Question 1

If a NFL player wanted to see a psychologist to improve his game, what type of psychologist is he most likely to consult?

Accepted Answer

A sport psychologist specializes in improving athletic performance, mental toughness, and self-confidence. They work closely with athletes to identify mental obstacles and help them overcome these challenges to improve their performance on the field. Therefore, if an NFL player wants to improve his game, he is most likely to consult a sport psychologist.

Question 2

Kara was surprised to learn that certain hand signals which indicate a "job well done" in the United States are socially unacceptable in other countries. This finding comes from research completed by a ________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural psychology focuses on the study of cultural differences and similarities in human behavior, cognition, and emotions across different cultures. Therefore, a cross-cultural psychologist would be most likely to conduct research on the cultural differences in hand signals and their meaning.

Question 3

Professionals in the field of developmental psychology

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychologists specialize in the study of human growth and change over time, including physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development from infancy to old age. They focus on understanding how people change over time and which factors contribute to these changes. They are less concerned with mental disorders and crises than they are with understanding the normal and universal patterns of human development.

Question 4

A(n) ________ psychologist might be employed to work with architects to determine the best working arrangement, color, and lighting for a work place, hospital, or research laboratory.

Accepted Answer

Industrial-organizational psychologists are concerned with improving productivity and satisfaction in the workplace by studying and advising on issues such as organizational structure, management practices, and employee working conditions. They can work with architects to determine the best working arrangement, color, and lighting for a work place, hospital, or research laboratory. Clinical psychologists work with individuals who have mental health concerns, counseling psychologists work with individuals experiencing personal and relational issues, and evolutionary psychologists study the evolution of behavior and mental processes.

Question 5

Which type of psychologist would be most interested in movie goers' reaction to smoke pouring out from one of the vents in the ceiling of the movie theatre?

Accepted Answer

A social psychologist would be most interested in the movie goers' reaction to the smoke, as they study how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. They would be interested in how the presence of smoke affects the behavior of individuals in a group setting, as well as how individuals within the group might influence each other's actions and reactions.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the impact that nature and nurture have on a person's psychological characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that genetics plays a significant role in shaping a person's psychological characteristics. However, environmental factors such as social experiences and upbringing can also affect a person's development. Therefore, a combination of nature and nurture influences a person's psychological characteristics.

Question 7

In school, you find yourself fascinated by group behavior. In particular, you think you'd like to study the influence of organized religion on community interaction. In which area of psychology should you specialize?

Accepted Answer

Social psychology focuses on how individuals interact with others and how groups influence behavior, making it the most appropriate choice for studying the influence of religion on community interaction. Developmental psychology focuses on the changes that occur throughout a person's lifespan, and motivation and emotion psychology focuses on understanding the factors that drive behavior. Cognition psychology focuses on the mental processes that underlie behavior. While each of these areas may be relevant to understanding religious community interaction, social psychology would be the most directly applicable.

Question 8

Cross-cultural research on the concept of success has found that when given a choice, Asian students are more likely to choose ________ tasks to complete.

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural research has found that Asian students are more likely to choose challenging tasks to complete as they place a high value on hard work and perseverance in achieving success.

Question 9

Marshall is the director of a nursing home. Which type of psychologist would provide him with the most useful information concerning the well being of his residents?

Accepted Answer

Community psychologists focus on improving the well-being of individuals within communities, including settings like nursing homes, by addressing social issues and promoting mental health.

Question 10

Which of the following types of psychologists would be most interested in explaining what drives an Olympic athlete to excel?

Accepted Answer

Motivation and emotion psychologists would be the most interested in explaining what drives an Olympic athlete to excel, as they specialize in studying the factors that drive behavior and performance.

Question 11

A psychologist is studying optical illusions to determine how they "trick" the brain. This psychologist most likely specializes in the area of

Accepted Answer

Optical illusions are related to sensory perception, which is the study of how we interpret sensory information from the environment. Therefore, a psychologist studying optical illusions would most likely specialize in the area of sensation and perception.

Question 12

Jean is a psychologist who studies the changes that take place in people over the course of their lifespans. Jean most likely specializes in ________ psychology.

Accepted Answer

The question is describing a psychologist who studies changes over the lifespan, which is the focus of developmental psychology. Cross-cultural psychology examines cultural differences in behavior, health psychology explores the connections between physical and mental health, and social psychology studies how individuals interact with others in different contexts, none of which is the focus here.

Question 13

A dating web site advertises that you can take a computerized test to find your perfect "soul mate."  The psychologist who designed the test and methodology for the matching system was probably a ________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

A personality psychologist would be involved in designing a test to match individuals based on personality traits and compatibility, which is relevant for finding a "soul mate."

Question 14

You have volunteered to participate in a study that is focusing on lifestyle habits, such as drinking, smoking, and engaging in high-risk sexual behavior. Which kind of psychologist is most likely conducting this study?

Accepted Answer

A health psychologist specializes in how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and illness. Their research may focus on lifestyle habits that impact health outcomes, such as drinking, smoking, and sexual behavior.

Question 15

________ psychologists study the interactions between people and their physical environment, such as the effect of a neighborhood park on children's play.

Accepted Answer

Environmental psychologists are focused on studying how people interact with their physical environment and how it affects their behavior, emotions, and cognition. In the given example, the effect of a neighborhood park on children's play is a part of environmental psychology research. The other options such as sport psychology, cognitive psychology, and behavioral psychology are not particularly concerned with studying the environment-people interactions.

Question 16

Which type of psychologist might assess a student's intelligence level?

Accepted Answer

School psychologists specialize in assessing cognitive and academic abilities, including intelligence testing, within the school setting. They may also provide interventions and support for students with academic or behavioral challenges. Clinical psychologists, on the other hand, focus more on mental health concerns and treatment. Behavioral psychologists may specialize in behavior modification and may work with individuals of all ages, while developmental psychologists study the cognitive, social, and emotional changes that occur across the lifespan.

Question 17

Dr. Ames studies the way groups influence the decisions that people make. She is a ________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

The description of Dr. Ames' field of study indicates that she is focused on social psychology, specifically on the influence of groups on decision making. Therefore, the best answer choice is D) social psychology. Choice A, health psychology, is concerned with how biological, social, and psychological factors affect health and illness. Choice B, personality psychology, is focused on understanding individual differences in personality traits and characteristics. Choice C, developmental psychology, is concerned with how individuals change and develop throughout their lifespan. While each of these fields may consider social influences on behavior or decision-making, social psychology is the most directly applicable field to Dr. Ames' research as described.

Question 18

Jim, a lawyer, is considering hiring a psychologist to help with jury selection. Jim is most likely going to hire a(n) ________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Forensic psychology involves the intersection of psychology and the legal system, making it the most relevant specialty for providing assistance with jury selection. Social psychology primarily focuses on social interactions and relationships, while educational psychology focuses on learning and development. Physiological psychology examines biological processes in the brain and body, which is not directly related to jury selection.

Question 19

Dr. Lane is observing a subject's ability to remember word pairs that are presented at different time intervals. Dr. Lane is most likely a

Accepted Answer

Dr. Lane's focus on studying memory and information processing suggests that they are a cognitive psychologist.

Question 20

When American research subjects were given a choice between selecting more or less challenging tasks to complete, most subjects

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that most American research subjects tend to select the less challenging tasks when given a choice. This is often attributed to a desire to avoid failure or an overvaluation of their current abilities.

Quiz 1: Science of Psychology