Question 1

Older adults with low levels of the chemical acetylcholine in their brains may develop memory loss. Which of the following psychological perspectives does this best relate to?

Accepted Answer

The information provided is related to the biological perspective as it specifically discusses a chemical in the brain and its impact on memory.

Question 2

The _______________ perspective of psychology focuses on the environmental rewards and punishers that maintain or discourage specific behaviors.

Accepted Answer

The learning perspective of psychology focuses on how environment reinforces or punishes behavior, and learning theories emphasize how specific behaviors are acquired and maintained through rewards and punishments.

Question 3

With which of the following psychological perspectives is the term "behaviorist" most closely associated?

Accepted Answer

The term "behaviorist" is most closely associated with the learning perspective, which emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment and experience in shaping behavior.

Question 4

Professor King approaches questions about human behavior from a perspective that emphasizes the rewards and punishments that maintain certain specific behaviors. He does not invoke the mind to explain behavior but sticks to what he can observe and measure directly. It is most likely that he accepts which of the following psychological approaches?

Accepted Answer

Professor King's emphasis on rewards and punishments indicates a focus on learning theory, which emphasizes how behavior is shaped through experience and environmental factors. This approach does not involve invoking the mind or considering unconscious motivations, as in psychodynamic theory. It also does not emphasize cultural or social factors, as in sociocultural theory, or internal mental processes, as in cognitive theory.

Question 5

The _______________ is a psychological approach that emphasizes mental processes in perception, memory, language, problem solving, and other areas of behavior.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches the definition of the cognitive perspective, which focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving. The biological perspective emphasizes physical aspects of behavior, the learning perspective focuses on how experience shapes behavior, and the sociocultural perspective examines how cultural and social factors influence behavior.

Question 6

Tom is a psychologist investigating the contributions of genes in the development of abilities and personality traits in human beings. Tom is most likely a _______________.

Accepted Answer

Since Tom is investigating the role of genes in the development of abilities and personality traits, he is most likely a biological psychologist, since biological psychologists study the biological basis of behavior and mental processes, including the role of genetics. Learning theorists, cognitive researchers, and cultural psychologists all focus on different aspects of behavior and mental processes, but do not necessarily study the biological basis of these phenomena.

Question 7

_______________ combine elements of behaviorism with research on thoughts, values, expectations, and intentions and believe that people learn not only by adapting their behavior to the environment, but also by observing and imitating others.

Accepted Answer

Social-cognitive learning theorists combine behaviorism with research on cognition and social factors to form their theories. They believe that individuals learn through observing and imitating others, and also take into account the role of thoughts, values, expectations, and intentions in the learning process.

Question 8

A _______________ might study what goes on in the mind of an infant or study different types of intelligence.

Accepted Answer

A cognitive researcher is interested in studying mental processes such as perception, attention, language, and memory. They may study infant cognition or different types of intelligence, such as emotional intelligence or problem-solving abilities. Cultural psychologists study how culture influences behavior and beliefs, learning theorists focus on how behavior is acquired and modified through experience, and biological psychologists study how biological factors like genetics and hormones affect behavior.

Question 9

Which modern psychological perspective focuses on how people reason, remember, understand language, and solve problems?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes such as reasoning, memory, language, and problem-solving. It emphasizes how people acquire, process, and store information.

Question 10

_______________ focus on how groups affect attitudes and behavior, why people obey authority, and how each of us is affected by other people-spouses, lovers, friends, bosses, parents, and strangers.

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists specifically focus on how groups and other people influence attitudes and behavior, as well as the role of authority in obedience. Learning theorists, cognitive researchers, and biological psychologists all have different areas of focus and may not prioritize these topics in their research.

Question 11

Observing violent role models can influence some children to behave aggressively themselves. Which of the following psychological perspectives is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of social-cognitive perspective, which focuses on how individuals learn from observing others and how their behaviors are influenced by social and cognitive factors. Children who observe violent role models are likely to imitate and model their aggressive behavior, leading to aggressive behavior in the child.

