Deck 1: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Question 1

Functionalism is to structuralism as ________ is to Edward Titchener.

A) John Locke
B) B. F. Skinner
C) William James
D) John B. Watson

Answer 1

William James

Question 2

Research participants who carefully observe and report their immediate thoughts and feelings in response to different musical sounds are using the method known as

A) spaced practice.
B) psychoanalysis.
C) introspection.
D) natural selection.

Answer 2

introspection.

Question 3

The method of introspection was used by Edward Titchener to identify

A) inherited traits.
B) maladaptive behaviors.
C) unconscious motives.
D) sensory experiences.

Answer 3

sensory experiences.

Question 4

Who dismissed introspection and redefined psychology as "the scientific study of observable behavior"?

A) Watson and Skinner
B) Freud and James
C) Wundt and Titchener
D) Rogers and Maslow

Question 5

The first woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology later wrote an influential book The Animal Mind. Her name was

A) Mary Whiton Calkins.
B) Rosalie Rayner.
C) Margaret Floy Washburn.
D) Jean Piaget.

Question 6

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with mental activities such as perception, memory, and language is called

A) behavior genetics.
B) positive psychology.
C) cognitive neuroscience.
D) clinical psychology.

Question 7

The study of inner thoughts and feelings is to the study of observable behavior as Titchener is to

A) Watson.
B) James.
C) Freud.
D) Wundt.

Question 8

B. F. Skinner was a prominent American

A) psychiatrist.
B) behaviorist.
C) cognitive neuroscientist.
D) structuralist.

Question 9

Humanistic psychologists were led by

A) Wundt and Titchener.
B) Freud and James.
C) Rogers and Maslow.
D) Watson and Skinner.

Question 10

The early school of psychology known as functionalism was developed by

A) Wilhelm Wundt.
B) William James.
C) John B. Watson.
D) Sigmund Freud.

Question 11

One of the earliest schools of thought in psychology was

A) psychiatry.
B) structuralism.
C) cognitive neuroscience.
D) humanistic psychology.

Question 12

The study of inner sensations and feelings is to the study of observable behavior as _____ is to _____.

A) Wundt; Watson
B) Skinner; James
C) Watson; Freud
D) Raynor; Wundt

Question 13

The value of introspection was most clearly dismissed by

A) Freudian psychologists.
B) functionalists.
C) structuralists.
D) behaviorists.

Question 14

Which school of psychology attempted to identify the basic elements of mind?

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

Question 15

Which research method waned in popularity because its results varied when the technique was used by different people?

A) natural selection
B) introspection
C) behavior genetics
D) spaced practice

Question 16

William James was primarily concerned with the _______ of the mind.

A) functions
B) elements
C) disorders
D) biological origins

Question 17

The growth potential of healthy people was emphasized by

A) Freudian psychology.
B) cognitive neuroscience.
C) behavior genetics.
D) humanistic psychology.

Question 18

The mind's defenses against its own unconscious wishes and impulses were of special interest to

A) John B. Watson.
B) Charles Darwin.
C) Sigmund Freud.
D) B. F. Skinner.

Question 19

The first psychological laboratory was established by

A) John Watson.
B) Wilhelm Wundt.
C) Sigmund Freud.
D) Jean Piaget.

Question 20

The science of behavior and mental processes is called

A) naturalistic observation.
B) natural selection.
C) behaviorism.
D) psychology.

Question 21

A complete picture of how mental processes are influenced by both social systems and brain functions is most clearly provided by

A) behaviorism.
B) humanistic psychology.
C) a biopsychosocial approach.
D) naturalistic observation.

Question 22

Which perspective is most directly concerned with how the physical properties of the brain influence behavior and mental states?

A) social-cultural
B) psychodynamic
C) behavioral
D) neuroscience

Question 23

Angie wonders whether her calm and relaxed personality style was learned or inherited. Angie's concern is most directly relevant to the issue of

A) observation and introspection.
B) behavior and mental processes.
C) nature and nurture.
D) conscious mind and unconscious mind.

Question 24

Behavior is to mental processes as ________ is to ________.

