Question 1

A psychologist using the _____ perspective would be MOST interested in studying why Canadians have almost as many guns per capita as Americans but a significantly lower level of per capita murders.

Accepted Answer

Sociocultural perspective focuses on how culture, social norms, and societal factors influence behavior. This perspective would be most relevant in examining the cultural and societal differences between Canada and the United States regarding gun ownership and gun-related homicides.

Question 2

Which perspective explains behavior by focusing on external causal factors?

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural and behavioral perspectives both emphasize external factors in explaining behavior. The sociocultural perspective focuses on how social and cultural environments influence behavior, while the behavioral perspective looks at how external stimuli shape behavior through learning and conditioning.

Question 3

A cognitive explanation for why a depressed mother killed her children would focus on _____.

Accepted Answer

A cognitive explanation for the behavior of the depressed mother would focus on examining her belief that her life was miserable, which is a common feature of depression. This belief may have contributed to her decision to kill her children.

Question 4

When Carla works in a group, she may not exert as much effort as she does when she is working alone. This example of the effect of other people on behavior is MOST directly related to psychology's _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural perspective in psychology focuses on how social contexts and cultural norms influence individual behaviors and attitudes. Carla's reduced effort in a group setting reflects social loafing, a phenomenon well-studied within the sociocultural perspective, highlighting how group dynamics can impact individual behavior.

Question 5

Internal causes are the main emphasis of the _____ perspective, whereas external causes are the main emphasis of the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The biological perspective emphasizes internal causes, such as genetic and neurological factors, while the behavioral perspective emphasizes external causes, such as learning and environment.

Question 6

Which is NOT one of the major psychological research perspectives?

Accepted Answer

The major psychological research perspectives are biological, cognitive, and sociocultural. Therapeutic is not considered a major perspective, as it refers to the application of psychological principles to treat and improve mental health.

Question 7

Dr. Simon studies how the activity of neural chemicals influences our moods. Dr. Simon's work MOST directly illustrates psychology's _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Simon's work focuses on the biological factors that influence our behavior and mental processes, specifically how neural chemicals (which are part of the biological system) impact our moods. Therefore, his work illustrates psychology's biological perspective.

Question 8

Psychologists who study how brain chemistry influences behavior are most likely from the _____ perspective, whereas psychologists who study how we perceive and reason are most likely from the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The biological perspective focuses on how biological factors, such as brain chemistry, influence behavior. The cognitive perspective, on the other hand, focuses on mental processes such as perception and reasoning.

Question 9

In classical conditioning, new behaviors are learned as a result of the _____.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves the pairing of two environmental events, such as a bell and food, or a light and a shock, in order to elicit a response. This type of conditioning does not involve the use of punishments or rewards to shape behavior, nor does it rely on reinforcers that precede or follow behavior.

Question 10

A psychologist with a biological perspective is interested in studying how human behavior is influenced by _____.

Accepted Answer

A psychologist with a biological perspective focuses on studying the physical and chemical processes in the brain and nervous system that drive behavior. Therefore, the correct answer would be brain mechanisms.

Question 11

Maggie often makes unusual comments because she is rewarded when others pay attention to her. Maggie's continuing tendency to make unusual comments is an example of _____ conditioning, which is emphasized by psychology's _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Maggie's behavior of making unusual comments is being reinforced by others paying attention to her, which is an example of operant conditioning. This is emphasized by the behavioral perspective in psychology, which focuses on how external factors (such as rewards and punishments) influence behavior.

Question 12

Kelli's psychology professor informed the class that she conducts research on problem solving and reasoning. Kelli's psychology professor is MOST likely a proponent of the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The professor's research on problem solving and reasoning aligns with the cognitive perspective, which focuses on mental processes such as perception, thinking, and problem solving.

Question 13

Which investigation of violent behavior would MOST likely be conducted by a cognitive psychologist?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists focus on how people process information and think, so examining how aggressive children process information about acts of violence differently than nonaggressive children would be a logical investigation for a cognitive psychologist. A is more in the realm of social psychology, C is more in the realm of neuroscience, and D is more in the realm of cultural psychology.

Question 14

As Janet is waiting in line at the theater, a man runs by and grabs her purse. Someone is more likely to respond to Janet's cries for help if she is waiting in line with _____, illustrating the _____.

Accepted Answer

The bystander effect is the tendency for individuals to be less likely to offer help when others are present. If there are very few other people in line with Janet, then there is less diffusion of responsibility and someone is more likely to respond to her cries for help.

Question 15

The sociocultural perspective in psychology focuses on how _____.

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural perspective in psychology is concerned with how social and cultural factors affect individual behavior and mental processes. It emphasizes the impact of cultural context, social norms, and other individuals on human behavior.

Question 16

Psychology is currently defined as the science of _____.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is defined as the science of behavior and mental processes. This encompasses both observable behavior, such as actions and reactions, and mental processes such as thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.

Question 17

A cognitive psychologist would explain how memory works by studying various _____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychology is concerned with studying mental processes such as perception, attention, language, thinking, problem-solving, and memory. Therefore, a cognitive psychologist would focus on understanding how memory works by investigating the mental processes involved in encoding, storing, and retrieving information.

Question 18

Dr. Wilson studies how people evaluate different options when making a decision. Dr. Wilson's research MOST directly illustrates psychology's _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Wilson's study focuses on how people process information, evaluate options and make decisions, which fits with the cognitive perspective of psychology.

Question 19

Dr. Brandon studies how the customs and norms of different countries shape children's educational and career goals. Dr. Brandon's research MOST likely reflects a _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Brandon's research involves examining the influence of cultural factors on children's educational and career goals. This aligns with the sociocultural perspective, which emphasizes how societal and cultural factors shape individual development and behavior. The behavioral perspective focuses on observable behavior and consequences, the cognitive perspective emphasizes mental processes, and the sociological perspective examines societal structures and institutions.

Question 20

When Jim witnessed his 4-year-old nephew cry and whine until he received what he wanted, he tried to explain to his sister that she was conditioning the crying and whining based on environmental events. Jim's explanation of his nephew's behavior is representative of the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Jim's explanation of the behavior in terms of conditioning suggests a behavioral perspective, which focuses on the role of the environment and reinforcement in shaping behavior.

Quiz 1: Section 2: The Science of Psychology