Psych 3
69. Tom has left home and is attending college in a city far away from home where he doesn't know anybody. According to the principle of proximity, Tom will be most likely to make friends with
A. Bill, his roommate.
44. Which of the following is a similarity between the cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory?
A. Both theories suggest that behavior can change attitudes.
93. According to the _____, emotion and physiological reactions occur simultaneously.
A. Cannon-Bard theory
52. At home Carrie was moody, self-centered, and bossy. At social events, Carrie was the life of the party. She was funny, happy, and demonstrated social graces that none of her family ever saw at home. What is Jung's explanation of Carrie's behavior?
A. Carrie adopted her persona at parties.
59. _____ means helping another person for personal gain, such as to feel good, or avoid guilt.
A. Egoism
37. _____ are the class of sex hormones that are predominate in females. _____ are the class of sex hormones that are predominate in males.
A. Estrogens/Androgens
65. _____ emphasize independence and self-reliance, whereas _____ emphasize affiliation, cooperation, and interdependence.
A. Individualistic cultures/collectivist cultures
67. Identify the true statement about extrinsic and intrinsic motivation.
A. Intrinsic motivation is believed to lead to more positive outcomes than extrinsic motivation.
85. In the context of psychological factors in conformity, which of the following best describes informational social influence?
A. It refers to the influence people have on an individual because the individual wants to be right.
104. The facial feedback hypothesis provides support for the
A. James-Lange theory of emotion.
3. In the context of social behavior, which of the following best explains why the bystander effect occurs?
A. People tend to look to the behavior of others for cues about what to do.
1. _____ is a pattern of enduring, distinctive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that characterize the way an individual adapts to the world.
A. Personality
86. Which of the following is a problem associated with using polygraph results as an indicator of whether or not a person is lying?
A. Presence of drugs in the body influences the accuracy of the polygraph.
71. _____ involves strong components of sexuality and infatuation, and is often predominant in the early part of a love relationship.
A. Romantic love
53. Jared is a salesman at a large retail store. Upon meeting his monthly sales target, he is honored with the title of "Star Salesman" by the management. Despite the recognition, Jared is not very happy. He feels that the management should have rewarded him with a bonus instead of a title. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following needs is Jared seeking to fulfill?
A. Safety needs
82. Which of the following individuals exhibits the trait of openness to experience?
A. Sarah, who is very successful in the business she has started
46. _____ theory is Daryl Bem's take on how behaviors influence attitudes.
A. Self-perception
112. _____ refers to the way individuals define themselves in terms of their group membership.
A. Social identity
17. _____ is an individual's fast-acting, self-fulfilling fear of being judged based on a negative idea about his or her group.
A. Stereotype threat
16. Darrin is a good piano player. When he is alone and bored his arousal is low and he often gets distracted and makes mistakes. When he is in a recital with strangers, he sometimes gets too nervous and aroused and also makes mistakes. His best performances are typically at home when family and friends are nearby, and his arousal level is moderate. The variations in Darrin's performance can be best explained by the
A. Yerkes-Dodson law.
83. Which of the following statements best defines conformity?
A. a change in a person's behavior to coincide more closely with a group standard
111. Social desirability is
A. a major problem with self-report assessments.
54. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, we seek to fulfill our need for love and belongingness
A. after our basic physiological and safety needs are met.
50. According to Jung, the collective unconscious contains
A. archetypes.
68. When individuals engage in a behavior for some external payoff or to avoid a punishment, they
A. are extrinsically motivated.
19. Based on Claude Steele and Eliot Aronson's research on stereotype threat, we should be especially concerned about instructions for standardized tests if they
A. ask for race/ethnic information before the test starts.
84. When the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is activated,
A. blood pressure drops.
43. According to the cognitive dissonance theory, when attitudes and behavior conflict, individuals tend to reduce cognitive dissonance by
A. changing their attitudes to fit the behavior.
42. Hugh bought a new calculator at Staples for $125. One week later, he saw an ad from Walmart showing the same calculator on sale for $65. Hugh said to himself, "I'm glad I got my calculator at Staples; the ones at Walmart are probably defective. I don't mind having paid more for mine." Hugh's statement reflects
A. cognitive dissonance reduction.
66. Ivan is a child who experiences regular punishment from parents and is only rewarded for good behavior. According to Rogers, Ivan is likely to develop knowledge of
A. conditions of worth.
84. In the context of social influence, Solomon Asch's experiment demonstrates
A. conformity.
98. Mischel nearly derailed the scientific study of personality by challenging the assumption that personality traits are
A. consistent.
94. The Stanford prison experiment provides a dramatic example of how social situations and the roles we take on in life can influence
A. deindividuation.
24. Welma is unable to accept the fact that she has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She refuses treatment despite her family's attempts to convince her. According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, Welma is unconsciously engaging in
A. denial.
21. Which of the following defense mechanisms involves directing unacceptable impulses at a less threatening target?
A. displacement
106. Which of the following neurotransmitters is associated with extraversion?
A. dopamine
11. Self-fulfilling prophecy
A. effects show the potential power of stereotypes and other sources of expectations on human behavior.
1. Motivated behavior is
A. energized, directed, and sustained.
78. According to social exchange theory, the most important predictor of relationship success is
A. equity.
32. Which of the following is a crucial concept in Freud's psychosexual stages of personality development?
A. erogenous zones
47. In accordance with Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, which of the following factors can best explain a person's difficulty in committing to a relationship?
