Deck 1: Science of Psychology

Question 1

The origins of psychology as a science began in the discipline of

A) philosophy.
B) physics.
C) chemistry.
D) biology.

Answer 1

philosophy.

Question 2

According to the discipline of psychology, which of the following is a mental process?

A) swimming
B) feeling proud
C) crying
D) reading out loud

Answer 2

feeling proud

Question 3

According to the discipline of psychology, which of the following is NOT a behavior?

A) asking for help on a test
B) helping a stranger in need
C) having nervous thoughts before a job interview
D) blushing when complimented

Answer 3

having nervous thoughts before a job interview

Question 4

According to the discipline of psychology, which of the following is NOT a mental process?

A) feeling angry about your psychology instructor's grading policy
B) writing down the answer to a long division problem
C) wanting to kiss the person sitting next to you
D) deciding to ask your boss for a raise

Question 5

Early researchers from which school of thought asked participants to report sensations they were experiencing?

A) behaviorism
B) functionalism
C) structuralism
D) humanism

Question 6

Who conducted the first psychological experiment in 1879?

A) Wilhelm Wundt
B) William James
C) Sigmund Freud
D) B.F. Skinner

Question 7

According to the discipline of psychology, which of the following is NOT a behavior?

A) smiling at a newborn baby
B) watching a flock of geese fly overhead
C) sleeping through a lecture
D) being overweight

Question 8

Of the following experimental situations, which one reflects the method of introspection and might be conducted by a structuralist?

A) documenting subjects' descriptions of an experience
B) asking subjects to remember a list of words
C) testing rats in a maze to see how fast they learn
D) rewarding subjects for solving problems

Question 9

Which of the following is a topic that would be explored by researchers who believe in positive psychology?

A) hope
B) depression
C) retribution
D) envy

Question 10

Psychologists rely on ________ which is the process of thinking reflectively and actively, and evaluating evidence.

A) metacognition
B) comprehension
C) critical thinking
D) selective wisdom

Question 11

Rena's boss just informed her that the next election would be won by the incumbent. She proceeded to ask him where he got his information and did he know if the data was based on a random sampling of potential voters. Rena is exhibiting

A) curiosity.
B) ignorance.
C) problem solving.
D) critical thinking.

Question 12

The positive psychology movement focuses on

A) therapy rather than research.
B) research on topics such as happiness and optimism.
C) research involving kindness to animals.
D) intuition and places less value on science.

Question 13

Professor Schjott is observing children on the playground as they take turns on the new jungle gym. He is recording how many times a child complains to the teacher about not getting a turn. Which goal of psychological science is he utilizing?

A) describe
B) explain
C) predict
D) control

Question 14

In trying to understand mental processes, researchers Will and Megan attempted to analyze the mind in terms of its basic elements. Their approach is most closely related to

A) functionalism.
B) structuralism.
C) behavioral psychology.
D) insight psychology.

Question 15

If you were a psychologist who was labeled a structuralist, you would be interested in the ________ of the mind, and you would use ________ as your primary research method.

A) function; behaviorism
B) structures; behaviorism
C) function; introspection
D) structures; introspection

Question 16

Who is most responsible for the rather narrow view of psychology held by the majority of the population?

A) Skinner
B) Freud
C) Watson
D) Maslow

Question 17

Many colleges use students' S.A.T. scores to determine who they will accept into their programs. Which goal of psychological science are they utilizing?

A) describe
B) explain
C) predict
D) control

Question 18

With which school of psychology is Wilhelm Wundt associated?

A) functionalism
B) structuralism
C) humanism
D) behaviorism

Question 19

Behavior is ________ while mental processes are ________.

A) private; personal
B) personal; observable
C) personal; private
D) observable; private

Question 20

Who is demonstrating psychological skepticism?

A) Martina asks the pharmacist to repeat the instructions for taking her medication.
B) Doug tells the sales clerk he can get the shirt cheaper at another store.
C) Lindsey is wondering if you can really improve your memory over night by taking a pill.
D) Alex bought the newest exercise ball to help him lose weight in just five days.

Question 21

William James, a prominent American psychologist and philosopher, focused on human interaction and the purpose of thoughts. His view was eventually named

A) psychoanalysis.
B) behaviorism.
C) functionalism.
D) structuralism.

Question 22

Who highlighted the reproductive advantages of environmentally adaptive traits?