Question 12

Which modern psychological perspective focuses on how our behavior is influenced by the other people in our environment and the communities we belong to?

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural perspective of psychology focuses on how our behavior is influenced by the other people in our environment and the communities we belong to. This perspective emphasizes factors such as cultural norms, socialization, and interpersonal relationships.

Question 13

Dr. Mannisto is a behaviorist who is studying the causes of excessive violence among some hockey players. She is likely to consider whether:

Accepted Answer

As a behaviorist, Dr. Mannisto is likely to consider the role of reinforcement and reward in shaping behavior. Thus, she may investigate whether players who engage in excessive violence are being rewarded in some way (e.g. through coach approval, increased playing time, etc.) which could explain their continued aggressive behavior on the ice. While brain injuries, childhood experiences of abuse, and cultural factors may also contribute to the problem of excessive violence in hockey, they are not necessarily specific to a behaviorist perspective.

Question 14

One of the most important contributions of the _______________ perspective of psychology has been to show how people's thoughts and explanations affect their actions, feelings, and choices.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective of psychology focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve information. It emphasizes the role of thinking in shaping behavior and emotions. It has highlighted the importance of mental processes, such as perception, memory, attention, and problem-solving, in influencing behavior. The cognitive perspective has shown how people's thoughts, beliefs, and expectations affect their behavior and emotions. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 15

A(n) __________ psychologist studies how genetically-influenced behavior that was functional or adaptive during our species' past may be reflected in the present behaviors, mental processes, and traits of modern humans.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists study how behaviors and traits that were once adaptive for our species, such as fear of snakes or attraction to certain physical features, may still be present in modern humans due to our genetic heritage. The other options (cognitive, behavioral, and sociocultural) do not specifically focus on how genetics influence behavior.

Question 16

Dr. Lyons studies the impact of societal norms and values on human decision-making behavior. It is most likely that she endorses which of the following psychological approaches?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Lyons' focus on societal norms and values aligns with the sociocultural perspective, which emphasizes the role of culture and social influences on behavior. The learning approach focuses on how behavior is shaped by experience and consequences, the cognitive approach emphasizes thought processes and information processing, and the biological approach examines the biological and physiological factors that influence behavior. While aspects of each perspective may also apply to Dr. Lyons' research, her focus on societal norms and values suggests a stronger endorsement of the sociocultural perspective.

Question 17

Which modern psychological perspective is behaviorism a part of?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism is a part of the learning perspective, which focuses on how environmental factors influence observable behavior and emphasizes the role of experience and conditioning in shaping behavior.

Question 18

Which of the following modern psychological perspectives has strongly encouraged precision and objectivity in psychology by focusing on observable and measurable events?

Accepted Answer

The learning perspective emphasizes the importance of observable and measurable events in behavior and encourages precision and objectivity in psychology. It focuses on how experiences and environmental factors shape behavior through conditioning and reinforcement. The other perspectives listed (cognitive, sociocultural, and biological) may also incorporate observable and measurable events, but they do not place as much emphasis on them as the learning perspective.

Question 19

_______________ psychology spurred the growth of research on topics that had long been ignored in psychology, including motherhood, rape, domestic violence, gender roles, and sexist attitudes.

Accepted Answer

Feminist psychology specifically addresses issues of gender inequality and discrimination, leading to research on topics such as motherhood, rape, domestic violence, gender roles, and sexist attitudes. Applied psychology focuses on the practical application of psychology, while basic psychology focuses on the fundamental principles and theories of psychology. Behavioral psychology focuses on observable behaviors and their causes.

Question 20

A psychologist who embraces the cognitive perspective would be most interested in:

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective focuses on how people think, perceive, and process information. Therefore, a psychologist who embraces this perspective would be interested in studying how people think.

Quiz 1: What Is Psychology