A. financial insecurity
57. A person on campus walks up to you and asks if you would be willing to wear a ribbon to show support for her cause. Though the ribbon is a bit unattractive, it is small so you agree to wear it. After agreeing to this request, the solicitor then asks you if you would be willing to make a donation of $15. This example best demonstrates the
A. foot-in-the-door technique.
21. You come to a conclusion that Carla is a naturally anxious woman. You ignore the fact that Carla is currently taking finals and working 40 hours per week. You are demonstrating the
A. fundamental attribution error.
20. You are watching golf and see Tiger Woods scowl. You would be making the fundamental attribution error if you assumed that
A. he has an angry and volatile personality.
79 . A person's daily mood gives him feedback on the effectiveness of his self-regulation. This means that
A. he will feel good or bad depending on how he is doing in the areas of life he values.
7. Which structure of personality did Freud refer to as the "it"?
A. id
6. Cookie Monster, one of the characters on the children's TV show Sesame Street, has an intense urge to consume cookies, even when doing so is irrational and maladaptive. Eating cookies gives Cookie Monster a great source of pleasure and satisfaction. Freud would say that his behavior reflects the fact that Cookie Monster is ruled by his
A. id.
45. Freud's view of anatomy as destiny was criticized by Karen Horney primarily for
A. ignoring sociocultural influences on personality development.
116. In a study based on Tajfel's theory of social identity, Cathy is randomly assigned to Group A, and Sara is randomly assigned to Group B. When asked to award money to other study participants, both Cathy and Sara award money only to members of their own groups. This behavior is predicted by Tajfel's theory and best exemplifies
A. in-group favoritism.
54. Adler's view that people are motivated by purposes and goals and that perfection, not pleasure, is thus the key motivator in human life is known as
A. individual psychology.
15. Jack and John were recently dumped by their girlfriends. Jack believes that his girlfriend broke up with him because she is selfish and unhappy, whereas John believes that his girlfriend broke up with him because she had to attend to a family emergency and could not make a commitment right now. Jack is making a(n) _____ about his girlfriend's behavior, whereas John is making a(n) _____.
A. internal attribution/external attribution
18. Attributions that include causes inside and specific to a person, such as his or her traits and abilities, are called
A. internal attributions.
14. According to attribution theory, attributions vary along which of the following dimensions?
A. internal/external causes
105. According to Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory, the behavioral inhibition system
A. is sensitive to rewards in the environment.
34. Edna loves McDonald's sweet tea. Whenever she sees the famous "golden arches," she drives right in and orders a sweet tea. This best illustrates the effect of _____ on her eating behavior.
A. learned associations
64. Don places a great deal of value on money, prestige, and his physical appearance. According to your textbook, compared to someone who values the organismic needs, Don will be more likely to experience
A. lowered self-actualization and physical illness.
43. According to recent research on sexual patterns of behavior in the United States,
A. marriage and monogamy rule sexual behavior.
6. A(n) _____ is a physical or biological deprivation that energizes the drive to eliminate or reduce the deprivation.
A. need
63. Robert, a nine-year-old boy, loves watching wrestling on TV. Last night, he used several of the aggressive wrestling moves on his little brother. Which of the following theories best explains William's behavior?
A. observational learning
37. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of Freud's psychosexual stages of development?
A. oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
35. According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, castration anxiety occurs during the
A. phallic stage.
51. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following needs must be met first?
A. physiological needs
33. Despite evidence to the contrary, Denise thinks she is smarter than most of the people in her class. Denise's unfounded attitude about herself is an example of a(n)
A. positive illusion.
37. Festinger's social comparison theory
A. provides an important rationale for how individuals come to know themselves.
70. The mere exposure effect provides one possible explanation for why _____ increases attraction.
A. proximity
31.Patrick has been confused about his sexual orientation for a few years. Even though he has had many girlfriends, he often feels attracted to men. However, in college, he strongly opposes the idea of same-sex relationships among his friends. According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, Patrick's supposed homophobia best illustrates the defense mechanism of
A. reaction formation.
96. According to Bandura, the way behavior, environment, and person/cognitive factors interact to create personality is described as
A. reciprocal determinism.
67. Behavior that is meant to harm the social standing of another person through activities such as gossiping and spreading rumors is known as
A. relational aggression.
52. William has volunteered to work in a war-torn country to try and improve the lives of the residents there. The citizens currently have enough to eat and drink. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, what would these citizens be in need of next?
A. safety
48. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, before a person can feel safe, he needs to
A. satisfy his physiological needs.
106. In the context of group decision making, groupthink can be prevented by
A. selecting an impartial leader.
67. Which of the following is an important element of Carl Rogers's humanistic theory?
A. self-concept
9. Parents warn a new babysitter that their son, Dennis, is very aggressive and mischievous. As a result of this initial expectation, the babysitter starts calling Dennis "Dennis the Menace," and he behaves in ways that elicit aggressive and mischievous behaviors from Dennis. This example best demonstrates the phenomenon called
A. self-fulfilling prophecy.
72. Gordon Allport believed that healthy, well-adjusted individuals
A. show a positive but objective sense of self and others, and have a sense of humor, common sense, and a unifying philosophy of life.
74. Melissa and John have been happily married for 30 years because they have ensured that they have no opportunities to fight. Both of them have jobs so they contribute proportionately to the household income, and they equally share all other responsibilities. Melissa and John's happy marriage can best be explained by the
A. social exchange theory.
91. According to the James-Lange theory of emotions, crying over spilled milk will result in
A. sorrow because you are crying.
8. A _____ is a generalization about a group's characteristics that does not consider any variations from one individual to another.
A. stereotype
18. Michelle was reared in a home where high moral principles dominated. She has attended Sunday school and church since early childhood. In high school, her boyfriend asked her to miss school and go on a cruise with him, but something from inside her told her not to. She felt very proud of herself afterward for holding her ground. Which Freudian personality structure made Michelle feel proud of her response?
A. superego
102. Social loafing refers to the
A. tendency for people to exert less effort when working in groups than when working alone.
104. According to Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory, _____ the basis of personality.
A. the behavioral activation system (BAS) and the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) are
61. Self-efficacy refers to
A. the belief that one has the competence to accomplish a given goal or task.
32. If it is night, we are likely to feel hungry even if we ate a big lunch. This illustrates
A. the effect of learned associations on eating behavior.
24. Although Jeff frequently exceeds the speed limit by at least 10 mph, he justifies his behavior by erroneously thinking that most other drivers do the same. This belief best illustrates
A. the false consensus effect.
55. According to _____, people who have first agreed to a small request tend to comply later with a larger request.
A. the foot-in-the-door technique
80. Which theory of attraction suggests that long-term relationships are likely to continue when both partners are committed and put a lot into the relationship and when there are few attractive tempting alternatives around?
A. the investment model
100. Psychologists believe that the social facilitation effect occurs because
A. the presence of other individuals arouses us.
114. Rob and Deandra are members of a football team. Their self-esteem is greatly affected by their team's performance. They tend to compare their team with that of the opponents in order to improve their self-image. Which of the following theories best explains this scenario?
