ETS

Question 1

The ability of a postsynaptic neuron to respond to the presence of a particular neurotransmitter that is released from a neighboring presynaptic neuron is dependent on which of the following conditions?

(A) The storage of the neurotransmitter in the presynaptic neuron

(B) The ability of the neurotransmitter to penetrate the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron

(C) The presence of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron that have an affinity for that particular neurotransmitter

(D) Whether or not the neurotransmitter is excitatory or inhibitory

(E) Whether or not the postsynaptic neuron has an axon that is myelinated

Answer 1

(C) The presence of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron that have an affinity for that particular neurotransmitter

Question 2

Critics have argued that projective tests are too

(A) brief

(B) concrete

(C) quantitative

(D) objective

(E) subjective

Answer 2

(E) subjective

Question 3

Organizing the string of letters B-F-J-T-A-V-K-C into JFK-TV-CAB is an example of…

(A) simplifying

(B) clustering

(C) seriating

(D) chunking

(E) paraphrasing

Answer 3

(D) chunking

Question 4

When persuasive communications follow the peripheral route, they focus on which of the following?

(A) Beliefs

(B) Facts

(C) Values

(D) Emotions

(E) Cognitions

Answer 4

(D) Emotions

Question 5

Consider the sentence “The dishwasher is running.” Which of the following is true?

(A) It can have more than one surface structure.

(B) It can have more than one deep structure.

(C) It is grammatically incorrect.

(D) It can have more than one syntax.

(E) It violates the rules of bottom-up processing.

Answer 5

(B) It can have more than one deep structure.

Question 6

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5TM), children with separation anxiety disorder often experience which of the following symptoms in addition to excessive fear or anxiety over separation from attachment figures?

(A) Excessive concern about the safety and well-being of attachment figures

(B) Persistent desire to develop relationships with adults other than those who serve as major attachment figures

(C) Pervasive anxiety about failure in school or social situations

(D) Perceptual delusions that the child’s parents have been replaced by physically identical imposters

(E) Irresistible urges to perform and repeat a certain act over and over again

Answer 6

(A) Excessive concern about the safety and well-being of attachment figures

Question 7

Patients with bilateral damage to the hippocampal formation are tested on motor learning tasks such as the Tower of Hanoi. Studies show that the patients improve their performance with repeated exposures. When asked whether they have ever seen the task, even after numerous test sessions with it, they typically report not having seen it before. Such results have led to which of the following conclusions?

(A) Patients with hippocampal injury suffer from confabulation similar to Korsakoff’s patients.

(B) The inability to remember the Tower of Hanoi reflects a fundamental lesion-induced inability to name objects.

(C) Although procedural memory may not rely on normal hippocampal functioning, declarative memory does.

(D) Hippocampal injury enhances the acquisition of tasks relying on motor learning.

(E) Whereas procedural memory is severely impaired after hippocampal injury, reference memory is intact.

Answer 7

(C) Although procedural memory may not rely on normal hippocampal functioning, declarative memory does.

Question 8

Which of the following is chemically similar to opiates, has the ability to reduce pain, and is blocked by the action of naloxone?

(A) Norepinephrine

(B) Acetylcholine

(C) Serotonin

(D) Endorphin

(E) Dopamine

Answer 8

(D) Endorphin

Question 9

When stress is prolonged, the most likely result is…

(A) generalized weakening of the immune system

(B) damage to brain areas within the pons and medulla

(C) an increase in the level of naturally produced endorphins

(D) intensification of the effects of natural killer cells

(E) an increase in the number of T cells

Answer 9

(A) generalized weakening of the immune system

Question 10

The bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, and tremors that characterize Parkinson’s disease are a result of the degeneration of dopaminergic cells in the…

(A) association cortex

(B) cerebellum

(C) hippocampus

(D) reticular formation

(E) substantia nigra

Answer 10

(E) substantia nigra

Question 11

Which of the following best characterizes an infant’s object concept at six months of age?

(A) The infant’s visual system is too immature to enable focusing on an object in the visual field.

(B) The infant is unable to track moving objects in the visual field.

(C) The infant is not surprised when two objects are seen to occupy the same space at the same time.

(D) The infant’s understanding of object mechanics is as sophisticated as the adult’s understanding.

