophers, have difficulty learning from their mistakes. B) Questions about human nature have existed for a long time, but only recently have the methods necessary to answer them been developed. C) The field of psychology has existed for a long time, but only recently have scholars recorded the accomplishments of the profession. D) Although psychologists have been doing laboratory research for hundreds of years, little of substance has been discovered about human nature. Answer: B Rationale: Toward the end of the nineteenth century, researchers in the new field of psychology began to apply laboratory techniques from sciences such as physiology and physics to the exploration of questions about behaviour and mental processes. Questions about the mind and behaviour had been asked for centuries by philosophers. 26) Where can questions about how the mind works and the nature of free will be traced? A) To Wilhelm Wundt B) To Hermann Ebbinghaus C) To the end of the nineteenth century D) To the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. Answer: D Rationale: The classical Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle posed fundamental questions about how the mind works and the nature of free will in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. 27) Where can the origins of Western psychology be traced? A) To indian Yogic traditions B) To classical Greek philosophy C) To Asian and African psychology D) To the early Roman Catholic church Answer: B Rationale: Western psychology traces its origins to the classical Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle from the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. 28) According to research cited in the text, what did Russian students report as the greatest source of conflict among friends? A) romantic competition B) disrespectful behaviour C) betrayals of confidence D) attitudes towards the opposite sex Answer: C Rationale: This research demonstrates that researchers must be careful about generalizing results across cultures; the most common causes of conflict with friends in the U.S. Midwestern sample of students was romantic competition and disrespectful behaviour. 29) When attempting to answer questions about how the mind works, how did the classical Greek philosophers compare to the psychological researchers at the end of the nineteenth century? A) The philosophical approach was actually more scientific. B) The philosophical and psychological approaches were essentially identical. C) Only the psychological researchers applied laboratory techniques from other sciences. D) Only the classical Greek philosophers realized that such questions could never really be answered. Answer: C Rationale: The Greek philosophers did not possess the means to answer important questions about human nature in scientific ways. 30) What happened in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany that was of great importance to the field of psychology? A) Wilhelm Wundt was born. B) The idea of behaviourism was first suggested. C) Sigmund Freud wrote his book, The Interpretation of Dreams. D) The first formal laboratory devoted to experimental psychology was founded. Answer: D Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt founded the first formal laboratory devoted to experimental psychology in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. 31) Which early American psychologist taught philosophy at Harvard, studied medicine, had strong interests in literature and religion, and wrote one of the most important psychology texts ever, The Principles of Psychology, in 1890? A) William James B) Wilhelm Wundt C) G. Stanley Hall D) Edward Titchener Answer: A Rationale: William James taught at Harvard, studied medicine, had strong interests in literature and religion, and wrote The Principles of Psychology, in 1890. 32) In 1900, approximately how many psychology laboratories were in existence in North America? A) 1 B) 4 C) 40 D) 400 Answer: C Rationale: By 1900 there were more than 40 psychology laboratories in North America 33) What would a research assistant likely conclude after observing experiments in Wilhelm Wundt's laboratory? A) His approach was was more suitable for the study of physiology than that of psychology. B) The responses that were required of the participants were quite complex. C) Independent observers could replicate the experiments. D) The data collection techniques were neither systematic nor objective. Answer: C Rationale: Data was collected in his laboratory through systematic, objective procedures. Therefore, observers could do the experiments again in exactly the same ways. 34) When Edward Titchener brought Wundt's psychology to the United States, what experimental technique was introduced for examining conscious mental life? A) Structuralism B) Introspection C) Functionalism D) Psychoanalysis Answer: B Rationale: Titchener used introspection to examine elements of conscious mental life. 35) What would a participant in one of Titchener's early studies of conscious experience most likely be asked to do? A) Attempt to memorize a long list of nonsense words. B) Try to read the mind of a person seated in an adjoining room. C) Undergo hypnosis and have the responses recorded. D) Examine personal thoughts and feelings about sensory experiences. Answer: D Rationale: Titchener used a technique called introspection to study consciousness. Introspection is the systematic examination by individuals of their thoughts and feelings regarding their own sensory experiences. 36) What concept was of the most concern to followers of structuralism? A) The "how" of mental contents B) The "why" of mental contents C) The "what" of mental contents D) The "when" of mental contents Answer: C Rationale: Structuralism is the study of consciousness based on the idea that all human mental experience can be understood as a combination of basic components. The goal of structuralism is to understand the basic structure of the human mind through analysis of the basic elements of sensation and other experiences of mental life. 37) A research psychologist believes that, to have a complete understanding of behaviour, one needs to study both human and non-human behaviour. Which criticism of structuralism is in agreement with this researcher’s philosophy? A) It had very little application to the "real world." B) It ignored participants who could not engage in introspection. C) It combined parts into a whole rather than studying behaviours directly. D) It studied simple sensations that could not account for complex human behaviour. Answer: B Rationale: Structuralism studied only verbal reports of human consciousness, ignoring individuals who could not give such reports, including children, the mentally disturbed, and animals. 38) One attack on structuralism was that it is mentalistiC) Why do critics believe this to be true? A) Structuralism sought to combine parts, or elements, into a whole. B) Structuralism studied only verbal reports of human conscious awareness. C) Structuralism required participants to make simple responses to stimuli. D) Structuralism reduced all complex human experience to simple sensations. Answer: B Rationale: Structuralism was said to be mentalistic because it studied only verbal reports of consciousness, excluding individuals such as children, the mentally disturbed, and animals who could give no verbal reports. 39) Which German psychologist focused on the way in which the mind understands experiences as organized wholes rather than as the sums of simple parts? A) Max Wertheimer B) Sigmund Freud C) Wilhelm Wundt D) Edward Titchener Answer: A Rationale: Max Wertheimer focused on the way in which the mind understands many experiences as organized wholes. 40) A psychologist who specializes in the study of perception is referred to as a "Gestalt Psychologist." What does a Gestalt Psychologist typically focus upon? A) the approach known as functionalism. B) the reduction of complex human experience into simple sensations. C) the way in which the mind understands experiences as organized wholes. D) conscious experience being the sum of individual experiences. Answer: C Rationale: Gestalt psychology focuses on the way in which the mind understands organized wholes of experience. It does not see the organized wholes of experience as the sum of simple parts. 41) Which aspects of the mind were of most interest to William James? A) functions B) contents C) thoughts D) emotions Answer: A Rationale: For James, the functions of mental processes were of significance to human consciousness, not the contents of the mind, as Titchener believed. 42) What did functionalists such as William James and John Dewey emphasize in their approach to behaviour? A) purposes. B) elements. C) contents. D) structures. Answer: A Rationale: Functionalism focused on learned habits that allow organisms to adapt to their environments and to function effectively. The key question for research was, “What is the purpose or function of any behavioural act?" 43) Titchener is to structuralism as Dewey is to A) behaviourism. B) determinism. C) functionalism. D) introspection. Answer: C Rationale: Titchener's approach to the study of mental processes became known as structuralism, the study of the structure of mind and behaviour. Dewey's approach was known as functionalism, the study of the purposes and functions of mental processes. Titchener and Dewey were responsible for the introduction of these opposing methods of study to the growing discipline of psychology. 