Question 1

Which psychologist realized that he could study the overt behavior of animals by simply observing the relationship between stimuli and an animal's responses?

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson developed the theory of behaviorism and believed that studying the relationship between stimuli and responses in animals (and humans) could reveal the laws of learning and behavior. He emphasized the importance of observable behavior and rejected the study of mental processes that could not be directly observed.

Question 2

Which school of thought in psychology emphasizes the study of overt,observable behavior?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism emphasizes the study of overt, observable behavior and rejects the study of mental processes or individual differences. This school of thought was founded by John B. Watson and became popular in the early 20th century.

Question 3

According to John B.Watson,introspection was

Accepted Answer

According to John B. Watson, introspection was unscientific because it relied on subjective insights and self-report rather than observable, objective behavior.

Question 4

To explain most behavior,John B.Watson adopted the concept of conditioning developed by

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson adopted the concept of conditioning developed by Ivan Pavlov, known as classical conditioning, to explain most behavior.

Question 5

A learned reaction to a particular stimulus is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A learned reaction to a particular stimulus is called a conditioned response. This means that the response has been trained through conditioning to occur in response to that specific stimulus.

Question 6

The functionalists were interested in how thoughts,feelings,perceptions,and habits help people and animals

Accepted Answer

Functionalists were interested in how organisms adapt to their environment and how their behavior helps them thrive in their surroundings. This included their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and habits.

Question 7

Learning makes us more adaptable,so the functionalists tried to find ways to improve education and promoted the study of learning,teaching,classroom dynamics,and related topics called ______ psychology.

Accepted Answer

The functionalists' focus on improving education and studying learning, teaching, and classroom dynamics falls within the scope of educational psychology. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Question 8

Stimuli,responses,conditioning,and learning are key concepts in the thinking of

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists are primarily concerned with observable behavior and how it is influenced by stimuli (environmental factors) and conditioning (the process of learning associations between stimuli and responses). They believe that all behavior is learned through the process of conditioning, including classical and operant conditioning. These concepts are central to their thinking and approach to studying behavior. Gestalt psychologists focus on perception and cognition, structuralists on the study of consciousness, and psychoanalysts on the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.

Question 9

The ideas of which psychologist were most similar to those of Charles Darwin?

Accepted Answer

William James was heavily influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution and believed that mental processes served a purpose in adapting to the environment, whereas Titchener, Wertheimer, and Maslow did not share the same level of agreement with Darwinian principles.

Question 10

William James regarded consciousness as

Accepted Answer

William James believed that consciousness was not a static entity, but rather an ever-changing flow of sensations and perceptions. He emphasized the importance of studying the stream of consciousness as a whole rather than breaking it down into individual components through introspection. Therefore, choice B, "an ever-changing flow of images and sensations" is the best answer.

Question 11

Which psychologist said,"Give me a dozen healthy infants ...and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select ..."?

Accepted Answer

The quote is attributed to John Watson, a behaviorist psychologist who believed that behavior is learned and can be modified through conditioning. This statement reflects his belief in the power of environmental influences in shaping an individual's behavior and abilities.

Question 12

The functionalists primarily followed the principles of

Accepted Answer

The functionalists primarily followed the principles of biology and natural selection, which emphasized the adaptation of social institutions and practices to meet the needs of individuals and society as a whole. The other options, such as economics, physics, and chemistry, do not accurately reflect the theoretical framework of functionalism.

Question 13

With its emphasis on stimuli and responses,which school of thought helped make psychology a natural science,rather than a branch of philosophy?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism emphasized the study of observable behavior and ignored mental processes, leading to a focus on empirical data and objective observations. This approach helped make psychology a natural science as opposed to a branch of philosophy, which relied heavily on introspection and subjective experiences.

Question 14

The idea that a behavior is controlled by rewards and punishments is most closely associated with

Accepted Answer

The idea that behavior is controlled by rewards and punishments is a fundamental principle of behaviorism, which is most closely associated with B.F. Skinner. Skinner believed that behavior could be shaped through reinforcement, either positive (receiving a reward for a behavior) or negative (avoiding a punishment for a behavior). Maslow, Wundt, and James were not behaviorists and did not emphasize the role of rewards and punishments in behavior.

Question 15

Which psychologist advanced the theory that a "designed culture" based on positive reinforcement could encourage desirable behavior?

Accepted Answer

B.F.Skinner advanced the theory of behaviorism and proposed that a "designed culture" based on positive reinforcement could encourage desirable behavior. He believed that all behavior, including social and cultural, is shaped by environmental factors such as rewards and punishments.

Question 16

Which school of thought in psychology is known for developing the proper use of reward,punishment,and conditioning to change problems?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism is the school of thought in psychology that is known for developing the use of reward, punishment, and conditioning to change problems. Behaviorists believe that behavior is shaped by its consequences, and through the use of reinforcement and punishment, problematic behaviors can be eliminated or replaced with more desirable ones.

Question 17

Functionalism promoted the study of people at work,which is called ______ psychology.

Accepted Answer

Functionalism focused on the practical functions of consciousness, including how it helps people adapt to their environment. This led to an interest in understanding how people function in the workplace, and industrial-organizational psychology emerged as a subfield that applied psychological principles to the workplace.

Question 18

Pavlov's contribution to behaviorism lies in his discovery of

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's contribution to behaviorism is primarily in his discovery of the conditioned response, which demonstrated that behavior is shaped by the environment through the process of classical conditioning. He conducted experiments with dogs where he conditioned them to salivate at the sound of a bell after pairing it with food. This is a fundamental principle in behaviorism and has been used in various applications such as advertising and animal training. Pavlov's work focused on observable behavior, rather than unconscious or conscious experience, making choices B, C, and D incorrect.

Question 19

Which school of thought brought the study of animals to psychology and also promoted educational psychology and industrial psychology?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism, led by pioneers such as William James, promoted the study of animals in psychology and also advocated for the development of educational and industrial psychology.

Question 20

Skinner's contribution to behaviorism lies in his insistence that

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed that behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. Positive consequences (rewards) increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated, while negative consequences (punishments) decrease the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. This idea is known as operant conditioning and is a fundamental principle of behaviorism. Skinner rejected the idea that behavior is determined by conscious thought or internal processes, focusing instead on observable behaviors and their environmental antecedents and consequences. He also believed that self-actualization was not a useful concept in understanding behavior.

Quiz 4: Introducing Psychology: Psychology Then and Now