Question 1

You overhear two psychologists talking about human behaviour. Professor A believes that humans react to the reward structure in their environment while Professor B states that humans are thinkers and information processors. Most likely, Professor A follows the ________ perspective, while Professor B follows the ______ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Professor A, who focuses on how humans react to rewards, aligns with the behavioral perspective, which emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and the effects of learning and conditioning. Professor B, who views humans as thinkers and information processors, aligns with the cognitive perspective, which focuses on mental processes like memory, thinking, perception, and problem-solving.

Question 2

Professor Royce studies the influence of an individual's mood on their memory for facts. At what level of analysis is this research?

Accepted Answer

This research falls under the psychological level of analysis because it examines the internal processes (mood and memory) that occur within an individual.

Question 3

Which of the following is most similar to the Gestalt perspective?

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt perspective focuses on how people interpret and understand complex stimuli as whole entities rather than as separate parts, which aligns closely with the cognitive perspective's emphasis on mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Question 4

Professor Royce studies how people form impressions of others by using fMRI scans. His research covers two areas of psychology, the

Accepted Answer

Professor Royce's research, which involves studying how people form impressions of others using fMRI scans, intersects social psychology (how we perceive and interact with others) and biological psychology (studying the biological underpinnings of our behavior, in this case, using fMRI scans to observe brain activity).

Question 5

Professor Royce studies how people think about other people and how they form impressions. His research covers two areas of psychology, the

Accepted Answer

Studying how people think about others and form impressions involves understanding mental processes (cognitive psychology) and how individuals interact and are influenced by others (social psychology).

Question 6

You are looking to buy a new smart phone and have come to the conclusion that an iPhone is probably the best. So when you see an ad in a magazine for a Samsung, you just turn the page an ignore it. This probably reflects the operation of

Accepted Answer

This behavior is an example of confirmation bias, where you favor information that confirms your pre-existing beliefs or biases, in this case, the belief that an iPhone is the best choice, leading you to disregard information about a Samsung phone.

Question 7

Professor Janis considers humans as controlled by inner forces. Which of the major perspectives Professor Janis follow?

Accepted Answer

The psychodynamic perspective in psychology emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping behaviors and personality. It suggests that humans are controlled by inner forces, which aligns with Professor Janis's view.

Question 8

Professor Jonas is interested in the prevention of depression in children. She examines some of the factors that can lead to depression as a result of poverty. So far she has investigated poverty in 10 different cities. This research would best be describes as

Accepted Answer

Professor Jonas's research is focused on understanding how poverty can lead to depression in children with the goal of preventing it. This makes it applied research, as it is aimed at solving a specific, practical issue.

Question 9

Professor Janis considers humans as free agents seeking to understand self. Which of the major perspectives does Professor Janis follow?

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective in psychology emphasizes the individual's inherent drive towards self-actualization and creativity. It views humans as free agents with the ability to shape their own lives, which aligns with Professor Janis's consideration of humans as free agents seeking to understand self.

Question 10

Psychology sometimes takes a positive view of human nature and sometimes a negative view. The positive view would be represented by the _____ perspective, while a negative view is presented by the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective in psychology emphasizes the inherent goodness and potential for growth in humans, representing a positive view of human nature. In contrast, the psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freudian theory, often focuses on the influence of unconscious drives and conflicts, presenting a more negative or conflicted view of human nature.

Question 11

The cognitive perspective is really an extension of

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective in psychology focuses on mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, which aligns closely with the principles of Gestalt psychology. Gestalt psychology emphasizes the human mind and behavior as a whole, which is foundational to the cognitive approach's understanding of how people organize, perceive, and interpret information.

Question 12

You overhear two psychologists talking about human behaviour. Professor A believes that humans will always engage in behavior that helps allow them to pass on their own genes while Professor B states that humans are controlled by inner forces and conflicts. Most likely, Professor A follows the ________ perspective, while Professor B follows the ______ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Professor A's view aligns with the biological perspective, which emphasizes the influence of genetics and biological processes on behavior. Professor B's view is consistent with the psychodynamic perspective, focusing on how inner forces and conflicts shape behavior.

Question 13

In one of your psychology labs, the instructor wants you to demonstrate the method of introspection. Most likely, this demonstration was to illustrate the approach known as

Accepted Answer

Structuralism is the correct answer because it is the approach in psychology that emphasizes the introspective analysis of the mind's structure. This method, pioneered by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, involves examining and reporting one's thoughts, feelings, and mental experiences to understand the structure of the mind.

Question 14

Professor Royce studies how people in different areas of the world think and process information. His research covers two areas of psychology, the

Accepted Answer

Professor Royce's research, which focuses on how people in different areas of the world think and process information, aligns with cognitive psychology (the study of mental processes such as "attention, language use, memory, perception, problem solving, creativity, and thinking") and sociocultural psychology (which examines how social and cultural factors affect behavior and thought processes).

Question 15

Professor Royce studies how structures in the brain change over time by using fMRI scans. His research covers two areas of psychology, the

Accepted Answer

Professor Royce's research, which involves studying changes in brain structures over time through fMRI scans, aligns with the developmental area of psychology (as it involves changes over time) and the biological area (as it involves brain structures).

Question 16

Professor Janis is interested in humans as thinkers and wants to study their perceptions. Which of the major perspectives does Professor Janis follow?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective in psychology focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world. It involves the study of mental processes such as perception, memory, thought, and problem-solving. Since Professor Janis is interested in studying humans as thinkers and their perceptions, the cognitive perspective aligns with her research interests.

Question 17

You overhear two psychologists talking about human behaviour. Professor A believes that humans will always engage in behavior that helps allow them to pass on their own genes while Professor B states that humans are controlled by inner forces and conflicts. Most likely, Professor A follows the ________ perspective, while Professor B follows the ______ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Professor A's view aligns with the evolutionary perspective, often associated with the biological perspective, which focuses on how behavior and mental processes help individuals survive and reproduce. Professor B's view aligns with the psychodynamic perspective, which emphasizes internal conflicts and unconscious forces.

Question 18

Professor Janis considers humans as reactors to the environment. Which of the major perspectives Professor Janis follow?

Accepted Answer

The behavioral perspective focuses on how external environmental stimuli influence behavior and how individuals react to those stimuli, aligning with Professor Janis's view of humans as reactors to the environment.

Question 19

You are examining an individual suffering from clinical depression. Your analysis is that the problem results from an undersupply of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Your conclusion is at which of the following levels of analysis?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is at the Biological level of analysis because it involves the physical processes within the body, specifically the undersupply of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is a biological factor affecting mood and behavior.

Question 20

Professor Janis considers humans as animals-a collection of chemicals and structures. Which of the major perspectives does Professor Janis follow?

Accepted Answer

Professor Janis follows the Biological perspective, which focuses on the physical and biological bases of behavior, including genetic, neurological, and hormonal factors that influence human behavior. This perspective views humans as biological organisms and emphasizes the role of biological systems and structures in shaping behavior and mental processes.

Quiz 1: Psychology: the Science of Behaviour