Archive for April 2016

A dictionary definition would be an example of

A dictionary definition would be an example of



A) an artificial concept.
B) a natural concept.
C) a core concept.
D) an abstract concept.


Answer: A

When you get a new cat, you will note her unique markings, so that you can remember what she looks like in comparison with other cats in the neighborhood. What would a cognitive psychologist call this process of identifying the distinctive features of your cat?

When you get a new cat, you will note her unique markings, so that you can remember what she looks like in comparison with other cats in the neighborhood. What would a cognitive psychologist call this process of identifying the distinctive features of your cat?




A) storage
B) retrieval
C) recollection
D) encoding


Answer: D

Noam Chomsky has presented evidence supporting his theory that

Noam Chomsky has presented evidence supporting his theory that




A) children learn language by imitating their parents.
B) children are born with some rules of grammar programmed into their brains.
C) different languages may have entirely different rules of grammar.
D) vocabulary is innate, but grammar is learned.



Answer: B

Which of the following are the three essential tasks of memory?

Which of the following are the three essential tasks of memory?



A) eidetic imagery, short-term memory, and recall
B) encoding, storage, and retrieval
C) recall, recognition, and relearning
D) sensory, working, and long-term memory


Answer: B

Which one of the following is Not an artificial concept?

Which one of the following is Not an artificial concept?



A) Einstein's theory of relativity
B) the dictionary definition of the word 'truth'
C) your mental image of the statue of Liberty
D) how to determine the radius of a circle
E) the lyrics to "New York, New York"


Answer: C

An algorithm would not be the best strategy when trying to

An algorithm would not be the best strategy when trying to




A) choose whether you would like to have roses or lilacs in your garden.
B) use a mathematical formula to figure out the answer.
C) follow the directions on a box of legos in order to build the fort pictured on the cover.
D) follow a specific procedure during a science lab.
E) calculate your grade point average.


Answer: A

Usually about 500 people attend the annual exquisite Irish food festival. This year however, about 5000 people have attended because the word has spread that the boiled cabbage last year was "out of this world". Kelly, who is organizing the event, knows that there is usually 500 people there, while she knows more people in attendance she estimates the crowd to be about 1000 people. She is probably underestimating the crowd due to

Usually about 500 people attend the annual exquisite Irish food festival. This year however, about 5000 people have attended because the word has spread that the boiled cabbage last year was "out of this world". Kelly, who is organizing the event, knows that there is usually 500 people there, while she knows more people in attendance she estimates the crowd to be about 1000 people. She is probably underestimating the crowd due to




A) the anchoring bias.
B) self-imposed limitations.
C) mental set.
D) the representativeness heuristic.
E) cognitive maps.


Answer: A

In studies that were completed regarding students' cognitive maps of the world, researchers found that

In studies that were completed regarding students' cognitive maps of the world, researchers found that




A) the majority of students held placed Europe at the center of the world.
B) there were no conclusive findings from the study.
C) most students placed the United States at the center of the world.
D) all students regardless of where they lived shared a cognitive map that was very similar.
E) most students made Australia much smaller than it actually is.


Answer: A

Another term for eidetic imagery is

Another term for eidetic imagery is



A) engram.
B) photographic memory.
C) recognition.
D) episodic memory.
E) implicit memory.


Answer: B

How long does sensory memory generally last?

How long does sensory memory generally last?




A) 1 minute
B) no limit to how long sensory memory will last
C) 1 second
D) fraction of a second
E) 10 seconds


Answer: D

To remember the five Great Lakes, you might remember the word HOMES, because each of the five letters in HOMES is the first letter of one of the Great Lakes. This strategy is known as

To remember the five Great Lakes, you might remember the word HOMES, because each of the five letters in HOMES is the first letter of one of the Great Lakes. This strategy is known as




A) a natural language mediator.
B) maintenance rehearsal.
C) the method of loci.
D) a recognition task.
E) the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.


Answer: A

If you were going to use Bandura's findings in developing a program to prevent violence among middle school children, you might

If you were going to use Bandura's findings in developing a program to prevent violence among middle school children, you might




A) punish children for aggressive acts performed at school.
B) reward children for non-aggressive acts.
C) have children role-play aggressive solutions to interpersonal problems.
D) have children watch videos of aggressive children who are not being reinforced for their aggressive behavior.
E) have children punch a "BoBo" doll to get the aggression out of their system.


Answer: D

After having some bad barbecue pork in the cafeteria, your stomach gets a bit woozy each time you enter. The cafeteria is the ______ and your stomach feeling woozy is the ______.

After having some bad barbecue pork in the cafeteria, your stomach gets a bit woozy each time you enter. The cafeteria is the ______ and your stomach feeling woozy is the ______.



A) conditioned response; conditioned stimulus
B) conditioned stimulus; unconditioned response
C) unconditioned stimulus; unconditioned response
D) conditioned stimulus; conditioned response
E) unconditioned response; unconditioned stimulus


Answer: D

Burt had never been afraid of spiders. but at camp last summer he woke up and there was a spider on his face. Since this event, he cries in fear every time he sees a multi legged creature. For Burt, before the incident spiders had been a ______, after the incident, spiders are a ______.

Burt had never been afraid of spiders. but at camp last summer he woke up and there was a spider on his face. Since this event, he cries in fear every time he sees a multi legged creature. For Burt, before the incident spiders had been a ______, after the incident, spiders are a ______.





