Question 1

Determinism is the assumption that everything that happens has a cause.

Accepted Answer

Determinism is the philosophical concept that every event or state of affairs, including every human decision and action, is the inevitable and necessary consequence of antecedent states of affairs. It assumes that every event is determined by preceding causes, making reality, in essence, a chain reaction.

Question 2

Individuals who believe that behavior is primarily determined by one's genetic predispositions likely favor nurture in the nature-nurture debate.

Accepted Answer

Individuals who believe that behavior is primarily determined by one's genetic predispositions favor nature in the nature-nurture debate.

Question 3

During the mid 1900s,many psychologists believed that they could discover the basic laws of behavior by studying the behavior of rats in mazes.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Many psychologists during the mid 1900s believed that by studying the behavior of rats in mazes, they could discover the basic laws of behavior. This approach was known as behaviorism.

Question 4

A psychologist attempts to predict the behavior of her client,but she is wrong.This means that her client has free will.

Accepted Answer

The fact that the psychologist's prediction was wrong does not necessarily mean that the client has free will. It is possible that there were other variables at play that the psychologist was not aware of, or that the client's behavior was influenced by factors beyond their control. The concept of free will is a philosophical debate that does not have a clear scientific answer.

Question 5

A cognitive psychologist is interested in the processes of thinking and acquiring knowledge.

Accepted Answer

A cognitive psychologist studies mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, problem-solving, and language use in order to understand how people think and acquire knowledge.

Question 6

Sigmund Freud was the first psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud was not the first psychologist, but he is often referred to as the "father of psychoanalysis". The first psychologists were Wilhelm Wundt and William James, who founded the schools of structuralism and functionalism, respectively.

Question 7

Psychology is defined as the systematic attempt to help worried,depressed,or otherwise troubled people.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is a broad field of study that involves the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, not just helping troubled people. While some psychologists may focus on treating clinical problems, the field also includes researchers studying various aspects of human behavior, cognitive processes, and social interactions.

Question 8

William James established the American approach to psychology known as functionalism.

Accepted Answer

William James was one of the key figures in establishing the American approach to psychology known as functionalism, which focused on the practical functions of mental processes in adapting to the environment.

Question 9

To be officially recognized as a psychologist,a person must hold the Psy.D.degree.

Accepted Answer

While a Psy.D. degree is a common degree for psychologists to hold, it is not the only recognized degree. Other recognized degrees include a Ph.D. in psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (D.Psych.).

Question 10

A biopsychologist (or behavioral neuroscientist)explains behavior in terms of biological factors,such as electrical and chemical activities in the nervous system,the effects of drugs and hormones,genetics,and evolutionary pressures.

Accepted Answer

A biopsychologist, also known as a behavioral neuroscientist, does indeed explain behavior in terms of biological factors such as the nervous system, drugs, hormones, genetics, and evolution.

Question 11

In terms of the mind-brain problem,most brain researchers today accept the view that conscious experience is inseparable from the physical brain.

Accepted Answer

Most brain researchers today subscribe to the view known as physicalism, which holds that consciousness is an emergent property of the physical brain. This means that conscious experience cannot exist independently of the brain, and that changes to the brain will necessarily impact consciousness.

Question 12

John Watson and other behaviorists were much more interested in studying animal behavior and learning than in studying mental processes.

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists believed that the study of mental processes was not scientific enough, and therefore focused on studying observable behavior and the environmental factors that shape it. Animal behavior and learning experiments were commonly used to explore these ideas.

Question 13

Darwin's theory of evolution has never really had an influence in the field of psychology.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of evolution has had a significant influence in the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of evolutionary psychology and comparative psychology. It has helped researchers understand how certain behaviors and cognitive processes have evolved and how they contribute to an organism's survival and reproductive success.

Question 14

Contemporary psychologists have now resolved the old nature-nurture issue in favor of nature.

Accepted Answer

The nature-nurture issue is still a debated topic and contemporary psychologists recognize the complex interaction between nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) in human development and behavior.

Question 15

Which types of degrees are ethnic minority students now receiving in proportion to their numbers in the total population?

Accepted Answer

According to the passage, ethnic minority students are now receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in proportion to their numbers in the total population, but not associate's or doctoral degrees.

Question 16

Studying the effects that others' expectations have on a person's behavior is a question that is most likely to be studied by a social psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Social psychology is a field of psychology that studies how individuals interact with others and how others' expectations, perceptions, and attitudes influence behavior. Therefore, studying the effects of others' expectations on behavior is a topic that would fall within the domain of social psychology.

Question 17

A human factors specialist (or ergonomist),attempts to facilitate the operation of machinery so that ordinary people can use it efficiently and safely.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the role of a human factors specialist or ergonomist.

Question 18

One of early psychologists' main research topics was the relationship between physical stimuli and psychological sensations.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Psychologists like Wilhelm Wundt and Gustav Fechner focused on measuring the relationship between physical stimuli and psychological sensations, which was known as psychophysics.

Question 19

Freud's influence on clinical psychology is stronger today than ever before.

Accepted Answer

While Freud's theories and concepts continue to be studied and discussed in the field of psychology, his influence on clinical psychology has diminished in recent years as newer therapeutic approaches and evidence-based practices have gained prominence.

Question 20

A psychologist who specializes in making machines easier for people to use is known as an ergonomist or human-factors psychologist.

Accepted Answer

An ergonomist or human-factors psychologist is a psychologist who specializes in making machines easier for people to use.

Quiz 1: What Is Psychology