Question 1

What is most likely to be studied by a behaviourist

Accepted Answer

Behaviourists focus primarily on the study of observable behaviour and the relationship between behaviour and environmental stimuli. Animal training methods involve the use of operant conditioning, which is a central concept in behaviourism.

Question 2

Marissa wants to study people's emotional reactions to increases in temperature.Her classmate,Bernard,tells her that her study should focus on observable behaviours,rather than thoughts or feelings.Which psychological perspective is consistent with Bernard's advice

Accepted Answer

The behavioural perspective focuses on observable behaviours rather than internal thoughts or feelings. Bernard's advice aligns with this perspective by suggesting that Marissa's study should focus on observable behaviours in response to temperature increases.

Question 3

Much like Freud,Skinner's views on human behaviour were controversial and often criticized.Which controversies were predominant for each of Freud and Skinner

Accepted Answer

Freud was criticized for his focus on sexual motivation and the Oedipus complex, which many found controversial and difficult to accept. Skinner, on the other hand, was criticized for his belief that free will was an illusion, which conflicted with the concept of personal responsibility and autonomy. Both theories were considered controversial in their respective times and continue to be debated today.

Question 4

Which statement best reflects the current status of Freud's psychoanalytic theory

Accepted Answer

While Freud's specific ideas and techniques are not widely used in contemporary psychology, many of his concepts, such as the unconscious, defense mechanisms, and the importance of early childhood experiences, have become integrated into the mainstream of psychological thought and research. Freud's contributions to the field of psychology are therefore still acknowledged and respected.

Question 5

You are interviewing a new member of the psychology department for the university newspaper.The faculty member states: "Many times people are unaware of the unconscious motivations that drive their overt actions." Which theorist is this faculty member's view most similar to

Accepted Answer

The faculty member's view about unconscious motivations driving overt actions is most similar to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes that the unconscious mind plays a significant role in human behavior and personality. Freud believed that unconscious thoughts and desires can influence conscious behavior without a person's awareness or understanding.

Question 6

How did Freud's theories about human behaviour differ from prevailing viewpoints in the early 1900s

Accepted Answer

Freud's theories differed from prevailing viewpoints in the early 1900s because he emphasized the role of the unconscious and the fact that people are not fully aware of the forces that control their behavior. This was in contrast to the prevailing notion of the time that people were rational, conscious beings who had full control over their actions. Freud's emphasis on the unconscious and the influence of childhood experiences on adult behavior was a major departure from the prevailing viewpoints of the time.

Question 7

What did Freud conclude are the dominant causes of psychological disturbances

Accepted Answer

Freud concluded that personal conflicts existing at an unconscious level, particularly conflicts related to early childhood experiences and repressed sexual and aggressive urges, were the dominant causes of psychological disturbances.

Question 8

Which statement best reflects the main advantage of conducting psychological research with animals

Accepted Answer

The main advantage of conducting psychological research with animals is that researchers can exert more control over variables and conditions than they can with human subjects. This control enhances the ability to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 9

With which individual is B.F.Skinner most in agreement on the issue of internal mental events

Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner was a behaviorist who believed that internal mental events, such as thoughts and emotions, were not useful or relevant in explaining behavior. John Watson, another prominent behaviorist, also rejected the importance of internal mental events and focused solely on observable behavior.

Question 10

Janet trained her dog to sit on command by rewarding the dog's behaviour of sitting with a dog biscuit and praise.Which psychological perspective's methods did Janet use

Accepted Answer

Janet used methods from the behaviourist perspective, which focuses on observable behaviour and how it is influenced by environmental stimuli, such as rewards and punishments. By rewarding the dog's behaviour of sitting, she was using positive reinforcement to encourage the behaviour to be repeated in the future.

Question 11

What do behaviourism and psychoanalytic theory have in common

Accepted Answer

Both behaviorism and psychoanalytic theory suggest that individuals are not fully in control of their behaviors. Behaviorism focuses on the influence of the environment and conditioning, while psychoanalytic theory emphasizes unconscious motives and desires.

Question 12

According to Sigmund Freud,what determines an individual's personality

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud believed that forces in the unconscious, such as unconscious desires and conflicts, determine an individual's personality through the interaction between the id, ego, and superego.

Question 13

Sigmund Freud developed an innovative procedure for treating people with psychological problems.What did he call this procedure

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis as a therapeutic procedure for treating psychological problems. This method involved exploring the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior, emotions, and thinking patterns. Freud believed that by analyzing a person's dreams, memories, and experiences, he could help individuals gain insight into their unconscious conflicts and resolve them.

Question 14

Which statement best reflects Skinner's view of behaviourism

Accepted Answer

Skinner's view of behaviourism was that it focused on the study of behaviour and its consequences. He believed that a person's behaviour is shaped by their environment and experiences, and that it can be controlled and modified through reinforcement and punishment. He did not believe in free will or conscious motives and goals.

Question 15

You are interviewing a new member of the psychology department for the university newspaper.The faculty member states,"Sure,people have emotions and thoughts and dreams,but you don't have to study those things in order to predict behaviour." Which theorist's views are most similar to the views held by this faculty member

Accepted Answer

F. Skinner's behaviorist approach emphasized the importance of studying observable behavior in order to predict and control behavior, rather than focusing on internal mental processes such as emotions, thoughts, and dreams. This is consistent with the views expressed by the faculty member in the interview.

Question 16

Why did many psychologists resist psychoanalysis

Accepted Answer

Many psychologists resisted psychoanalysis because of its emphasis on unconscious motivation.

Question 17

A study determines that rats can be trained to press a lever if lever pressing is followed by the presentation of food.Of the following theorists,who would be most likely to have devised this study

Accepted Answer

The answer of A study determines that rats can be...

Question 18

Liserel is a graduate student who believes that the best approach to the study of psychology is to focus exclusively on the unconscious determinants of behaviour.Which perspective matches Liserel's views toward the study of psychology

Accepted Answer

Liserel's emphasis on the unconscious determinants of behavior aligns with the psychoanalytic perspective, which emphasizes the importance of early childhood experiences and unconscious motivations in shaping behavior.

Question 19

Caroline conducts research in which she systematically changes some aspect of the environment and then measures changes in observable behaviour.Which psychological perspective is most consistent with Caroline's method

Accepted Answer

Caroline's method of systematically changing the environment and measuring changes in observable behaviour is consistent with the behaviourist perspective. Behaviourists believe that behaviour is shaped by the environment through the process of conditioning, which involves reinforcing desired behaviours and punishing undesired behaviours. Caroline's research approach aligns with this perspective as she is manipulating the environment to observe changes in behaviour.

Question 20

Who took the position that organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes and tend not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes

Accepted Answer

B F Skinner took the position that organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes and tend not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes, which became known as his theory of operant conditioning.

Quiz 1: A: The Evolution of Psychology