44) Which area of focus is more in keeping with the philosopy of William James than that of Edward Titchener? A) rigorous laboratory methods and experimental control. B) the functions of mental processes, not the contents of the mind. C) the basic elements of sensation that formed an individual's mental life. D) the "what" of mental contents rather than the "why" or "how" of thinking. Answer: B Rationale: For functionalists such as William James, the key question to be answered by research was, "What is the function or purpose of learned habits / behaviours?" Acts and functions of mental processing was the focus rather than the contents, structures and elements of consciousness. 45) For functionalists, what was the key question to be answered by research? A) "What is the nature of the mind?" B) "What is the purpose of any behavioural act?" C) "What part of the mind is responsible for human motivation?" D) "What feelings are associated with specific thoughts and emotions?" Answer: B Rationale: The emphasis of functionalism was on the ways in which behavioural acts/habits enable organisms to adapt to their environments and to function effectively. 46) Who was the founder of the school of functionalism? A) John Dewey. B) Henry James. C) William James. D) Edward Titchener. Answer: A Rationale: John Dewey founded the school of functionalism. 47) Due in large part to the theorizing of John Dewey, where did school systems in the early part of the twentieth century in North America place more emphasis? A) On progressive education. B) On learning by observing. C) On intellectual curiosity. D) On rote learning. Answer: A Rationale: Dewey's concerns about the practical uses, functions and purposes of mental processes led to progressive learning, an emphasis within the educational systems of North America on learning by doing rather than learning by rote. 48) With respect to the legacies of structuralism and functionalism, what do contemporary psychologists currently examine? A) strictly the function of behaviour. B) strictly the structure of behaviour. C) both the structure and function of behaviour. D) both human uniqueness and the collective unconscious. Answer: C Rationale: Psychologists now recognize that both the content and the purposes of mental processes are important to understanding the behaviour of individuals. 49) Which statement most closely characterizes the current view of most psychologists toward the study of behaviour? A) Psychologists borrow and blend from different perspectives. B) Psychologists tend to agree that the most productive approach is the biological perspective. C) Psychologists take the approach that complex behaviour can be reduced to patterns of simple behaviour. D) Although psychologists differ in their basic approach, the vast majority agree on the questions to be asked and how they should be studied. Answer: A Rationale: Each perspective adds a different approach to understanding human experience, each adding a different dimension to fuller understanding of the entirety of human experience. 50) Dr. Ellis believes that one purpose of behaviour is to reduce the tension that has been brought about by powerful inner forces such as conflicts between personal needs and society's demands. Which perspective does Dr. Ellis most likely favour? A) cultural B) humanistic C) behaviourist D) psychodynamic Answer: D Rationale: There are powerful unconscious forces that motivate organisms to act in certain ways; these motives arise from the tension created between the unconscious needs and desires of the individual and the demands of the society within which the individual lives. 51) A psychologist believes that instincts, drives and conflicts act as one fuel for behaviour; when tension has been reduced sufficiently, the behaviour stops. Which psychological perspective is being described? A) biological B) evolutionary C) behaviourist D) psychodynamic Answer: D Rationale: The main purpose of behavior is to reduce tension. Tension arises when there is conflict between the needs of the individual and the demands of society. When needs are met in some way, tension is reduced and the behavior directed toward fulfilling the needs is reduced or stopped. 52) A psychologist believes that the habit of nail biting is the result of an inner conflict between a personal need to stay a child and society's demand that that the individual grow up. Which psychological perspective has this psychologist most likely adopted? A) cultural B) biological C) evolutionary D) psychodynamic Answer: D Rationale: The main purpose of action is to reduce tension. Tension is created between your need to stay child-like and society's demands. The visible behaviour of biting your nails is a symbol of the complex unconscious interaction of inner and outer forces each vying for fulfillment of conflicting needs. 53) Using ideas originating in his work with mentally disturbed patients, who developed the psychodynamic principles of motivation? A) John Dewey B) William James C) Sigmund Freud D) Wilhelm Wundt Answer: C Rationale: Freud developed the psychodynamic principles of motivation through his work with mentally disturbed patients. 54) While rummaging in the attic, a student comes across what appears to be a previously undiscovered early manuscript of Sigmund Freud. Although the student can't read German, which title would the student most likely presume? A) Learning by Doing. B) The Technique of Introspection. C) The Purposes of Behaviuor. D) Unconscious Motivations. Answer: D Rationale: Freud's psychodynamic theory was the first to recognize that actions may be motivated by unconscious conflicts. 55) Which belief is consistent with Neo-Freudian theory? A) human nature is clearly rational. B) conscious processes are most important. C) personality develops over the lifetime. D) systematic scientific research is not necessary. Answer: C Rationale: Rather than only emphasizing early childhood as the time of personality development, psychodynamic theory now includes the idea that, over the human lifespan, social interactions and influences occur that have an effect on personality development. 56) What do psychologists who take the behaviourist approach seek? A) To illustrate the innate goodness of humans. B) To understand how environmental stimuli control behaviour. C) To validate the importance of thought processes in human behaviour. D) To demonstrate the importance of unresolved conflicts and inner forces. Answer: B Rationale: Behaviourists look at environmental conditions that precede behaviour and set the stage for a response. Then they look at the response or action, followed by the observable consequences of the action. 57) The professor in a Theories of Psychology class asks the students to read the section of the textbook in which antecedents, responses, and consequences are described. Which perspective will the next class likely focus upon? A) biological B) humanistic C) behaviourist D) evolutionary Answer: C Rationale: Antecedents describe the environmental conditions that precede behaviour. Responses describe the actions that take place following the antecedents. These responses are actions to be understood, predicted and controlled. Finally, the behaviourist studies the consequences or observable actions that are the result of the response. 58) Dr. Albert is searching for antecedent environmental conditions and the observable consequences that follow from responses. Which perspective does Dr. Albert most likely support? A) cognitive B) humanistic C) behaviourist D) psychodynamic Answer: C Rationale: Those who take the behaviourist perspective want to understand how particular environmental stimuli control particular kinds of behaviour. Observable consequences follow responses. Responses follow antecedent environmental conditions. 59) Who pioneered the behaviourist perspective? A) Sigmund Freud B) John Watson C) Mary Calkins D) B) F. Skinner Answer: B Rationale: Watson pioneered the behaviourist perspective. 60) Which statement best characterizes the textbook authors' views with respect to the legacy of behaviourism? A) The principles of behaviourism have been widely and successfully applied to human problems. B) The principles of behaviourism ultimately fail because they are not based on carefully controlled laboratory experiments. C) Behaviourism has been relatively unsuccessful because it places too little emphasis on determining the antecedents and consequences of behaviour. D) Behaviourism has been successful because, unlike other perspectives, it has based most of its conclusions on research with human participants. Answer: A Rationale: Behaviourist principles have been successfully applied to educating children based on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, new therapies for modifying problematic behaviours, and to guidelines for creating model communities, among many other things. 61) Dr. Barber follows the humanistic perspective in psychology. Where will Dr. Barber most likely place greater weight and importance? A) On the capacity of humans to make choices. B) On breaking down complex behaviour into elementary units of behaviour. C) On how environmental forces come to control the individual's behaviour. D) On the powerful instinctual tendencies that dominate people's actions. Answer: A Rationale: People are innately active, good and capable of choice. Humanists emphasize that humans have a natural tendency to move toward psychological growth and health through their choices. 