Question 1

Psychologists refer to one's awareness of oneself, one's thoughts, and the environment as:

Accepted Answer

Psychologists refer to one's awareness of oneself, one's thoughts, and the environment as consciousness. This includes being awake and able to perceive, reason, and communicate with the environment.

Question 2

Which of these early psychologists believed that psychology should study observable behavior, not consciousness?

Accepted Answer

Watson was the psychologist who believed that psychology should study observable behavior, not consciousness.

Question 3

Which statement BEST expresses the relationship between automatic information processing and conscious information processing?

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing enables conscious information processing, meaning that automatic processing frees up cognitive resources for conscious processing. This is because automatic processing is quicker and requires less attention than conscious processing, allowing for more attention to be focused on conscious processing.

Question 4

Which is NOT a barrier to the scientific study of consciousness?

Accepted Answer

The statement "Most psychologists no longer believe consciousness is a suitable subject of study" is false. In fact, there is a growing interest and investment in the scientific study of consciousness in various fields, including neuroscience, cognitive psychology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. A, C, and D are all acknowledged barriers to the study of consciousness.

Question 5

Think back through psychology's history. Which statement is True?

Accepted Answer

Consciousness was a central focus in the earliest days of psychology, but it fell out of favor as behaviorism became dominant in the field. In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in studying consciousness and its role in various aspects of human experience.

Question 6

The contemporary field of _____ is devoted to the scientific study of conscious experience.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that deals with mental processes including perception, attention, memory, problem-solving, decision making, and language use. The study of conscious experience falls within the domain of cognitive psychology.

Question 7

_____ refers to information processing with little or no conscious effort.

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing refers to the ability to process information without much conscious effort or attention. This can include tasks such as driving a familiar route, reading a clock, or typing on a keyboard without actively thinking about each individual task. Sensory adaptation refers to the decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time. Inattentional blindness and selective attention are related to conscious attention and awareness.

Question 8

Which of these pioneering psychologists viewed the study of consciousness as central to psychology?

Accepted Answer

William James viewed the study of consciousness as central to psychology, referring to it as the "stream of consciousness." Skinner and Watson, on the other hand, rejected the study of consciousness in favor of focusing on observable behavior.

Question 9

Summer cannot remember locking the back door on her way out this morning. "I'm sure I must have," she reassures herself. This example BEST illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing is a type of processing that occurs without conscious awareness and can lead to actions or behaviors that we do without actively thinking about them (such as locking a door). Summer's reassurance that she must have locked the door suggests that she did so automatically without actively processing the action.

Question 10

Automatic processing is defined as the:

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing refers to the processing of information with little or no conscious effort, which means that it is performed without the need for conscious awareness or attention. It is often referred to as "unconscious" processing, as it occurs automatically and outside of conscious awareness.

Question 11

Which perspective in psychology is probably LEAST sympathetic to the study of consciousness?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral psychology focuses on observable behavior rather than internal states, including consciousness. Therefore, it is likely the least sympathetic to the study of consciousness.

Question 12

Which statement is MOST accurate with respect to the current study of consciousness in psychology?

Accepted Answer

Understanding conscious experience is now an important goal in psychology. The study of consciousness has become a popular and important area of research in psychology in recent years. Researchers are using a variety of methods to study consciousness, including brain imaging, behavioral experiments, and studies of altered states of consciousness such as meditation and hypnosis.

Question 13

Dr. Ferguson is investigating which smoke alarm tones are most likely to awaken older adults when they are sleeping. Dr. Ferguson is a(n) ____ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Ferguson's investigation on the effectiveness of smoke alarm tones on older adults' waking up is related to the study of human factors, which focuses on designing products and environments to meet human needs, abilities, and limitations. Therefore, Dr. Ferguson is a human factors psychologist.

Question 14

The term "consciousness" refers to:

Accepted Answer

While consciousness can be related to wakefulness and the ability to respond to the environment, it also includes an individual's awareness of oneself and the environment. This self-awareness distinguishes consciousness from simpler states of awareness such as those found in unconscious or automated processes. Higher-level reasoning and problem solving are related to aspects of cognition and the executive functions of the brain, which are components that are thought to be closely linked to consciousness but are not identical to it.

Question 15

A group of early psychologists travels forward in time to this year's American Psychological Association conference. While Wundt and Titchener seek a way back to 1908, James and Watson discuss the conference's proceedings thus far. Which of the two would be MOST comfortable with the current study of consciousness in psychology?

Accepted Answer

James is known for his contributions to the study of consciousness, particularly his concept of the stream of consciousness. He would likely be pleased with the current attention being given to the study of consciousness in psychology. Watson, on the other hand, is known for his behaviorist approach, which rejected the study of consciousness and focused on observable behavior. He would likely be less comfortable with the current emphasis on consciousness.

Question 16

One's ability to read, understand, and-ideally-remember a textbook paragraph would be MOST interesting to a(n) _____ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists focus on understanding mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving. Reading comprehension and memory recall would fall under their area of study.

Question 17

Chemically, medicines such as morphine and codeine are related to:

Accepted Answer

Morphine and codeine are both opioids, which are derived from the opium poppy plant. Cocaine, amphetamine, and caffeine are all stimulants and not chemically related to opioids.

Question 18

Desiree's literature professor remarks that James Joyce's Ulysses is known for its stream-of-consciousness narrative. She immediately recalls that the early psychologist ______ is associated with the term "stream of consciousness."

Accepted Answer

William James is known for being one of the first psychologists to discuss the concept of stream of consciousness in his book "The Principles of Psychology."

Question 19

Ms. Reyes teaches a drama class for children and youth. She asks her pupils to lie on the floor with their eyes closed and to become aware of all the sensations they experience, from growls in their stomachs to the buzzing of the fluorescent lights. From a psychological standpoint, Ms. Reyes is trying to develop her students':

Accepted Answer

Ms. Reyes is trying to develop her students' consciousness by having them focus on their sensory experiences. This exercise helps them become more aware of their own physical and mental state, which is an important aspect of consciousness.

Question 20

Which situation BEST illustrates automatic processing?

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing refers to tasks that are performed with little to no conscious thought or effort. Devin's action of pouring water into the coffee maker without realizing he already did it is an example of automatic processing, as it shows a lack of conscious awareness in a routine task.

Quiz 4: Sensation and Perception