psychology test 1
Evidence suggests that we consolidate our memories of recent life events through
REM sleep.
Melissa is a graduate student in a theological studies program. The fact that her dreams often involve abstract theological issues and biblical metaphors is best explained by
cognitive development theory.
The interdisciplinary study of the linkages between brain activity and mental processes is known as
cognitive neuroscience.
Which research design manipulates a factor to determine its effect?
experiment
Recurrent sexually arousing fantasies and behaviors involving nonhuman objects is an indication of a(n)
paraphilia
Which early psychologist aimed to study the evolved functions of our thoughts and feelings?
William James
From ages 3 to 6, your ability to control your attention and make plans developed rapidly thanks to rapid brain growth in the
frontal lobes.
A child who consistently exhibits traditionally masculine interests and behavior patterns demonstrates
gender typing.
The biochemical code for eye color is transmitted from parents to offspring by
genes
The chemical messengers of the endocrine system are called
hormones
The early branch of psychology that focused on our human need for love and acceptance and on environments that nurture or limit personal growth was called
humanistic psychology
The idea that gay people's genes live on through their supporting the survival and reproductive success of their relatives is basic to the
kin selection theory.
When pregnant rats drink alcohol, their young offspring later display a(n)
liking for the taste and odor of alcohol.
Jamaal is 14 years old. Key milestones for people his age include
logic and the potential for mature moral reasoning.
Symptoms of drug withdrawal are likely to be
most severe among those with high levels of drug tolerance.
Which perspective most clearly focuses on how we learn observable responses?
behavioral
Compared with evening-loving "night owls," those who are morning types tend to perform ________ in school and tend to be ________ vulnerable to depression.
better; less
Compared with rats raised in solitary confinement without playthings, those rats housed in enriched environments with playthings developed significantly more
cerebral cortex.
While a man provided directions to a construction worker, two experimenters rudely interrupted by passing between them carrying a door. The man's failure to notice that during this interruption the construction worker was replaced by another person wearing different-colored clothes illustrates
change blindness.
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
forebrain
consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities
hindbrain
consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance
A cross-sectional study is one in which
different age groups are tested at the same time.
Studying people of all races and cultures is most helpful for
discerning human similarities and differences.
Babies who are generally cheerful, relaxed, and have predictable feeding and sleeping schedules are considered to have a(n) ________ temperament.
easy
Psychologists who view the developmental process as a slow, continuous shaping process
emphasize experience and learning.
When confronted by a large and potentially dangerous snake, Alissa experienced a surge of energy triggered by the release of ________ into her bloodstream.
epinephrine
midbrain
found atop the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with the forebrain, controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information
Adele, who is transgender, feels like a combination of male and female. This is common, as roughly ________ percent of those not identifying with their birth-assigned sex have a nonbinary gender identity
30
Curare is a paralyzing poison that functions as a(n)
ACh antagonist.
Which of the following is a social norm that has contributed to gender bias in the workplace?
Men place more emphasis on achievement and power than women.
Delta waves are most clearly associated with ________ sleep.
N3
Dr. Cast has found that children who watch more television are more likely to be overweight. Which conclusion can he reach?
Watching increased amounts of television is correlated with obesity.
humanistic psychology
a historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential
functionalism
an early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish (smelling is what the nose does, thinking is what the brain does, but why do the nose and brain do these things?
structuralism
an early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind (turned out to not be reliable because results varied from person to person and experience to experience)
In service-learning programs where teens have tutored children or assisted older adults, the teens have experienced
an increased sense of competence.
When looking for a mate, humans generally
avoid close genetic relatives
Margaret had a stroke that damaged the right side of her brain. Yet, she has difficulty moving her left arm, not her right arm. This indicates that the
motor cortex on the right side of the brain controls movements of specific body parts on the opposite side of the body.
People have always responded so positively to Alyssa's good looks that she has developed a socially confident and outgoing personality. This best illustrates the interaction of
nature and nurture
Dr. Wilcox conducts basic research on the behavioral differences between shy and outgoing people. Dr. Wilcox is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.
personality
Exposure to bright light causes the
pineal gland to decrease the production of melatonin.
Blind echolocation experts who can use the brain's visual centers to process auditory signals best illustrate the value of
plasticity
Magnetic resonance imaging uses magnetic fields and ________ to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue.
radio waves
On which of the following tasks is a 20-year-old most likely to outperform a 70-year-old?
recalling previously presented nonsense syllables
Nancy the neuron is taking a short break. This called the
refractory period.
Evolutionary psychologists most clearly emphasize that environmentally adaptive behaviors are those that have promoted
reproductive success.
cognitive psychology
the study of the mental processes involved in perceiving, learning, remembering, thinking, communicating, and solving problems
Adding two large numbers together by consciously focusing on and solving each subcomponent of the task in serial order best illustrates
sequential processing.
Thea, who is in a romantic relationship with Morgan, is ovulating. Some evidence suggests Thea may experience a ________ in sexual desire at this time.
slight increase
A culturally modeled guide for how to act in particular situations is called a
social script
Which psychological perspective is most likely to examine how group membership influences individual attitudes and behaviors?
social-cultural
Compared with adult women, adult men more often use conversation to
solve problems.
The area in the hypothalamus that governs sexual arousal becomes active when ________ are given a whiff of scent derived from men's sweat.
straight women and gay men
Random sampling is to ________ as random assignment is to ________.
surveys; experiments
cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, language)
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain's cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
behaviorism
the view that psychology 1) should be an objective science that 2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with 1) but not 2). Science is rooted in observation, what you cannot observe and measure, you cannot scientifically study. You cannot observe a sensation, a feeling, or a thought, but you can observe and record people's behavior as they are conditioned
After living together for a year without any long-term commitment to their relationship, Sylvia and Yefim have decided to marry. Research on premarital cohabitation most strongly suggests that
their marriage will have a higher probability of ending in divorce.
Our capacity to monitor external stimuli well enough to stroll around our house while sleeping best illustrates that we function with a
two-track mind.
Professor X is studying the effect of exposure to sexual content on sexual thoughts. She assigns students to one of two conditions. In the first condition, participants are exposed to explicit sexual content and then given a word-completion task, which involves filling in the letter missing from each word. Based on the letter added, the word could be of a sexual nature or not. For instance, b_d could be completed as "bed," indicating sexual thought, or as "bad," which has no sexual connotation. In the second condition, participants are not exposed to explicit sexual content but are assigned the same word-completion task. The experimental group consisted of the students who
were exposed to explicit sexual content.