Psychology 3
A clinical psychologist believes that Caroline's problems stem from the lack of consistency between her self-concept and reality. According to the psychologist, this discrepancy makes Caroline feel anxious and threatened. Caroline's psychologist most likely adheres to which of the following orientations? A Client-centered B Psychoanalytic C Behavioral D Gestalt E Cognitive
A
Although people can acquire phobias to almost any object or situation, certain phobias (e.g., those to snakes, spiders, heights) are much more common than others. This finding can best be explained by which of the following concepts? A Biological preparedness B Spontaneous recovery C Stimulus discrimination D Stimulus generalization E Observational learning
A
Average IQ scores have increased steadily over the past 100 years. It has been argued that this effect is most likely due to A an increase in the average number of years in school B a decrease in access to medical care, clean water, and nutritious food C an increase in population D a decrease in genetic mutations E an increase in genetic diversity
A
Bobby is seventeen and has been engaging in risky behaviors, such as reckless driving, skipping class, and breaking curfew. Which of the following is an explanation for Bobby's actions that most psychologists support? A Bobby is still developing new neural connections in his brain. B Bobby is rebelling against his peers because he feels left out. C Bobby's temperament makes him prone to risk-taking behavior. D Bobby's parents have an authoritative parenting style. E Bobby is depressed, as most adolescents are.
A
Brandon is superficially charming and skilled at exploiting people for his own gain. He is also impulsive and irresponsible, and he generally disregards social norms. Brandon would most likely be diagnosed with which of the following disorders? A Antisocial personality B Schizoid personality C Dissociative identity D Conversion E Bipolar
A
Children who are consistently praised for receiving high grades in school will likely continue to work for high grades. Using an operant conditioning explanation of this phenomenon, which of the following is true? A The praise functions as a positive reinforcer. B The praise functions as a generalized stimulus. C The grades function as the stimulus that elicits a response. D The grades function as a discriminant stimulus. E The school functions as a negative reinforcer.
A
Gender stereotypes are developed as a result of A societal norms and other environmental factors B heredity and other biological factors C both environmental and biological factors D the development of gender identity E the development of gender constancy
A
If Carmelita stares at a red spot for one minute and then shifts her gaze to a white piece of paper, she is likely to experience an afterimage that is A green B red C blue D violet E black
A
The brain scans of people with amnesia are most likely to show damage to the A hippocampus B hypothalamus C medulla D reticular formation E cerebellum
A
The change in the curvature of the lens that enables the eye to focus on objects at various distances is called A accommodation B adaptation C conduction D convergence E consonance
A
The next question(s) are based on this scenario: A researcher randomly assigned boys and girls to each of two groups. One group watched a violent television program while the other group watched a nonviolent program. The children were then observed during a period of free play, and the incidence of aggressive behavior was recorded for each group. This research method is best characterized as A experimental B correlational C longitudinal D naturalistic observation E case study
A
A researcher has a hypothesis that men are more likely to be influenced by the central route to persuasion when buying a car than women are. The researcher randomly selects thirty men and thirty women to observe while they buy a car, and the researcher finds that women pay attention to information about the reliability of the car, whereas men pay attention to available colors that the car comes in. Which conclusion can the researcher draw? A The hypothesis is supported, because the results indicate that men are influenced more by the central route to persuasion than women are. B The hypothesis is not supported, because the results indicate that women are influenced more by the central route to persuasion than men are. C The researcher has proved that men are more influenced by the central route to persuasion than women are. D The researcher has proved that women are more influenced by the central route to persuasion than men are. E The researcher cannot draw conclusions, because the sample size is so small the data is meaningless.
B
A word or part of a word that is in itself meaningful, but that cannot be broken into smaller meaningful units, is called a A grapheme B morphene C phoneme D performative E holophrase
B
As a child, George often skipped school and engaged in repeated acts of vandalism and petty theft. As an adult, he has been arrested for running a dishonest investment company. The most likely diagnosis for George's current behavior is A narcissistic personality disorder B antisocial personality disorder C borderline personality disorder D dissociative identity disorder E oppositional defiant disorder
B
Bernadette has lacked enthusiasm for work and other activities for a number of years. She also has a poor appetite and feels fatigued. Which of the following disorders is most consistent with Bernadette's symptoms? A Antisocial personality B Persistent depressive C Bipolar D Social anxiety E Generalized anxiety
B
The defense mechanism of projection is best illustrated by which of the following examples? A When scolded by his parents, a college student reverts to childlike behavior to gain sympathy. B A soccer player who does not have much athletic skill constantly criticizes other athletes' performances. C A young man who is shy becomes the center of attention at a party given by friends. D After exams were graded and returned, a college student looked at his low grade and decided that the test was unfair and difficult. E After a fight with her boyfriend, a woman yells at her roommate for sitting in her favorite chair.