A) nature; nurture
B) sensation; memory
C) talking; understanding
D) clinical psychology; psychiatry

Question 25

Who emphasized that behavioral characteristics are inherited?

A) Aristotle
B) John B. Watson
C) Charles Darwin
D) B. F. Skinner

Question 26

Ali insists that intellectual skills are inherited; Claire argues that intelligence is developed through educational experiences. Ali and Claire have differing perspectives on intelligence that

A) may complement each other.
B) are impossible to test scientifically.
C) illustrate the distinction between behavior and mental processes.
D) illustrate the conflict between psychology and psychiatry.

Question 27

The controversy over the relative contributions of genes and experience on psychological traits is known as the

A) levels of analysis dilemma.
B) structuralism-functionalism debate.
C) cognitive neuroscience controversy.
D) nature-nurture issue.

Question 28

In studying human behavior, contemporary psychologists rely most heavily on

A) introspection.
B) psychoanalysis.
C) massed practice.
D) science.

Question 29

Which philosopher concluded that certain ideas were inborn?

A) Aristotle
B) Plato
C) Wundt
D) Watson

Question 30

Poor nutrition, family stress, and memory difficulties have all contributed to Mr. Leonard's depression. Effectively explaining the full complexity of his problems requires

A) psychoanalysis.
B) introspection.
C) a biopsychosocial approach.
D) an evolutionary level of analysis.

Question 31

Ivan Pavlov pioneered the study of

A) learning.
B) perception.
C) personality.
D) mental illness.

Question 32

In a class lecture, Professor Hampton emphasized the extent to which abnormal blood chemistry can contribute to psychological disorders. The professor's lecture highlighted a ________ perspective on psychological disorders.

A) psychodynamic
B) neuroscience
C) social-cultural
D) cognitive

Question 33

In the context of debates regarding the origins of knowledge, Aristotle is to ________ as Plato is to ________.

A) mind; body
B) basic research; applied research
C) introspection; naturalistic observation
D) nurture; nature

Question 34

Do psychological differences between men and women result from biological influences or social influences? This question most clearly involves a debate over the issue of

A) conscious and unconscious thought.
B) naturalistic observation and introspection.
C) behavior and mental processes.
D) nature and nurture.

Question 35

Charles Darwin suggested that the evolution of living organisms is guided by

A) rational thought.
B) natural selection.
C) replication.
D) unconscious motives.

Question 36

Professor Kim suggests that young children from all cultures can distinguish between singular and plural nouns because the concept of quantity is inborn. The professor's suggestion would have been most readily accepted by

A) Plato.
B) John B. Watson.
C) B. F. Skinner.
D) Ivan Pavlov.

Question 37

A biopsychosocial approach is one that requires the use of

A) introspection.
B) SQ3R.
C) the testing effect.
D) multiple levels of analysis.

Question 38

Which process explains why particular traits of living organisms are passed from one generation to the next generation?

A) introspection
B) retrieval practice
C) behavior genetics
D) natural selection

Question 39

Psychology developed from the more established fields of philosophy and biology. For example, ________ was an American philosopher and ________ was an Austrian physician.

A) Wilhelm Wundt; Ivan Pavlov
B) William James; Sigmund Freud
C) B. F. Skinner; John B. Watson
D) Jean Piaget; Abraham Maslow

Question 40

Unlike Plato, Aristotle emphasized that knowledge is a product of

A) logical reasoning.
B) inborn ideas.
C) sensory experience.
D) introspection.

Question 41

Which psychological perspective highlights the manner in which people encode, process, store, and retrieve information?

A) cognitive
B) behavioral
C) behavior genetics
D) evolutionary

Question 42

Dr. Wilcox conducts basic research on the behavioral differences between shy and outgoing people. Dr. Wilcox is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) biological
B) cognitive
C) industrial-organizational
D) personality

Question 43

The behavior genetics perspective would be most directly concerned with assessing the relative influences of

A) behavior and mental processes.
B) conscious and unconscious motives.
C) nature and nurture.
D) spaced practice and massed practice.