A. the social identity theory
90. You are a personality researcher and want to continue after the tradition of Henry Murray. This means you will be more interested in
A. the whole person rather than specific traits.
64. According to Rogers, an individual's need to be liked, loved, and accepted by others regardless of his or her behavior is called
A. unconditional positive regard.
28. The _____ is involved in reducing hunger and restricting eating.
A. ventromedial hypothalamus
2. The bystander effect is most likely to occur
A. when someone is witnessing an emergency and there are several other people present.
39. According to research on the human sexual-response pattern, orgasm lasts for about _____.
B. 3 to 15 seconds
16. Which of the following statements is true of stereotype threat?
B. A person who experiences stereotype threat is well aware of stereotypical expectations for him or her as a member of a group.
3. Which of the following is NOT a belief of the psychodynamic perspectives of personality?
B. A person's personality can be truly understood by focusing exclusively on his or her behavior.
35. Which of the following is true of an individual suffering from obesity?
B. An obese individual has to eat more to feel satisfied.
85. Which of the following individuals illustrates the trait of conscientiousness?
B. Anne, who forgives her son for his poor academic performance
95. Jacob notices a snake slithering up the river bank while he is fishing. The thalamus of Jacob's brain immediately stimulates his autonomic nervous system, which, in turn, increases the rate of his breathing and heartbeat. At the same time, Jacob's brain sends signals to his cerebral cortex which causes Jacob to perceive the emotional experience of fear. Consequently, Jacob experiences both fear and the physiological changes in his body at the same time. This scenario complies with the
B. Cannon-Bard theory.
100. Richard Lazarus believed in the primacy of thinking. What does this mean?
B. Cognitive activity is a precondition for emotion.
39. _____ is the psychological discomfort caused by two inconsistent thoughts.
B. Cognitive dissonance
49. _____ refers to rationalizing the amount of work we put into getting something by increasing its value.
B. Effort justification
87. Ernie is an extrovert. Bert is an introvert. What can you predict about Ernie and Bert given your knowledge of personality research?
B. Ernie experiences more positive emotions than Bert.
119. _____ is reflected in a person's conscious and openly shared attitude, which might be measured using a questionnaire, whereas _____ refers to attitudes that exist on a deeper, hidden level, thus they must be measured with a method that does not require awareness.
B. Explicit racism/implicit racism
77. Marsha does a good job because she knows her performance will result in a bonus if she meets her goals. Georgia does a good job because she feels a sense of accomplishment when she meets her goals. Both women do the same kind of work. Who is most likely to perform better?
B. Georgia is most likely to perform better.
43. According to Freud's stages of psychosexual development, which of the following best indicates that 23-year-old Elliot is fixated at the phallic stage?
B. He is overtly flirtatious.
91. Which of the following psychologists developed a psychological profile of Adolf Hitler?
B. Henry Murray
4. Which of the following statements about instincts is FALSE?
B. Instincts are learned behavioral responses.
85. Identify the function of the parasympathetic nervous system.
B. It aids in relaxing and healing the body.
105. Which of the following statements is true of the concept of risky shift?
B. It is the tendency for individuals to more willingly endorse riskier decisions when in a group than when they are alone.
82. Which of the following is true of the sympathetic nervous system?
B. It prepares the individual for fighting or running away.
64. Which of the following statements is true of the frustration-aggression hypothesis?
B. It states that frustration always leads to aggression.
44. Which of the following statements about gender differences in sexual attitudes and behavior is FALSE?
B. Men show more changes in their sexual patterns and desires over their lifetime than women do.
88. _____ is based on a person's desire to be liked by a group.
B. Normative social influence
92. Which of the following conclusions was drawn from the Stanford prison experiment conducted by Zimbardo?
B. People are more likely to be evil when personal responsibility is removed.
4. _____ refers to the processes by which we use social stimuli to form impressions of others.
B. Person perception
117. _____ is an unjustified negative attitude toward an individual based on the individual's membership in a group.
B. Prejudice
50. At age 33, Ricky is a highly ranked partner in a law firm. He lives by himself and doesn't find the time to socialize. He has a lavish house with an elaborate security system and owns a luxurious sports car. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, which of the following can best explain Ricky's discontentment with life?
B. Ricky's need for belongingness is not being met.
63. Which of the following is true of Carl Rogers's approach to personality?
B. Rogers believed that each person is born with natural capacities for growth and fulfillment.
22. You watch as Emma stumbles and drops her books in the hall. If you commit the fundamental attribution error when assessing Emma, how would you explain her behavior?
B. She is a clumsy person.
48. Which of the following is true of Horney's sociocultural approach?
B. She viewed psychological health as allowing individuals to express their talents freely.
31. Which of the following statements is true of social comparison?
B. Social comparison helps identify distinctive characteristics of a person and helps in building an identity.
120. A test taker of the _____ is asked to tell a story about each of the pictures, including events leading up to the situation described, the characters' thoughts and feelings, and the way the situation turns out.
B. Thematic Apperception Test
69. Which of the following is a criticism of the humanistic perspectives of personality?
B. They are too optimistic about human nature.
88. _____ are enduring characteristics of our personality. _____ are briefer experiences.
B. Traits/States
17. Jenna is a talented singer. Her singing is commendable when she is well rehearsed and is performing with her school choir group. In such situations, she is moderately aroused and fairly relaxed. However, when Jenna's friends are around, she gets overly aroused and anxious. In such situations, she finds it hard to focus and often makes mistakes. Which of the following psychological principles can be used to explain the rationale behind Jenna's performance?
B. Yerkes-Dodson law
72. When individuals desire to have another person near and have a deep, caring affection for the person, they are displaying
B. affectionate love.
103. According to Eysenck's theory, introversion and extraversion are characteristic patterns of behavior that
B. aim to regulate arousal around baseline.
51. Jung used the term _____ to refer to the "feminine" side of our personality and the term _____ to refer to the "masculine" side of our personality.
B. anima/animus
75. When individuals engage in a behavior because they enjoy it, they
B. are intrinsically motivated.
36. According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, girls experience
B. castration completed.
40. When people try to confront Alfred about drinking too much alcohol, he replies, "Drinking may be harmful to my health, but I'll die having a good time." This statement made by Alan illustrates his attempt to reduce
B. cognitive dissonance.
41. Which of the following behaviors is typical of a person fixated at the oral stage of development and using the defense mechanism of reaction formation?
