Question 1

Nativist and empiricist philosophies differ in beliefs of
A) the contents, but not the mechanisms, of the human mind.
B) the contents and mechanisms of the human mind only at birth.
C) the contents and mechanisms of the human mind.
D) the mechanisms, but not the contents, of the human mind.

Accepted Answer

Nativists believe that certain knowledge, abilities, or characteristics are innate and are already present at birth, while empiricists believe that all knowledge comes from experience and that the mind is a blank slate at birth. Therefore, they differ in both the contents and mechanisms of the human mind.

Question 2

The finding that gas infusions are not the cause of muscle contractions is best attributed to which of the following researchers?
A) René Descartes
B) Charles Bell
C) Francois Magendie
D) Francis Glisson

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Which of the following is not true of the work of Charles Darwin?
A) He argued for a continuity from animals to humans.
B) He attempted to characterize the evolution of psychological traits.
C) He provided compelling evidence for various forms of animal intelligence.
D) He suggested nonhuman animals had the capacity for curiosity, attention, and aesthetic sensibility.

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

John Locke believed that
A) the human mind was unpredictable and governed by free will.
B) the ideas humans had were acquired directly or indirectly after birth.
C) nativism best described human cognition.
D) rules of association did not explain human behavior.

Accepted Answer

John Locke is known for his theory of tabula rasa, which means that the mind is a blank slate at birth and all ideas come from experience and observation. Therefore, choice B, "the ideas humans had were acquired directly or indirectly after birth," is the best answer.

Question 5

Of the primary rules of association,which has been most prominent in considerations of associations?
A) similarity
B) contingency
C) contrast
D) contiguity

Accepted Answer

Contiguity, or the idea that events that occur in close temporal or spatial proximity are associated with each other, has been the most prominent primary rule of association in psychological research. This is because it is the most basic and fundamental principle of association - in order for two things to be associated, they must occur close together in time or space. Contiguity forms the basis for other rules of association such as similarity, contrast, and contingency.

Question 6

The philosophical tenet that some of the content of the human mind is innate is called
A) dualism.
B) nativism.
C) empiricism.
D) reflexism.

Accepted Answer

The philosophical tenet that some of the content of the human mind is innate is called nativism. Dualism is the idea that mind and body are two separate entities. Empiricism suggests that knowledge is gained through experience and observation. Reflexism is not a widely recognized philosophical tenet.

Question 7

John Swammerdam's contribution to the study of reflexes was to show that
A) muscle contractions were not produced by an infusion of gas.
B) mechanical irritation of a nerve produced a muscle contraction.
C) nerves are hollow tubes.
D) separate nerves are involved in sensory and motor transmission.

Accepted Answer

John Swammerdam showed that mechanical irritation of a nerve produced a muscle contraction, which demonstrated the existence of reflexes. This was a significant contribution to the understanding of how the nervous system functions.

Question 8

All of the following are true of British empiricists except
A) they believed that ideas were based on associations of simple sensory events.
B) they conducted experiments to test the rules of association.
C) they held that the mind was a blank slate at birth.
D) they thought that sense experiences were the basis of knowledge.

Accepted Answer

British empiricists did not generally conduct experiments to test the rules of association. Instead, they relied on introspection and observation of their own thought processes to develop their theories.

Question 9

Sechenov extended Descartes' theory of reflexes by suggesting that
A) not all reflexes are innate.
B) mechanical stimulation of a nerve was sufficient to produce a motor response.
C) reflexes are due to the fixed anatomy of the nervous system.
D) some reflexes could be due to a stimulus releasing a response from inhibition.

Accepted Answer

Sechenov suggested that some reflexes could be due to a stimulus releasing a response from inhibition, extending Descartes' theory of reflexes.

Question 10

According to Thomas Hobbes,
A) reflexes were predictable; the mind was not.
B) the mind was predictable; responses to environmental cues were not.
C) neither the operations of the mind nor reflexes were predictable.
D) both reflexes and the operations of the mind were predictable.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Thomas Hobbes,
A) reflexes were predictable;...

Question 11

Which of the following most correctly states Descartes' position on human and animal behavior?
A) Human behavior is governed by free will; animal behavior is governed by reflexes.
B) A few human and animal behaviors are governed by free will; most are governed by reflexes.
C) Voluntary human behaviors are governed by free will; involuntary human behaviors and all animal behaviors are governed by reflexes.
D) All human and animal behaviors can be explained by reflex mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

Descartes believed that voluntary human behaviors, such as conscious decision-making, were governed by free will, while involuntary human behaviors and all animal behaviors were governed by reflexes. He saw animals as unthinking machines, lacking consciousness and the ability to make choices.

Question 12

The British empiricists believed that complex ideas are
A) sense experiences.
B) present at birth.
C) the product of simple sensations combined by association.
D) simple reflex responses.

Accepted Answer

The British empiricists, such as John Locke, believed that all ideas originate from simple sensations that are later combined by association to form more complex ideas. Therefore, complex ideas are the product of simple sensations combined by association.