Question 44

A clinical psychologist who explains behavior in terms of unconscious drives and conflicts is employing a(n) ________ perspective.

A) evolutionary
B) psychodynamic
C) behavioral
D) social-cultural

Question 45

The behavioral perspective is most likely to emphasize the importance of

A) learning.
B) introspection.
C) inherited traits.
D) self-esteem.

Question 46

Which psychological perspective is most likely to examine how group membership influences individual attitudes and behaviors?

A) neuroscience
B) psychodynamic
C) evolutionary
D) social-cultural

Question 47

The high school counselor has suggested that Skylar's romantic feelings for her physics teacher reflect her unconscious longings for attention from her own father. The counselor's assessment most clearly reflects a(n) ________ perspective.

A) behavioral
B) evolutionary
C) psychodynamic
D) behavior genetics

Question 48

A concern with the reasoning processes that contribute to effective problem solving is most characteristic of the ________ perspective.

A) behavioral
B) evolutionary
C) social-cultural
D) cognitive

Question 49

Dr. Winkle conducts basic research on the systematic changes in intelligence associated with aging. It is most likely that Dr. Winkle is a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) biological
B) social
C) developmental
D) industrial-organizational

Question 50

Which perspective is most directly concerned with assessing the relative contributions of heredity to people's intelligence?

A) cognitive
B) behavioral
C) psychodynamic
D) behavior genetics

Question 51

Dr. MacPherson believes that the way students organize and think about the information in their textbooks will strongly influence their ability to later remember and use what they have studied. Dr. MacPherson's ideas most directly exemplify the ________ perspective.

A) social-cultural
B) cognitive
C) psychodynamic
D) behavior genetics

Question 52

Mark believes that people's dislike of bitter-tasting foods has promoted human survival. His belief best illustrates the ________ perspective.

A) psychodynamic
B) social-cultural
C) evolutionary
D) behavioral

Question 53

Natassia believes that boys learn to be more aggressive than girls primarily because boys are more frequently pressured to defend themselves with fists. Natassia's belief is best described as an example of the ________ perspective.

A) behavioral
B) cognitive
C) psychodynamic
D) neuroscience

Question 54

Dr. Tiao conducts basic research on the effects of head injuries on people's problem-solving and abstract-reasoning skills. Which psychological specialty does her research best represent?

A) developmental psychology
B) biological psychology
C) industrial-organizational psychology
D) personality psychology

Question 55

The evolutionary perspective focuses on how ________ contributes to the survival of human traits.

A) introspection
B) natural selection
C) unconscious motives
D) rational thought

Question 56

The evolutionary perspective is to ________ as the behavioral perspective is to ________.

A) applied research; basic research
B) nature; nurture
C) clinical psychology; psychiatry
D) unconscious mind; conscious mind

Question 57

A theoretical perspective in psychology can be like a two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional object because each perspective is

A) limited in its scope.
B) likely to contradict other perspectives.
C) of little value for applied research.
D) impossible to test scientifically.

Question 58

Dr. Matias has concluded that very few people in a small African country suffer from alcohol dependence because of the strong influence of their religion. This belief best illustrates a(n) ________ perspective.

A) evolutionary
B) psychodynamic
C) neuroscience
D) social-cultural

Question 59

Which perspective would suggest that the facial expressions associated with the emotions of lust and rage are inherited?

A) cognitive
B) behavioral
C) evolutionary
D) social-cultural

Question 60

Dr. Karima conducts basic research on the effectiveness of test-enhanced learning on a person's ability to remember information. Dr. Karima is most likely a ________ psychologist.

A) social
B) personality
C) biological
D) cognitive

Question 61

Dr. Veenstra conducts basic research on the impact of racial prejudice on behavior. Dr. Veenstra is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) clinical
B) social
C) biological
D) industrial-organizational

Question 62

According to Emily's grandfather, Adolf Hitler's obvious emotional instability made it clear from the beginning days of his international conflicts that Germany would inevitably lose World War II. The grandfather's claim best illustrates

A) hindsight bias.
B) the placebo effect.
C) naturalistic observation.
D) random sampling.