B. dislike of milk
5. A(n) _____ is an aroused state that occurs because of a physiological need.
B. drive
13. Meyer plans to obtain quick money through gambling, but he realizes that he might get arrested by the police. This prevents him from going ahead with his gambling plan. According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which of the following structures most likely stopped Meyer from going ahead with his plan?
B. ego
112. A(n) _____ is a type of self-report test that is created by first identifying two groups that are known to be different.
B. empirically keyed test
115. The tendency to favor one's own cultural group over other groups is called
B. ethnocentrism.
75. Alex is shy and keeps to himself most of the time. Alex would score low on what trait?
B. extraversion
80. Your grandma initiates regular get-togethers at her neighborhood community hall. She also believes it's important to experience gratitude and be thankful for the wonderful life she has lived. According to the big five model of personality, grandma would likely score high on which of the following traits?
B. extraversion
74. Annie's mother pays her $5 for every book she reads. Annie is reading like crazy, not because she loves books, but rather because she enjoys spending her money on candy and toys. Annie is demonstrating _____ motivation.
B. extrinsic
102. You are feeling upset when your mother turns toward you and says, "Turn that frown upside down." You turn your frown into a smile and realize that you now feel happy. This experience can be best described by the
B. facial feedback hypothesis.
33. Danielle is a woman of normal weight, whereas Ron is an obese man. Whenever they go out to dinner together, Ron always eats more food. Ron, a psychology major, correctly explains this difference in food intake by pointing out that
B. he has more fat cells than Danielle and he is not satiated until all his fat cells are filled.
11. According to drive reduction theory, the goal of drive reduction is
B. homeostasis
14. As a person exercises, the oxygen levels in his body begin to drop. Hence, the person begins to breathe more rapidly in order to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen to his cells. This increase in his breathing rate is an attempt to restore
B. homeostasis.
60. Gladys is a therapist who is constantly reminding her clients that people have a natural capacity for personal growth and positive qualities. Gladys likely endorses the _____ of personality.
B. humanistic perspective
36. Motivation for sexual behavior is centered in the
B. hypothalamus.
87. Rosalie was invited to a black-tie dinner at the Ritz Carlton. She's never been served a 10-course meal before, so she's unfamiliar with the social etiquette regarding silverware selection. Since Rosalie is in a foreign environment, she gets through the night by watching others who appear to know what they are doing. For each course, she follows their selection of silverware. Rosalie is guided by
B. informational social influence.
66. Competence, relatedness, and autonomy are examples of
B. intrinsic motivation.
72. Courtney reads psychology books because these subjects fascinate her. She really enjoys learning about new approaches to psychology. Courtney is being driven by
B. intrinsic motivation.
54. Central route persuasion
B. involves engaging someone thoughtfully with a sound, logical argument.
50. In the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion, the central route
B. is more persuasive when people have the ability and the motivation to pay attention.
105. Kiefer is taking acting classes. His instructor is using Stanislavski's "method-acting" technique, which encourages actors to imitate the behavior of someone feeling that emotion. When Kiefer is playing a scene where his character is sad, his instructor may suggest that he cry in order to feel sadness. "Method acting" is most consistent with which of the following?
B. james-Lange theory
89. Which of the following would suggest that you feel happy because you are laughing?
B. james-Lange theory
27. The _____ is involved in stimulating eating.
B. lateral hypothalamus
24. Which of the following chemical substances plays an important role in the state of feeling full?
B. leptin
25. The chemical substance _____, released by fat cells, decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure or metabolism.
B. leptin
2. Whenever Olivia watches a television commercial featuring food, she is ridden by a desire to eat. These feelings of hunger stimulate Olivia to go to the kitchen to search for food. Olivia's behavior can be studied by conducting research in the area of
B. motivation
30. In attribution theory, the person who offers a causal explanation of the actor's behavior is called the
B. observer.
33. Six-month-old Ian loves to suck on anything he can get his hands on (e.g., fingers, dolls, blocks, rattles). The fact that Ian receives pleasure and comfort by exploring the world with his mouth suggests that he is in the _____ stage of psychosexual development.
B. oral
40. Clarissa always needs to have something in her mouth. She is trying to give up smoking, but can't get throughout the day without sucking or chewing on her nails, pencils, or any other object she can get her hands on. Freud would suggest that Clarissa may be fixated in the _____ of psychosexual development.
B. oral
15. A major criticism of drive reduction theory is that
B. people often behave in ways that increase drives.
99. Walter Mischel's view of situationism states that
B. personality varies considerably from one context to another.
118. Sam's therapist administered the Rorschach inkblot test during their last session. Sam completed a(n) _____ test of personality.
B. projective
2. Which of the following perspectives emphasizes that personality is primarily unconscious
B. psychodynamic perspectives
73. Social psychologists believe that _____ is particularly strong during the early stages of a relationship, and that _____ increases as the relationship grows and matures.
B. romantic love/affectionate love
92. Tim and Margaret are enjoying a picnic on the edge of a large forest. Suddenly, a huge black bear invades their space and heads for the picnic basket. According to the James-Lange theory of emotions, the couple will
B. run and experience the emotion of fear as a result of the physical changes in their bodies.
55. The highest and most elusive of Maslow's needs is
B. self-actualization.
58. According to self-determination theory, competence motivation involves
B. self-efficacy and mastery.
78. Setting goals, planning for the implementation of goals, and monitoring progress are all aspects of
B. self-regulation.
108. Which of the following neurotransmitters is associated with neuroticism?
B. serotonin
46. Freud believed that the prime motive in human existence is _____, Karen Horney believed that the prime motive in human existence is _____.
B. sex/security
76. According to _____, social relationships involve an exchange of goods, the objective of which is to minimize costs and maximize benefits.
B. social exchange theory
77. According to _____, the most important predictor of relationship success is having both partners feel that each is doing his or her "fair share."