A) Plato
B) Aristotle
C) Locke
D) Darwin

Question 23

Dr. Zimand is studying testosterone levels and aggression in adult males. It is likely that Dr. Zimand specializes in the ________ approach to psychology.

A) evolutionary
B) humanistic
C) sociocultural
D) biological

Question 24

Dr. Cole's research has indicated that removing the whiskers from animals shortly after birth will reduce the ability of neurons to commit to tactile sensation. His research is in the area of

A) behavioral science.
B) cognitive science.
C) neuroscience.                        
D) evolutionary science.

Question 25

In psychology, William James was highly influential in developing the school of thought known as

A) psychoanalysis.
B) behaviorism.
C) structuralism.
D) functionalism.

Question 26

If you are interested in the functionalist approach to psychology, you would be most interested in

A) traumatic memories.
B) thoughts associated with a particular sound.
C) free will.
D) the purpose of behavior.

Question 27

Darwin, when describing the process of natural selection, claimed that

A) some species reproduce at much greater rates than others, and therefore they survive.
B) environments that do not favor certain organisms will make these organisms hardier.
C) characteristics favored by the environment are more likely to continue.
D) genetic mutations occur randomly, and their continuation in the species is by chance.

Question 28

Wendy spends hours a day speculating on why humans have noses and how noses have helped us to adapt and evolve in our environments. Wendy's perspective is most similar to which of the following schools of psychology?

A) functionalism
B) behaviorism
C) social constructivism
D) structuralism

Question 29

According to a behavioral psychologist, why is Jenny likely to clean up her room?

A) She knows it is the right thing to do.
B) She has nightmares when she fails to keep her room clean.
C) She will feel a sense of well-being when she cleans her room.
D) She will earn ten dollars from her parents for cleaning her room.

Question 30

Who was a leading proponent of behaviorism in the United States until his death in 1990?

A) Carl Rogers
B) B. F. Skinner
C) Ivan Pavlov
D) Albert Bandura

Question 31

Dr. Wade uses PET scans to explain that the difference between a male and a female is apparent in the structure and function of the brain. Dr. Wade's specialty is

A) clinical psychology.
B) personality psychology.
C) evolutionary psychology.
D) neuropsychology.

Question 32

What was innovative about Wundt's early work?

A) He was the first person to think about the mind as a separate entity from the body.
B) He was the first person to connect the soul to the body.
C) He was the first person to connect the brain to the mind.
D) He was the first person to introduce the idea of measuring mental processes.

Question 33

Dr. Burrhus' treatment plan for Annette focuses on consistently providing rewards for doing things she wants to do more often, and removing rewards for doing things she wants to do less often. Dr. Burrhus adheres most closely to the ________ perspective.

A) cognitive
B) behavioral
C) psychodynamic
D) sociocultural

Question 34

Charles Darwin argued that ________ determines the physical traits of survival.

A) cognition
B) natural selection
C) social interaction
D) nurture

Question 35

Wilhelm Wundt is to ________, as William James is to ________.

A) structuralism; behaviorism
B) behaviorism; functionalism
C) functionalism; behaviorism
D) structuralism; functionalism

Question 36

Which best depicts B.F Skinner's belief about studying human behavior?

A) Adult behaviors are best understood by examining childhood experiences.
B) The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
C) What we do is most important.
D) The mind can be understood through the use of introspection.

Question 37

You place a raisin on your tongue and report the following: "Rough, sweet, and grainy." You are using a method called

A) introspection.
B) pseudoscience.
C) functionalism.
D) positive psychology.

Question 38

Which of the following would be most interesting to a behavioral psychologist?

A) the memories of euphoria experienced during childhood
B) the feelings one associates with being in love
C) the reasons why some people fail to stop at a red light
D) the mental images one conjures when reflecting on a pleasant vacation

Question 39

Psychologists who study the role of the brain in psychological processes have adopted the ________ perspective.

A) neuroscience
B) psychoanalytic
C) humanistic
D) sociocultural

Question 40

Professor Alan is studying the regions of the brain that are activated when his subjects view disturbing images from horror films. He is taking the ________ perspective.

A) cognitive
B) psychodynamic
C) socio-cultural
D) biological

Question 41

"I am not as concerned about what is going on in your life today, as I am with the upbringing you received." Which type of psychologist is most likely to have uttered these words?