Question 13

Charles Darwin
A) argued that nonhuman animals had the capacity for curiosity, attention, and aesthetic sensibility.
B) provided compelling evidence for various forms of animal intelligence.
C) suggested that physical but not psychological traits are the product of evolution.
D) All of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of Charles Darwin
A) argued that nonhuman animals had...

Question 14

The research of Ivan Pavlov and Hermann Ebbinghaus is similar because both researchers
A) were using empirical methods to investigate reflexes.
B) were using empirical methods to study laws of associations.
C) extended Descartes' concept of dualism.
D) were concerned with the study of the mind, not with physiological mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

Both Pavlov and Ebbinghaus were using empirical methods to study laws of associations. Pavlov studied the association between a neutral stimulus (such as a bell) and a response (such as salivation) in dogs, while Ebbinghaus studied the association between pairs of nonsense syllables in humans.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a primary rule of association?
A) contingency
B) contiguity
C) similarity
D) contrast

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is not a...

Question 16

Which of the following best characterizes Pavlov's extension of Descartes' theory of reflexes?
A) Pavlov demonstrated that new reflexes could develop through a mechanism of association.
B) Pavlov demonstrated that reflexes are innate and based on neural anatomy.
C) Pavlov demonstrated that reflexes are due to a stimulus releasing a response from inhibition.
D) Pavlov demonstrated that complex ideas develop from associations between sensory experiences.

Accepted Answer

Pavlov extended Descartes' theory of reflexes by demonstrating that new reflexes could develop through a mechanism of association. He showed that a neutral stimulus (such as the sound of a bell) when repeatedly paired with a natural reflexive response (such as salivating in response to food), could come to elicit the same response by itself, thus forming a conditioned reflex. This idea was crucial to the development of behaviorism and the study of learning.

Question 17

Like Descartes,Sechenov believed that reflexes were due to
A) inflation of the muscle by gases.
B) neural transmission by animal spirits.
C) the fixed anatomy of the nervous system.
D) irritation of nerves.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Like Descartes,Sechenov believed that reflexes were due...

Question 18

Hermann Ebbinghaus
A) was the first to empirically test the rules of association.
B) demonstrated that separate nerves carry sensory and motor information.
C) set forth the secondary rules of association.
D) showed that irritation of a nerve was sufficient to produce a muscle contraction.

Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who conducted pioneering research on memory and learning. He is best known for his work on the forgetting curve and the spacing effect. Ebbinghaus was the first to empirically test the rules of association, which are the principles that govern how ideas or concepts become linked in the mind. His work laid the foundation for the study of cognitive psychology.

Question 19

According to Descartes,what is the difference between human and animal behaviors?
A) Humans can perform voluntary behaviors; animals can perform only involuntary behaviors.
B) Humans respond to environmental stimuli; animals only behave reflexively.
C) Human reflexes are voluntary; animal reflexes are involuntary.
D) Human behavior is explainable by natural laws; animal behavior is unpredictable.

Accepted Answer

Descartes believed that animals were simply biological machines that could only behave in a predetermined, involuntary manner. In contrast, he believed that humans possessed a soul that allowed them to perform voluntary actions and make choices about their behavior. Therefore, according to Descartes, humans can perform voluntary behaviors while animals can perform only involuntary behaviors.

Question 20

The concept of hedonism as the control for voluntary behavior was proposed by which philosopher?
A) Aristotle
B) Locke
C) Hobbes
D) Brown

Accepted Answer

The concept of hedonism as the control for voluntary behavior was proposed by Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes believed that humans are driven by a desire for pleasure (hedonism) and the avoidance of pain. This belief formed the basis of his social contract theory, which argues that individuals give up some of their freedoms in exchange for protection and security provided by the government.

Quiz 1: Introduction

Nativist and empiricist philosophies differ in beliefs of

The finding that gas infusions are not the cause of muscle contractions is best attributed to which of the following researchers?

Which of the following is not true of the work of Charles Darwin?

John Locke believed that

Of the primary rules of association,which has been most prominent in considerations of associations?

The philosophical tenet that some of the content of the human mind is innate is called

John Swammerdam's contribution to the study of reflexes was to show that

All of the following are true of British empiricists except

Sechenov extended Descartes' theory of reflexes by suggesting that

According to Thomas Hobbes,

Which of the following most correctly states Descartes' position on human and animal behavior?

The British empiricists believed that complex ideas are

Charles Darwin

The research of Ivan Pavlov and Hermann Ebbinghaus is similar because both researchers

Which of the following is not a primary rule of association?

Which of the following best characterizes Pavlov's extension of Descartes' theory of reflexes?

Like Descartes,Sechenov believed that reflexes were due to

Hermann Ebbinghaus

According to Descartes,what is the difference between human and animal behaviors?

The concept of hedonism as the control for voluntary behavior was proposed by which philosopher?