A) neutral stimulus; conditioned response
B) unconditioned stimulus; unconditioned response
C) conditioned stimulus; unconditioned stimulus
D) neutral stimulus; conditioned stimulus
E) conditioned stimulus; conditioned response


Answer: D

Research regarding the learning styles have found that

Research regarding the learning styles have found that



A) most people cannot be easily categorized into a single category.
B) most people are kinesthetic learners.
C) most people are visual learners.
D) most people are spatial learners.
E) the research has incredibly high scientific validity.


Answer: A

Just has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy at a local hospital. Her parents notice that she now rejects food that she willingly ate last week (before chemotherapy). Through the process of ______, the food is now acting as ______.

Just has cancer and is receiving chemotherapy at a local hospital. Her parents notice that she now rejects food that she willingly ate last week (before chemotherapy). Through the process of ______, the food is now acting as ______.




A) appetitive conditioning; conditioned stimulus
B) conditioned reinforcement; unconditioned response
C) operant conditioning; negative reinforcer
D) negative reinforcement; conditioned stimulus
E) aversive conditioning; conditioned stimulus


Answer: E

A dog rattles a chain by the door to indicate that he wants to go out, his owner is thrilled and thinks that her dog is brilliant. The dog, however, has not yet proven learning because

A dog rattles a chain by the door to indicate that he wants to go out, his owner is thrilled and thinks that her dog is brilliant. The dog, however, has not yet proven learning because




A) he may have accidentally bumped into the chain.
B) he must demonstrate that he has associated the chain with going out through prior experience.
C) he must repeat the behavior.
D) the change must be lasting.
E) All of the above.


Answer: E

Insight learning involves

Insight learning involves



A) the developments of abstract concepts.
B) the perception of familiar objects in new forms or relationships.
C) the integration of unfamiliar objects into familiar patterns.
D) a strategy of vicarious trial-and-error.
E) the process of assimilation.


Answer: B

You had an intense fear of high spaces and were asked to climb to the top of a high tower. As you ascended your therapist told you to relax and gave you positive feedback on how you were doing, eventually you made it to the top. This therapeutic technique is known as

You had an intense fear of high spaces and were asked to climb to the top of a high tower. As you ascended your therapist told you to relax and gave you positive feedback on how you were doing, eventually you made it to the top. This therapeutic technique is known as




A) counterconditioning.
B) classical conditioning.
C) flooding.
D) operant conditioning.
E) aversive conditioning.


Answer: A

In deciding whether there is a fire in your classroom building, which of the following provides the best early information as to whether there is a fire?

In deciding whether there is a fire in your classroom building, which of the following provides the best early information as to whether there is a fire?




A) the appearance of greenish flames
B) the appearance of a fireman in your classroom
C) the flicker of flames
D) the smell of smoke
E) the sound of an alarm bell


Answer: D

Negative punishment is sometimes referred to as ______.

Negative punishment is sometimes referred to as ______.




A) negative reinforcement
B) an aversive stimulus
C) positive reinforcement
D) premack principle
E) omission training



Answer: E

What was the objection by Watson and other behaviorists to the study of consciousness?

What was the objection by Watson and other behaviorists to the study of consciousness?




A) Conscious processes cannot be directly observed and measured.
B) Consciousness is not affected by rewards and punishments.
C) Consciousness could not be accessed by introspection.
D) Consciousness is an essential component of learning.
E) Consciousness is the result of an inner life force, which they did not have the tools to study.


Answer: A

An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified either by mental, behavioral, or chemical means. This suggests that

An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified either by mental, behavioral, or chemical means. This suggests that




A) some states of consciousness are mystical phenomena that cannot ever be explained.
B) psychologists can study altered states of consciousness with scientific methods.
C) consciousness is immutable.
D) all states of consciousness are controlled by unconscious needs, desires, and memories.
E)altered states of consciousness are the primary source of creativity in our minds.


Answer: B

Which of the following is not one of the functions of consciousness cited by your text?

Which of the following is not one of the functions of consciousness cited by your text?




A) manipulating a mental image of the world
B) relinquishing control to enhance self-awareness
C) restricting attention to what is relevant
D) combining sensation with memory
E) selecting pertinent information for further processing


Answer: B

Which of the following symptoms suggests the presence of a sleep disorder?

Which of the following symptoms suggests the presence of a sleep disorder?



A) a brief cessation of breathing once or twice a night
B) a REM period at the beginning of sleep
C) not remembering your dreams
D) napping during the day
E) needing nine hours of sleep each night in order to feel rested


Answer: B

Suppose that you are working in a sleep laboratory, where you are monitoring a subject's sleep recording during the night. As the night progresses, you would expect to see that

Suppose that you are working in a sleep laboratory, where you are monitoring a subject's sleep recording during the night. As the night progresses, you would expect to see that




A) dreaming becomes less frequent.
B) Stage 3 and 4 sleep periods lengthen.
C) the four-stage cycle gradually lengthens.
D) Stage 1 keeps reappearing.
E) REM periods become longer.


Answer: E

Psychology has verified that meditation can be useful for producing

Psychology has verified that meditation can be useful for producing



A) a state of relaxation.
B) a deeper understanding of oneself.
C) heightened cognitive arousal.
D) enlightenment.
E) increased metabolic rates.