B. social exchange theory
113. Which of the following theories best explains why individuals like to think of their group as an in-group?
B. social identity theory
103. Dr. McCall found that class projects were of poorer quality when students worked in groups compared to when each student did an individual project. This difference is best explained by the phenomenon of
B. social loafing.
27. Jeff has been extremely aggressive since childhood. He pursues a career in boxing, which provides a socially acceptable channel to express his aggression. This scenario best illustrates the defense mechanism of
B. sublimation.
62. The hormone that is typically implicated in aggressive behavior is
B. testosterone.
101. In the context of cognition and emotion, Zajonc famously argued
B. that preferences need no inferences
96. Which of the following brain structures plays a central role in the experience of fear?
B. the amygdala
58. The advertising committee for a politician is going door to door and asking people to put a big, ugly election sign on their lawn. If the people refuse, they ask them if they would consider putting a smaller sign on the lawn. The staff is using
B. the door-in-the-face technique.
114. Face validity refers to
B. the extent to which a test item appears to fit the particular trait it is measuring.
29. The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the external situation and overestimate the impact of inner traits when they seek explanations of another person's behavior is called
B. the fundamental attribution error.
73. Allport used _____ to conduct research on personality.
B. the lexical approach
27. Whenever Claudia gets an A on her psychology exam, she believes it was due to the fact that she is an intelligent, hard-working student. However, when she receives a C on an exam, she blames the instructor's ineffective teaching style and poor choice of test questions. Claudia's behavior is an example of
B. the self-serving bias.
4. Freud considered _____ to be the most important motivator of all human activity.
B. the sexual drive
47. According to Horney, women might envy the penis but what they really want is
B. the status bestowed to those who have one.
89. "Personology" refers to
B. the study of the whole person.
99. After Bungee jumping, David's nervous system signals the production of large amounts of epinephrine which causes high arousal. During this time, he notices a beautiful woman and cognitively interprets his excitement as attraction toward the woman. This exemplifies the concept of the
B. two-factor theory.
13. Attribution theory
B. views people as motivated to discover the underlying causes of their behavior as part of their effort to make sense of the behavior.
70. Professor Miguel surveys students about their motivation for attending college. Which of the following responses is the best example of strong intrinsic motivation?
C. "I'm in college because I love learning. Education satisfies my curiosity and makes me feel like a confident well-informed person."
82. The volunteer participants in Solomon Asch's experiment on conformity conformed to group pressure to select the incorrect answer approximately _____ percent of the time.
C. 35
109. Results of behavioral genetics twin studies suggest that heritability estimates for the big five personality factors are about
C. 50 percent.
84. Maria is a generous and altruistic woman who has a strong religious faith. According to the big five model of personality, Maria would likely score high on which of the following traits?
C. Agreeableness
38. _____ are people's opinions and beliefs about other people, objects, and ideas, and how they feel about the world.
C. Attitudes
76. Ray played basketball all of his life because he loved the sport. He became so good that he was given the opportunity to play professionally, and eventually he signed a very lucrative contract. After that contract ran out, the team offered him slightly more money, but he decided that it was not enough and that he wanted to quit. Which of the following best explains Ray's behavior from a motivational perspective?
C. Extrinsic motivation has replaced Ray's intrinsic motivation to play basketball.
74. Which of the following statements accurately describes how factor analysis is used to identify personality traits?
C. Factor analysis allows researchers to identify which traits go together in terms of how they are rated.
71. Who is considered the "father of American personality psychology"?
C. Gordon Allport
92. Modern criminal profiling is based on the personological approach of
C. Henry Murray.
41. In the context of human sexual-response pattern, which of the following is true of the resolution phase?
C. In this phase, males enter a refractory period during which they cannot have another orgasm.
60. Which of the following is true of agreeableness in the context of prosocial behavior?
C. It is related to greater volume in the posterior cingulate cortex.
88. According to the _____, after the initial perception of a stimulus, the experience of the emotion results from the perception of one's own physiological changes.
C. James-Lange theory
90. Monica has had a very emotionally draining day, but she cannot really describe her emotions. After taking a quiet moment to herself, she starts to cry and after observing this bodily reaction, she realizes that she must be sad. This example of emotional recognition is most consistent with the
C. James-Lange theory of emotion.
79. Which statement best describes the relationship between neuroticism and emotion?
C. Neuroticism is related to feeling more negative emotion.
87. Tom is interested in working for an intelligence branch of the government, and a polygraph test is part of the interview process. Though Tom intends to be honest, he is worried that the polygraph will say he is lying when he isn't. Tom's friend Cameron assures Tom that polygraph tests are infallible. Is Cameron right?
C. No; heart rate and breathing can increase for reasons other than lying and this effect can make it difficult to interpret the physiological indicators of arousal.
53. Alfred Adler would be most likely to endorse which of the following explanations for human behavior?
C. People are primarily motivated by purposes and goals.
23. _____ is a defense mechanism that involves pushing threatening impulses out of conscious awareness.
C. Repression
26. _____ refers to the tendency to take credit for one's own successes and to deny responsibility for one's own failures.
C. Self-serving bias
44. Which of the following statements was made by Freud's critics on his ideas about sexuality, early experience, social factors, and the unconscious mind?
C. The first five years of life are not as powerful in shaping adult personality as Freud thought.
14. Which of the following statements about the structures of personality is FALSE?
C. The id and the ego are completely unconscious.
97. Which of the following is true of the biological factors involved in emotion?
C. The limbic system is involved in the experience of positive emotions.
59. Which of the following is true according to self-determination theory?
C. The needs emphasized in the self-determination theory primarily concern personal growth rather than the filling of deficiencies.
7. Which of the following statements about research on the "beautiful is good" stereotype is FALSE?
C. There is little truth to the "beautiful is good" stereotype. Attractive people do not really possess the positive characteristics of the stereotype.
100. The cognitive affective processing systems (CAPS) approach to understanding personality was developed by which of the following psychologists?