62) According to the humanistic perspective, what is the main task for humans? A) To manage powerful, instinctive forces. B) To attend, think, remember and understand. C) To strive for positive development. D) To shape personal behaviour to avoid unfavourable consequences. Answer: C Rationale: Carl Rogers emphasized that individuals have a natural tendency toward psychological growth and health; this tendency is aided by the positive regard of others. Maslow introduced the term self-actualization; this is the tendency of each individual to be motivated toward the fullest development of his or her potential. 63) Which psychological perspective is supported by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow? A) behaviourist B) psychodynamic C) evolutionary D) humanistic Answer: D Rationale: Maslow is associated with the humanistic perspective. 64) Which psychological perspective emphasizes the "whole" person? A) cognitive B) humanistic C) behaviourist D) psychodynamic Answer: B Rationale: Humanists practice a holistic approach to human psychology, not only integrating knowledge of mind and body with knowledge of social and cultural influences, but also expanding the study of psychology to include lessons from literature, history and the arts. 65) What is the central emphasis of the cognitive approach? A) principles of evolution. B) human feelings and emotions. C) human thought and knowledge. D) inner forces that push and pull behaviour. Answer: C Rationale: From the cognitive perspective people act because they think, and think because they are human beings, exquisitely equipped to think. 66) According to the cognitive model which statement about behaviour is true? A) It may result from totally new ways of thinking. B) It is primarily determined by past behavioural consequences. C) It is generally determined by preceding environmental events. D) It is primarily determined by both preceding stimulus events and past behavioural consequences. Answer: A Rationale: Behaviour is only partly the result of environmental antecedents and behavioural consequences. Behaviour cannot just be predicted from patterns of response. Higher mental processes such as perception and problem solving are also involved. 67) Which idea would a cognitive psychologist most likely support? A) there is no such thing as a novel way of thinking. B) behaviour is primarily a function of objective reality. C) thoughts can be either the results of behaviour or the causes of behaviour. D) researchers should focus their attention on behaviours rather than on higher mental processes. Answer: C Rationale: We can have a thought that results in a specific behaviour (apologizing because we think we have hurt someone) or a thought that is a result of a specific behaviour (regretful thoughts because we hurt someone). 68) What is the dominant approach in psychology today? A) cognitive B) sociocultural C) evolutionary D) psychodynamic Answer: A Rationale: Because of its focus on mental processes, many researchers see the cognitive perspective as the dominant one in psychology today. 69) Which psychological perspective looks for the causes of behaviour in the functioning of genes, the brain, the nervous system, and the endocrine system? A) cognitive B) biological C) humanistic D) psychodynamic Answer: B Rationale: The biological perspective guides psychologists who search for the causes of behaviour in the functioning of genes, the brain, the nervous system, and the endocrine system. 70) A researcher who is investigating the possibility that some mental illnesses have a genetic basis is most likely being guided by which perspective? A) cultural B) biological C) humanistic D) behaviourist Answer: B Rationale: The biological perspective guides those who search for causes of behaviour in the functioning of genes, the brain, the nervous system, and the endocrine system. 71) Which assumption is consistent with the biological perspective? A) Organisms that are better suited to the environment tend to produce offspring more successfully. B) Behaviour is determined by both preceding environmental events and novel ways of thinking. C) Experience cannot alter underlying brain structures and processes. D) Complex behaviour is best understood if it is studied at the broadest level of analysis. Answer: C Rationale: Experience can modify behaviour by altering biological structures and processes. In learning to read, for instance, changes in the brain occur. The task is to understand behaviour at this most precise level of analysis. 72) The task of psychobiological researchers is to understand behaviour at which of the following levels of analysis? A) the broadest level B) the most precise level C) a moderately broad level D) a moderately precise level Answer: B Rationale: The most precise level of analysis reduces knowledge to smaller and smaller units. A psychobiologist who studies reading would attempt to understand the exact physical processes in cells of the brain. 73) Organisms that are better suited to their environments are more likely to pass on their genes than are organisms with poorer adaptations. What concept does this statement support? A) the cultural perspective. B) Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. C) Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic approach. D) the behaviourist view of human behaviour. Answer: B Rationale: Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is an idea central to life sciences. Over generations, species change in the direction of the best adaptations. 74) Which belief about the relationship between the principles of evolution and the brain's mental abilities is consistent with evolutionary psychology? A) Brains evolve just as other organs do. B) The evolution of mental abilities has reached its peak. C) Brains adapt in humans, but not in other animals. D) Physical abilities adapt to environmental demands, not the brain. Answer: A Rationale: The focus of evolutionary psychology is the environmental conditions in which the human brain evolved. 75) If cooperation among humans enhanced the survival of the human species, this outcome would be most consistent with which perspective in psychology? A) sociocultural B) biological C) humanistic D) evolutionary Answer: D Rationale: Behaviours that are adaptive will survive and influence the behaviour of the species. Cooperation is adaptive because it helped the species survive. 76) How would evolutionary psychologists most likely explain the male and female sexual roles of today? A) As products of recent changes in the society. B) As behaviours that developed over extremely long periods of time. C) As equal to those roles as they existed during the Pleistocene era. D) As learned responses to environmental consequences in the individual male's and female's experience. Answer: B Rationale: Evolutionary psychology differs from other perspectives most fundamentally in its focus on the extremely long process of evolution as a central explanatory principle. 77) Which psychological perspective focuses on why anorexia and bulimia do not seem to be as common in Third World countries as they are in technologically advanced countries? A) sociocultural B) cognitive C) humanistic D) evolutionary Answer: A Rationale: Psychologists who take a sociocultural perspective study cross cultural differences in the causes and consequences of behaviour. 78) When anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski soundly critiqued Freud's father-centered theory by describing the family practices of the Trobriand Islanders of New Guinea, he was showing the value of which perspective? A) sociocultural B) cognitive C) humanistic D) psychodynamic Answer: A Rationale: The sociocultural perspective suggests in this case that the claims of the psychodynamic perspective are not universal. It challenges generalizations about human experience that ignore the diversity and richness of cultural influence. 79) Where would a biological psychologist most likely look for the determinants of a serial killer's behaviour? A) at the individual’s immediate environment. B) at the individual’s unconscious drives and conflicts. C) at the individual’s brain and nervous system processes. D) at adaptive behaviours of the individual’s ancestors. Answer: C Rationale: This perspective searches for causes of behaviour in central nervous system processes, including analyzing the brain for involvement of specific processes in aggressive behaviour. 80) A psychologist who explains a rapist's behaviour in terms of the rapist's displaced hostility toward his mother is most likely to prefer which perspective? A) cognitive B) humanistic C) evolutionary D) psychodynamic Answer: D Rationale: This perspective views adult behaviour as the result of unresolved unconscious childhood conflicts. 81) How would a psychologist who favours the behaviourist perspective most likely explain the source of temper tantrums? A) heredity. B) maladaptive mental processes. C) dysfunctional brain systems. D) previous behaviour and its consequences. Answer: D Rationale: Reinforcement of past aggressive responses would be identified. The positive consequence of extra attention for aggressive behaviour might explain current behaviour. 82) Students at an alternative high school program have value systems that have developed under social conditions that foster self-limiting, aggressive tendencies instead of growth enhancement. This statement is consistent with which perspective? A) humanistic B) evolutionary C) psychodynamic D) behaviourist Answer: A Rationale: Humanists look for explanations of negative behaviour in personal values and social conditions that limit growth-enhancing experiences and limit personal potential and positive interpersonal experiences. 