Deck 1: Psychology: the Science of Behaviour

Question 1

Steve has been feeling depressed lately and decides to visit a psychologist, Dr. Katz, for some assistance. After learning that Steve's relationship with his girlfriend recently ended, Dr. Katz begins to think that perhaps Steve's depression has been caused by this recently ended relationship. Dr. Katz's speculations are most similar to which goal of psychology?

A) description
B) control
C) understanding
D) prediction

Answer 1

understanding

Question 2

Karen is interested in how the presence of other people influences an individual's performance on cognitive tasks, like written tests, compared to motor tasks, like jump rope. Karen's research would likely fall into which subfield of psychology?

A) Social
B) Experimental
C) Cognitive
D) Personality

Answer 2

Social

Question 3

Dr. Harris has created an academic performance enhancement program designed to help children who are struggling in school. Results from his research reveal that the program is effective at improving children's grades. Dr. Harris's work is most consistent with which goal of psychology?

A) prediction
B) understanding
C) description
D) control

Answer 3

control

Question 4

According to the text, psychology is defined as the:

A) study of personality.
B) study of people's subjective mental lives.
C) examination of unconscious factors.
D) study of behaviour and the mind.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about basic and applied research is true?

A) Basic research is done to solve practical problems while applied research is done simply to increase knowledge.
B) Basic research is done simply to increase knowledge while applied research is done to solve practical problems.
C) Basic research is less complex and less sophisticated than applied research.
D) Basic research and applied research have the same goals but are completed by different researchers.

Question 6

Research on memory processes shows us that when tested on a recently learned word list, the majority of people will recall the words at the end of the list at a higher rate than the words in the middle of the list. This "recency effect" can be eliminated by involving the participants in a task that stops them from rehearsing the words. Using this principle, before Dr. Brown gives an exam, she asks that all books and notes be put away and then takes time to prevent the "recency effect" by giving the instructions for the exam, the
Grading procedures, and next week's lesson topic before allowing students to begin the exam. In this case, Dr. Brown is:

A) collecting applied research data in her class.
B) relying on students' short-term memory to help them out.
C) increasing the chance that students will cheat.
D) applying basic research principles in her course.

Question 7

Mary was driving on a dark and stormy night. She was unable to read a hidden traffic sign and she ran off the road and crashed into a street light. Two scientists are called as experts to testify in her defence. Scientist 1, who does research on how vision works,
Explained the limits of a person's ability to process visual information. Scientist 2, who does research on factors that contribute to car accidents, focused on the circumstances surrounding the accident, like the driver's state of mind and the limited visibility of the sign. Both scientists are using research in defence of the driver. Scientist 1 uses
________ research and Scientist 2 uses research.

A) observable; tested
B) applied; basic
C) basic; applied
D) proven; circumstantial

Question 8

Systematic empiricism is a defining feature of:

A) folk wisdom
B) science
C) basic research
D) applied research

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT true of science?

A) Science involves systematic empiricism.
B) Science is a public affair.
C) There are some questions that science cannot answer.
D) Those using science avoid common pitfalls such as the confirmation bias.

Question 10

In the 1960s, psychologists conducted a study at a summer camp for 11-year old boys. The "Robbers Cave" study showed that conflict between groups could be decreased by making the groups dependent upon one another to cooperate. This experiment is considered to be an example of which type of research?

A) interaction research
B) basic research
C) insight research
D) applied research

Question 11

Dr. Kohler is a developmental psychologist who studies children involved in sports. He looks at problems like overly critical coaches and children with low self-esteem. He conducts research where coaches are observed during games and children are
Interviewed about their attitudes towards their sport and their coaches. The results from these observations are then used to create an education program for the coaches. The
Programs are designed to change coaching behaviour and to help increase the self-esteem of the children they coach. Dr. Kohler's research is best described as:

A) insight research.
B) interaction research.
C) applied research.
D) basic research.