B
The next question(s) are based on this scenario: A researcher randomly assigned boys and girls to each of two groups. One group watched a violent television program while the other group watched a nonviolent program. The children were then observed during a period of free play, and the incidence of aggressive behavior was recorded for each group. What is the independent variable in this study? A Incidence of aggressive behavior B Type of television program viewed C Sex of the children D Number of groups E Duration of free play
B
Theories of motivation that assert the existence of biological motives to maintain the body in a steady state are called A mechanistic B homeostatic C reductionistic D genetic E instinctual
B
What is the primary function of the brain region indicated by the arrow? A Memory formation B Sleeping, waking, and dreaming C Problem solving D Regulation of body temperature E Emotional responses
B
Which of the following biological systems is most likely responsible for an increase in heart rate while experiencing anxiety? A The central nervous system B The sympathetic nervous system C The parasympathetic nervous system D The endocrine system E The vestibular system
B
Which of the following is the best example of a homeostatic process? A Manny decides that he is overweight and goes on a diet. B Cathy drinks a large amount of water to reduce thirst after a long race. C Bert eats nothing but fruits and grains for a week before a huge holiday dinner. D Edesa stays up later than normal to study for a test. E Lian becomes angry after sitting in traffic for an hour and a half.
B
Which of the following pieces of evidence would best support the validity of the Big Five personality traits in describing human personality? A Many companies have embraced testing the Big Five personality traits in order to screen applicants. B The Big Five have been shown to apply to individuals in many countries, including, but not limited to, Hungary, Turkey, China, Japan, and Italy. C Low conscientiousness predicts high job performance. D Individuals from some cultures (e.g., the Tsimané, members of a small tribe of hunter-gatherers in the Bolivian lowlands) do not show the typical pattern of results. E The Big Five do not explain all aspects of human personality (e.g., religiosity).
B
A particular group of brain cells seems to provide a basis for observational learning. Researchers call these specialized cells A efferent neurons B afferent neurons C mirror neurons D motor neurons E Schwann cells
C
Abnormalities in calcium regulation are most likely to arise from problems with A the gonads B the thymus C the parathyroid gland D the hypothalamus E the pineal gland
C
Alfred Binet's efforts to measure intelligence were directed at A testing the worth of various theoretical definitions B operationally defining one theory of intelligence C predicting children's success in school D selecting workers for successful job performance E establishing the learning potential of French military recruits
C
Caffeine and nicotine are in the same class as which of the following drugs? A Marijuana B Valium C Cocaine D Alcohol E Peyote
C
Carmen's psychiatrist has prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor to help Carmen feel better. Carmen has most likely been diagnosed with what disorder? A Schizophrenia B Somatic symptom C Major depressive D Antisocial personality E Specific phobi
C
Dr. Marcia assigned students a paper in which they had to support the side of a controversial topic they did not agree with. Before asking the students to write the paper, she gave them a survey to determine how strongly they disagreed with the topic. After the students wrote their papers, Dr. Marcia gave them another survey to rate their disagreement with the topic. She observed that the students' feelings about the topic became more strongly in agreement with the topic. Which of the following is the best conclusion? A Group polarization was likely a contributing factor to the students' change in feelings. B Group polarization caused the students to become more in agreement with the topic. C Cognitive dissonance was likely a contributing factor to the students' change in feelings. D Cognitive dissonance caused the students to become more in agreement with the topic. E The mere-exposure effect was likely a contributing factor to the students' change in feelings.
C
Five-year-old Tahani is entering a school where English is the only language spoken, but in her home, her family uses a combination of both English and her family's native language. When she starts school, she takes a test measuring her English language development. Her score is well below that of the other children in her class, most of whom live in homes where only one language is spoken. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for Tahani's test scores? A Tahani has a language-specific impairment and should go to a language therapist. B The test is culturally biased and contains concepts Tahani does not know. C Because Tahani speaks more than one language, her proficiency in each language may come later than for her monolingual peers. D Tahani is experiencing language confusion due to her exposure to multiple languages. E Tahani experienced stereotype threat while taking the test, and that caused her to score below her peers.
C
Significant damage to which of the following parts of the brain will most likely cause a person to fall into a deep coma from which the person will be unable to awaken? A Hypothalamus B Frontal lobe C Reticular formation D Amygdala E Thalamus
C
The component of intelligence described by Raymond Cattell as involving the ability to understand logical relationships, reason abstractly, and learn quickly is related to which of the following? A Mental age B Intelligence quotient C Fluid intelligence D Emotional intelligence E Crystallized intelligence
C
Which of the following best reflects contemporary interpretations of classical conditioning? A They remain relatively unchanged from earlier interpretations by people like E. L. Thorndike. B They are primarily based on the theory of contiguity. C They take into account cognitive processes like expectancy. D They are in agreement with the interpretations of behaviorists like B. F. Skinner. E They make a clear distinction between long-term and short-term memory.