83) Jesse robbed a store after watching a particularly violent movie. What would a cognitive psychologist attempt to determine in an effort to understand Jesse’s behaviour? A) If Jesse needed the money. B) If Jesse had relatives who were also thieves. C) If the movie affected Jesse’s thoughts and attitudes. D) If Jesse had a happy childhood free from conflict and stress. Answer: C Rationale: Cognitive psychologists study the impact of violence in the media on attitudes toward violence, on intentions to harm others, and on aggressive imagery after witnessing violence. 84) When describing marital infidelity, a psychologist suggested that our ancestors were not monogamous because having many partners was adaptive behaviour that increased the chances for survival. Which approach does this psychologist likely endorse? A) cognitive B) biological C) evolutionary D) psychodynamic Answer: C Rationale: Evolutionary psychologists study the adaptive qualities of behaviours such as monogamy that help the species survive and thrive over millions of years. 85) There are places in the world where young adults experience very little turmoil and other places where they seem prone to violent outbursts. Which psychological perspective would focus on these differences? A) sociocultural B) cognitive C) behaviourist D) evolutionary Answer: A Rationale: This perspective identifies similarities and differences in cultural displays and interpretations of particular behaviours and identifies how social and cultural factors influence the behaviours. 86) What activity is a forensic psychologist most likely to do? A) help an athlete improve performance. B) teach workers how to relieve stress. C) consult with lawyers about the sanity of a defendant. D) help elementary school children adapt to new teaching methods. Answer: C Rationale: Forensic psychologists apply psychological concepts to human problems in the field of law enforcement. 87) A recent research article has shown that infants are much more sophisticated than was previously believed. Although several different types of psychologists may have written the article, what type of psychologist most likely authored it? A) health B) clinical C) developmental D) human factors Answer: C Rationale: Developmental psychologists study the influence of genetics and environment on the physical, cognitive, and social functioning of individuals across the lifespan. 88) Which type of psychologist provides assessment and counseling for people with illnesses or disabilities? A) Biological B) Cognitive C) Health D) Rehabilitation Answer: D Rationale: Rehabilitation psychologists provide assessment and counseling for people with illnesses or disabilities, offer coping strategies and education to affected individuals, caretakers, employers, and community members. 89) A student is concerned about personal problems. What type of psychologist should the student consult? A) cognitive B) counseling C) educational D) developmental Answer: B Rationale: Counseling psychologists provide diagnosis and treatment options to people who have psychological problems or other issues of personal adjustment. 90) Where are most psychologists typically employed? A) in independent practice B) in an academic setting C) in the government D) in a hospital or clinic Answer: A Rationale: Most psychologists are employed in independent practice, followed by academic settings and hospitals or clinics. 91) Where was the first psychology department established in Canada? A) at the University of Western Ontario B) at the University of Toronto C) at McGill University D) at Queen's University Answer: C Rationale: The first psychology department was established at McGill University in 1924, followed by the University of Toronto in 1926. 92) Psychologists are trained to describe behaviour from their own subjective point of view, making sure to include their own biases and expectations in their observations. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: Psychologists are trained to minimize their biases and subjective interpretations when describing behavior. They aim for objectivity and use scientific methods to gather empirical evidence, rather than relying solely on their subjective viewpoints. 93) Psychologists believe that behaviour should only be studied in a controlled research laboratory. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: Psychologists recognize that behavior occurs in various settings and contexts, not just in controlled laboratory environments. While laboratory studies provide valuable insights, psychologists also conduct research in naturalistic settings to understand behavior in realworld situations. 94) Most psychologists today would agree with the statement that it is best to analyze behavior from the narrowest possible level. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: Most psychologists advocate for a multi-level analysis of behavior, considering various factors such as biological, psychological, social, and environmental influences. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of behavior rather than limiting analysis to a narrow perspective. 95) With respect to the goals of psychology, descriptions must stick to perceivable information, whereas explanations deliberately go beyond what can be observed. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Descriptions in psychology involve reporting observable facts or phenomena, while explanations attempt to interpret and understand the underlying mechanisms or causes that may not be directly observable. Explanations often involve theoretical constructs or hypotheses to make sense of observed behavior. 96) The first experimental psychologists were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were ancient Greek philosophers whose work laid the foundation for Western philosophy, including psychology, but they were not experimental psychologists. Experimental psychology as a formal discipline emerged much later in the 19th century. 97) In 1879, B. F. Skinner founded the first formal laboratory devoted to experimental psychology. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: The first formal laboratory devoted to experimental psychology was founded by Wilhelm Wundt in 1879 at the University of Leipzig in Germany. B. F. Skinner was an influential psychologist, but he did not found the first experimental psychology laboratory. 98) Historically speaking, the school of structuralism is older than the school of functionalism. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Structuralism, which focused on analyzing the basic elements of consciousness, predates functionalism. Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of structuralism, established the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879. Functionalism, emphasizing the functions and purposes of the mind, emerged later as a reaction to structuralism. 99) Three common criticisms of the school of structuralism are that it is reductionistic, elemental, and mentalistic. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Structuralism aimed to break down consciousness into its basic elements or structures, which led to criticisms of being reductionistic (reducing complex phenomena to simple components), elemental (focusing too much on discrete elements), and mentalistic (overemphasis on introspection and subjective experiences without considering external behavior). 100) The idea that one's experience of a painting is more than the sum of all of the individual brushstrokes is consistent with the view of Gestalt psychologist Max Wertheimer. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Gestalt psychology, founded by Max Wertheimer and others, emphasizes the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This concept is often illustrated by examples such as perception of visual patterns, where the arrangement or configuration of elements influences our perception beyond the individual elements themselves. 101) John Dewey's approach to education led to an overriding emphasis on the importance of rote learning and encouraged teachers to instruct their pupils through "drill and practice." A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: John Dewey was an influential educational philosopher who advocated for experiential learning, hands-on activities, and critical thinking rather than rote learning and drill-and- practice methods. His approach emphasized learning through meaningful experiences and active engagement with the material. 102) Margaret Washburn was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Margaret Floy Washburn was indeed the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. She received her doctorate from Cornell University in 1894 under the supervision of Edward Bradford Titchener, a prominent structuralist psychologist. 103) In Freud's view, human nature is not always rational, and behavior may be driven by motives that are not in conscious awareness. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, emphasized the role of unconscious motives, desires, and conflicts in shaping behavior. According to Freudian theory, much of human behavior is influenced by unconscious drives and impulses that individuals may not be fully aware of. 104) According to the humanistic perspective, people are driven by powerful, instinctive forces, manipulated by their environments, and are incapable of making choices and decisions concerning their lives. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: The humanistic perspective, as advocated by psychologists like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, emphasizes human potential, free will, and personal responsibility. It suggests that individuals have the capacity for self-awareness, self-improvement, and making choices that shape their lives, rather than being solely determined by instincts or environmental influences. 