Question 12

Researchers studying human memory have participants memorize lists of words. These researchers then record how many of the words the participants accurately remember after the passage of time and exposure to new information. When an eyewitness to a crime identifies an attacker in court, lawyers might illustrate the limits of memory by using this type of research:

A) practical
B) basic
C) elementary
D) applied

Question 13

While driving home one day, Abdul is in a serious car accident. Several weeks later, he notices that he is still feeling very tense and anxious. He consults with a psychologist, who informs him that it is common for people who have been in a serious accident to have these kinds of feelings. The psychologist goes on to say that often people also have bad dreams and re-experience the trauma, and that Abdul shouldn't be surprised if this happens. The psychologist's comments are most similar to which goal of psychology?

A) control
B) understanding
C) description
D) prediction

Question 14

Dr. Adams is a psychologist who works in the area of animal behaviour. She has a particular interest in crows, and her research is mostly aimed at gaining more information about the behaviours of these birds, such as their mating habits, eating rituals, and so on. Dr. Adams's research is best described as:

A) interaction research.
B) applied research.
C) basic research.
D) insight research.

Question 15

When using the term "behaviour," psychologists mean:

A) overt actions, inner mental processes, or physiological reactions.
B) overt actions and inner mental processes such as thoughts and feelings.
C) overt actions and physiological reactions.
D) overt actions that can be directly observed.

Question 16

Susan is attending a seminar on stress management. The psychologist leading the seminar states that, "most stress is caused by irrational thinking and the negative ways that we judge various situations." The psychologist's comment most closely resembles which goal of psychology?

A) understanding
B) description
C) control
D) prediction

Question 17

Dr. Smith is a psychologist who is interested in studying aggression in sports. For her research, she attends high school basketball games and records the number of aggressive acts she observes. Dr. Smith's research is best viewed as meeting psychology's basic goal of _.

A) understanding
B) prediction
C) control
D) description

Question 18

Dr. Forman is a school psychologist who has been asked to observe a disruptive student. After her observation, she writes, "Bobby appeared to have a great deal of difficulty
Listening to the lessons being taught. He had particular difficulty with the math lesson, and began distracting the students who were sitting next to him by pinching and hitting them." Dr. Forman's observations are most consistent with which goal of psychology?

A) prediction
B) control
C) understanding
D) description

Question 19

Which level of analysis would someone in the subfield of personality psychology tend to take?

A) psychological level
B) structural level
C) environmental level
D) biological level

Question 20

Alex is friendly and outgoing, always having a kind word for everyone. Through observing his behaviour, we can make inferences about his _.

A) internal state
B) future thoughts
C) mental processes
D) external responses

Question 21

In many eyewitness studies, researchers carefully observe the "victim's" behaviour under various conditions. The presence of a weapon appears to decrease eyewitness accuracy in identifying the perpetrator. To test whether or not this is true, researchers re-enact a robbery both with and without a gun. People viewing the robbery where a gun was used were far less accurate in their description of the robber. This knowledge has been used in courtroom cases, often discrediting eyewitness testimony. In this case, the idea that the presence of a weapon decreases eyewitness accuracy, corresponds to which of the basic goals of psychology?

A) understanding
B) application
C) prediction
D) description

Question 22

The study of how behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors is known as the field of:

A) evolutionary psychology.
B) sociobiology.
C) behaviour genetics.
D) behavioural neuroscience.

Question 23

The method of introspection was developed by which school of thought?

A) functionalism
B) structuralism
C) psychoanalysis
D) dualism

Question 24

When considering the mind-body problem, some philosophers argue that the mind is a separate entity from the body and is not subject to the same physical laws as the body. These individuals would belong to which philosophical position?

A) dualism
B) structuralism
C) monism
D) functionalism

Question 25

A central belief of the dualism position is that it suggests:

A) the mind should be studied by examining its individual components.
B) the mind and body are essentially one.
C) studying the body won't tell us anything about the mind.
D) studying the body will enable us to learn more about the mind.

Question 26

In the 1960s, psychologists conducted a study at a summer camp for 11-year old boys. Researchers in the Robbers Cave experiment altered the conditions so that they were able to both increase group hostility (with competition) and decrease group hostility (with cooperation). Through altering these conditions, the psychologists were demonstrating this goal of psychology:

A) description
B) control
C) prediction
D) understanding

Question 27

When considering the mind-body problem, ancient philosophers who argued that the mind is not separate from the body belonged to which philosophical position?