Answer: A

Which one of the following did Freud believe to be a function of the unconscious mind?

Which one of the following did Freud believe to be a function of the unconscious mind?




A) regulation of sleep, wakefulness, blood pressure, heart rate
B) the construction of grammatically correct sentences without having to think consciously about the grammatical rules
C) logical thinking
D) the unconscious mind serves no purpose
E) protecting consciousness from sexual desires and traumatic experiences


Answer: E

Consciousness changes in cycles that normally correspond to our biological rhythms and to the patterns of our environment. Which of the following illustrates this concept?

Consciousness changes in cycles that normally correspond to our biological rhythms and to the patterns of our environment. Which of the following illustrates this concept?




A) Priming
B) The Crick-Mitchison view
C) REM rebound
D) Sleep and dreaming
E) Consciousness, preconsciousness, and the unconscious


Answer: D

Which of the following statements about hypnosis is true?

Which of the following statements about hypnosis is true?




A) Hypnosis has no medical value.
B) Hypnosis is actually a form of NREM sleep.
C) The less intelligent or educated a person is, the more hypnotizable he or she will be.
D) Hypnotizability relies on a person's ability to respond to suggestion.
E) Anyone can be hypnotized if the hypnotist knows the most effective techniques to use.


Answer: D

According to the activation-synthesis theory, dreams are

According to the activation-synthesis theory, dreams are 



A) replays of events during the previous day.
B) wish fulfillments.
C) mental garbage.
D) story like episodes that provide clues about problems in the unconscious mind.
E) an attempt by the brain to make sense of random activity in the brain stem.


Answer: E

Rapid eye movements are reliable behavioral signs that

Rapid eye movements are reliable behavioral signs that




A) a person is very low in hypnotizability.
B) a sleeper is dreaming.
C) one has achieved a genuine meditative state.
D) an individual has reached the deepest level of sleep.
E) an individual is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.


Answer: B

Hypnosis is sometimes used by psychological researchers to

Hypnosis is sometimes used by psychological researchers to




A) cure patients suffering from severe mental disorders.
B) improve memory.
C) create mental states, such as anxiety or euphoria.
D) study the effects of psychoactive drugs.
E) induce amnesia for traumatic experiences.


Answer: C

Which statement is true about daydreaming?

Which statement is true about daydreaming?




A) Most people daydream every day.
B) Daydreams help focus your attention.
C) Daydreams are usually more vivid than night dreams.
D) Most people can easily suppress unwanted thoughts.
E) Daydreams usually serve as an escape from the concerns of real life.



Answer: A

According to cognitive neuroscience,

According to cognitive neuroscience,




A) consciousness has no relationship to the brain.
B) consciousness is a product of the brain.
C) creativity arises from altered states of consciousness.
D) consciousness does not exist.
E) the conscious mind has little access to the larger world of mental activity in the unconscious.


Answer: B

Luisa agrees to look after her friend's' new baby while they run an errand. Luisa tries to read with the stereo on but keeps listening for signs that the baby might be crying in the bedroom. Several times, Luisa thinks she can hear whimpering--but when she checks the baby, she usually finds her sound asleep. Which of the following best explains why Luisa's sensations are not always accurate?

Luisa agrees to look after her friend's' new baby while they run an errand. Luisa tries to read with the stereo on but keeps listening for signs that the baby might be crying in the bedroom. Several times, Luisa thinks she can hear whimpering--but when she checks the baby, she usually finds her sound asleep. Which of the following best explains why Luisa's sensations are not always accurate?




A) classical absolute threshold theory
B) signal detection theory
C) the law of Pragnanz
D) Steve's power law
E) Weber's law


Answer: B

Which one of the following is most commonly experienced when a stimulus is ambiguous, information is missing, elements are combined in unusual ways, or familiar patterns are not apparent?

Which one of the following is most commonly experienced when a stimulus is ambiguous, information is missing, elements are combined in unusual ways, or familiar patterns are not apparent?




A) an illusion
B) common fate
C) a false alarm
D) a correct rejection
E) proximity


Answer: A

Although the markings in the ceiling tiles are of all different shapes and sizes, you notice that larger, darker spots seem to stand out against a background made up of smaller, lighter ones. Which principle of perceptual grouping explains this distinction?

Although the markings in the ceiling tiles are of all different shapes and sizes, you notice that larger, darker spots seem to stand out against a background made up of smaller, lighter ones. Which principle of perceptual grouping explains this distinction?




A) the principle of closure
B) the law of Pragnanz
C) the law of similarity
D) the law of common fate
E) the law of proximity


Answer: C

What do all of these forms of sensation have in common: vision, hearing, taste, smell, pain, equilibrium, and body position?

What do all of these forms of sensation have in common: vision, hearing, taste, smell, pain, equilibrium, and body position?




A) They all involve location of stimulation in three-dimensional space.
B) They all are conveyed to the brain in the form of nerve signals.
C) They all involve higher-order perception.
D) They all arise from stimulation that comes only from outside the body.
E) They all involve waves having frequency and amplitude.


Answer: B

When two close friends are talking, other people may not be able to follow their conversation because it has many gaps, which the friends can mentally fill in from their shared experience. Which Gestalt principle is illustrated by the friends' ability to fill in these conversational gaps?

