Question 1

Jerry and his psychologist often discuss how Jerry finds personal meaning in his life. The psychologist also focuses on the power of choice and free will. This psychologist most likely believes in which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective in psychology emphasizes personal growth, free will, and the concept of self-actualization. It focuses on how individuals find meaning in their lives and make conscious choices, which aligns with the description of Jerry's discussions with his psychologist.

Question 2

Pavlov's research with dogs learning to salivate to a tone that had been paired with food helped lead to the development of which perspective?

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's research is foundational to behaviorism, which focuses on observable behaviors and how they're learned through interactions with the environment. His work on classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus (tone) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (food) to elicit a conditioned response (salivation), exemplifies this perspective.

Question 3

Positive psychology is an outgrowth from which perspective?

Accepted Answer

Positive psychology is most closely associated with the humanist perspective, which emphasizes individual potential and the importance of growth and self-actualization.

Question 4

The humanistic and behavioural perspectives are similar in that

Accepted Answer

The humanistic and behavioral perspectives both emphasize the significance of the environment in shaping behavior, though they approach it from different angles. Humanistic psychology focuses on personal growth and perception of the environment, while behavioral psychology examines how the environment conditions behavior.

Question 5

A psychologist is being interviewed on a local news program regarding the recent problems with school violence. The psychologist suggests that we need to change the environments in which our children are being raised by reinforcing the behaviours we would like to see our children demonstrate. This psychologist is most likely associated with which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The psychologist's emphasis on changing environments and reinforcing desired behaviors aligns with the Behavioral perspective, which focuses on observable behaviors and how they're learned through interactions with the environment.

Question 6

A psychologist who believes that the focus of psychology is not inner mental events but observable actions is most likely associated with which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The behavioural perspective in psychology emphasizes observable actions and behaviors rather than internal mental processes. This perspective is associated with psychologists like B.F. Skinner, who argued that psychology should be a science of behavior that can be seen and measured.

Question 7

A researcher who is interested in discovering the common principles that influence human and animal learning is most likely associated with which psychological perspective?

Accepted Answer

The behavioral perspective focuses on observable behaviors and the ways in which they are learned. This perspective is interested in studying the principles of learning that apply across both human and animal behaviors, making it the most relevant choice for a researcher interested in discovering common principles influencing human and animal learning.

Question 8

A psychologist who acknowledges the importance of both the environment and internal thoughts in determining human behaviour would likely be associated with which of the following perspectives of psychology?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive behaviourism integrates principles from behavioural psychology, which focuses on the role of the environment in shaping behaviour, with cognitive psychology, which emphasizes the importance of mental processes. This perspective acknowledges the interaction between internal thoughts and the external environment in determining behaviour.

Question 9

It has been said that no two children receive the same parenting as parents respond to and treat each child differently. Watson and Skinner would probably agree with this statement because ________________.

Accepted Answer

Watson and Skinner, both behaviorists, believed that behavior is learned and shaped by interactions with the environment. They would agree that a child's environment, including parental responses, changes based on the child's own behaviors and responses, thus supporting the idea that no two children receive the same parenting.

Question 10

In psychology, the behavioural perspective was influenced by which philosophical perspective?

Accepted Answer

The behavioural perspective in psychology, which focuses on observable behaviors and the ways in which they're learned, was influenced by British empiricism. British empiricism emphasizes that all knowledge comes from sensory experience, aligning with the behavioral focus on observable, measurable phenomena.

Question 11

Susan is having trouble with anxiety and is working with a therapist to address this problem. As part of her treatment, the therapist teaches Susan how to change her anxiety-provoking thoughts and how to change her environment so that it reinforces the positive behaviours she wants to practice. Susan's therapist is most likely associated with which area of psychology?

Accepted Answer

The therapist is using techniques associated with cognitive behaviorism, which focuses on changing thought patterns (cognitive) and behaviors in order to address psychological issues like anxiety. This approach combines cognitive and behavioral therapies to modify dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.

Question 12

The psychological perspective that arose from the philosophical roots that emphasized free will, innate tendencies to work towards personal growth, and the attempt to find meaning in personal existence is called

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective in psychology focuses on free will, personal growth, and the search for meaning, which aligns with the description provided. It emerged as a reaction to the deterministic nature of psychoanalysis and behaviorism, emphasizing the individual's inherent drive towards self-actualization and personal fulfillment.

Question 13

Behaviourism gave rise to a set of behaviour change techniques that were known as

Accepted Answer

Behaviourism, a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, led to the development of behaviour modification techniques. These techniques are aimed at changing undesirable behaviors into more desirable ones through various forms of conditioning.

Question 14

In response to the psychodynamic and behavioural perspectives, the humanistic movement believes that

Accepted Answer

The humanistic movement posits that individuals have control over their personality development, emphasizing personal growth, free will, and the concept of self-actualization, contrasting with the deterministic views of psychodynamic and behavioral perspectives.

Question 15

The perspective that emphasizes the environmental control of actions through learning is known as

Accepted Answer

Behaviourism focuses on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, which occurs through interaction with the environment. This perspective emphasizes the role of environmental stimuli in shaping behavior and downplays the importance of innate or internal factors.

Question 16

Keri has always had a strong desire to paint. Her parents insist she go to college rather than the art school she wishes to attend. Her therapist, who is aligned with the humanistic perspective believes

Accepted Answer

Humanistic psychology emphasizes personal growth, self-fulfillment, and the realization of one's potential. It suggests that not following one's true interests, such as Keri's passion for painting, can lead to frustration and hinder self-actualization.

Question 17

The perspective that acknowledges the importance of the environment and internal mental processes in determining behaviour is called

Accepted Answer

Cognitive behaviourism integrates principles from behavioural psychology, which focuses on the role of the environment in shaping behaviour, and cognitive psychology, which emphasizes the importance of mental processes. This perspective acknowledges that both external environmental factors and internal cognitive processes (like thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes) play crucial roles in determining behaviour.

Question 18

The psychodynamic and humanistic perspectives are similar in that both acknowledge the importance of

Accepted Answer

Both psychodynamic and humanistic perspectives focus on internal personality processes, such as thoughts, feelings, and motives, as central to understanding human behavior.

Question 19

The notion of "tabula rasa" is most consistent with which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

The notion of "tabula rasa," which translates to "blank slate," suggests that individuals are born without built-in mental content and that all knowledge comes from experience or perception. This concept is most consistent with the idea that the environment determines most of our behavior, as it emphasizes the role of external factors and experiences in shaping an individual's development and characteristics.

Question 20

Humanistic theorists assume that everyone has an innate tendency towards personal growth and achieving one's individual potential. This concept is called

Accepted Answer

Humanistic theorists, such as Abraham Maslow, emphasize self-actualization as the process of realizing and fulfilling one's potential and capabilities, making it the core concept in humanistic psychology.

Quiz 1: Psychology: the Science of Behaviour