A) dualism
B) structuralism
C) monism
D) functionalism

Question 28

British empiricism could be considered as an example of:

A) monism.
B) functionalism.
C) dualism.
D) structuralism.

Question 29

Monism is a belief that:

A) research on the body cannot solve the mysteries of the mind.
B) the mind is not subject to the physical laws of the body.
C) mental events are a product of physical events in the brain.
D) the mind is separate from the body.

Question 30

In the 1960s, psychologists conducted a study at a summer camp for 11-year old boys. These researchers in the "Robbers Cave" experiment thought that if they created
Conditions in which the two groups of boys had to cooperate, then there would be less hostility between the groups. The "Robbers Cave" study showed that conflict between groups could be decreased by making the groups dependent upon one another to
Cooperate. This finding is an illustration of which goal of psychology?

A) description
B) control
C) understanding
D) prediction

Question 31

The following is an important technical advancement in the study of the relationship between the brain and behaviour:

A) cellular recording device.
B) computerized dynamic posturography.
C) the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
D) the X-ray.

Question 32

In the Jumbled-Word Challenge example in the textbook, the claim is made that the research was conducted at Cambridge but no reference information is provided. This is an illustration of which thinking critically step offered in evaluating the research?

A) What's the claim?
B) Who is making the claim?
C) What is the most appropriate conclusion?
D) What's the evidence and how good is it?

Question 33

Industrial-organizational psychology would be an example of what type of research?

A) applied
B) correlational
C) basic
D) experimental

Question 34

Evolutionary theory assumes that individuals who receive a competitive advantage from inherited traits will be more likely to survive, reproduce, and thus pass on these adaptive traits to future generations. This process is known as:

A) natural selection.
B) natural extinction.
C) natural survival.
D) natural endurance.

Question 35

Early researchers in psychology who believed that the mind could be studied by breaking it down into its basic components as a chemist might break down a complex chemical compound followed which school of thought?

A) functionalism
B) structuralism
C) dualism
D) psychoanalysis

Question 36

The statement, "answers to the great questions of psychology will ultimately be found in 'physiology' All behaviour, all experience, all feeling, indeed all the subject matter of psychology, are nothing more than the outcomes of the activity of the nervous system" is most consistent with the following view:

A) functionalism.
B) dualism.
C) structuralism.
D) monism.

Question 37

When Franz and Lashley removed most of a rat's cortex they found that:

A) the rat could no longer function.
B) the rat could only eat and drink.
C) the rat could only do certain tasks.
D) the rat had no problem functioning.

Question 38

Early studies on brain mechanisms in learning in biological psychology were conducted by Franz and Lashley. When studying animals, Franz and Lashley detected a ________ correlation between loss of cortex and loss of function.

A) negative
B) no
C) normal
D) positive

Question 39

Charles Whitman was a mass murderer with no previous history of violence. After Charles Whitman committed several murders and suicide, an autopsy revealed that he
Had a malignant tumour in an area of the brain associated with aggression. Psychologists who cite this fact in an attempt to explain what happened are focused on which level of analysis?

A) biological
B) psychological
C) environmental
D) structural

Question 40

Charles Whitman was a mass murderer with no previous history of violence. In an attempt to explain his violent behaviour, a psychologist points to Whitman's recent stressful life events and to the way that violence is often reinforced and glorified in today's society. This psychologist's explanation is most compatible with which level of analysis?

A) biological
B) structural
C) psychological
D) environmental

Question 41

While structuralists held that psychology should study the basic elements of consciousness, functionalists argued that psychology should concentrate on:

A) how the elements of consciousness are organized into holistic thinking.
B) the reasons behind consciousness.
C) the innate human drive to grow and actualize.
D) unconscious motivating factors.

Question 42

Which of the following is most consistent with evolutionary psychology?

A) An organism's biology determines whether it will survive or not; behaviour does not determine survival.
B) An organism's behaviour determines its biological capabilities.
C) An organism's biology and behaviour are determined by the environment.
D) An organism's biology determines its behavioural capabilities, and its behaviour then determines whether it will survive or not.