When two close friends are talking, other people may not be able to follow their conversation because it has many gaps, which the friends can mentally fill in from their shared experience. Which Gestalt principle is illustrated by the friends' ability to fill in these conversational gaps?




A) closure
B) ambiguity
C) similarity
D) proximity
E) common fate


Answer: A

Place the following in the correct order concerning how a message travels through the ear.

Place the following in the correct order concerning how a message travels through the ear.




A) tympanic membrane, cochlea, hammer/anvil/stirrup, basilar membrane, auditory nerve
B) tympanic membrane, hammer/anvil/stirrup, cochlea, basilar membrane, auditory nerve
C) tympanic membrane, hammer/anvil/stirrup, basilar membrane, cochlea, auditory nerve
D) hammer/anvil/stirrup, tympanic membrane, cochlea, basilar membrane, auditory nerve
E) cochlea, basilar membrane, tympanic membrane, hammer/anvil/stirrup, auditory nerve



Answer: B

The visual cortex is located within the

The visual cortex is located within the 



A) parietal lobe.
B) thalamus.
C) cerebellum.
D) occipital lobe.
E) frontal lobe.


Answer: D

A Necker cube is an example of a(n)

A Necker cube is an example of a(n)



A) phosphene.
B) Gestalt creation.
C) pheromone.
D) mental set.
E) ambiguous figure.


Answer: E

Scientific studies of subliminal messages have thus far shown

Scientific studies of subliminal messages have thus far shown




A) little to no effect on behavior.
B) effective to help people stop smoking.
C) effective to help self-esteem.
D) effective to prevent shoplifting.
E) significant changes, especially when influencing purchasing habits.



Answer: A

What is the purpose of the bipolar cells?

What is the purpose of the bipolar cells?



A) to collect impulses from the rods and cones and send them to the ganglion cells
B) to collect impulses from the rods and cones and send them to the optic nerve
C) to collect impulses from the fovea and send them to the rods and cones
D) to collect impulses from the ganglion cells and send them to the optic nerve
E) to collect impulses from the ganglion cells and send them to the brain


Answer: A

When most people look at the black-and-white Hermann Grid illusion,

When most people look at the black-and-white Hermann Grid illusion,



A) they see two alternating patterns appear and disappear.
B) the inhibiting process causes them to see gray areas.
C) the black boxes are seen as white, and the white lines are seen as black.
D) they see other colors where there are none.
E) the boxes blur together and it is difficult to determine boundaries.


Answer: B

Loudness is determined by sound

Loudness is determined by sound



A) amplitude.
B) quality.
C) speed.
D) frequency.
E) pitch.


Answer: A

Auditory signals are processed in the

Auditory signals are processed in the



A) vestibular cortex of the frontal lobes.
B) somatosensory cortex of the parietal lobes.
C) auditory cortex of the cerebellum.
D) association areas of the frontal cortex.
E) auditory cortex of the temporal lobes.

Answer: E

When you walk through the cafeteria at lunch, you see many people seated at tables. You perceive those individuals who are sitting near each other as being friends with one another. You are demonstrating which of the following?

When you walk through the cafeteria at lunch, you see many people seated at tables. You perceive those individuals who are sitting near each other as being friends with one another. You are demonstrating which of the following?




A) law of common fate
B) law of proximity
C) law of similarity
D) law of continuity
E) law of Pragnanz



Answer: B

Elana can hear the radio even at a much lower setting than her mother. At a given setting Elana can detect that there is music playing about half of the time. At the same setting, her mother cannot hear anything. Elana could be said to have a ______, ______ than her mother.

Elana can hear the radio even at a much lower setting than her mother. At a given setting Elana can detect that there is music playing about half of the time. At the same setting, her mother cannot hear anything. Elana could be said to have a ______, ______ than her mother.



A) lower; just noticeable difference
B) higher; difference threshold
C) higher; absolute threshold
D) lower; absolute threshold
E) lower; difference threshold


Answer: E

When considering how a message travels from its inception to its evaluation, select which of the following places the processes involved in the correct order.

When considering how a message travels from its inception to its evaluation, select which of the following places the processes involved in the correct order.



A) stimulation-transduction-sensation-perception
B) stimulation-sensation-perception-transduction
C) stimulation-sensation-transduction-perception
D) sensation-stimulation-transduction-perception
E) transduction-stimulation-sensation-perception


Answer: A

Visual transduction occurs within the

Visual transduction occurs within the 



A) cornea.
B) pupil.
C) retina.
D) fovea.
E) iris.

Answer: C

Behavior consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis that evolved because the behavior has been adaptive. Which of the following human behaviors illustrates this concept?

Behavior consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis that evolved because the behavior has been adaptive. Which of the following human behaviors illustrates this concept?



A) thinking
B) language
C) Down syndrome
D) sending astronauts to the moon
E) driving a car


Answer: B

"Fight or flight" behavior is associated with

"Fight or flight" behavior is associated with



A) the sympathetic division.
B) interneurons.
C) central nervous system.
D) the parasympathetic division.
E) the somatic nervous system.


Answer: A

The charge in the resting neuron is

The charge in the resting neuron is



A) primarily a positive charge.
B) primarily a negative charge.
C) neither a negative or a positive charge.
D) primarily effected by hormones.
E) primarily effected by neurotransmitters.