A) psychodynamic
B) behavioral
C) evolutionary
D) humanistic

Question 42

Anna and Diane are psychologists. Anna takes a psychodynamic perspective, while Diane embraces a humanistic perspective. While they disagree in a number of ways, their approaches are similar in that both

A) emphasize the importance of biological and genetic factors.
B) acknowledge the importance of internal personality processes.
C) owe their philosophical roots to British empiricism.
D) focus exclusively on the impact of culture and society on the individual.

Question 43

Which of the following perspectives focuses on higher mental processes?

A) psychodynamic
B) behavioral
C) humanistic
D) cognitive

Question 44

With what psychological approach is Sigmund Freud associated?

A) psychodynamic
B) humanistic
C) cognitive
D) sociocultural

Question 45

Which of the following perspectives is most closely associated with positive psychology?

A) psychodynamic
B) behavioral
C) humanistic
D) cognitive

Question 46

Which type of psychologist would be most interested in how Little Jasmine learns to read?

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive
C) humanistic
D) behavioral

Question 47

In his practice, Dr. Wagner stresses his clients' unconscious processes as well as their unresolved conflicts. Dr. Wagner adheres to the ________ approach.

A) behavioral
B) cognitive
C) psychodynamic
D) sociocultural

Question 48

According to a humanistic psychologist, Henry punched his little brother because he

A) has a chemical imbalance.
B) was abandoned by his mother at an early age.
C) receives attention from his parents when he gets in trouble.
D) wanted to.

Question 49

During a therapy session, Jan is asked to share her deepest thoughts and early childhood memories in order to unlock the causes of her troubling behaviors. This therapy follows the ________ perspective.

A) psychodynamic                 
B) cognitive
C) behavioral
D) humanistic

Question 50

Which perspective of psychology most clearly focuses on how we learn observable responses?

A) neuroscience
B) behavioral
C) evolutionary
D) behavior genetics

Question 51

A psychologist who is more interested in what you do, as opposed to how you feel, has adopted the ________ approach.

A) behavioral
B) cognitive
C) humanistic
D) school

Question 52

Jason is struggling with feelings of resentment towards his new stepmom. Outwardly she is a pleasant person, but he just cannot bring himself to accept her. To make matters worse, he is experiencing unprovoked feelings of aggression towards her as well. His therapist insists that he has unresolved issues in regards to his biological mother. Which type of therapist is Jason seeing?

A) biological
B) psychodynamic
C) cognitive
D) humanistic

Question 53

Humanism denies the role of determinism, but elevates the role of

A) suggestion.
B) unconscious thoughts.
C) free will.                                   
D) external rewards.

Question 54

A psychologist following the humanistic approach would be most interested in how

A) children learn about relationships by observing their parents' interactions.
B) people make choices that lead to positive growth.
C) drugs affect one's capability to accurately judge one's abilities.
D) the same behavior is interpreted differently by people living in different cultures.

Question 55

During a therapy session, Mrs. Brown has been asked to discuss her emotions in regards to objects in her dreams. Mrs. Brown and her therapist are delving into the ________ mind.

A) objective
B) universal
C) natural
D) unconscious                             

Question 56

The psychodynamic approach as practiced today tends to place ________ emphasis on sexual instincts and ________ emphasis on cultural and social experiences.

A) less; more
B) more; less
C) no; all
D) all; no

Question 57

Abe and Carl are psychologists who disagree with their colleagues that people are largely manipulated by uncontrollable forces such as unconscious impulses or environmental rewards. Rather, they believe that we have free will and can make choices based on higher human values. Abe and Carl's views reflect the ________ perspective.

A) sociocultural
B) behavioral
C) humanistic
D) cognitive

Question 58

John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner believed that

A) consciousness should always be investigated through the process of individual introspection.
B) psychology should focus on interactions with the environment that can be seen and measured.
C) psychology should study both outwardly observed behaviors and inborn mental processes.
D) psychological methods could be developed to study the process of human cognition.

Question 59

Which of the following explanations would be rejected by a humanistic psychologist?

A) I ran the stop light because I felt like it.
B) I cheated on the test because I could.
C) I missed class this morning because my roommate did not wake me up.
D) I left work early so I could go to the gym.

Question 60

According to the ________ perspective, we are in control of our lives and have the capacity for positive growth.

A) humanistic                       
B) psychodynamic
C) cognitive
D) behavioral

Question 61

According to your text, where do most psychologists work?

