Deck 1: The Science of Psychology

Question 1

The phrase, "Psychology has a long past, but a short history" clearly depicts the statement that

A) although many negative events have characterized psychology's past, many positive events have occurred in recent years.
B) people have always been interested in explaining behavior, but psychology did not become a science until relatively recently.
C) psychology has been a science for hundreds of years, but only recently has the general public become interested in it.
D) although psychology has existed as a science for a very long time, it is being overshadowed by more exact sciences and will not likely survive beyond the current century.

Answer 1

people have always been interested in explaining behavior, but psychology did not become a science until relatively recently.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT included in a typical APA style research citation?

A) Author name(s)
B) Title of article
C) City location of journal
D) Pages of article in the journal

Answer 2

City location of journal

Question 3

Who is engaging in critical thinking?

A) Thomas, who typically develops a list of pros and cons for any important decision
B) Celeste, who relies on online ads for information about which product to purchase
C) Dalton, who determines what the group consensus is when making important decisions
D) Maria, who goes with her gut when deciding which new car to buy

Answer 3

Thomas, who typically develops a list of pros and cons for any important decision

Question 4

The first American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology was ____.

A) Margaret Washburn
B) Karen Horney
C) Anna Freud
D) Rosalie Rayner

Question 5

What is the best example of a pseudopsychological finding?

A) Studies show a relationship between academic achievement and class attendance.
B) Research suggests that we tend to be attracted to people who are similar to us.
C) Surveys have found that men tend to report falling in love faster than women.
D) We use only 10% of our brains and therefore, nearly everyone is actually a genius.

Question 6

Psychology's birth is linked with the first psychology laboratory, which was established by ____.

A) Ivan Pavlov
B) James Watson
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Wilhelm Wundt

Question 7

Which statement is true?

A) We are either left-brain or right-brain thinkers.
B) Personality is set by our teenage years.
C) Psychologists analyze the behavior of other species as well as humans.
D) During sleep, the brain rests.

Question 8

A scientific theory ____.

A) is typically a gross oversimplification
B) rarely has a basis in experimentation
C) provides a summary to guide thinking
D) has no practical, real-life importance

Question 9

A psychologist's explanation of a particular behavior is generally presented as a(n) ____.

A) conclusion
B) example
C) misconception
D) theory

Question 10

Which area of study is one of the American Psychological Association's foundational areas of contemporary psychology?

A) Research design and statistical analysis
B) Psychodynamic theory
C) History of psychology
D) Developmental and social psychology

Question 11

Which statement is the most accurate?

A) Most adults experience a midlife crisis in their 40s or 50s.
B) Stress can be caused by both good and bad life events.
C) Our memory works like a video recorder.
D) People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities.

Question 12

Correlation can be used only for making predictions, not for making ______________.

A) a third variable
B) cause-and-effect statements
C) two variables correlate
D) observations

Question 13

Psychology is defined as the ____.

A) scientific study of why people do what they do
B) scientific study of behavior and mental processes
C) study of different states of consciousness
D) study of mental illness and its treatment

Question 14

The process of analyzing and evaluating information and applying it to other situations is known as ____.

A) critical thinking
B) pseudopsychology
C) sensation and perception
D) human factors research

Question 15

Wundt attempted to detail the ____.

A) structure of our behaviors
B) function of our mental experiences
C) function of our behaviors
D) structure of our mental experiences

Question 16

Psychology is best described as a ____.

A) theory
B) science
C) pseudoscience
D) hypothesis

Question 17

Psychology became a distinct field of scientific study in ____.

A) 1653
B) 1776
C) 1879
D) 1928

Question 18

When psychologists conduct research through a systematic process of testing ideas about behavior, they are using ________.

A) the scientific method
B) pseudopsychology
C) common sense
D) meditation

Question 19

Which statement is best classified as pseudopsychology?

A) By visualizing that a cancerous tumor is dying, you can cure yourself of cancer without chemotherapy.
B) Research published in professional journals shows that dogs can detect the scent of certain cancers.
C) A number of studies of childhood cancers show that there can be psychological effects long after successful treatment has ended.
D) According to research, successful pain control for persons with terminal cancer is possible.

Question 20

A scientific theory is a(n) ____.