105) In the view of psychologists who follow the cognitive perspective, behavior is completely determined by preceding environmental events and past behavioral consequences. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: The cognitive perspective emphasizes the role of internal mental processes, such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, in shaping behavior. While cognitive psychologists recognize the influence of environmental factors, they also emphasize the active processing of information by individuals and the role of cognitive processes in decision-making and behavior. Behavior is seen as a result of both internal cognitive processes and external environmental factors. 106) Imagine reading a study that attributes abnormal behavior to malfunctioning brain centers and hormonal imbalances. This analysis would be most consistent with the approach taken by a psychologist who favors the biological perspective. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: The biological perspective in psychology emphasizes the role of biological factors, such as genetics, brain structure, neurotransmitters, and hormones, in influencing behavior and mental processes. Therefore, attributing abnormal behavior to malfunctioning brain centers and hormonal imbalances aligns with this perspective. 107) Brain imaging techniques have led to dramatic breakthroughs in the field of cognitive neuroscience. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), have provided valuable insights into the relationship between brain activity and cognitive processes. These technologies have enabled researchers to observe the brain in action, leading to significant advancements in cognitive neuroscience. 108) Simply stated, the idea behind natural selection is that organisms that are better suited to their environments tend to produce offspring more successfully than those organisms with poorer adaptations. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary theory proposed by Charles Darwin, suggests that organisms with advantageous traits or adaptations are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to subsequent generations. Over time, this process leads to the adaptation of populations to their environments. 109) Evolutionary psychology differs from other perspectives in its focus on the extremely long process of evolution as a central explanatory principle. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: Evolutionary psychology applies principles of evolutionary theory to understand human behavior and cognition. It focuses on how psychological mechanisms have evolved over time to solve adaptive problems faced by our ancestors. Unlike other perspectives, evolutionary psychology emphasizes the role of evolution as a central explanatory principle for human behavior. 110) Clinical psychologists apply the insights of researchers, but are not trained to do research themselves. A) True B) False Answer: False Rationale: Clinical psychologists are trained in both research and clinical practice. While they may primarily work in therapeutic settings, they are also capable of conducting research, designing studies, and analyzing data to contribute to the scientific understanding of psychological disorders and their treatments. 111) According to a survey of American Psychological Association members holding doctoral degrees in psychology, only about one-third have an independent practice. A) True B) False Answer: True Rationale: This statement is true based on the survey findings. It suggests that a significant portion of psychologists with doctoral degrees in psychology do not have independent practices, indicating diverse career paths within the field beyond clinical or private practice settings. 112) Psychological conclusions are based on evidence collected according to the principles of the __________ method. Answer: scientific Rationale: The scientific method involves systematic observation, experimentation, and analysis to gather evidence and draw conclusions in a structured and objective manner. In psychology, this approach is essential for ensuring that findings are reliable, valid, and replicable. 113) One of the first psychologists in the United States, Edward Titchener assumed that all human mental experience could be understood as the combination of basic components. His approach came to be known as __________. Answer: structuralism Rationale: Edward Titchener's structuralism focused on breaking down consciousness into its basic elements, such as sensations, feelings, and perceptions. He believed that by understanding these basic components, psychologists could gain insight into the structure of the mind. 114) Founded by the American philosopher John Dewey, the school of __________ focused on the purposes of behaviour. Answer: functionalism Rationale: Functionalism, pioneered by John Dewey and others, emphasized the adaptive functions of behavior. Instead of focusing solely on the structure of consciousness, functionalists sought to understand how mental processes and behaviors help individuals adapt to their environment and achieve goals. 115) The first woman to receive a PhD in psychology graduated from Cornell University in 1894. This woman was __________, who went on to write The Animal Mind, a very influential textbook. Answer: Margaret Washburn Rationale: Margaret Floy Washburn was indeed the first woman to earn a doctoral degree in psychology in the United States. Her work, including "The Animal Mind," contributed significantly to the field, particularly in the area of comparative psychology and animal behavior. 116) The first psychology department in Canada was established in 1924 at __________. Answer: McGill University Rationale: McGill University indeed established the first psychology department in Canada in 1924. This marked a significant milestone in the development of psychology as an academic discipline in Canada. 117) Antecedent environmental conditions and observable consequences that follow from a response are primary matters of concern for psychologists who follow the __________ perspective. Answer: behaviourist Rationale: Behaviorism, as a perspective in psychology, focuses on observable behavior and the environmental factors that influence it. This includes antecedent conditions (stimuli preceding a behavior) and consequences (reinforcements or punishments following a behavior), which are central to understanding and predicting behavior. 118) The behaviourist perspective was pioneered by __________, who was first to argue that psychological research should seek the laws that govern observable behaviour across species. Answer: John Watson Rationale: John B. Watson is considered the founder of behaviorism. He emphasized the importance of studying observable behavior and rejected the study of consciousness, advocating for psychology to be based on objective observation and experimentation. 119) Abraham Maslow coined the term __________ to refer to each individual's drive toward the fullest development of his or her potential. Answer: self-actualization Rationale: Abraham Maslow introduced the concept of self-actualization as the highest level of psychological development in his hierarchy of needs. Self-actualization represents the inherent motivation for individuals to fulfill their unique potential and achieve personal growth and fulfillment. 120) The centerpiece of the __________ perspective in psychology is human thought and all the processes of knowing. From this perspective, people act because they think. Answer: cognitive Rationale: The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, language, problem-solving, and decision-making. It views humans as active participants in their environment, with behavior influenced by internal mental processes, including thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. 121) Psychologists who take the __________ perspective are most likely to assess behavior as it occurs across nationalities and take into account different traditions, societies, and customs. Answer: sociocultural Rationale: The sociocultural perspective in psychology emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors on individual behavior and mental processes. Psychologists who adopt this perspective examine how cultural norms, values, beliefs, and societal structures shape behavior and cognition. They are interested in understanding how individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds experience and interact with their environment. 122) Your best friend is a freshman in college. She has just started to think about choosing a major. All she knows about psychology is that psychologists study behaviour. Define behaviour for her as it is understood by psychologists, including a description of levels of analysis so that she has an idea of the different ways in which behaviour can be studied. Answer: Define psychology, behaviour, and the scientific method. Discuss the emphasis on the study of individuals, human and non-human. Studies can be done in natural environments or in the laboratory. Studies often include investigation of mental processes. How does all of this make psychology unique among the social sciences? 