C. Walter Mischel
29. Which of the following is true of ventromedial hypothalamus?
C. When this area of an animal's brain is destroyed, the animal eats profusely and quickly becomes obese.
56. According to Maslow, self-actualization is possible
C. after needs relating to esteem, safety, physiology, and love have been met.
83. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
C. causes rapid breathing.
53. Allison is at a workshop where a presenter is attempting to persuade people to make a rather risky but potentially profitable financial investment. The arguments for investing appeal to logic and reason. After slowly and carefully considering the presenter's arguments, Alison finds that this person's idea sounds compelling and decides to invest. This example best demonstrates the
C. central route to persuasion.
49. According to Jung, the deepest, impersonal layer of the conscious mind that is shared by all humans because of their common ancestral past is called the
C. collective unconscious.
57. According to self-determination theory, what are the three basic organismic needs?
C. competence, autonomy, and relatedness
60. According to the self-determination theory, when an individual has a high sense of self-efficacy and a belief that he or she can gain skills and overcome obstacles, the individual's beliefs most likely reflects
C. competence.
121. Sherif's Robbers Cave study showed that perceptions of the out-group are affected by
C. competitive and cooperative activities.
80. In the context of emotion, thinking about being in love with someone is an example of
C. conscious experience.
19. According to Freud, the superego
C. considers whether the id's impulses can be satisfied in acceptable moral terms.
110. Which of the following is most likely to reduce the kinds of group biases that exist in face-to-face groups?
C. crowdsourcing
101. Ralph just started taking guitar lessons last week. Jimmie has been playing guitar for almost 20 years. According to the concept of social facilitation, performing in front of an audience of strangers and friends tonight is likely to _____ Ralph's performance and _____ Jimmie's performance.
C. decrease/enhance
95. June is usually very quiet, but she recently discovered a different side of herself. During Mardi Gras, she found herself swept up in the festivities, doing the things that the other party-goers were doing. These were not behaviors that she would have ever considered engaging in on her own. Social psychologists would most likely attribute June's behavior to
C. deindividuation.
76. Which of the following is NOT one of the big five personality factors?
C. dominance
107. Rachel has a pessimistic attitude. She worries incessantly about things and can never seem to see the positive side of life. According to the biological perspective, Rachel's attitude could best be explained by low levels of
C. dopamine.
7. The feeling of hunger that initiates the act of opening a refrigerator for food best represents a(n)
C. drive.
8. The concept of _____ pertains to a psychological state, whereas _____ involves a physiological state.
C. drive/need
49. Dennis works as a salesman at a large retail store. He is happily married and lives in a safe neighborhood. He earns enough money to eat and provide for his family. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following needs is Dennis most likely to fulfill next?
C. esteem
3. Ethology describes motivation from a(n)
C. evolutionary perspective
38. The beginning of the process of erotic responsiveness occurs during the _____ of the human sexual-response pattern.
C. excitement phase
73. When an individual studies specifically to avoid his or her parent's disapproval, then the individual's attitude toward studying is most likely a result of
C. extrinsic motivation.
31. Soon after a car accident, Sally was rushed to the hospital. The doctors discovered that Sally's ventromedial hypothalamus had suffered some damage as a result of the accident. In the context of the biology of hunger, the doctor should expect that Sally will
C. gain weight rapidly.
96. One explanation for the effects of deindividuation in groups is that groups
C. give people anonymity.
108. Katie, who is moderately liberal, attends a very liberal college. After four years at this college, Katie is likely to become more liberal as a result of
C. group polarization.
12. The body's tendency to maintain an equilibrium, or steady state, is known as
C. homeostasis.
13. Dan walks out of an air-conditioned room into the heat of a summer day, and after sometime his body releases excess heat by sweating. This is due to the body's tendency to maintain
C. homeostasis.
8. Carolyn's parents were extremely religious, conservative and brought her up with strict moral codes. She was not permitted to have male friends and even her female friends were not allowed to spend time in their home. In college, Carolyn fell in love and despite her strict upbringing, engaged in premarital sex. In the context of Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which personality structure was most likely responsible for Carolyn's sexual activity in college?
C. id
12. According to Freud, the _____ operates according to the pleasure principle, whereas the _____ operates on the reality principle.
C. id/ego
9. Nelly's friends attempt to convince Nelly to try cocaine at a party. Even though Nelly is tempted, she resists because she knows that the consequences of her actions would be disastrous for her body. In the context of Freud's structures of personality, Nelly's temptation to take cocaine is most likely dictated by her _____. Her decision not to take the cocaine is most likely dictated by her _____.
C. id; ego
39. According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, the latency period occurs
C. immediately after the phallic stage.
57. Alfred Adler believed that birth order
C. influenced how successfully a person strived for superiority.
23. Which of the following plays an important role in glucose control?
C. insulin
62. According to Abraham Maslow, which of the following traits is least likely to be associated with self-actualizers?
C. intolerance
26. In humans, _____ concentrations have been linked with weight, body fat, and weight loss in response to dieting.
C. leptin
94. According to Dan McAdams, our _____ are our identities.
C. life stories
51. In the context of persuasion strategies, the door-in-the-face technique involves
C. making the biggest pitch first.
90. A classic series of experiments by Stanley Milgram demonstrated the profound effect of
C. obedience.
66. A man who slaps his wife during an argument is most likely exhibiting
C. overt aggression.
81. The _____ calms the body.
C. parasympathetic nervous system
38. According to Freud, penis envy and the Oedipus complex is experienced during which of the following psychosexual stages of development?
C. phallic
116. Dr. Crane is looking for a test that he can use to understand more about his clients' unconscious motivations. He would be very likely to use a(n)
C. projective measure.
115. A(n) _____ presents individuals with an ambiguous stimulus and asks them to describe it or to tell a story about it—to launch their own meaning onto the stimulus.
C. projective test
11. According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the ego abides by the _____ principle.
C. reality
99. According to the social facilitation effect, the presence of others is likely to
C. reduce performance on difficult tasks.
25. The most powerful and pervasive defense mechanism is
C. repression.
102. Eysenck suggested that the _____ of extraverts and introverts differs with respect to the baseline level of arousal.
C. reticular activation system
104. The tendency for a group decision to be riskier than the average decision made by the individual group members is known as
C. risky shift.
10. Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobsen conducted a study in 1968. The researchers told grade-school teachers that five students were likely to be "late bloomers"—that these students had high levels of ability that would likely emerge over time. In reality, the students had been randomly selected by the researchers. Nonetheless, a year later, the researchers found that teachers' expectations for the "late bloomers" were reflected in student performance—the academic performance of the "late bloomers" was beyond that of other students. The results from this study demonstrate which of the following concepts?
