Question 1

In 1908,Hermann Ebbinghaus wrote that "Psychology has a long past,but only a short history." Which statement best captures the idea that Ebbinghaus was expressing?

Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus was stating that psychology has a long history in terms of the questions and curiosities about human nature, but only recently has the field developed the scientific methods necessary to answer those questions. Therefore, option B best captures his idea. Options A, C, and D are all inaccurate or incomplete interpretations of Ebbinghaus's statement.

Question 2

What happened in 1879 in Leipzig,Germany that was of great importance to the field of psychology?

Accepted Answer

The first formal laboratory devoted to experimental psychology was founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt. This event marked the beginning of psychology as a formal discipline and had a significant impact on the development of psychological science.

Question 3

In 1900,approximately how many psychology laboratories were in existence in North America?

Accepted Answer

According to historical records, there were approximately 40 psychological laboratories in North America in 1900.

Question 4

Which German psychologist focused on the way in which the mind understands experiences as organized wholes rather than as the sums of simple parts?

Accepted Answer

Max Wertheimer is known for his work in Gestalt psychology, which focused on the way in which the mind perceives and organizes experiences as holistic entities, rather than simply as the sum of their individual parts.

Question 5

Where can questions about how the mind works and the nature of free will be traced?

Accepted Answer

Questions about the mind and free will can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C.

Question 6

When Edward Titchener brought Wundt's psychology to the United States,what experimental technique was introduced for examining conscious mental life?

Accepted Answer

When Titchener brought Wundt's psychology to the United States, he introduced introspection as an experimental technique for examining conscious mental life. Introspection involved having participants describe their own sensations, perceptions, and emotional reactions in response to different stimuli. Titchener used this technique to study the structure of consciousness and develop his approach to psychology known as structuralism.

Question 7

The types of interventions that allow people to improve the quality of their lives is most directly the result of which goal of psychological research?

Accepted Answer

The goal of control in psychological research is to develop techniques and interventions that can be used to improve people's lives. This includes developing treatments for mental health disorders, strategies for behavior change, and ways to enhance personal well-being. Therefore, the types of interventions that allow people to improve their quality of life are a direct result of the goal of control in psychological research.

Question 8

One attack on structuralism was that it is mentalistiC)Why do critics believe this to be true?

Accepted Answer

Critics believed that structuralism was mentalistic because it focused only on studying verbal reports of conscious awareness, which they believed was too subjective and could not be directly observed or measured. They argued that it neglected important aspects of behavior and cognition that are not accessible to conscious awareness.

Question 9

When attempting to answer questions about how the mind works,how did the classical Greek philosophers compare to the psychological researchers at the end of the nineteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Psychological researchers at the end of the nineteenth century began to apply laboratory techniques and scientific methods to study the mind, unlike the classical Greek philosophers who relied more on philosophical reasoning.

Question 10

What would a research assistant likely conclude after observing experiments in Wilhelm Wundt's laboratory?

Accepted Answer

Wilhelm Wundt's laboratory was known for its rigorous and systematic approach to experimentation, which made independent replication of experiments possible.

Question 11

A research psychologist believes that,to have a complete understanding of behaviour,one needs to study both human and non-human behaviour.Which criticism of structuralism is in agreement with this researcher's philosophy?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism was criticized for relying heavily on introspection, which excluded non-human subjects and humans who could not introspect, thus limiting the understanding of behavior to those who could articulate their thoughts.

Question 12

Which psychological goal is achieved when therapeutic programs are designed to help people substitute more positive behaviours for negative behaviours?

Accepted Answer

The psychological goal achieved by designing therapeutic programs to help people substitute more positive behaviors for negative behaviors is control. This is because such programs aim to help individuals gain control over their negative behaviors and replace them with more positive and adaptive ones.

Question 13

According to research cited in the text,what did Russian students report as the greatest source of conflict among friends?

Accepted Answer

Russian students reported that betrayals of confidence were the greatest source of conflict among friends according to the research cited.

Question 14

Treatments for mental illness,the ability of people to eliminate unhealthy behaviours such as smoking and initiate healthy behaviours such as exercise,and the development of positive parenting practices are all consistent with which idea?

Accepted Answer

The idea that treatments for mental illness, eliminating unhealthy behaviors, and developing positive parenting practices can improve quality of life is consistent with the goal of using psychological knowledge to help improve quality of life.

Question 15

What would a participant in one of Titchener's early studies of conscious experience most likely be asked to do?

Accepted Answer

Titchener's early studies focused on introspection or self-observation of one's conscious experience. Therefore, a participant in one of his studies would be asked to examine their personal thoughts and feelings about sensory experiences.

Question 16

What concept was of the most concern to followers of structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism was primarily concerned with identifying and analyzing the elemental components of conscious experience, or the "what" of mental contents, through introspection and the systematic observation of one's own thoughts and experiences. The "how" and "why" of mental contents were of less importance to structuralists. The "when" of mental contents was not a major concern of structuralism as it focused more on the static elements of consciousness rather than the temporal aspects.

Question 17

Which early American psychologist taught philosophy at Harvard,studied medicine,had strong interests in literature and religion,and wrote one of the most important psychology texts ever,The Principles of Psychology,in 1890?

Accepted Answer

The description matches William James, who was a philosopher, studied medicine, had interests in literature and religion, and wrote The Principles of Psychology.

Question 18

A psychologist who specializes in the study of perception is referred to as a "Gestalt Psychologist." What does a Gestalt Psychologist typically focus upon?

Accepted Answer

A Gestalt Psychologist typically focuses on the way in which the mind understands experiences as organized wholes. They believe that perception is not simply the sum of individual sensations, but rather a holistic process of organizing sensory information into meaningful patterns.

Question 19

How has much of the history of psychology been characterized?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has much of the history of...

Question 20

Where can the origins of Western psychology be traced?

Accepted Answer

The origins of Western psychology can be traced back to Classical Greek philosophy, particularly the work of famous philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. They explored topics such as the nature of the self, the role of perception and reason, and human behavior and ethics. These ideas have greatly influenced the development of psychology in the Western world.

Quiz 1: A: Psychology and Life