123) Years ago, an eccentric rich uncle started looking out for your well-being. Recently he decided to subsidize your education. While you are on a vacation break, you drop by to visit him and mention in passing that you are taking a psychology course. He is intrigued and asks you to tell him about it. Specifically, he is interested in what the "point" of psychology is. What can you tell him about the science of psychology? Answer: Psychologists seek to answer the question, "What is human nature?" Include discussion of the parts of the definition of psychology: scientific, behaviour, individual, and mental. 124) You're at a cocktail party and run into a psychologist. You immediately get self conscious, thinking that the psychologist is analyzing you, until the psychologist puts you at ease and explains that they dedicate their time to conducting research rather than analyzing people. The psychologist goes on to explain the four basic goals of conducting research. What are you likely to learn from the psychologist's explanation? Answer: The four goals of psychologists, including describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling. 125) A friend is taking a history of science course, and has chosen to write a paper on the history of psychology. She comes to you for advice on who the important people were in the early history of psychology and the basic ideas underlying their approaches. What kind of helpful information could you give her concerning the people who contributed to the evolution of modern psychology? Answer: Include the early ideas of Aristotle and Plato, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant. Discuss Wilhelm Wundt's work. Include Max Wertheimer, Edward Titchener and William James. Discuss women’s roles in the development of psychology. 126) You're writing a paper for your History of Psychology course and you need to provide a broad overview of the structuralism and functionalism schools of thought, as well as how their legacy lives on in modern psychology. What information would you likely include in your paper? Answer: Discuss structuralism and functionalism and the legacy of these approaches as discussed in the textbook. 127) Briefly describe the following perspectives on psychology: psychodynamic, behaviourist, humanistic, cognitive, biological, evolutionary and sociocultural. What is the importance of perspectives in psychology? Answer: Psychodynamic emphasis is on powerful inner forces that drive and motivate behaviour. Behaviourists try to understand how stimuli in the environment control behaviour. Humanists believe that people are active, innately good, and capable of choice. The cognitive perspective focuses on human thought and all the processes of knowing. The biological perspective guides psychologists in the search for underlying biological processes and structures that affect behaviour. The evolutionary perspective focuses on conditions in the environment in which the human brain evolved, and the adaptive patterns that contribute to survival of species. The sociocultural perspective looks at cross-cultural differences in the causes and consequences of behaviour. 128) How would a psychologist from each perspective explain a woman suffering from an eating disorder? Answer: Psychodynamic perspective: unconscious conflicts, unresolved issues with parents. Behaviourist perspective: rewarded for not eating, antecedent events don't trigger eating. Humanistic perspective: no positive regard so individual couldn't develop toward the fullest potential. Cognitive perspective: perceptual problems where perceive self as fat, recurrent thoughts surrounding weight. Biological perspective: brain chemistry doesn't trigger eating behaviours, brain changes as a result of too few calories. Evolutionary perspective: misinterpretation of the cues that signal health and youth to potential mates, try to be overly thin to attract males. Sociocultural perspective: media sends signals to be thin, eating disorders not as prevalent in third world countries. 129) Imagine that you have a cousin who is a senior in high school and who has started to think about possible careers. All he knows about psychologists is that they are interested in behaviour. Describe for him the opportunities for a career within the field of psychology. What are the different types of psychologists and what kinds of questions do they attempt to answer? Answer: Consult Table 1.2 in the text: "The Diversity of Psychological Inquiry." Each approach to psychology achieves a balance of research and application in a different way. Give examples of different types of psychologists and their focuses of research and practice. 1) Psychology: A) has an applied side. B) is a scientific study of behaviour. C) has goals of describing, predicting, and explaining events. D) all of the above Answer: D Rationale: Psychology indeed has an applied side, where theoretical knowledge is put into practice to solve real-world problems. It is also a scientific study of behavior, employing empirical methods to observe, measure, and analyze behavior systematically. Additionally, psychology aims to describe, predict, and explain events, which are fundamental goals of scientific inquiry within the field. 2) Which of the following is the correct order that psychologists use in studying a particular behaviour? A) describe, explain, predict, control B) explain, describe, predict, control C) predict, describe, explain, control D) describe, predict, explain, control Answer: A Rationale: The correct order that psychologists use in studying a particular behavior is to first describe it, then explain why it occurs, predict when it will occur, and finally, attempt to control or modify it if necessary. This sequence reflects the logical progression of scientific inquiry. 3) Psychologists use techniques based on ___________. A) cultural ethnocentrism B) objective introspection C) philosophical logic D) the scientific method Answer: D Rationale: Psychologists rely on the scientific method, which involves systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation to develop and test hypotheses. This approach allows for the accumulation of empirical evidence and the formulation of reliable conclusions about human behavior and mental processes. 4) Structuralism emphasizes __________. A) individual differences B) the application of biological principles to the mind C) the influence of subconscious urges on conscious behaviour D) the basic units of experience and their combinations Answer: D Rationale: Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt, focuses on identifying the basic elements or structures of consciousness and how they combine to form more complex experiences. It emphasizes the analysis of sensations, feelings, and images into their elemental components. 5) Wertheimer was associated with __________ psychology. A) functionalist B) psychoanalytic C) Gestalt D) existential Answer: C Rationale: Max Wertheimer was associated with Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes the organization of perceptual experiences into meaningful wholes. Gestalt psychologists study how individuals perceive and understand the world around them as structured wholes rather than as a mere sum of individual sensations. 6) John Watson was the founder of the school of thought that became known as __________. A) functionalism B) structuralism C) behaviourism D) humanism Answer: C Rationale: John Watson is known as the founder of behaviorism, which emphasizes the scientific study of observable behavior and the rejection of introspection and other unobservable mental processes as the subject matter of psychology. 7) The first psychology laboratory was founded by __________. A) Wundt B) James C) Titchener D) Watson Answer: A Rationale: The first psychology laboratory was founded by Wilhelm Wundt in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. Wundt is often regarded as the father of experimental psychology for his pioneering work in establishing psychology as a scientific discipline. 8) B. F. Skinner is associated with __________. A) psychodynamic psychology B) behaviorism C) Gestalt psychology D) existentialism Answer: B Rationale: B. F. Skinner is closely associated with behaviorism, a school of psychology that focuses on the study of observable behavior and the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment. 9) Freud was the founder of __________. A) existential psychology B) behavioral psychology C) psychoanalysis D) behaviorism Answer: C Rationale: Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis, a school of psychology that emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in shaping personality and behavior. Psychoanalysis also involves techniques such as free association and dream analysis to explore the unconscious mind. 10) In the late 20th century, psychology __________. A) expanded dramatically B) stagnated C) contracted slightly D) contracted dramatically Answer: A Rationale: In the late 20th century, psychology experienced a dramatic expansion characterized by increased research, technological advancements, and the emergence of new subfields and interdisciplinary areas of study. This expansion was fueled by growing interest in understanding human behavior and improving mental health interventions, leading to significant growth in the field. 11) Like Watson, Skinner believed that psychology should study only __________. A) mental processes B) perceptions C) elements of thought D) observable behaviour Answer: D Rationale: Both Watson and Skinner were proponents of behaviorism, which asserts that psychology should focus exclusively on observable behavior rather than unobservable mental processes such as thoughts or perceptions. Skinner, like Watson, emphasized the importance of studying behavior in a scientific and objective manner. 