A) opinion that has very limited supporting facts
B) prediction of some future event
C) explanation of why and how a behavior occurs
D) method for testing hypotheses

Question 21

The dominant force in American psychology from the early 1920s until the 1960s was ____.

A) psychoanalytic theory
B) structuralism
C) humanism
D) behaviorism

Question 22

Dr. Ali is a psychologist who believes that psychology should not attempt to understand the mind, but rather should focus on understanding peoples' observable actions. Dr. Ali's approach deals with ______________ psychology.

A) psychoanalytic
B) behavioral
C) functional
D) structural

Question 23

For psychology to be considered a true science, it must focus on observable behavior and not on the mind, according to the school of thought referred to as _______.

A) environmentalism
B) behaviorism
C) structuralism
D) humanism

Question 24

What happened to Little Albert?

A) He was conditioned to be afraid of a white rat.
B) He underwent extensive psychoanalysis.
C) He learned to press a lever to get candy.
D) He suffered brain damage from a terrible accident.

Question 25

Your psychology teacher believes that for psychology to be truly scientific, it must focus on observable and measurable actions. Your teacher is most likely a ____.

A) behaviorist
B) humanist
C) psychoanalytic theorist
D) clinical psychologist

Question 26

Discontent with behaviorism was partially responsible for the emergence of ____ in the 1960s.

A) humanism
B) psychoanalytic theory
C) the physiological perspective
D) functionalism

Question 27

The ancient Indian texts of knowledge, The Vedas, describe ____ as energy processing centers within the body that govern physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

A) tantrics
B) ashtangas
C) chakras
D) ayurvedas

Question 28

Psychologists who look for a physical cause for a particular behavior adopt a(n) ____ perspective.

A) humanistic
B) sociocultural
C) biological
D) evolutionary

Question 29

John asserts that men are not predisposed to monogamy, because having sex with lots of women increases the likelihood that they will successfully reproduce and transmit their genes to the next generation. John's explanation is most consistent with ____ psychology.

A) biological
B) psychodynamic
C) humanistic
D) evolutionary

Question 30

The ideas of Sigmund Freud led to the formulation of ____ theory.

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

Question 31

Any object or event that is perceived by our senses is called a ____.

A) diathesis
B) reinforcer
C) stimulus
D) sensation

Question 32

Who was the "father of medicine" who believed that personality was in part a reflection of the mix of chemicals in the body?

A) Hippocrates
B) Freud
C) Wundt
D) Titchener

Question 33

Psychoanalysis is a therapy developed by ________.

A) Freud
B) Pavlov
C) Watson
D) Skinner

Question 34

Assumptions about behavior originally conceived by Freud, and modified by his followers, are the basis for the __________ perspective.

A) humanistic
B) eclectic
C) behaviorist
D) psychodynamic

Question 35

Edward Titchener is most associated with ____.

A) psychoanalysis
B) introspection
C) humanism
D) behaviorism

Question 36

The field of science that investigates the relationships between the nervous system and behavior/mental processes is ____.

A) evolutionary psychology
B) psychodynamic psychology
C) neuroscience
D) behaviorism

Question 37

Which statement is true with regard to the beginnings of scientific psychology?

A) Wilhelm Wundt was primarily interested in studying conscious experience and mental processes.
B) John Watson used a process called introspection to examine the sensations and feelings of trained observers.
C) William James established the first scientific laboratory in Germany to study mental processes.
D) Gilbert Haven Jones was primarily interested in the function that behaviors and thoughts serve for organisms.

Question 38

The psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud emphasized ____.

A) behavior
B) self-determination
C) unconscious mind processes
D) evolutionary processes

Question 39

Wilhelm Wundt is to ____ as William James is to ____.

A) functionalism; structuralism
B) structuralism; functionalism
C) science; pseudoscience
D) behavioral observation; introspection

Question 40

Behaviorism is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of ____.

A) observable actions
B) unconscious mental processes
C) conscious mental processes
D) feelings of self-worth and potential

Question 41

The sociocultural and behavioral perspectives have a strong focus on _____________ .

A) the self
B) the environment
C) mental processes
D) the unconscious

Question 42

A therapist who helps clients diagnosed with depression change their thinking and perception of the world is using which perspective?