Answer: B

The parasympathetic nervous system is a subdivision of

The parasympathetic nervous system is a subdivision of



A) the sympathetic nervous system.
B) the autonomic nervous system.
C) the somatic nervous system.
D) the limbic system.
E) the central nervous system.


Answer: B

Afferent neurons

Afferent neurons



A) transport messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons.
B) continuously monitor the routine operation of the body's internal functions.
C) communicate directly with motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
D) are specialized sensory neurons that are sensitive to external stimuli.
E) are responsible for delivering messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands.


Answer: E

Which of the following is true of Prozac?

Which of the following is true of Prozac?



A) Amphetamine is another name for Prozac.
B) Prozac is an antagonist for dopamine receptors.
C) The effects of Prozac are specific to mood.
D) Prozac elevates serotonin levels in the brain.
E) B and C are correct.


Answer: D

Sam works as a bicycle messenger in lower Manhattan. As he moves between a car and a bus, he relies on his nervous system's production of ______, which carry information between ______, to enable him to swerve out of danger.

Sam works as a bicycle messenger in lower Manhattan. As he moves between a car and a bus, he relies on his nervous system's production of ______, which carry information between ______, to enable him to swerve out of danger.



A) hormones; nerve cells
B) neurotransmitters; glands
C) neurons; axons
D) neurotransmitters; nerve cells
E) hormones; glands


Answer: D

Sleep and dreaming is regulated by the

Sleep and dreaming is regulated by the




A) amygdala.
B) hippocampus.
C) pons.
D) thalamus.
E) pituitary gland.


Answer: C

The process of reuptake involves

The process of reuptake involves



A) the movement of positive ions to the outside of the axon.
B) neurotransmitters moving from the synapse back to the presynaptic terminal buttons.
C) the building up of the myelin sheath around the axon.
D) the movement of negative ions to the outside of the axon.
E) neurotransmitters moving from the synapse into the postsynaptic receptor sites.


Answer: B

______ is an example of a parasympathetic response.

______ is an example of a parasympathetic response.



A) Preparing for a competitive dace competition
B) Preparing yourself to fight an attacking dog
C) Monitoring the operation of the body' routine functioning
D) Promoting your sexual development
E) Figuring out the answer to a difficult test question


Answer: C

Phineas Gage served as an example that an individual could experience extreme trauma to this area of their brain and life. However their personality would be drastically changed.

Phineas Gage served as an example that an individual could experience extreme trauma to this area of their brain and life. However their personality would be drastically changed.




A) frontal lobes
B) parietal cortex
C) central fissure
D) temporal lobes
E) lateral fissure


Answer: A

The peripheral nervous system is comprised of

The peripheral nervous system is comprised of



A) the somatic nervous system and the sympathetic division.
B) the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
C) the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system.
D) the autonomic nervous system and the sympathetic division.
E) the parasympathetic nervous system and the central nervous system.


Answer: B

German surgeons, Fritsch and Hitzig, found that when they stimulated the exposed cortex on injured soldiers that the soldiers would occasionally move an arm or leg when a certain location was touched. Which area of the brain had Fritsch and Hitzig discovered?

German surgeons, Fritsch and Hitzig, found that when they stimulated the exposed cortex on injured soldiers that the soldiers would occasionally move an arm or leg when a certain location was touched. Which area of the brain had Fritsch and Hitzig discovered?




A) motor cortex
B) hippocampus
C) Broca's area
D) somatosensory cortex
E) cerebellum


Answer: A

Which of the following is true about interneurons?

Which of the following is true about interneurons?



A) There are 200,000 of them for every motor neuron.
B) They are only found in the peripheral nervous system.
C) They are not found in the brain and spinal cord.
D) They relay messages between motor neurons.
E) Interneurons form complex circuits in the brain.


Answer: E

As you are sleeping, the fire alarm in your house goes off, immediately you are wide awake and helping your family to escape from your house. Which part of the nervous system produces this response?

As you are sleeping, the fire alarm in your house goes off, immediately you are wide awake and helping your family to escape from your house. Which part of the nervous system produces this response?




A) the sympathetic nervous system
B) the parasympathetic nervous system
C) the somatic nervous system
D) the midbrain
E) the spinal cord


Answer: A

A four-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the head nearly his entire left hemisphere was removed but just three years later he was nearly completely normal. What term best explains the ability of the brain to 'rewire' itself, especially when we are young?

A four-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the head nearly his entire left hemisphere was removed but just three years later he was nearly completely normal. What term best explains the ability of the brain to 'rewire' itself, especially when we are young?




A) plasticity
B) reflexology
C) reuptake
D) refraction
E) expandibility


Answer: A

How are a sample and the population in an experiment different from one another?

How are a sample and the population in an experiment different from one another?



A) The population are the individuals actually participating in the experiment.
B) A sample is made up of a small number of individuals, the highest number of individuals in a sample is ten.
C) The population is a smaller representation of the sample.
D) The population must be chosen randomly.
E) The sample is a smaller representation of the population.


Answer: E

If a study finds that there is a negative correlation between exercise and blood pressure, this would most likely indicate that

If a study finds that there is a negative correlation between exercise and blood pressure, this would most likely indicate that




A) exercise causes our blood pressure to rise.
B) exercise could be dangerous in terms of our blood pressure.
C) the more we exercise, the higher our blood pressure becomes.
D) people who exercise more tend to have a lower blood pressure.
E) blood pressure changes alter our exercise patterns.


