Question 1

Certain kinds of stimuli have been found to capture people's attention more easily than others. Among these are __________ stimuli.

Accepted Answer

Intense stimuli, such as bright colors or loud noises, tend to grab people's attention. Novel stimuli, or things that are new or unexpected, are also attention-grabbing. Repetitive stimuli, or things that are repeatedly presented, may also capture attention because of their predictability. Therefore, all of these options are correct.

Question 2

When we refer to consciousness as not being sleep, a trance, meditation, or any other distorted state of perception, what are we defining consciousness as?

Accepted Answer

The definition is specifically excluding sleep, trance, and meditation, which leaves us with the waking state as the only option. The self and suppression are not mentioned in the definition.

Question 3

According to Freud, some mental events are unavailable to us under most circumstances. What are these events called?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the mental events that are unavailable to us under most circumstances are called the unconscious.

Question 4

A bird just flew in the window of the classroom, and crashed into a window on the other side of the room, making a loud noise. This incident immediately got the attention of everyone in the room. What would this scenario be referred to as?

Accepted Answer

The scenario involves both intense (loud noise) and novel (unexpected event) stimuli, capturing everyone's attention.

Question 5

When certain bodily processes cannot be experienced through sensory awareness or direct inner awareness, we say that they are

Accepted Answer

Nonconscious refers to bodily processes that are not accessible to conscious awareness, such as the regulation of heart rate or digestion. Unconscious and subconscious typically refer to mental processes, emotions, or desires that are not currently in conscious awareness, but can still influence behavior and thoughts. Therefore, choice C is the best answer as it specifically refers to bodily processes.

Question 6

When psychologists talk of focusing on a particular stimulus, what are they referring to?

Accepted Answer

Focusing on a particular stimulus is known as selective attention, which is the ability to focus on one particular task or stimulus while ignoring others. Sensory awareness refers to the ability to perceive and process sensory information, while stream of thought refers to the continuous flow of thoughts through the mind. While all of these are related to the concept of focusing, selective attention is the most specific and accurate term.

Question 7

According to Freud, what material is not currently in awareness but is readily available to awareness?

Accepted Answer

Freud proposed that the preconscious is composed of information and memories that are not currently in conscious awareness but can be readily brought to consciousness with minimal effort. The unconscious is more deeply buried material that is not easily accessible without extensive therapy or other interventions. The term subconscious is often used interchangeably with the unconscious, but Freud did not distinguish between the two. Therefore, choice A and B are not correct.

Question 8

The professor just said that everyone in the class is to focus on their home environment. When they think of home, that is an example of a thought being brought out of the

Accepted Answer

The preconscious is the part of the mind where thoughts and memories are not currently in conscious awareness, but can be easily brought to conscious awareness when needed. In this case, the thought of home is not currently in the forefront of the mind, but the professor's prompt has brought it to the preconscious where it can be easily accessed and focused on.

Question 9

When we say that we are "conscious of" seeing something or hearing a sound, we are referring to consciousness as

Accepted Answer

The phrase "conscious of" suggests a sensory awareness, which is best represented by option D, "sensory awareness." Option A is incorrect because consciousness includes more than just thought, and option B is incorrect because consciousness is a scientific concept studied in fields such as psychology and neuroscience rather than a metaphysical one. Option C is partially correct as it refers to the information received through the senses, but it does not capture the element of awareness or consciousness.

Question 10

Our continuing sense of self in the changing world

Accepted Answer

Our continuing sense of self involves both forming intentions and guiding our own behavior. This is because our sense of self includes our beliefs, values, and personal identity, which shape our thoughts and actions. These processes are not necessarily conscious, but they are an essential aspect of our functioning as individuals in the world. Therefore, the best choice is D, which reflects the dual nature of our sense of self as both intentional and behavioral.

Question 11

Tom has the ability to pay attention in class, and screen out all the things that are going on around him. What is this called?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of selective attention, which refers to the ability to focus on a specific stimuli while filtering out irrelevant information.

Question 12

Humans are capable of having direct inner awareness of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Humans are capable of having direct inner...

Question 13

Which of these is referred to as an altered state of consciousness?

Accepted Answer

All of these options (sleep, hypnotic trance, and drug-induced perceptions) are considered altered states of consciousness. They involve a shift from the normal waking state of awareness and can lead to changes in perception, cognition, and behavior.

Question 14

Grandma Betsy just called you and told you that she had spilled a gallon of forest green paint all over her new white carpet. Even though you did not see it, you were conscious of the image through

Accepted Answer

Direct inner awareness refers to being conscious of something without it being present to the senses, such as imagining or visualizing an event or scenario.

Question 15

The totality of our impressions, thoughts, and feelings that makes up our conscious existence is called the sense of

Accepted Answer

The sense of self refers to our subjective experience or awareness of our existence as individuals. It encompasses our sense of identity, personality, and consciousness. Option A, ego, and option D, id, are terms from psychoanalytic theory that refer to specific aspects of the psyche. Option C, superego, is also a term from psychoanalytic theory but refers to the internalized moral standards and values that guide our behavior.

Question 16

Some enchanted evening, Andre is at a cocktail party. Suddenly, he hears the voice of a beautiful woman from across the crowded room. What is this phenomenon known as?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the cocktail party effect, where we are able to selectively focus on a particular sound or voice amidst a crowded and noisy environment.

Question 17

As we develop, we differentiate ourselves from other people and other things. We develop a sense of being persons, which we usually call the sense of

Accepted Answer

The development of a sense of self is a key aspect of human development. This sense of self involves the recognition that we are separate individuals with our own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is often referred to as the "self-concept" or "self-awareness". While terms like "persona" and "ego" are also sometimes used to describe aspects of the self, "self" is the most commonly used and widely accepted term in psychology. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 18

Consciously ejecting unwanted mental events from awareness is known as

Accepted Answer

Consciously ejecting unwanted mental events from awareness is known as suppression. Repression is a defense mechanism in which unwanted thoughts or feelings are unconsciously pushed out of awareness. Inner directedness and outer directedness are not related to suppressing unwanted mental events.

Question 19

According to Freud, some impulses and painful memories are so unacceptable that we unconsciously exclude them from awareness. He said that we __________ them.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the unconscious exclusion of unacceptable impulses and memories is called repression.

Question 20

Phyllis purposefully avoided thinking about all of her schoolwork during the birthday party last night, by using

Accepted Answer

Phyllis intentionally avoided thinking about her schoolwork, which requires effort and energy, by utilizing suppression. She consciously pushed the thoughts and emotions related to school out of her awareness to focus on enjoying the party.

Quiz 4: Consciousness