A) Behavioral
B) Cognitive
C) Sociocultural
D) Humanistic

Question 43

Which psychological perspective studies memory, problem solving, and decision making?

A) Humanism
B) Psychodynamic theory
C) Behaviorism
D) Cognitive psychology

Question 44

What is one difference between a developmental psychologist and a clinical psychologist?

A) Clinical psychologists are more likely to do research.
B) Developmental psychologists are more likely to have Psy.D. degrees.
C) Clinical psychologists are more likely to be therapists.
D) Developmental psychologists are more likely to only have bachelor's degrees.

Question 45

The emphasis on human strengths and the methods by which humans attain happiness is explained by __________.

A) functionalism
B) psychoanalysis
C) positive psychology
D) cognitive psychology

Question 46

Which progression best represents the historical order in which these psychological perspectives were developed?

A) Psychoanalytic theory, humanism, and structuralism
B) Structuralism, behaviorism, and humanism
C) Humanism, psychoanalytic theory, and cognitive psychology
D) Behaviorism, structuralism, and psychoanalytic theory

Question 47

A psychologist from a biological perspective would most likely focus on the ____.

A) environment
B) self
C) brain
D) unconscious

Question 48

Most psychologists take an eclectic approach when explaining behavior. This means to ____________ and provide a more complete and complex picture of behavior.

A) rigidly follow one perspective
B) integrate several perspectives
C) reject the perspective that is currently most popular
D) focus on the perspective that best fits the majority of people

Question 49

A focus on genetics, biochemical, and brain functioning of humans characterizes the ____ perspective.

A) sociocultural
B) humanistic
C) biological
D) behavioral

Question 50

Who is a leader in the field of positive psychology?

A) Ed Diener
B) Carl Rogers
C) Abraham Maslow
D) Max Wertheimer

Question 51

Your psychology professor studies processes like thought, memory, and knowledge. What type of psychologist is she?

A) Psychoanalytic
B) Cognitive
C) Humanist
D) Behaviorist

Question 52

Cognitive psychologists acknowledge that mental processes are not directly observable to the eye, but assert that they ____.

A) are at least as important as unconscious processes
B) can be inferred from performance data
C) are still primarily the result of biological influences
D) cannot be indirectly observed either

Question 53

The school of psychology that Martin Seligman is associated with is _____.

A) behaviorism
B) psychodynamic psychology
C) humanism
D) positive psychology

Question 54

The psychodynamic perspective is derived from ____ theory.

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

Question 55

Which modern perspective explains anxiety in terms of its relation to chemicals in the body/brain, or to genetics?

A) Psychodynamic
B) Behavioral
C) Evolutionary
D) Biological

Question 56

The diversity between groups of individuals is clearly defined by the ____ perspective.

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

Question 57

Which perspective proposes that natural selection is the process that explains behavior?

A) Psychodynamic
B) Behavioral
C) Humanistic
D) Evolutionary

Question 58

As a therapist, Dr. Mark helps clients recognize their inner potential to reach personal goals. Dr. Mark is best described as a ____.

A) psychodynamist
B) psychoanalyst
C) behaviorist
D) humanist

Question 59

A therapist who uses a cognitive approach with depressed clients and a behavioral approach with phobic clients would be described as ____.

A) inconsistent
B) bidirectional
C) eclectic
D) incompetent

Question 60

Two well-known humanists are ____.

A) Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler
B) Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
C) John Watson and B. F. Skinner
D) Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener

Question 61

The material in the textbook on gender and ethnicity in the field of psychology suggests that ____.

A) compared to men, women earn more psychology degrees and represent a higher percentage of active psychologists
B) unlike other fields where minorities are outnumbered, in psychology minorities outnumber Caucasians
C) while men outnumber women earning doctorates in psychology, Caucasians outnumber minorities
D) while minorities outnumber Caucasians within the ranks of employment in psychology, men outnumber women

Question 62

Dr. Zigrang is a psychologist studying how children's ability to do mathematics changes between the ages of 4 and 12. Dr. Zigrang is a(n) ____ psychologist.