Answer: D

The independent variable ______, while the dependent variable ______.

The independent variable ______, while the dependent variable ______.



A) is the group that does receive the treatment; is the group that does not receive the treatment
B) is controlled by the researcher; is the measured outcome of the study
C) is the measured outcome of the study; is controlled by the researcher
D) is the group that does receive the treatment; is the measured outcome of the study
E) is the measured outcome of the study; is the group that does not receive the treatment


Answer: B

What is the correct order in which information should be presented in an academic psychological article?

What is the correct order in which information should be presented in an academic psychological article?



A) Abstract, method, results, discussion, introduction, references
B) Abstract, introduction, method, results, references, discussion
C) Introduction, method, discussion, results, abstract, references
D) Abstract, introduction,method, results, discussion, references
E) Introduction, method, results, discussion, abstract, references



Answer: D

What is the purpose of using a frequency distribution to examine the data?

What is the purpose of using a frequency distribution to examine the data?




A) By creating a bar graph of the information you can see patterns in the data.
B) It allows you to see if a link exists between the independent and dependent variables.
C) It allows you to create a correlation coefficient.
D) It allows you to better evaluate the data by organizing it and seeing how many times different data points appear.
E) It allows you to determine if the results are statistically significant.


Answer: A

A key aspect of an experiment is the requirement that researchers

A key aspect of an experiment is the requirement that researchers



A) use correlational methods.
B) provide some sort of placebo.
C) publish their results in a scientific journal.
D) replicate their findings.
E) control and manipulate all the conditions.


Answer: E

What is the purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

What is the purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?



A) To make sure that animals are treated humanly.
B) To insure that an experiment's hypothesis is proven true.
C) To see if the independent variable is actually influencing the outcome of the study.
D) To ensure that all research being conducted adheres to ethical guidelines.
E) None of the above.


Answer: D

Jenna wants to learn whether men or women are better drivers. To determine this, she decides that she will measure driving ability by examining the number of automobile accidents people have been involved in as a driver. The number of accidents is the basis of

Jenna wants to learn whether men or women are better drivers. To determine this, she decides that she will measure driving ability by examining the number of automobile accidents people have been involved in as a driver. The number of accidents is the basis of




A) a theory of good driving.
B) her control group in this study.
C) the operational definition of driving ability.
D) a case study examination of driving ability.
E) the independent variable in this study.


Answer: C

Random assignment of subjects to different experimental conditions is a method for controlling differences that may exist between

Random assignment of subjects to different experimental conditions is a method for controlling differences that may exist between




A) heredity and environment.
B) empirical data and subjective data.
C) the independent variable and the control group.
D) the dependent variable and the independent variable.
E) the experimental group and the control group.


Answer: E

Which one of the following is a good method for controlling expectancy bias?

Which one of the following is a good method for controlling expectancy bias?




A) Performing a case study
B) Consulting the APA's "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct"
C) Joining a professional organization
D) Doing a double-blind study
E) Clearly describing the intended results to the subjects


Answer: D

Sample is to population as

Sample is to population as



A) valid is to invalid.
B) child is to adult.
C) part is to whole.
D) large is to small.
E) not representative is to representative.


Answer: C

The primary purpose of a survey is to

The primary purpose of a survey is to



A) describe an entire population.
B) determine cause-and-effect relationships.
C) discover attitudes and beliefs.
D) test hypotheses.
E) find correlations between variables.


Answer: C

Which of the following is not a step in the "ethics cascade"?

Which of the following is not a step in the "ethics cascade"?




A) Who should decide what is morally justifiable in the conduct of research?
B) Are controlled research studies ever necessary or appropriate?
C) Should all research have a foreseeable practical benefit?
D) Who should conduct research?
E) What specific topics are worthy of research?


Answer: D

Which of the following statements identifying the locations of important brain structures is true?

Which of the following statements identifying the locations of important brain structures is true?




a) The hypothalamus is par of the brain stem.
b) The medulla is part of the limbic system.
c) The occipital lobe is part of the cerebral cortex.
d) The limbic system regulates breathing.
e) The pons is responsible for processing of memory.


Answer: C

Neurotransmitters are released by the terminal buttons into the _____, and hormones are released by the endocrine system into the _____.

Neurotransmitters are released by the terminal buttons into the _____, and hormones are released by the endocrine system into the _____.




a) sympathetic nervous system/parasympathetic nervous system
b) cortex/brain stem
c) left hemisphere/right hemisphere
d) receptor sites/glands
e) synaptic cleft/bloodstream


Answer: E

During a neural impulse, a neuron "fires" when

During a neural impulse, a neuron "fires" when



a) it is physically contacted by another cell that is transmitting the signal.
b) an electric charge travels down the axon.
c) it contracts and releases powerful chemicals directly into the bloodstream.
d) signals entering at the axon travel the length of the cell and exit through the dendrites.
e) neurotransmitters attach to the dendritic receptors.


Answer: B

According to Darwin's theory of natural selection,

According to Darwin's theory of natural selection,



a) the environment "selects" organisms that are more complex and more advanced.
b) the members of a species that are best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and produce more offspring.
c) giraffes evolved longer necks because they were constantly reaching for the tender, higher leaves in the tall trees in their environment.
d) evolution is a process whereby experience modifies an organism's genes.
e) evolution is the sole factor affecting the behavior of current species.