(E) The infant understands objects to be solid bounded entities that take up space and move on continuous paths.

Answer 11

(E) The infant understands objects to be solid bounded entities that take up space and move on continuous paths.

Question 12

A 40-item vocabulary test was administered to a group of students. A second, similar test of vocabulary terms was administered to this same group of students approximately one week later. The researcher reported that the correlation between these two tests was r = .90. What type of reliability is represented in this example?

(A) Test-retest

(B) Internal consistency

(C) Alternate forms

(D) Split-half

(E) Inter-rater

Answer 12

(C) Alternate forms

Question 13

Which of the following describes the pattern of findings displayed in the graph?

(A) Men who heard the jazz piece and women who heard the operatic piece scored higher on the mood inventory than those in the other two groups.

(B) People who heard the operatic piece scored higher on the mood inventory than those who heard the jazz piece.

(C) People who heard the jazz piece scored higher on the mood inventory than those who heard the operatic piece.

(D) Men scored higher than women on the mood inventory regardless of the type of music they heard.

(E) Women scored higher than men on the mood inventory regardless of the type of music they heard

Answer 13

(A) Men who heard the jazz piece and women who heard the operatic piece scored higher on the mood inventory than those in the other two groups.

Question 14

The researcher concludes from her study that jazz music positively changes men’s moods and operatic music positively changes women’s moods. Which of the following invalidates that conclusion?

(A) The participants were college students who were not music majors.

(B) Only one scale was used to measure mood.

(C) Men and women were randomly assigned to groups.

(D) Previous studies have shown that men are less emotional than women.

(E) Men’s and women’s moods were not measured before exposure to the two types of music.

Answer 14

(E) Men’s and women’s moods were not measured before exposure to the two types of music.

Question 15

Which of the following is the most serious problem with the methodology of this research?

(A) Men and women did not listen to both types of music.

(B) The singers were not the same gender.

(C) The sample size was too small to draw a valid conclusion.

(D) The participants were not musicians.

(E) Only one type of music should have been used.

Answer 15

(B) The singers were not the same gender.

Question 16

The preference for a loosely knit social framework in which individuals are responsible only for the care of their children and themselves is known as…

(A) collectivism

(B) individualism

(C) ethnocentrism

(D) egocentrism

(E) interactionism

Answer 16

(B) individualism

Question 17

Over many trials a puff of air aimed at JoAnne’s eyes is paired with a loud noise and a subtle smell. Afterward, it is very likely that JoAnne’s conditioned eye blink will be under the control of the loud noise and not the subtle smell. This phenomenon is an example of…

(A) overshadowing

(B) conditioned suppression

(C) generalization

(D) counterconditioning

(E) reinstatement

Answer 17

(A) overshadowing

Question 18

The idea that people cope with stress by moving toward people, away from people, or against people is most consistent with the views of…

(A) Aaron Beck

(B) Carl Rogers

(C) Karen Horney

(D) Erik Erikson

(E) Erich Fromm

Answer 18

(C) Karen Horney

Question 19

Which of the following is the best example of the categorical perception of human speech?

(A) Listeners are able to categorize speech samples in terms of the gender of the speaker.

(B) Listeners are able to categorize a stream of words into a series of distinct words, because they can identify the brief pauses that appear between words.

(C) When a sound is presented that is intermediate between the phonemes /b/ and /p/, listeners report that they heard either a distinct /b/ or a distinct /p/.

(D) During speech perception, listeners automatically place phonemes into one of two categories, vowels or consonants.

(E) After hearing a sentence, people process each word and make decisions about the word’s function within that sentence.

Answer 19

(C) When a sound is presented that is intermediate between the phonemes /b/ and /p/, listeners report that they heard either a distinct /b/ or a distinct /p/.

Question 20

Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess described three categories of infants: easy, difficult, and slow to warm up. These are categories of…

(A) play

(B) emotions

(C) toilet training

(D) temperament

(E) smiles

Answer 20

(D) temperament

Question 21

Which of the following types of cognitive abilities is LEAST likely to show a decline in late life?