Question 43

Some individuals believe that complex social behaviours can be influenced by evolution. They also believe that natural selection favours behaviours that increase the chances that certain genes will be passed on to the next generation. These individuals are associated with:

A) psychoanalysis.
B) sociobiology.
C) behaviourism.
D) behaviour genetics.

Question 44

A psychologist who assumes that humans process information, plan and solve problems in a way that is similar to computers would most likely associate with which psychological perspective?

A) biological
B) cognitive
C) psychodynamic
D) behavioural

Question 45

Behaviour geneticists use which of the following methods to address the role of genetic factors in behaviour?

A) autobiographical journaling.
B) psychological interviews.
C) selective animal breeding.
D) brain-imaging techniques.

Question 46

The statement, "the whole is greater than, and often very different from, the sum of its parts," is most likely from which school of psychology?

A) Functionalism
B) Evolutionary Psychology
C) Gestalt psychology
D) Structuralism

Question 47

Sometimes parents will sacrifice their own lives in order to ensure the survival of their children. An individual who associates with the sociobiological view would argue that these instances:

A) occur because of the reinforcement of altruistic behaviour by culture and society.
B) are due to the conflict between unconscious psychological forces and psychological defences.
C) are due to a cost benefit analysis by the parent.
D) occur because genetic survival is more important than individual survival.

Question 48

When Gary lost his job, he became depressed and started binge-eating. Gary started to seek help from a therapist. To his surprise, the therapist was not at all interested in Gary's relationship with his mother, his family history, or anything about Gary's past. Instead, Dr. Lee focuses on what Gary is currently thinking and how he interprets those thoughts. Dr. Lee conducts therapy from what type of perspective?

A) humanistic
B) behaviourist
C) psychoanalytic
D) cognitive

Question 49

What criticism has been made AGAINST the sociobiological theory of evolution?

A) It places too much emphasis on early childhood and unconscious factors.
B) It overemphasizes cultural and social learning factors at the expense of innate biological factors.
C) It overemphasizes innate biological factors at the expense of cultural and social learning factors.
D) It places too much emphasis on the role of thinking, planning, and reasoning.

Question 50

The Canadian sociobiologists Daly and Wilson noted that females make a greater investment in the reproductive process. Which of the following statements does NOT
Support their statement?

A) In Canada, women tend to be the primary caregiver after divorce.
B) Women have a greater health risk during pregnancy and delivery than males have.
C) In Canada, women contribute a greater proportion of the financial earning to meeting family expenses than men do.
D) Women have less opportunity to reproduce than males have.

Question 51

Which approach to psychology is concerned with how elements of experience are organized into wholes?

A) Gestalt psychology
B) Functionalism
C) Structuralism
D) Sociobiology

Question 52

A method of analyzing and studying the mind in terms of its basic elements is known as:

A) functionalism.
B) structuralism.
C) insight psychology.
D) Gestalt psychology.

Question 53

Who founded the first laboratory of experimental psychology in 1879?

A) Wolfgang Kohler
B) William James
C) Wilhelm Wundt
D) Edward Titchener

Question 54

William James helped develop which school of thought?

A) structuralism
B) Gestalt psychology
C) functionalism
D) psychodynamic perspective

Question 55

Structuralism, functionalism, and Gestalt psychology were all schools of thought that played important roles in the origin of which psychological perspective?

A) humanistic
B) cognitive
C) behavioural
D) sociocultural

Question 56

Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener both believed that the mind could be studied by breaking it down into its essential components. The approach that Wundt and Titchener espoused was known as:

A) Functionalism.
B) Insight psychology.
C) Gestalt psychology.
D) Structuralism.

Question 57

The fields of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology are example of which psychological perspective?

A) biological
B) cognitive
C) behavioural
D) sociocultural

Question 58

The scientific study of the influence of genetic factors on behavioural tendencies is called:

A) behaviour genetics.
B) sociogenetics.
C) genetic behaviourism.
D) sociobiology.

Question 59

Researchers who believed in the structuralism school of psychological thought studied sensations through which method?

A) repression analysis
B) insight
C) introspection
D) monitoring brain activity

Question 60

Behaviour geneticists use which of the following research methods to investigate the role of genetic factors in behaviour?