Answer: B

The split-brain patient in Figure 3.18 has trouble using the _____ hand to select the object flashed on the left side of the screen. (Hints: Which hemisphere controls each hand? Which hemisphere processes information from the left side of the visual field?)

The split-brain patient in Figure 3.18 has trouble using the _____ hand to select the object flashed on the left side of the screen.
(Hints: Which hemisphere controls each hand? Which hemisphere processes information from the left side of the visual field?)



a) right
b) left


Answer: A

Some people seem to have high blood pressure because they have an anxiety response while having their blood pressure taken at the doctor's office. Which part of the nervous system produces this anxiety response?

Some people seem to have high blood pressure because they have an anxiety response while having their blood pressure taken at the doctor's office. Which part of the nervous system produces this anxiety response?




a) the cortex
b) the parasympathetic nervous system
c) the somatic nervous system
d) the spinal cord
e) the sympathetic nervous system


Answer: E

Behavior consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis that evolved because the behavior has been adaptive. Which of the following human behaviors illustrates this concept?

Behavior consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis that evolved because the behavior has been adaptive. Which of the following human behaviors illustrates this concept?




a) driving a car
b) sending astronauts to the moon
c) Down syndrome
d) language
e) thinking


Answer: D

Which of the following statements express the correct relationship?

Which of the following statements express the correct relationship?



a) Genes are made of chromosomes.
b) DNA is made of chromosomes.
c) Nucleotides are made of genes.
d) Genes are made of DNA.
e) Phenotype dictates genotype.


Answer: D

Which of the following processes are involved in natural selection, the driving force behind evolution?

Which of the following processes are involved in natural selection, the driving force behind evolution? 



a) Individuals best adapted to the environment have a survival advantage.
b) Some individuals reproduce more successfully than others.
c) The offspring of some individuals survive in greater numbers than do those of others.
d) Individuals that are poorly adapted tend to have fewer offspring.
e) All are correct.


Answer: E

Which of the following could be an operational definition of "fear"?

What could be an operational definition of "fear"?



A) An intense feeling of terror and dread when thinking about some threatening situation
B) Moving toward a stimulus
C) Moving away from a stimulus
D) Panic
E) A desire to avoid something



Answer: C

A theory is

A theory is



Answer: a testable explanation for what has been observed. 

The research technique of introspection

The research technique of introspection



A) studies groups of people interacting with one another.
B) studies children rather than adolescents and adults.
C) asks people to describe their sensory experiences.
D) measures people biologically by using tools such as an MRI or PET scan.
E) exposes people to a variety of stressful situations to determine how they will respond.


Answer: C

A sociocultural psychologist would be most interested in which of the following?

A sociocultural psychologist would be most interested in which of the following?



A) comparing how often Americans and Canadians spank their children
B) determining whether mothers of fathers are more likely to spank their children
C) examining how spanking has served an evolutionary purpose throughout history
D) asking parents why they spank their children
E) measuring how children respond after they are spanked


Answer: A

Alfred works in a laboratory at the University of Freud. He runs rats through mazes to determine how long it will take them to form a cognitive map. Alfred is primarily working the field of

Alfred works in a laboratory at the University of Freud. He runs rats through mazes to determine how long it will take them to form a cognitive map. Alfred is primarily working the field of




A) Engineering Psychology.
B) I/O Psychology.
C) Applied Psychology.
D) Experimental Psychology.
E) School Psychology.



Answer: D

Pseudo Psychology is

Pseudo Psychology is



A) the study of perception and cognition.
B) the scientific study of human and animal behavior.
C) phony unscientific psychology masquerading as the real thing.
D) Freud's method of analyzing patients.
E) the study of the psyche.


Answer: C

Researchers need to be aware of the Confirmation Bias to

Researchers need to be aware of the Confirmation Bias to




A) assure that they are not involved in their own studies.
B) make sure that they are not being purposefully deceitful.
C) insure that they do not look only for information that reaffirms what they already know.
D) make sure they are not giving the participants the answers.
E) make sure that they do not practice pseudoscience.


Answer: C

Jake has had a troubled past. He had a difficult time getting along with his parents as a child and today he still holds much hostility towards his parents. He thinks he might be holding a longstanding grudge against them, but he cannot remember what it is. What field of psychology would be most interested in getting to the root of Jake's troubled childhood?

Jake has had a troubled past. He had a difficult time getting along with his parents as a child and today he still holds much hostility towards his parents. He thinks he might be holding a longstanding grudge against them, but he cannot remember what it is. What field of psychology would be most interested in getting to the root of Jake's troubled childhood?



A) Psychodynamic
B) Cognitive
C) Sociocultural
D) Humanistic
E) Behavioral


Answer: A

One likely difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist is that a psychiatrist would tend to use more

One likely difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist is that a psychiatrist would tend to use more




A) medicine to treat those suffering from mental illness.
B) talk therapy when dealing with clients having difficulties.
C) cognitive therapy when dealing with clients irrational thoughts.
D) behavioral modification with their clients.
E) research than psychologists.


Answer: A

How has the field of Developmental Psychology changed in recent years?

How has the field of Developmental Psychology changed in recent years?