(A) Working memory

(B) Processing speed

(C) Fluid intelligence

(D) Semantic memory

(E) Episodic memory

Answer 21

(D) Semantic memory

Question 22

Charles Scott Sherrington proposed that rapid stimulation of a specific synapse is likely to produce a cumulative effect in the postsynaptic cell because of…

(A) spatial summation

(B) temporal summation

(C) saltatory conduction

(D) neuromodulation

(E) spreading depression

Answer 22

(B) temporal summation

Question 23

Which of the following is an atypical developmental pattern characterized by stereotyped motor responses and poor communication skills?

(A) Tardive dyskinesia

(B) Autism spectrum disorder

(C) Down syndrome

(D) Williams syndrome

(E) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Answer 23

(B) Autism spectrum disorder

Question 24

The sharing of information about oneself is referred to as…

(A) social exchange

(B) experience sampling

(C) communal sharing

(D) self-disclosure

(E) authority ranking

Answer 24

(D) self-disclosure

Question 25

Research on children’s social behavior shows that relative to young adolescent boys, young adolescent girls exhibit more of which type of aggression?

(A) Hostile

(B) Instrumental

(C) Physical

(D) Relational

(E) Displaced

Answer 25

(D) Relational

Question 26

“I runned to the car” is an example of…

(A) telegraphic speech

(B) fast mapping

(C) overregularization

(D) overextension

(E) holophrasing

Answer 26

(C) overregularization

Question 27

The visual pathway that tells us what we are looking at is called the…

(A) corticospinal tract

(B) solitary tract

(C) spinothalamic tract

(D) dorsal stream

(E) ventral stream

Answer 27

(E) ventral stream

Question 28

Which theorist revised Sigmund Freud’s stages of development, replacing Freud’s psychosexual stages with psychosocial stages?

(A) Karen Horney

(B) Erik Erikson

(C) Alfred Adler

(D) Viktor Frankl

(E) Abraham Maslow

Answer 28

(B) Erik Erikson

Question 29

Using a pendulum apparatus, a participant attempts to derive the physical laws that determine the rate at which a pendulum swings. The participant’s approach to solving this problem is to hold a relevant factor (X) constant and to vary a second relevant factor (Y), and then to reverse this procedure by holding Y constant and varying X. According to Jean Piaget, the participant’s level of cognitive functioning is most likely…

(A) preoperational

(B) concrete operational

(C) formal operational

(D) sensorimotor

(E) conventional

Answer 29

(C) formal operational

Question 30

A child has just developed the ability to lie with the intention of deceiving another person. This new ability is probably based most directly on a change in the child’s…

(A) knowledge about mental representations

(B) skill in making transitive inferences

(C) formal operational thinking

(D) social referencing

(E) temperament

Answer 30

(A) knowledge about mental representations

Question 31

The standard deviation of a sample of test scores is a measure of the…

(A) central tendency of scores

(B) variability of individual scores

(C) concurrent validity of the test

(D) line of best fit

(E) normality of the distribution

Answer 31

(B) variability of individual scores

Question 32

Rapid eye movements are most closely associated with which of the following?

(A) Alpha waves

(B) Delta waves

(C) Dreaming

(D) Apnea

(E) Stage II sleep

Answer 32

(C) Dreaming

Question 33

An investigator interested in the development of children’s attitudes toward the police assessed and compared the attitudes of 250 eight year olds, 240 twelve year olds, and 245 sixteen year olds. She matched the three groups with regard to gender and socioeconomic background. The investigator’s research design is best characterized as which of the following?

(A) A case study

(B) A controlled experiment

(C) Sequential

(D) Cross-sectional

(E) Longitudinal

Answer 33

(D) Cross-sectional

Question 34

If a psychological disorder has a genetic basis, one would expect to find the highest concordance rate for the illness between which of the following?

(A) Mother and child

(B) Father and child

(C) Identical twins

(D) Fraternal twins

(E) Nontwin siblings

Answer 34

(C) Identical twins

Question 35

According to Sigmund Freud, a child who grabs food from another child because of hunger is driven by…

(A) the id

(B) the ego

(C) environmental reinforcers

(D) the superego

(E) cognitive schemas

Answer 35

(A) the id

Question 36

All of the following statements about psychodynamic theorists are correct EXCEPT:

(A) Karen Horney stressed the importance of social relationships between children and their parents.

(B) Alfred Adler claimed that childhood feelings of inferiority lead to striving for superiority.

(C) Carl Jung identified two components of the unconscious: the preconscious and the formal unconscious.