A) twin studies
B) simulation methods
C) ethnography
D) narrative inquiry

Question 61

Professor Jean Piaget is best known for his research in which area?

A) evolutionary psychology
B) his work on artificial intelligence
C) how irrational thought patterns contribute to emotional problems
D) the cognitive development of children

Question 62

What level of analysis does the behaviourist perspective usually take?

A) psychological
B) biological
C) environmental
D) sociocultural

Question 63

A psychological researcher states that we will greatly enhance our understanding of how humans think if we are able to simulate or duplicate human cognitive processes using computers. This researcher is most likely working from which perspective?

A) sociobiology
B) psychodynamic
C) behaviourism
D) cognitive

Question 64

Which psychological perspective stresses the role of unconscious processes and unresolved conflicts from the past?

A) sociocultural
B) behavioural
C) psychodynamic
D) cognitive

Question 65

When did the cognitive revolution occur?

A) 1920s and 1930s
B) 1980s
C) 1950s
D) 1960s and 1970s

Question 66

Researchers who are interested in developing complex computer models of human thought, reasoning, and problem solving would most likely be taking which perspective?

A) cognitive
B) humanist
C) behaviourism
D) social constructivism

Question 67

The research area of cognitive neuroscience represents a combination of which two psychological perspectives?

A) behavioural and cognitive behaviourism
B) behavioural and cognitive
C) biological and cognitive
D) biological and behavioural

Question 68

Sharon is constantly talking, whether it is face-to-face, on the phone, or even to herself. Sharon is unaware of her excessive talking, which according to Freud's psychodynamic perspective means:

A) she is unable to stop the excessive talking behaviour.
B) the causes of her behaviour must be conscious.
C) the causes of her behaviour must be unconscious.
D) she has an uncontrollable urge to communicate.

Question 69

A researcher is interested in whether or not gender or social status might influence the way an individual communicates with others. This researcher is taking which perspective to the study of psychology?

A) cognitive behaviourism
B) sociocultural
C) behaviourism
D) cognitive

Question 70

A particular research lab uses advanced electrical recording and brain-imagining tools to monitor brain functioning while people engage in various mental activities. Researchers in this lab are most likely doing investigations in which area of modern cognitive science?

A) artificial intelligence
B) behaviour modification
C) cognitive behaviourism
D) cognitive neuroscience

Question 71

Senara is conducting a study on how stress can influence problem-solving by manipulating the amount of time and the level of difficulty of the problems to solve. Which perspective is Senara taking to the study of psychology?

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive
C) behaviourist
D) humanist

Question 72

Jean Piaget and Noam Chomsky were mentioned as theorists who have had a strong impact on which psychological perspective?

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive
C) behavioural
D) sociocultural

Question 73

What level of analysis does the psychodynamic perspective usually take?

A) environmental
B) sociocultural
C) psychological
D) biological

Question 74

The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes all of the following causal factors EXCEPT:

A) unresolved conflicts.
B) unconscious processes.
C) developmental stages.
D) early childhood experiences.

Question 75

Research on perceptual illusions provides evidence that the mind perceives elements as a meaningful whole, a position advocated for by:

A) psychodynamic perspective
B) behaviourism
C) Gestalt psychology
D) structuralism

Question 76

Rules that specify what behaviour is acceptable and expected, such as how to dress or how to respond to someone of higher status, are known as:

A) standards
B) collectivism
C) gestalts
D) norms

Question 77

What level of analysis does the cognitive perspective usually take?

A) psychological
B) biological
C) sociocultural
D) environmental

Question 78

Some of the ideas from functionalism live on in what more modern approach to psychology?

A) sociocultural approach
B) humanist
C) behaviourism
D) evolutionary psychology

Question 79

Which of the following was NOT provided in the textbook as influential in starting the cognitive revolution?

A) psychologists designing information displays during World War II for the military
B) the development of the computer
C) the debate about how children acquire language
D) research on eye witness testimony and the distortion of memory

Question 80

A researcher is interested in exploring the nature of attention and consciousness as well as how unconscious processes influence behaviour. This researcher takes what type of perspective in the study of psychology?

A) cognitive
B) psychodynamic
C) behaviourist
D) functionalist