Question 1

In graduate school,you find yourself fascinated by group behavior.In particular,you think you'd like to study the influence of organized religion on community interaction.In which area of psychology should you specialize?
A) developmental psychology
B) motivation and emotion
C) cognition
D) social psychology

Accepted Answer

Social psychology would be the best choice for someone interested in studying the influence of organized religion on community interaction, as it focuses on how individuals interact and influence each other in group settings, which would be relevant to studying the effects of religious groups on community behavior. Developmental psychology, motivation and emotion, and cognition would not be as directly relevant to this area of study.

Question 2

Psychologists working in basic areas generally:
A) do therapy.
B) work in school systems and hospitals.
C) conduct research.
D) consult with industry.

Accepted Answer

Psychologists working in basic areas focus primarily on conducting research, rather than providing therapy, working in school systems and hospitals, or consulting with industry. Their work often involves studying fundamental psychological processes, such as perception, learning, memory, motivation, and emotion, in order to increase our understanding of human behavior and mental processes.

Question 3

If you were a female psychologist at the turn of the century,what could you most likely expect in your professional future?
A) to be paid a salary equivalent to your male colleagues
B) to be offered a teaching position in an all-male institution without prejudice
C) to find that your professional career will end if you choose to marry and/or have a family
D) to be awarded a doctoral degree with the same likelihood as your male peers

Accepted Answer

At the turn of the century, women were expected to prioritize their roles as wives and mothers over their careers. It was a common belief that a woman's place was in the home, and the idea of a career woman was deemed unacceptable. As such, it was unlikely for a female psychologist to continue her professional career if she chose to marry and have a family.

Question 4

A psychologist who publishes an article titled "Individual differences in dishonest behavior" is most likely a ____________ psychologist.
A) personality
B) sociocultural
C) biological
D) cognitive

Accepted Answer

The article's focus on individual differences in dishonest behavior suggests that the psychologist is interested in examining how personality traits or characteristics may contribute to or predict this behavior. Personality psychology is a subfield that explores a variety of individual differences, including those related to behavior, emotion, cognition, and motivation.

Question 5

Dr.Zimand is studying testosterone levels and aggression in adult males.It is likely that Dr.Zimand specializes in ____________ psychology.
A) clinical
B) personality
C) sociocultural
D) biological

Accepted Answer

Dr. Zimand's research on testosterone levels and aggression in adult males suggests a focus on the biological factors that influence behavior. Therefore, Dr. Zimand most likely specializes in biological psychology.

Question 6

Which of the following statements most clearly illustrates the concept of cultural relativity?
A) Men are better drivers than women.
B) People who are over the age of 40 should not be allowed to have children.
C) Modesty is displayed differently in different parts of the world.
D) Compared to the United States,women in many other cultures are treated badly.

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativity is the idea that different cultures have different values, beliefs, and norms and should be understood and judged in the context of their own culture. Option C shows how modesty is displayed differently in different parts of the world, acknowledging that there are cultural differences in how people perceive and display modesty. The other options express universal judgments or beliefs that do not take cultural differences into account.

Question 7

Psychologists in the ____________ areas tend to specialize in research on a single psychological process,whereas psychologists in ____________ areas use knowledge of psychology to solve and prevent human problems.
A) basic;applied
B) basic;clinical
C) applied;clinical
D) cognitive;basic

Accepted Answer

Psychologists in basic areas specialize in the study of psychological processes and principles, while psychologists in applied areas use that knowledge to solve practical problems. Clinical psychology is a subspecialty of applied psychology that deals with psychological disorders and related issues. Therefore, choice A, which contrasts basic and applied areas, is the most appropriate option.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a key concern of the sociocultural perspective?
A) ethnicity
B) intelligence
C) gender
D) culture

Accepted Answer

Intelligence is not a key concern of the sociocultural perspective, which focuses on the influence of cultural and social factors on human behavior and development. The other options - ethnicity, gender, and culture - are all important areas of inquiry for this perspective.

Question 9

One of the values promoted by the sociocultural perspective is the belief that:
A) genes have a powerful influence over behavior.
B) knowing one's social roles helps with effective communication.
C) Western cultures are superior to Eastern cultures.
D) we must think of different cultures in relative terms rather than in judgmental terms.

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the cultural differences between individuals and groups. This means avoiding judgmental attitudes and instead adopting a relative perspective that acknowledges the unique values and beliefs of different cultures.

Question 10

In the history of psychology:
A) schools discriminated against women and minority groups.
B) single women were encouraged to enter the field.
C) it is clear that women and minorities were treated better than they were in other sciences.
D) there were no women or individuals of minority descent who established any notoriety.

Accepted Answer

Throughout the history of psychology, women and minority groups faced discrimination and barriers to entry into the field. For example, women were often excluded from professional organizations and were not given equal opportunities for advancement or recognition as their male colleagues. Similarly, individuals of minority descent faced discrimination and were often overlooked for opportunities within the field.

Question 11

Dr.Willard has spent a lifetime studying how adults solve problems.It is likely that Dr.Willard specializes in ____________ psychology.
A) clinical
B) cognitive
C) biological
D) health

Accepted Answer

Dr. Willard's specialization in studying how adults solve problems suggests a focus on cognitive processes such as perception, attention, memory, and decision-making, which are the primary domain of cognitive psychology. Clinical psychology is concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, while biological psychology is focused on the biological basis of behavior, and health psychology is concerned with the psychological and social factors that affect health and illness.