Question 63

Hindsight bias most directly contributes to the perception that

A) psychological theories are simply reflections of researchers' personal values.
B) psychological experiments are simplified versions of reality.
C) psychological theories and observations are merely common sense.
D) psychology is potentially dangerous.

Question 64

Which specialists are the most likely to prescribe a drug for the treatment of a psychological disorder?

A) developmental psychologists
B) clinical psychologists
C) personality psychologists
D) psychiatrists

Question 65

After predicting world events, such as whether Quebec would separate from Canada, mistaken experts maintained that they were "almost right." This attitude is an example of

A) overconfidence.
B) the testing effect.
C) random assignment.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 66

If someone were to flip a coin six times, which of the following sequences of heads (H) and tails (T) would be most likely?

A) H H H T T T
B) H T T H T H
C) T T T T T T
D) All of these sequences would be equally likely.

Question 67

Working in a community mental health center, Dr. Thatcher treats adults who suffer from severe depression. Dr. Thatcher is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) personality
B) industrial-organizational
C) clinical
D) developmental

Question 68

When provided with the unscrambled solutions to anagrams, people underestimate the difficulty of solving the anagrams. This best illustrates

A) confounding variables.
B) random assignment.
C) wording effects.
D) overconfidence.

Question 69

Thinking that she had outperformed most of her classmates, Glenda was surprised to receive just an average grade on her psychology test. Glenda's experience best illustrates

A) overconfidence.
B) hindsight bias.
C) the placebo effect.
D) negative correlation.

Question 70

Alexandra is told that research supports the value of cosmetic surgery for boosting self-esteem. Belinda is told that the esteem-enhancing value of cosmetic surgery has been refuted by research. Both women consider the research findings to be common sense. This best illustrates the power of

A) the placebo effect.
B) hindsight bias.
C) random assignment.
D) the double-blind procedure.

Question 71

A psychologist notes that we are especially attracted to people whose traits are different from our own. This statement would seem unsurprising to students because

A) most students have often been attracted to people different from themselves.
B) this finding is consistent with common sense.
C) students are eager to interact with those who are different from themselves.
D) students, like everyone else, have a tendency to exaggerate their ability to have foreseen the outcome of past discoveries.

Question 72

In a random sequence of coin tosses, series of successive heads occur ________ often than people expect and series of tails occur ________ often than people expect.

A) more; less
B) less; more
C) more; more
D) less; less

Question 73

A helping profession devoted to assisting people with problems often related to school, work, or marriage is known as

A) personality psychology.
B) counseling psychology.
C) cognitive psychology.
D) social psychology.

Question 74

Which professional specialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of people with psychological disorders?

A) cognitive psychology
B) biological psychology
C) clinical psychology
D) developmental psychology

Question 75

Hindsight bias leads people to perceive research findings as

A) unpredictable.
B) inexplicable.
C) unreplicable.
D) unsurprising.

Question 76

Hindsight bias often leads us to place too much faith in

A) random sampling.
B) the testing effect.
C) human intuition.
D) random assignment.

Question 77

Dr. Donelian wants to reduce his students' perceptions that psychological experiments merely document the obvious. His best strategy would be to ask the students to

A) describe how experimental hypotheses were derived from basic psychological principles.
B) predict the outcomes of experiments before they are told the actual results.
C) explain the outcomes of experiments after they are told the actual results.
D) personally engage in naturalistic observation.

Question 78

As students prepare for a test, they often believe that they understand the course material better than they actually do. This best illustrates

A) overconfidence.
B) random assignment.
C) the placebo effect.
D) critical thinking.

Question 79

Dr. Ochoa develops tests to accurately identify the most qualified job applicants in a large manufacturing firm. Which psychological specialty does Dr. Ochoa's work best represent?

A) developmental psychology
B) industrial-organizational psychology
C) biological psychology
D) clinical psychology

Question 80

To balance historic psychology's focus on human problems and negative emotions, Martin Seligman called for the development of

A) behavior genetics.
B) cognitive neuroscience.
C) positive psychology.
D) psychiatry.