(D) Erik Erikson described conflicts at different stages of development.

(E) Sigmund Freud stressed the interaction of the id, the ego, and the superego.

Answer 36

(C) Carl Jung identified two components of the unconscious: the preconscious and the formal unconscious.

Question 37

Juanita’s classmates enjoy being with her because she is always sociable, easygoing, and lively. On Eysenck’s basic personality dimensions, she would be classified as…

(A) unstable introverted

(B) extroverted stable

(C) passive-aggressive

(D) intrinsically motivated

(E) cyclothymic dysthymic

Answer 37

(B) extroverted stable

Question 38

Annette is looking for a psychotherapist whose clinical work is rooted in object relations theory. The best match for Annette would be a therapist who emphasizes…

(A) the use of medication

(B) the here and now

(C) cognitive distortions

(D) early life relationships

(E) counterconditioning

Answer 38

(D) early life relationships

Question 39

A client sleeps sixteen hours a day. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5™ ), the client most likely has which of the following sleep disorders?

(A) Circadian rhythm sleep-wake

(B) Insomnia

(C) Hypersomnolence

(D) Sleep arousal

(E) Nightmare

Answer 39

(C) Hypersomnolence

Question 40

Kyle mixes his blue paint with Jamie’s yellow paint. The resulting green color occurs because…

(A) equal stimulation of the blue receptors and the yellow receptors in the eyes produces the sensation of green

(B) blue wavelengths and yellow wavelengths add together to make green wavelengths

(C) the blue and the yellow absorb all the other wavelengths except green

(D) paints involve additive rather than subtractive mixing

(E) blue wavelengths and yellow wavelengths subtract red wavelengths equally to make green

Answer 40

(C) the blue and the yellow absorb all the other wavelengths except green

Question 41

Depression is more common among people with insomnia than among those with satisfactory sleep. To determine the reasons for this relationship, investigators identified 40 people suffering from both depression and insomnia. For each of these 40, they paired two other people of the same gender and age who were neither depressed nor suffering from any sleep disorder. One of these was designated the “normal-sleep control,” and the other was designated the “yoked control.” All participants slept in a laboratory for one week. The normal-sleep control person slept without restrictions. During that same time, the yoked control was permitted to sleep when the depressed-insomniac person slept, but was required to awaken whenever the depressed-insomniac person awakened.

A valid questionnaire for measuring depression was administered at the end of the one-week study. Assume that higher scores on the questionnaire reflect greater depressive symptomatology.

What pattern of results on the depression questionnaire would justify the conclusion that sleeplessness leads to depression?

(A) Normal sleep control < yoked control = depressed

(B) Normal sleep control = yoked control = depressed

(C) Normal sleep control = yoked control < depressed

(D) Yoked control < normal sleep control < depressed

(E) Yoked control < normal sleep control = depressed

Answer 41

(A) Normal sleep control < yoked control = depressed

Question 42

Depression is more common among people with insomnia than among those with satisfactory sleep. To determine the reasons for this relationship, investigators identified 40 people suffering from both depression and insomnia. For each of these 40, they paired two other people of the same gender and age who were neither depressed nor suffering from any sleep disorder. One of these was designated the “normal-sleep control,” and the other was designated the “yoked control.” All participants slept in a laboratory for one week. The normal-sleep control person slept without restrictions. During that same time, the yoked control was permitted to sleep when the depressed-insomniac person slept, but was required to awaken whenever the depressed-insomniac person awakened.

A valid questionnaire for measuring depression was administered at the end of the one-week study. Assume that higher scores on the questionnaire reflect greater depressive symptomatology.

What pattern of results on the depression questionnaire would one expect if depression were to arise for reasons other than sleeplessness?

(A) Normal sleep control < yoked control = depressed

(B) Normal sleep control = yoked control = depressed

(C) Normal sleep control = yoked control < depressed

(D) Yoked control < normal sleep control < depressed

(E) Yoked control < normal sleep control = depressed

Answer 42

(C) Normal sleep control = yoked control < depressed

Question 43

Depression is more common among people with insomnia than among those with satisfactory sleep. To determine the reasons for this relationship, investigators identified 40 people suffering from both depression and insomnia. For each of these 40, they paired two other people of the same gender and age who were neither depressed nor suffering from any sleep disorder. One of these was designated the “normal-sleep control,” and the other was designated the “yoked control.” All participants slept in a laboratory for one week. The normal-sleep control person slept without restrictions. During that same time, the yoked control was permitted to sleep when the depressed-insomniac person slept, but was required to awaken whenever the depressed-insomniac person awakened.

