Unit 1 Exam Review Questions PSYC 2301

______ believed that psychology should be about what people do, and should not concern itself with what cannot be seen, such as thoughts, feelings, and goals

B.F. Skinner

________ is most often regarded the "founding father" of modern psychology.

Wilhelm Wundt

in the context of perception, ____ refers to the minimum amount of stimulus energy that a person can detect

absolute threshold

Your relative is experiencing memory loss related to Alzheimer disease. Research suggests that the decline in memory is due to a(n) _____ deficiency in this individual's brain.

acetylcholine

According to the science of psychology, a behavior is a(n)

an action that can be directly observed

the ability to type a text message on a cell phone without even looking at the keypad is an example of

automatic processing

states of consciousness that require little attention and do not interfere with other ongoing activities are called

autonomic processes

_____ genetics is the study of nature and degree of heredity's influence on behavior.

behavior

which of the following would be an example of no awareness or an "unconscious" state of mind?

being anesthetized

Psychologists who adopt a _____ approach examine behavior and mental processes through focusing on the body especially the brain and nervous system

biological

Lauren is at the airport waiting to board her flight. She initiates a friendly conversation with another passenger. Despite the noise at the airport and multiple announcements being made at the same time, Lauren is able to focus on what the passenger is saying. This scenario best demonstrates the

cocktail party effect

which of the following approaches to psychology focuses on how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems?

cognitive

the ____ approach to psychology views the mind as an active and aware problem solving system. this view contrasts with the ____ approach to psychology, which focuses on an organism's visible interactions with the environment

cognitive/behavioral

Psychological research on sleep and memory has found that staying up all night to study for an exam is likely to

decrease memory performance

____ is a neurotransmitter that helps control voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning, and the ability to recognize rewards in the environment

dopamine

in the video about the split brain patient, what is one thing the man was able to do after surgery that most people can't?

draw two different things with each hand simultaneously

When you go to check on your sleeping child, you observe that his eyes are moving back and forth rapidly under his eyelids. It is likely that he is

dreaming

Your brain has instructed your muscles to move so that you avoid burning your hand on a hot stove. which type of nerves carried the information from your brain to your muscles so that you could avoid getting burned?

efferent

the final step in the scientific method of psychology is

evaluate conclusions

Which of the following research methods allow(s) researchers to determine causality?

experiment studies

Dr. Grant is conducting research on stress management. Group A received progressive relaxation training prior to test taking, while Group B received no training. Group A is the _____, while Group B is the _____.

experimental group/control group

A persons genetic heritage (his/her actual genetic makeup) is called a?

genotype

Which category of drugs modify a person's perceptual experiences and produces visual images that are not real?

hallucinogens

After careful observation, Dylan has stated a hypothesis that spending money on other people leads to greater happiness than spending money on oneself. In accordance with the scientific method, which of the following steps is Dylan most likely to take next?

he will examine the prediction through empirical research

what part of the brain is made up of the medulla, cerebellum, and pons?

hindbrain

____ is an altered state of consciousness or psychological state of altered attention in which the individual is unusually receptive to suggestions

hypnosis

in experimental research, the ____ is a manipulated experimental factor and _____ is the outcome

independent/dependent variable

identify a true statement about inattentional blindness

it is more likely to occur when a task is difficult

the _____ system is the body's electrochemical communication circuitry

nervous system

Endorphins are

neurotransmitters that function as natural opiates in producing pleasure and pain

Behavior is _____; mental processes are _____.

observable/private

Which of the following is the first step in the scientific method?

observing some phenomenon

_____ is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information so that it makes sense

perception

the brain's capacity for change is known as

plasticity

In his practice, Dr. Wagner stresses the role of unconscious processes and unresolved childhood conflicts that influences individuals' behavior. Dr. Wagner's belief aligns with the _____ approach to psychology.

psychodynamic

J.B. Watson and B.F. Skinner believed that:

psychology should focus on an organism's visible interactions with the environment—that is, behaviors.

As you walk barefoot in the park, your nose conveys to your brain the smell of the freshly cut grass, your skin sends information about the feel of the gentle breze and your ears trasmit the sound of children laughing on the playground to your auditory cortex. This process of acuqiring "raw data" about the stimuli in the environment is called _____.

sensation

which of the following refers to the detection of information below the level of conscious awareness?

subliminal perception

you are walking to school when you encounter a barking dog. you start sweating and contemplate whether you should run away. Which nervous system is primarily responsible for this "fight-or-flight" reaction?

sympathetic

after watching the video about the "famous" dress debate (gold and white vs. black and blue), what did you learn was one explanation for the different perceptions of the color of the dress?

the cones in the eye interpret the colors differently

______ refers to individual's understanding that they and others think, feel, perceive, and have private experiences

theory of mind