C. self-fulfilling prophecy
48. Juanita returned home after being away for several years. When she saw her father, whom she thought she disliked, she hugged him and cried. Based on her crying when she saw him, she determined that she must like him more than she thought. This is most consistent with the of attitudes
C. self-perception theory.
35. The process by which individuals evaluate their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and abilities in relation to others is known as
C. social comparison.
97. The effects of others on our behavior can take the form of _____, imitative behavior involving the spread of behavior, emotions, and ideas.
C. social contagion
15. If Marcy is feeling guilty about lying to her mother, supporters of Freud's psychoanalytic theory would most likely argue that her _____ is making her feel this way.
C. superego
16. According to Freud, the _____ is reflected in what we often call conscience and evaluates the morality of our behavior.
C. superego
34. Individuals who have positive illusions about the self
C. tend to show high levels of psychological well-being.
25. Lily does not approve of abortion. She is shocked when she finds out how many people in her state hold pro-choice attitudes. This is an example of
C. the false consensus effect.
56. John is selling magazine subscriptions and chocolates. He asks you whether you are interested in buying some chocolates for $1 and you say yes. When you go to get the money to pay for the chocolates and return to the door, John asks you if you would also like to buy a $25 subscription to a variety of magazines. Even though you don't read magazines, you agree to buy a magazine subscription. This is an example of
C. the foot-in-the-door technique.
68. Susan drives by an unusually colorful apartment building each day on her way to and from work. Initially, she does not think much of the structure and has a mild dislike for it. However, after several months of commuting, she starts to like the apartment building and is even considering renting an apartment there. This change in Susan's feelings about the building best demonstrates
C. the mere exposure effect.
62. Relatedness refers to
C. the need to engage in warm relations with other people.
75. From the perspective of the investment model of close relationships, long-term relationships are most likely to continue when
C. there are few tempting alternatives for the partners.
19. When Cannon and Washburn measured stomach contractions with a balloon, they found that
C. when subjects report hunger, their stomach is contracting.
10. Which of the following is true of the three structures of personality described by Freud?
D. According to Freud, the ego helps individuals to test reality.
55. Which of the following is true of Adler's individual psychology?
D. Adler argued that people have the ability to take their genetic inheritance.
29. _____ is a defense mechanism that means directing unacceptable impulses at a less threatening target.
D. Displacement
10. Which of the following is true of the drive reduction theory?
D. Drives do not always follow from needs.
81. Which of the following individuals illustrates the trait of extraversion?
D. Ethan, who communicates with all the members of his choir group lightheartedly
109. _____ refers to the impaired decision making that occurs in a team when making the right decision is less important than maintaining harmony.
D. Groupthink
42. According to Freud's stages of psychosexual development, which of the following statements best indicates that 30-year-old Gayle is fixated at the oral stage?
D. He is addicted to smoking cigarettes.
81. Dave is a handsome and famous celebrity. He has been dating Gabriela, a beautiful and popular actress, for the past two months, but he doesn't feel strongly committed to their relationship. Recently, Dave has been working on a new movie and several women have expressed their interest in getting to know him better. Dave is now contemplating whether he should stay with Gabriela or explore the more tempting alternatives. According to the investment model, what will Dave probably do next?
D. He will probably break up with Gabriela and give in to the temptation of dating other women.
93. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) was created by
D. Henry Murray.
21. Which of the following is true of the biology of hunger with regard to the human body?
D. Hunger is triggered by a set of sugar receptors, located in the brain, when sugar levels fall too low.
20. Identify the true statement about cholecystokinin (CCK).
D. It typically signals a person to stop eating.
78. According to the five-factor model of personality, which statement best describes the relationship between neuroticism and personality?
D. Neuroticism is low in self-satisfied individuals.
22. Gary wants to lose weight by reducing his caloric intake. He eats a candy bar for breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal because the candy bar has fewer calories. Is Gary doing the right thing?
D. No, the candy bar will make Gary hungry sooner than if he had eaten the cereal.
34. In Freud's view, _____ is the boy's intense desire to replace his father and enjoy the affections of his mother.
D. Oedipus complex
18. Which of the following is true of the optimum arousal theory?
D. Performance is best under conditions of moderate arousal.
59. Which of the following principles is common to all the psychodynamic perspectives?
D. Personality can be better understood by examining it developmentally.
32. _____ are favorable views of the self that are not necessarily rooted in reality.
D. Positive illusions
26. Which of the following is true of defense mechanisms?
D. Repression is the foundation for all of the psychological defense mechanisms.
58. Catherine, a 15-year-old, has an elder sister and a younger sister. According to Adler, which of the following is most applicable to Catherine in the context of birth order?
D. She is likely to be inspired by her elder sister and strive for success.
1. _____ is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to other people.
D. Social psychology
86. _____ is a person's assessment of his or her own level of positive affect relative to negative affect, and an evaluation of his or her life in general.
D. Subjective well-being
111. Which of the following is true of majority and minority influence in a group?
D. The minority in a group cannot win through normative pressure.
119. Which of the following is true regarding the Rorschach inkblot test?
D. The test does not meet certain criteria of reliability and validity.
45. According to the self-perception theory of attitudes, what do individuals do to make inferences about their attitudes?
D. They perceive their behavior.
30. Debbie is interested in working on projects that will help fight childhood obesity. She is offered a job in a laboratory where researchers are studying the effects of leptin on weight control. Is the job relevant to Debbie's interest?
D. Yes, leptin is a hormone that is linked to human weight loss.
28. Cindy recently played in a softball game in which she misplayed a ground ball for an error. Later, in the same game, she made a great catch on a very difficult play. According to the self-serving bias, she would attribute her error to _____ and her good catch to her _____.
D. a bad bounce/good fielding skills
6. In the context of research in the area of physical attractiveness, which of the following faces will most likely be rated as most attractive?
D. a composite of multiple faces that have been digitally blended to produce an "average" face
83. Which of the following traits is related to generosity and altruism to reports of religious faith and to more satisfying romantic relationships?
D. agreeableness
113. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is an example of _____ test of personality.