A valid questionnaire for measuring depression was administered at the end of the one-week study. Assume that higher scores on the questionnaire reflect greater depressive symptomatology.

Suppose that the results were consistent with the hypothesis that sleeplessness does not lead to depression. Of the following, which would be the most serious criticism of the study and its conclusion?

(A) Although the questionnaire to measure depression was known to be valid, it may not have been reliable.

(B) The study failed to examine other factors that might also contribute to depression.

(C) The yoked-control group was unnecessary.

(D) One week of sleep deprivation may have been inadequate to produce depression.

(E) The normal sleep-control group was unnecessary.

Answer 43

(D) One week of sleep deprivation may have been inadequate to produce depression.

Question 44

Which of the following predictions is reasonable based on Baddeley and Hitch’s theory of working memory?

(A) If two tasks using the same component are done concurrently, performance will be improved on one or both.

(B) If two tasks using the same component are done concurrently, performance will be impaired on one or both.

(C) If two tasks that do not use the same component are done concurrently, performance will be improved on one or both.

(D) If two tasks that do not use the same component are done concurrently, performance will be impaired on one or both.

(E) If two tasks are done concurrently, whether or not they use the same component, performance will be unchanged.

Answer 44

(B) If two tasks using the same component are done concurrently, performance will be impaired on one or both.

Question 45

Which of the following was the first to systematically and empirically study memory by developing an innovative approach based on consonant-vowel-consonant combinations?

(A) Hermann Ebbinghaus

(B) James Mill

(C) John B. Watson

(D) Max Wertheimer

(E) Christian von Ehrenfels

Answer 45

(A) Hermann Ebbinghaus

Question 46

Marc recently moved to an area that experienced a large number of tornadoes, which frightened him greatly. Every time a storm containing high winds emerged, the lights in his home flickered. When the lights in his home flickered on a clear day, he became quite fearful and searched for a safe place to hide. What is the conditioned stimulus in this scenario?

(A) High winds

(B) Lights flickering

(C) Hiding place

(D) Storms

(E) Fear

Answer 46

(B) Lights flickering

Question 47

Which of the following learning theorists first demonstrated that a neutral stimulus could acquire the ability to evoke a response originally attributed to another stimulus?

(A) Michael Domjan

(B) Ivan Pavlov

(C) Albert Bandura

(D) B. F. Skinner

(E) E. L. Thorndike

Answer 47

(B) Ivan Pavlov

Question 48

Which memory store is believed to have the largest capacity?

(A) The sensory store

(B) The short-term store

(C) The long-term store

(D) The phonological loop

(E) The visuospatial sketch pad

Answer 48

(C) The long-term store

Question 49

The use of polite words such as “please” and “thank you” in everyday speech is called…

(A) morphology

(B) syntax

(C) semantics

(D) pragmatics

(E) phonetics

Answer 49

(D) pragmatics

Question 50

Which of the following factors would best explain why monozygotic twins, raised together, nevertheless develop different personalities?

(A) Shared genetic material

(B) Non-shared genetic material

(C) Shared environments

(D) Non-shared environments

(E) Shared histories

Answer 50

(D) Non-shared environments

Question 51

Which of the following visual experiences most attracts a newborn’s gaze?

(A) The color beige

(B) The color black

(C) The color white

(D) A black-and-white pattern

(E) A beige-and-white pattern

Answer 51

(D) A black-and-white pattern

Question 52

Edmundo got into an argument with the grocery clerk. When he returned to his car after shopping, he discovered that he received a parking ticket. Edmundo furiously crumpled up the ticket and threw it on the ground. When his friend Terri told him to calm down, he screamed at her to mind her own business. Which of the following theories best accounts for Edmundo’s behavior?

(A) Excitation transfer

(B) Social identity

(C) Correspondent inference

(D) Distraction-conflict

(E) Normative focus

Answer 52

(A) Excitation transfer

Question 53

Cleotha finds out that her roommate Leontyne is a better pool player than she is. However, Cleotha reminds herself that she can play poker better than Leontyne. Cleotha is engaging in which of the following?