A) Now focus primarily on childhood development.
B) Now focus on how our culture influences our behavior.
C) Now focus on developmental disorders.
D) Now focus on assisting children with cognitive deficits.
E) Now study the entire life span.


Answer: E

In initial studies regarding facilitated communication to treat autistic children results looked promising. Upon further research it was found that this only occurred because

In initial studies regarding facilitated communication to treat autistic children results looked promising. Upon further research it was found that this only occurred because



A) parents wanted their children to become better.
B) the children really were communicating without any aide from others.
C) the researchers had "Coached" the children and facilitators before the experiment began.
D) the "facilitator" was unknowingly guiding the student in their responses.
E) the children were told the correct answers.


Answer: D

The cognitive view of psychology:

The cognitive view of psychology:



a) subscribes to the idea that changes as we grow affect our personality.
b) has a special interest in mental health and mental disorders.
c) has a special interest in how the operation of your brain influences personality.
d) subscribes to the idea that human traits arise from hereditary characteristics.
e) subscribes to the idea that thoughts and actions arise from the way we interpret experiences.


Answer: E

According to the evolutionary approach in modern psychology, human behavior is the result of the natural selection of behaviors that promote

According to the evolutionary approach in modern psychology, human behavior is the result of the natural selection of behaviors that promote



a) cultural conformity.
b) ability to process information.
c) survival and reproduction.
d) conflict between individual goals and societal limits.
e) appropriate responses to novel situations.


Answer: C

According to the _____ approach, which is a variation of the _____ view, a person's behavior and personality develop as a result of unconscious inner tensions and conflicts.

According to the _____ approach, which is a variation of the _____ view, a person's behavior and personality develop as a result of unconscious inner tensions and conflicts.



a) behaviorist/trait
b) evolutionary/biological
c) introspective/cognitive
d) psychodynamic/clinical
e) structuralist/behavioral


Answer: D

In which one of the following sets are all factors associated with the perspective indicated?

In which one of the following sets are all factors associated with the perspective indicated?




a) memory, personality, environment: the behavioral perspective
b) changes through the lifespan, changes as the result of mental disorders, changes a result of social pressure: the developmental perspective
c) mental health, mental disorder, mental imagery: the trait perspective
d) neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, genetics: the biological perspective
e) sensation, perception, memory: the psychoanalytic perspective


Answer: D

Which of the following approaches to psychology would say that the differences between the behavior of males and females are the result of different survival and reproduction issues faced by the two sexes?

Which of the following approaches to psychology would say that the differences between the behavior of males and females are the result of different survival and reproduction issues faced by the two sexes?



a)psychoanalytic theory
b) evolutionary/sociobiological psychology
c) the trait view
d) the sociocultural perspective
e) the biological view


Answer: B

Rene Descartes made a science of psychology possible when he suggested that

Rene Descartes made a science of psychology possible when he suggested that



a) science should be based entirely on common sense rather than on religion.
b) replicability of results was essential.
c) the elements of conscious experience could be arranged into a periodic table.
d) psychology should be a branch of philosophy.
e) sensations and perceptions are the result of activity in the nervous system.


Answer: E

The ancient Greeks' approach to psychology was not scientific because they

The ancient Greeks' approach to psychology was not scientific because they



a) failed to check their opinions against controlled observations.
b) were more interested in art and music than in truth.
c) believed that all truth was revealed in sacred texts given by their gods.
d) lived in an age before precise measuring instruments had been developed.
e) did not publish their results.



Answer: A

Psychology is different from other disciplines, such as psychiatry, that deal with people because

Psychology is different from other disciplines, such as psychiatry, that deal with people because




a) psychology focuses on mental disorder.
b) psychology is a broader field, covering all aspects of behavior and mental processes.
c) psychologists must have doctoral degrees.
d) psychologists do research.
e) psychology focuses only on animal research.


Answer: B

Which one would be considered an applied psychologist?

Which one would be considered an applied psychologist?



a) an I/O psychologist
b) a social worker
c) a psychologist doing basic research
d) a professor of psychology at the university
e) a psychiatrist


Answer: A

Experiments showing facilitated communication to be ineffective were similar to the experiment that exposed Clever Hans. Specifically, what did both experimental procedures have in common?

Experiments showing facilitated communication to be ineffective were similar to the experiment that exposed Clever Hans. Specifically, what did both experimental procedures have in common?



a) Neither the horse nor the autistic children could see the question.
b) Neither Von Osten nor the facilitators could see the questions.
c) Both Hans and the autistic children were given incentives for producing correct answers.
d) In both situations, correct answers were given about half the time.
e) Intentional deceit was the goal of both experiments.


Answer: B

Kluver-Bucy syndrome is characterized by:

Kluver-Bucy syndrome is characterized by:




  1. visual agnosia
  2. increased oral behaviors
  3. increased sexual behaviors
  4. extreme fear reactions
  5. a, b, and c

Answer: 5

Two brain structures not originally proposed by Paper as important to emotional experience and expression, but now known to be important, are the ____ and the _____.

Two brain structures not originally proposed by Paper as important to emotional experience and expression, but now known to be important, are the ____ and the _____.





  1. mammillary bodies; amygdala
  2. cingulate gyrus; fornix
  3. amygdala; orbital prefrontal cortex
  4. parahippocampal gyrus; cingulate gyrus

Answer: 3
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