D. an empirically keyed self-report
12. The process by which we come to understand the causes of others' behavior is known as
D. attribution.
47. According to the self-perception theory,
D. behaviors can cause attitudes.
56. Ethan is short and thin. Although he's not very strong or athletic, he excels in academics and has a great sense of humor. According to Adler, Ethan's attempts to overcome physical weaknesses by developing strengths in other areas are an example of
D. compensation.
68. Which of the following is NOT one of the essential qualities needed in a relationship to reconnect with one's true feelings and desires according to Rogers?
D. defense mechanisms
20. The Freudian term for the tactics that the ego uses to reduce anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality is
D. defense mechanisms.
93. The reduction in personal identity and erosion of the sense of personal responsibility when one is part of a group is known as
D. deindividuation.
110. Self-report personality tests
D. directly ask people whether specific items describe their personality traits.
97. Shawn graduated from college with honors and approaches most aspects of life with the expectation that he will be successful. He expects a great deal of himself and sets his goals high. After his interview for a job in the most prestigious company in his state, he was convinced that he would get the job. You could say that he
D. displays high self-efficacy.
79. Equity is a strong predictor of relationship satisfaction
D. during the early but not later stages of a relationship.
42. What is the correct order of the human sexual-response pattern?
D. excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution
94. The Cannon-Bard theory predicts that after witnessing a shocking event, a person will
D. experience physical and emotional reactions simultaneously.
118. Andrew openly criticizes the Asian Americans in his neighborhood. He says that the presence of these "outsiders" has led to an increase in the crime rate in the United States. Others in his neighborhood do not agree with him. His openly shared racist attitude is an example of
D. explicit racism.
103. A professor conducts an experiment in which she asks her students to either hold a pen between their teeth or hold a pen between their lips. Holding the pen between one's teeth mimicked the facial expression of smiling. After five minutes, she finds that the students who held the pen beneath their teeth reported being happier than those who held it between their lips. These results most likely will support the
D. facial feedback hypothesis.
23. The _____ is the overestimation of the degree to which everybody else thinks or acts the way we do.
D. false consensus effect
70. Trait theories of personality
D. focus on lasting personality characteristics.
61. Deficits in the functioning of the _____ are associated with aggression.
D. frontal lobes
61. Brittney is a counselor who believes that her clients have the innate ability to make good choices. She accepts each individual as they are and as a person in the process of change. She holds that individuals are capable of controlling their lives and achieving their goals. Brittney is most likely to agree with the _____ of personality.
D. humanistic perspectives
46. From Maslow's perspective, motivation is primarily the result of
D. humans focusing on satisfying basic needs before moving to higher needs.
17. Brandon attempts to convince his girlfriend, Katherine, to have sex with him. Even though Katherine loves and desires him, her religious beliefs do not permit her to have sex before marriage. According to Freud's structures of personality, Katherine's desire to have sex with Brandon is most likely dictated by her _____. Her decision not to engage in premarital sex is most likely dictated by her _____.
D. id; superego
52. The elaboration likelihood model
D. identifies two ways to persuade: a central route and a peripheral route.
86. When members of a group know something that a person doesn't, the person will follow the group to be right. This explains the concept of
D. informational social influence.
69. When a corporate employee takes up art out of self-interest and derives huge satisfaction while making a work of art, the corporate employee is most likely stimulated by
D. intrinsic motivation.
5. According to Freud, the ego
D. is the harsh internal judge of one's behavior.
65. According to research on aggressive behavior, which of the following personality factors is mostly associated with aggression?
D. low levels of conscientiousness
9. You just ran a marathon in very hot weather and perspired heavily. According to drive reduction theory, your body will have a(n) _____ for water, which will produce a(n) _____ for water, which will lead to a(n) _____ to get water.
D. need; drive; motivation
89. Joyce has the potential to be an honor student but frustrates her teachers because of her actions. Rather than working to succeed, she tends to "dummy down" to act more like the students that she hangs out with. She has at times answered questions incorrectly in class on purpose to be more like her friends. Joyce's behavior is due to
D. normative social influence.
77. Your best friend Kelly is liberal and tolerant. Which trait is she likely high on?
D. openness
91. The factor that differentiates Jerry Burger's recreated Milgram's study from the original Milgram's experiment is that, in Burger's study
D. participants were never allowed to go higher than 150 volts.
98. According to Schachter and Singer's two-factor theory, emotion is determined by two factors. They are
D. physiological arousal and cognitive labeling.
107. In the context of group decision making, which of the following is a symptom of groupthink?
D. pressure for unanimity
28. John, who is jealous of his older brother, states that his older brother hates him and is jealous of him. This scenario best illustrates the defense mechanism of
D. projection.
30. A defense mechanism in which an individual sees in others those impulses that the individual most fears or despises in himself or herself is called
D. projection.
117. Projective tests are most closely aligned with which theoretical approach to personality?
D. psychodynamic
22. Darin had an automobile accident in which his brother and another passenger were killed. Though Darin wasn't seriously hurt in the accident, he can't remember any of the accident details. Darin is exhibiting which ego defense mechanism?
D. repression
40. Males experience a refractory period during the _____ phase of the human sexual-response pattern.
D. resolution
71. Which of the following is most related to extrinsic motivation?
D. reward
45. An individual's _____ refers to the direction of his or her erotic interests.
D. sexual orientation
5. The area of social psychology that explores how people select, interpret, remember, and use social information is called
D. social cognition.
95. The _____ approach to personality places emphasis on conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals.
D. social cognitive
36. "Am I as popular as Cathy?" This question is an example of gaining self-knowledge through the process of
D. social comparison.
98. You are studying in a quiet but crowded library when you suddenly start coughing. You soon notice others doing the same thing. This is an example of
D. social contagion.
120. An important feature of optimal intergroup contact that involves working together on a shared goal is known as
D. task-oriented cooperation.
101. According to _____, our thoughts and emotions about ourselves and the world affect our behavior and become linked in ways that matter to behavior.
D. the cognitive affective processing systems (CAPS) theory of personality
63. Autonomy refers to
D. the sense that one is in control of one's own life.
41. Cognitive dissonance theory states that in order to reduce dissonance, individuals
D. try to align their attitudes and behavior.
65. According to humanistic theory, a child who receives _____ from his or her parents is likely to avoid the problems associated with _____.
D. unconditional positive regard/conditions of worth