(A) Self-verification

(B) Self-efficacy

(C) Self-affirmation

(D) Self-monitoring

(E) Self-awareness

Answer 53

(C) Self-affirmation

Question 54

According to the theory of cognitive development proposed by Lev Vygotsky, children learn best by working…

(A) independently

(B) with adults and advanced peers

(C) with less advanced peers

(D) with visually simple objects

(E) with visually complex objects

Answer 54

(B) with adults and advanced peers

Question 55

According to Jean Piaget, young infants are in which stage of development?

(A) Proximal

(B) Psychosocial

(C) Attachment

(D) Sensorimotor

(E) Preoperational

Answer 55

(D) Sensorimotor

Question 56

Which of the following predictions is the best example of context-dependent memory?

(A) Concrete words are easier to recall than abstract words.

(B) Auditory encoding is superior to visual encoding.

(C) Information is better recalled when learning and testing occur in the same room.

(D) Information is better recalled when it is deeply encoded.

(E) In a list of words, those in bold are easier to recall.

Answer 56

(C) Information is better recalled when learning and testing occur in the same room.

Question 57

Fred was keenly interested in a new science fiction film and therefore was surprised when he arrived at the theater on opening night and found only a few people there. Fred’s mistaken judgment of the popularity of the film illustrates…

(A) the self-serving bias

(B) self-handicapping

(C) pluralistic ignorance

(D) the actor-observer effect

(E) the false consensus effect

Answer 57

(E) the false consensus effect

Question 58

According to the evolutionary principle of kin selection, people are more likely to help someone who…

(A) is physically attractive

(B) shares their genes

(C) will return the favor

(D) is a potential mate

(E) is of higher status

Answer 58

(B) shares their genes

Question 59

Manic episodes are a defining feature of which of the following disorders?

(A) Major depressive

(B) Autism spectrum

(C) Posttraumatic stress

(D) Bipolar

(E) Schizophrenia spectrum

Answer 59

(D) Bipolar

Question 60

Newlyweds Layla and Keith both have normal color vision, but Layla carries a recessive gene for color deficiency. Which of the following best describes the probabilities of color deficiency in their children?

(A) Half of their daughters will be color-deficient, but none of their sons will.

(B) Half of their sons will be color-deficient, but none of their daughters will.

(C) All of their sons and half of their daughters will be color-deficient.

(D) All of their daughters and half of their sons will be color-deficient.

(E) None of their children will be color-deficient.

Answer 60

(B) Half of their sons will be color-deficient, but none of their daughters will.

Question 61

An individual suffering from damage to Wernicke’s area would most likely exhibit which of the following behaviors?

(A) Impaired comprehension of language

(B) An inability to determine what is socially acceptable behavior

(C) An explosive temper with even slight provocation

(D) An inability to form new memories

(E) An uncontrollable tremor of the hands

Answer 61

(A) Impaired comprehension of language

Question 62

Young children form rudimentary sentences that resemble telegrams even though they have never heard anyone make such utterances before. This is evidence of…

(A) reinforcement theory

(B) a universal grammar

(C) pragmatics

(D) semantics

(E) morphology

Answer 62

(B) a universal grammar

Question 63

A fixed action pattern is defined as a response to a…

(A) secondary reinforcer

(B) generalization gradient

(C) conditioned stimulus

(D) drop in reticular activity

(E) sign stimulus

Answer 63

(E) sign stimulus

Question 64

Based on research by Mary Ainsworth, which of the following best describes how an infant who has formed a secure maternal attachment would be expected to respond to the mother’s leaving and/or returning?

(A) Upon the mother’s return, the infant will be pleased to see her and will go to her to be held.

(B) Upon the mother’s return, the infant will cry and will cling to her.

(C) Upon the mother’s return, the infant will actively avoid her.

(D) The infant will not be upset by the mother’s leaving and will not go to the mother upon her return.

(E) The infant will cry and cling to the mother as she leaves and will continue to cry throughout the mother’s absence.

Answer 64

(A) Upon the mother’s return, the infant will be pleased to see her and will go to her to be held.