12) By general agreement, psychology was born in __________. A) 1642 B) 1853 C) 1879 D) 1906 Answer: C Rationale: Psychology is generally considered to have been born in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig. This event marked the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline. 13) Freud’s theories differed radically from the views of his predecessors because of __________. A) their extensive use of laboratory research to support their claims B) the emphasis they placed on Eastern philosophies and culture C) the emphasis they placed on unconscious processes D) their emphasis on environmental learning as the source for most personality characteristics Answer: C Rationale: Freud's theories differed from those of his predecessors primarily due to his emphasis on unconscious processes and the role of unconscious conflicts in shaping behavior and personality. Unlike many of his contemporaries who focused on observable behavior or conscious experiences, Freud delved into the realm of the unconscious mind, proposing concepts such as the id, ego, and superego. 14) The first psychology laboratory was opened by __________. A) Wundt B) James C) Titchener D) Watson Answer: A Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt is credited with opening the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. This laboratory marked the beginning of psychology as an experimental science. 15) Titchener was a member of the ___________ school of thought. A) structuralist B) functionalist C) behaviourist D) reductionist Answer: A Rationale: Edward Titchener was a prominent figure in structuralism, a psychological school of thought that aimed to analyze the basic elements of consciousness and how they combine to form complex mental experiences. 16) The school of thought that became known as behaviorism was founded by __________. A) Watson B) Titchener C) James D) Wundt Answer: A Rationale: John Watson is considered the founder of behaviorism, which emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the rejection of introspection and unobservable mental processes as the subject matter of psychology. 17) As a science, psychology is approximately how old? A) 50 years B) 125 years C) 175 years D) 2500 years, since the field dates back to the ancient Greeks Answer: B Rationale: Psychology, as a formal science, is approximately 125 years old, dating back to the establishment of the first experimental psychology laboratory by Wilhelm Wundt in 1879. 18) Modern psychology is said to have begun when: A) Greek philosophers began studying the differences between people. B) Wundt opened the first laboratory devoted to the scientific study of psychology. C) Freud developed psychoanalytic theory and therapy. D) it was discovered in the early 1900s that many illnesses have no medical basis. Answer: B Rationale: Modern psychology is often said to have begun when Wilhelm Wundt opened the first laboratory specifically dedicated to the scientific study of psychology in 1879. This event marked the formal separation of psychology from philosophy and physiology. 19) The psychological school that asks “What are mental processes for?” rather than “What are mental processes?” is which of the following? A) structuralism B) functionalism C) humanism D) Gestalt Answer: B Rationale: Functionalism is the psychological school of thought that emphasizes understanding the function or purpose of mental processes rather than just describing their structure or elements. Functionalists sought to understand how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments and fulfill their needs. 20) The psychologist John Watson is associated with the _______ school of psychology and argued that psychology must concern itself only with ________. A) behavioural; behaviour B) behavioural; mental processes C) cognitive; thought and action D) cognitive; behaviour Answer: A Rationale: John Watson is associated with the behavioral school of psychology, which asserts that psychology should focus solely on observable behavior rather than mental processes. Watson argued that behavior, being observable and measurable, was the appropriate subject matter for scientific study within psychology. 21) Which of the following does NOT fit with the other three? A) Wundt B) 1879 C) functionalism D) introspection Answer: C Rationale: The concept of functionalism does not fit with the other three options because it is associated with a different school of psychology than the rest. Wundt, 1879, and introspection are all associated with structuralism, whereas functionalism represents a distinct approach to psychology. 22) Studying the elements of sensations, feelings, and images is most directly associated with which school of psychology? A) structuralism B) functionalism C) behaviourism D) humanism Answer: A Rationale: The study of the elements of sensations, feelings, and images is most directly associated with structuralism. This school of psychology, founded by Wilhelm Wundt, aimed to analyze the basic elements of consciousness through techniques such as introspection. 23) The primary method of investigation used by structuralists was: A) natural observation. B) dream interpretation. C) introspection. D) experimentation. Answer: C Rationale: The primary method of investigation used by structuralists was introspection, which involved trained observers reporting their conscious experiences in response to stimuli under controlled conditions. Through introspection, structuralists aimed to analyze the basic elements of consciousness. 24) The founder of behaviorism is: A) James. B) Skinner. C) Watson. D) Wundt. Answer: C Rationale: John Watson is considered the founder of behaviorism, a school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the rejection of introspection and unobservable mental processes as the subject matter of psychology. 25) Psychology is said to have begun when: A) medicine was seen to be ineffective in treating neurosis. B) Wilhelm Wundt started the first psychological laboratory. C) Sigmund Freud opened his private practice in Vienna. D) it was discovered in the early 1900s that many illnesses have no medical explanation. Answer: B Rationale: Psychology is said to have begun when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879. This event marked the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline. 26) Scientific psychology is formally recognized to have begun: A) in Greece, with the work of Hippocrates. B) in the United States, with the work of James. C) in Austria, with the work of Freud. D) in Germany, with the work of Wundt. Answer: D Rationale: Scientific psychology is formally recognized to have begun in Germany with the work of Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first experimental psychology laboratory in 1879. This marked the beginning of psychology as an independent scientific discipline. 27) The first psychology laboratory was opened by _________. A) Wundt B) James C) Titchener D) Watson Answer: A Rationale: The first psychology laboratory was opened by Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig in 1879. Wundt's laboratory is widely regarded as the birthplace of experimental psychology. 28) Skinner is associated with __________. A) structuralism B) behaviorism C) Gestalt psychology D) existentialism Answer: B Rationale: B. F. Skinner is associated with behaviorism, a school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment. 29) For Freud, much of our behavior is controlled by __________. A) unconscious desires B) environmental stimuli C) mental Gestalts D) mental associations Answer: A Rationale: According to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, much of our behavior is controlled by unconscious desires, conflicts, and impulses that lie beneath the surface of awareness. These unconscious forces influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 30) Watson felt that psychologists should study __________. A) consciousness B) observable behavior C) mental imagery D) elements of thought Answer: B Rationale: John Watson believed that psychologists should focus exclusively on studying observable behavior rather than consciousness, mental imagery, or elements of thought. He argued that behavior, being observable and measurable, was the proper subject matter for scientific investigation within psychology. 31) Psychologists should only study observable behaviour, according to __________. A) Freud B) Titchener C) Galton D) Watson Answer: D Rationale: John Watson, a behaviorist, argued that psychologists should focus solely on studying observable behavior rather than delving into unobservable mental processes. He emphasized the importance of objective, scientific observation and measurement in psychology. 32) John Watson was a behaviorist who argued that the science of psychology must concern itself only with: A) experiences as whole units. B) observable events. C) unconscious mental processes. D) early childhood experiences. Answer: B Rationale: John Watson, as a behaviorist, believed that the science of psychology should concern itself only with observable events, specifically observable behavior. He rejected the study of unconscious mental processes and subjective experiences, advocating for a focus on objective and measurable behavior. 33) Which of the following is associated with Gestalt psychology? A) Skinner B) Wertheimer C) James D) Jones Answer: B Rationale: Max Wertheimer is associated with Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes the organization of perceptual experiences into meaningful wholes. Wertheimer, along with his colleagues Köhler and Koffka, conducted influential research on perceptual phenomena that formed the basis of Gestalt psychology. 