A) psychobiological
B) developmental
C) counseling
D) industrial/organizational

Question 63

Dr. Kahlo is a psychologist who is studying parenting techniques in the United States, Nigeria, Cuba, and Poland. She is interested in determining if fathers play a different role in child rearing in these countries. Dr. Kahlo is most likely a ____ psychologist.

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

Question 64

The Ph.D. in psychology focuses more on ____, while the Psy.D. concentrates more on ____.

A) clinical training; research
B) psychological assessment; experimentation
C) research; clinical training
D) therapy; research

Question 65

A person with a bachelor's degree in psychology would most likely be excluded from ____.

A) providing social services
B) rendering independent psychotherapy
C) serving as a research assistant
D) working in public relations

Question 66

You are advising a friend on her career choice. She says that she wants to be a psychologist, so you alert her to the fact that the majority of psychologists hold as their highest degree a(n) ____ degree in psychology.

A) associate's
B) bachelor's
C) master's
D) doctoral

Question 67

Which statement is TRUE regarding women and/or ethnic minorities in the field of psychology?

A) Women did not make any significant contributions to the field of psychology until the last 50 years.
B) Ethnic minorities did not make any significant contributions to the field of psychology until the last 50 years.
C) Despite an increase in the number of advanced degrees awarded to minorities, they are still underrepresented in the psychology work force.
D) Male psychologists now earn only 86% of what female psychologists do, after controlling for age, race, hours, and education.

Question 68

Who conducted important research on color vision in the 1920s?

A) Karen Horney
B) Christine Ladd-Franklin
C) Francis Sumner
D) Inez Prosser

Question 69

The first African American to earn a doctorate in psychology was ____.

A) Francis Sumner
B) Gilbert Haven Jones
C) Kenneth Clark
D) Inez Prosser

Question 70

The first female president of the American Psychological Association was ____.

A) Karen Horney
B) Mary Calkins
C) Elizabeth Loftus
D) Anna Freud

Question 71

Aisha wants to study how individuals interact with and influence each other. She should probably go into ____.

A) social psychology
B) developmental psychology
C) cross-cultural psychology
D) personality psychology

Question 72

Which area is most likely to be the focus of an experimental psychologist?

A) Laboratory research to examine the effect of positive reinforcement on learning in rats
B) Observation of children to determine their rate of aggressive acts
C) Research examining the effects of prolonged stress on the human body
D) Testing to develop a valid test of personality and its change over time

Question 73

Anxiety is the product of unresolved feelings of hostility, guilt, anger, or sexual attraction experienced in childhood. The psychological perspective is _______.

A) behavioral
B) sociocultural
C) psychodynamic
D) humanistic

Question 74

Jermaine is a psychologist who works at a major urban hospital to develop stress management plans for people who have recently had open-heart surgery. Jermaine is most likely a ____ psychologist.

A) clinical
B) counseling
C) health
D) forensic

Question 75

Herb is a psychologist who works for a major food manufacturer. He helps the company by studying factors of the work environment, employees, and management that enhance or detract from productivity. Herb is most likely a(n) ____ psychologist.

A) social
B) industrial/organizational
C) cross-cultural
D) health

Question 76

Liam is a psychologist who helps athletes get the most out of their athletic potential by focusing on their internal motivation and relationships with teammates. Most likely, Liam is a(n) ____ psychologist.

A) sports
B) personality
C) athletic
D) clinical

Question 77

Research that demonstrated that Black children often preferred playing with a White doll over a Black doll was cited in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, in which the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Who conducted this research?

A) Martin Seligman and Ed Diener
B) Kenneth Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark
C) Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
D) Francis Sumner and Gilbert Haven Jones

Question 78

Susanne is a psychologist who studies love and romantic attraction. She is most likely a ____ psychologist.

A) social
B) cross-cultural
C) personality
D) biological

Question 79

Which of the following psychologists is most likely a therapist?

A) An educational psychologist
B) A counseling psychologist
C) A developmental psychologist
D) A forensic psychologist

Question 80

Dr. Green is a psychologist working for a major steel manufacturing company. Dr. Green advises the company on how best to motivate its employees to be productive and follow safety regulations. Dr. Green is a(n) ____ psychologist.

A) industrial/organizational
B) forensic
C) health
D) counseling