A) private practice
B) hospitals
C) colleges and universities
D) mental health treatment centers

Question 62

One difference between psychiatrists and clinical psychologists is that psychiatrists

A) have extra training in research methods.
B) earn M.D. degrees.
C) are licensed to practice therapy.
D) have Ph.D. degrees.

Question 63

Dr. Vance tests individual's intellectual abilities. Dr. Vance is likely a

A) psychoanalyst.
B) behaviorist.
C) cognitive psychologist.
D) humanistic psychologist.

Question 64

Cognitive psychology can best be described as the

A) study of higher mental processes.
B) therapeutic applications of critical thinking.
C) area of psychology which attempts to reduce judgmental thinking.
D) subspecialty of psychology based exclusively on observation rather than experimentation.

Question 65

Bobby was raised in the south and encouraged to say "Yes mam and yes sir" when answering adults. This type of influence on our development would be most interesting to a ________ psychologist.

A) behavioral
B) cognitive
C) humanistic
D) sociocultural

Question 66

Psychiatrists

A) are psychoanalytic psychologists.
B) do not have degrees in medicine.
C) are genetic psychologists.
D) can prescribe medication.   

Question 67

Marlena is frustrated with the approach her therapist is taking to treat her depression. "I am sick of talking about my problems. I would like to try one of the new anti-depressant medications," she says. Which type of psychological professional should she seek out?

A) clinical psychologist
B) professional counselor
C) psychiatrist
D) medical psychologist

Question 68

Samantha is suffering from fatigue and sometimes cannot make herself get out of bed. She feels that the world is a sad, unhappy place. Dr. Powell and Samantha examine her feelings and consider the relationships in her life which may have affected her views. Dr. Powell is a professional in the field of

A) clinical psychology.
B) neuropsychology.
C) health psychology.
D) evolutionary psychology.

Question 69

Evolutionary psychology maintains that

A) the traits of living members of a species are the result of survival of the fittest.      
B) the traits which one looks for in a potential spouse are based on characteristics which have allowed humans to survive.
C) some behaviors are pre-wired into species as they assist in maintaining the reproductive ability of the species.
D) All of these.                      

Question 70

A psychologist who feels that people's thought processes function almost like computer programs endorses which of the following psychological perspectives?

A) psychodynamic
B) biological
C) behavioral
D) cognitive

Question 71

Dr. Daack has spent a lifetime studying how adults solve problems. It is likely that Dr. Daack specializes in the ________ approach to psychology.

A) humanistic
B) cognitive
C) biological
D) evolutionary

Question 72

The specialist most likely to have a medical degree is a(n)

A) clinical psychologist.
B) industrial/organizational psychologist.
C) developmental psychologist.
D) psychiatrist.

Question 73

If you go to medical school and decide to specialize in psychological disorders, you would most likely consider entering the practice of

A) health psychology.
B) counseling psychology.
C) psychiatry.
D) clinical psychology.

Question 74

Richard is a psychologist who conducts research into how biological processes form the basis for mental processes. He is specifically interested in the role the brain plays in behavior. What would be his area of specialization in psychology?

A) evolutionary psychology
B) behavior genetics
C) behavioral neuroscience
D) behaviorism

Question 75

One of the values promoted by the sociocultural perspective is the belief that

A) genes have a powerful influence over behavior.
B) knowing one's social roles helps with effective communication.
C) Western cultures are superior to Eastern cultures.
D) the cultural context of behavior is important.

Question 76

The polar bear's dominance in arctic regions is best explained by which perspective?

A) evolutionary
B) biological
C) cognitive
D) socio-cultural

Question 77

Research has shown human beings to be notoriously bad decision makers in general. Which type of psychologist was most likely to have carried out this type of research?

A) cognitive
B) sociocultural
C) humanistic
D) psychodynamic

Question 78

According to the text, it is difficult for evolutionary psychologists to explain

A) physical attractiveness.
B) aggression.
C) sex differences.
D) altruism.

Question 79

Professor McDonald believes that most women prefer tall and physically strong partners because this preference enhanced the survival of our ancestor's genes. This viewpoint best illustrates the ________ perspective.

A) socio-cultural
B) cognitive
C) evolutionary
D) psychodynamic

Question 80

Dr. Smith studies the differences between achievement motivation and income levels among groups of African American, Latino, and Asian American people. Dr. Smith is taking a(n) ________ approach.

A) sociocultural
B) biological
C) evolutionary
D) psychodynamic