34) The psychologist John Watson is associated with the _______ school of psychology and argued that psychology must concern itself only with _______. A) behavioral; behavior B) behavioral; mental processes C) cognitive; thought and action D) cognitive; behavior Answer: A Rationale: John Watson is associated with behaviorism, a school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the rejection of introspection and unobservable mental processes. He argued that psychology should concern itself only with observable behavior, as it is the only objective and measurable aspect of psychological inquiry. 35) B. F. Skinner is most closely associated with which school of psychology? A) cognitive B) humanistic C) functionalism D) behaviorism Answer: D Rationale: B. F. Skinner is most closely associated with behaviorism, a school of psychology that focuses on the study of observable behavior and the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment. 36) Which one of the following psychologists was responsible for originating the behavioral school of psychology? A) Pavlov B) Watson C) Skinner D) Rayner Answer: B Rationale: John Watson is responsible for originating the behavioral school of psychology. He founded behaviorism, which emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the rejection of introspection and unobservable mental processes. 37) B. F. Skinner is most closely associated with which school of psychology? A) cognitive B) humanistic C) functionalism D) behaviorism Answer: D Rationale: B. F. Skinner is most closely associated with behaviorism, a school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment. 38) Wundt is to structuralism as _______ is to psychoanalysis. A) Freud B) Watson C) Rogers D) Maslow Answer: A Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt is associated with structuralism, a school of psychology that aimed to analyze the basic elements of consciousness. Similarly, Sigmund Freud is associated with psychoanalysis, a school of psychology that emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in shaping behavior and personality. 39) Watson is to behaviorism as _______ is to psychoanalysis. A) Freud B) James C) Skinner D) Wundt Answer: A Rationale: John Watson is associated with behaviorism, a school of psychology that focuses on the study of observable behavior. Similarly, Sigmund Freud is associated with psychoanalysis, a school of psychology that emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in shaping behavior and personality. 40) Each day in class, Dr. Helms explains to his students that they are wonderful whether they are academic successes or failures. He also points out that each individual consciously chooses to attend class and study and that these choices dramatically affect whether one is academically successful. Dr. Helms is most likely a _______ psychologist. A) psychoanalytic B) humanistic C) behavioral D) Gestalt Answer: B Rationale: Dr. Helms's emphasis on the importance of individual choice, self-actualization, and personal growth suggests that he aligns with the humanistic perspective in psychology. Humanistic psychologists focus on individual potential and emphasize the importance of subjective experiences, personal growth, and self-actualization. 41) Steve, a college sophomore, is seeing a psychologist because of his intense fear of people. His counselor feels that Steve’s fear is a product of unresolved conflicts about his parents, and his childhood experiences with them. Steve’s therapist is most characteristic of which school of psychology? A) behaviorism B) psychoanalytic C) humanistic D) Gestalt Answer: B Rationale: Steve’s therapist, who attributes Steve’s fear to unresolved conflicts from childhood, aligns with the psychoanalytic school of psychology, which emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences in shaping behavior and personality. 42) Cognitive psychology is contributing to the development of ________, which attempts to make computers learn and solve problems the way people do. A) educational technology B) forensic psychology C) virtual reality D) artificial intelligence Answer: D Rationale: Cognitive psychology, which focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, contributes to the development of artificial intelligence, which aims to create computer systems capable of learning and problem-solving tasks similar to those performed by humans. 43) Humanistic psychologists believe that: A) humans are basically destructive and must constantly fight negative impulses. B) psychologists should study only objective events such as stimuli and behaviors. C) people are basically good and will generally strive to achieve positive social goals. D) none of the above Answer: C Rationale: Humanistic psychologists believe that people are inherently good and possess an innate drive towards personal growth and self-actualization. They emphasize the importance of subjective experiences, personal autonomy, and positive social goals. 44) A psychologist bases his/her theories completely on measuring observable behaviors. This psychologist is probably a __________. A) humanist B) behaviorist C) structuralist D) functionalist Answer: B Rationale: A psychologist who bases theories solely on measuring observable behaviors aligns with behaviorism, which emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the rejection of introspection and unobservable mental processes. 45) What early school of thought in psychology was noted for its emphasis on the unconscious determinants of behavior? A) structuralism B) behaviorism C) Gestalt psychology D) psychoanalytic theory Answer: D Rationale: Psychoanalytic theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, is noted for its emphasis on the unconscious determinants of behavior. Freud proposed that unconscious conflicts and desires influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions. 46) Studying the elements of sensations, feelings, and images is most directly associated with which school of psychology? A) structuralism B) functionalism C) behaviorism D) humanism Answer: A Rationale: Studying the elements of sensations, feelings, and images is most directly associated with structuralism, a school of psychology founded by Wilhelm Wundt. Structuralism aimed to analyze the basic elements of consciousness through techniques such as introspection. 47) A group of psychologists study how adults change and grow, both psychologically and physiologically, as they age. These psychologists are most like ___________. A) personality psychologists B) social psychologists C) organizational psychologists D) developmental psychologists Answer: D Rationale: Developmental psychologists study how individuals change and grow over the lifespan, including both psychological and physiological changes. Therefore, a group of psychologists studying adult development would align most closely with developmental psychology. 48) After more than a year in Iranian prisons, 52 American hostages were released by Iran’s revolutionary government and allowed to return to the United States. Of the following professionals, ___________ psychologists would probably have the LEAST professional interest in that event. A) counseling B) clinical C) social D) experimental Answer: D Rationale: Experimental psychologists focus on conducting research and experiments to understand behavior and mental processes. While the release of hostages may have implications for various fields of psychology, experimental psychologists typically focus on controlled laboratory studies rather than real-world events. 49) Which of the following types of psychologists is most prepared to help a person who hears voices and believes she is Joan of Arc? A) forensic B) counseling C) school D) clinical Answer: D Rationale: Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of psychological disorders, including hallucinations and delusions such as hearing voices and believing oneself to be someone else. They are equipped to provide therapy and intervention for individuals experiencing such symptoms. 50) Cognitive psychologists are a subgroup of experimental psychologists who are concerned primarily with: A) neurobiological events that underlie behavior. B) the function of age on behavior. C) mental events that intervene between stimuli and responses. D) how people are affected by social situations. Answer: C Rationale: Cognitive psychologists, a subgroup of experimental psychologists, are primarily concerned with mental processes such as perception, memory, decision-making, and problem-solving. They study mental events that intervene between stimuli and responses, focusing on how individuals process information and make sense of the world. 51) Cognitive psychologists are concerned with the scientific study of __________. A) reinforcement B) alienation and apathy C) mental processes D) self-actualization Answer: C Rationale: Cognitive psychologists focus on the scientific study of mental processes, such as perception, memory, thinking, problem-solving, language, and attention. They seek to understand how these mental processes work, how they interact, and how they influence behavior and experience. Therefore, option C, "mental processes," is the most appropriate choice for describing the primary focus of cognitive psychology. Test Bank for Psychology and Life Richard J. Gerrig, Philip G. Zimbardo, Serge Desmarais, Tammy Ivanco 9780205037117, 9780205859139