Question 12

Which of the following is a basic area in psychology?
A) health psychology
B) personality psychology
C) school psychology
D) industrial-organizational psychology

Accepted Answer

Personality psychology is a basic area in psychology that focuses on the study of individual differences in behavior, thoughts, and feelings. Health psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology are all subfields within psychology that specialize in specific areas of application or practice.

Question 13

A psychologist who studies the changes that take place in people over the course of their life span most likely specializes in:
A) biological psychology.
B) cognitive psychology.
C) social psychology.
D) developmental psychology.

Accepted Answer

The study of changes that take place in people over the course of their life span is the domain of developmental psychology. Biological psychology primarily focuses on the biological basis of behavior, while cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes such as memory and thinking. Social psychology studies social interactions and behavior.

Question 14

A neuroscientist would be MOST interested in how ____________ affects behavior.
A) learning that occurs when we are very young
B) culture,ethnicity,and gender
C) genes,hormones,and brain chemistry
D) environment

Accepted Answer

Neuroscientists study the brain and nervous system, which includes genes, hormones, and brain chemistry. These factors play a significant role in behavior and are important for understanding how the brain works.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a sociocultural variable?
A) mental illness
B) social class
C) brain development
D) language acquisition

Accepted Answer

Social class is a sociocultural variable as it pertains to the social and economic status of an individual within a given society. Mental illness and brain development are more related to psychological and biological factors, respectively, and language acquisition can be influenced by multiple factors, including biological, psychological, and sociocultural.

Question 16

A psychologist is studying optical illusions to determine how they "trick" the brain.This psychologist most likely specializes in the area of:
A) sensation and perception.
B) biological psychology.
C) learning and memory.
D) personality.

Accepted Answer

Sensation and perception is the area of psychology that deals with how the brain processes and interprets information from the environment. Optical illusions are a specific example of how sensory information can be misinterpreted by the brain, making this the most likely area of specialization for a psychologist studying these phenomena.

Question 17

Christine Ladd-Franklin never received her doctorate degree at Johns Hopkins because:
A) she left to get married.
B) she was forced to stay home and raise children.
C) the all-male institution would not grant her the degree.
D) women were not allowed to conduct laboratory experiments.

Accepted Answer

The all-male institution would not grant her the degree because she was a woman. Though Christine Ladd-Franklin completed all the requirements for a PhD degree, she was not awarded the degree due to her gender. It was a common practice in the early 20th century to deny women higher education and limit their career opportunities.

Question 18

In the United States,who was the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D.in psychology?
A) Inez Prosser
B) Mamie Phipps Clarke
C) Mary Whiton Calkins
D) Christine Ladd-Franklin

Accepted Answer

Inez Prosser became the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology in the United States in 1933 from the University of Cincinnati. Mamie Phipps Clarke was also a prominent African American psychologist and researcher, but she did not receive her Ph.D. until 1943 from Columbia University. Mary Whiton Calkins and Christine Ladd-Franklin were pioneering female psychologists in their own right, but they were not African American, nor were they the first to receive a Ph.D. in psychology.

Question 19

The sociocultural perspective has become important in recent years largely because:
A) Eastern cultures are beginning to outnumber Western cultures.
B) psychologists have been asked to advise companies who conduct international business.
C) Western cultures are realizing that selfishness is causing moral decline.
D) cross-cultural communications are influencing cultures to be more similar.

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural perspective has become important in recent years because of increased globalization and multinational business operations. Psychologists are being called on to provide guidance on how to navigate cultural differences and promote effective cross-cultural communication in these contexts.

Question 20

Research done by ____________ greatly influenced the Brown v.Board of Education decision in the U.S.Supreme Court.
A) Ethel Puffer
B) Gilbert Jones
C) Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark
D) George Sanchez

Accepted Answer

Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark's research on the psychological effects of segregation on African American children was cited by the Supreme Court in the landmark decision to declare school segregation unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Psychology

In graduate school,you find yourself fascinated by group behavior.In particular,you think you'd like to study the influence of organized religion on community interaction.In which area of psychology should you specialize?

Psychologists working in basic areas generally:

If you were a female psychologist at the turn of the century,what could you most likely expect in your professional future?

A psychologist who publishes an article titled "Individual differences in dishonest behavior" is most likely a ____________ psychologist.

Dr.Zimand is studying testosterone levels and aggression in adult males.It is likely that Dr.Zimand specializes in ____________ psychology.

Which of the following statements most clearly illustrates the concept of cultural relativity?

Psychologists in the areas tend to specialize in research on a single psychological process,whereas psychologists in areas use knowledge of psychology to solve and prevent human problems.

Which of the following is NOT a key concern of the sociocultural perspective?

One of the values promoted by the sociocultural perspective is the belief that:

In the history of psychology:

Dr.Willard has spent a lifetime studying how adults solve problems.It is likely that Dr.Willard specializes in ____________ psychology.

Which of the following is a basic area in psychology?

A psychologist who studies the changes that take place in people over the course of their life span most likely specializes in:

A neuroscientist would be MOST interested in how ____________ affects behavior.

Which of the following is an example of a sociocultural variable?

A psychologist is studying optical illusions to determine how they "trick" the brain.This psychologist most likely specializes in the area of:

Christine Ladd-Franklin never received her doctorate degree at Johns Hopkins because:

In the United States,who was the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D.in psychology?

The sociocultural perspective has become important in recent years largely because:

Research done by ____________ greatly influenced the Brown v.Board of Education decision in the U.S.Supreme Court.