C
A cancer patient becomes nauseated following chemotherapy treatments. After a few treatments, the patient begins having a sick feeling whenever entering the treatment room. The treatment room has become A a primary reinforcer B a conditioned reinforcer C a neutral stimulus D a conditioned stimulus E an unconditioned stimulus
D
According to Noam Chomsky, understanding a sentence involves which of the following transformations between structures? A Perceptual to functional B Symbolic to analytic C Simple to complex D Surface to deep E Pragmatic to syntactic
D
Ben was enjoying a walk in the woods on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. As he went around a curve, he noticed a bear walking toward him. Immediately his pupils dilated, he began to perspire, and his heart accelerated. These changes are most closely related to the function of the A angular gyrus B hippocampus C parasympathetic nervous system D sympathetic nervous system E ventricular system
D
Brain damage that leaves a person capable of understanding speech but with an impaired ability to produce speech most likely indicates injury to which of the following? A The basal ganglia B Wernicke's area C The substantia nigra D Broca's area E The inferior colliculi
D
Carla tutors other students because she likes to be helpful, whereas Jane tutors classmates strictly for pay. Their behaviors demonstrate the difference between A primary and secondary drives B instinctive and derived drives C appetitive and aversive motivation D intrinsic and extrinsic motivation E positive and negative reinforcement
D
Chuck is walking down the street and someone asks him to sign a petition to put clean-air legislation on the next ballot. He decides to sign the petition. Then the person asks whether he would like to give a donation to the associated environmental group. This technique is known as A lowball B door in the face C that's not all D foot in the door E bait and switch
D
Shamir wants to be a doctor like both of his parents when he gets older. He never thought of doing anything else. Which of the following best explains Shamir's decision? A He has not fully developed his identity. B His parents have a permissive parenting style, which has left him with an underdeveloped identity. C He is in a moratorium state of identity. D He is identity foreclosed. E He is in a state of identity diffusion.
D
The biological clock that operates in human beings to adjust their functioning to night-and-day periodicity is referred to as A spontaneous neural activity B the biofeedback monitor C a fixed-interval schedule D a circadian rhythm E active consciousness
D
Which of the following is the best example of shaping? A A child receives five dollars each time he cleans his room. B An employee receives a termination notice after coming to work late every day over a period of three months. C A child gets candy from a dispenser one time but gets nothing from the dispenser the next two times. D A teacher rewards a student for sitting quietly for ten minutes on Monday, fifteen minutes on Tuesday, twenty minutes on Wednesday, and thirty minutes on Thursday. E A rat receives a mild shock each time it tries to open the door of its cage.
D
A survey shows that children who have encyclopedias in their homes earn better grades in school than children whose homes lack encyclopedias. The researcher concludes that having encyclopedias at home improves grades. This conclusion is erroneous primarily because the researcher has incorrectly A failed to allow for experimenter bias B identified the independent variable C identified the dependent variable D inferred correlation from causation E inferred causation from correlation
E
Bipolar disorders are most effectively treated with a combination of tricyclic antidepressants and A acetaminophen B antianxiety drugs C beta-blockers D amphetamines E lithium carbonate
E
Brain lateralization refers to the A ability of the brain to process multisensory information B capacity of the brain to control basic motor movements C aptitude of the brain to produce speech D ability of the brain to control basic functions such as respiration and blood circulation E inclination for certain cognitive processes to be specialized to one hemisphere of the brain or the other
E
Carl Jung believed in a storehouse of latent memory traces inherited from a person's ancestral past. Which of the following psychological terms refers to that storehouse? A Id B Ego C Superego D Personal unconscious E Collective unconscious
E
The cerebellum is most directly involved in A forming emotional memories B forming explicit and spatial memories C judgment, higher-order cognition, and personality D sensory processing and relaying E motor learning
E
The next question(s) are based on this scenario: A researcher randomly assigned boys and girls to each of two groups. One group watched a violent television program while the other group watched a nonviolent program. The children were then observed during a period of free play, and the incidence of aggressive behavior was recorded for each group. What is the dependent variable in this study? A Sex of the children B Duration of free play C Type of television program viewed D Level of televised violence E Incidence of aggressive behavior
E
When trying to solve a problem, Bret uses a logical, step-by-step formula called A a heuristric B incubation C insight D priming E an algorithm
E
Which of the following brain regions is indicated by the arrow? A Cerebellum B Amygdala C Hypothalamus D Hippocampus E Pons
E
Which of the following provides information regarding brain function by monitoring the brain at work through metabolism of glucose? A Computed tomography (CT) B Electrooculography (EOG) C Electroencephalography (EEG) D Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) E Positron emission tomography (PET)
E