Question 65

Damaging the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus in rats will…

(A) impair the ability to acquire spatial information

(B) reduce the threshold for pain resulting from injury to the limbs

(C) promote the development of maternal behavior in males

(D) interfere with the biological clock that is synchronized with light

(E) decrease aggressive behavior directed at rats of the same sex

Answer 65

(D) interfere with the biological clock that is synchronized with light

Question 66

Which of the following increases the power of a statistical test?

(A) Changing alpha from .05 to .01

(B) Changing alpha from .10 to .01

(C) Changing from a two-tailed to a one-tailed test

(D) Using a smaller critical area in the distribution of sample means

(E) Decreasing the sample size from N = 100 to N = 75

Answer 66

(C) Changing from a two-tailed to a one-tailed test

Question 67

Aunt Sybil paid her first visit to her niece Angela when the baby was 3 months old. Aunt Sybil enjoyed holding and playing with the baby. Aunt Sybil visited again when Angela was 9 months old. She was dismayed when the little girl took one look at her and burst into tears. Angela was exhibiting a normal emotional reaction called…

(A) separation anxiety

(B) avoidant attachment

(C) ambivalent attachment

(D) emotional regulation

(E) stranger anxiety

Answer 67

(E) stranger anxiety

Question 68

Which of the following therapeutic techniques can be explained by classical conditioning principles?

(A) Modeling and implosion

(B) Modeling and systematic desensitization

(C) Modeling and token economies

(D) Systematic desensitization and flooding

(E) Systematic desensitization and token economies

Answer 68

(D) Systematic desensitization and flooding

Question 69

Joe’s therapist frequently exhibits genuineness and empathy toward Joe. These elements are defining features of which of the following therapeutic approaches?

(A) Existential

(B) Psychoanalytic

(C) Behavioral

(D) Cognitive

(E) Client-centered

Answer 69

(E) Client-centered

Question 70

According to evolutionary psychologists, which of the following is the primary reason that men tend to prefer as mates younger and more attractive women?

(A) These characteristics signal good health and ability to bear children.

(B) Modern societies all evolved from a single ancient culture in which the importance of these characteristics was noted.

(C) The belief that younger and attractive women tend to be especially attentive mothers is characteristic of many cultures.

(D) Young, attractive women arouse parental or caretaking impulses.

(E) Men’s preferences have been heavily shaped by images in the mass media.

Answer 70

(A) These characteristics signal good health and ability to bear children.

Question 71

Georgia sees a sign in the bathroom stall that says, “Do not write on the walls under any circumstances!” Georgia takes out her pen and begins to write all over the walls. According to social psychologists, Georgia is experiencing…

(A) selective avoidance

(B) trivialization

(C) reactance

(D) symbolic self-awareness

(E) jeer pressure

Answer 71

(C) reactance

Question 72

Eric is frustrated with one of his coworkers who displays no regard for the rights of others, no remorse when he abuses others, and a repeated pattern of stealing equipment and petty cash. It is most likely that this coworker has which of the following personality disorders?

(A) Antisocial

(B) Paranoid

(C) Narcissistic

(D) Histrionic

(E) Borderline

Answer 72

(A) Antisocial

Question 73

The tendency to attribute your successes to dispositional factors and your failures to situational factors is called the…

(A) autokinetic effect

(B) hostile attribution bias

(C) self-serving bias

(D) self-fulfilling prophecy

(E) fundamental attribution error

Answer 73

(C) self-serving bias

Question 74

Free will plays the greatest role in which of the following?

(A) Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory

(B) B. F. Skinner’s behaviorism

(C) Carl Rogers’ humanistic psychology

(D) Hans Eysenck’s trait model

(E) William Sheldon’s theory of somatotypes and temperament

Answer 74

(C) Carl Rogers’ humanistic psychology

Question 75

The figure above illustrates…

(A) a boundary extension

(B) a geon

(C) an illusory contour

(D) a mach band

(E) a texture gradient

Answer 75

(C) an illusory contour

Question 76

When studying moral development, Lawrence Kohlberg used moral dilemmas such as the Heinz dilemma, in which a husband must decide whether to steal a drug to prolong his wife’s life because they cannot afford the drug. A child who is in the conventional level of Kohlberg’s theory will use which reasoning when faced with the Heinz dilemma?

(A) It is against the law to steal, so the husband should not steal the drug.

(B) It is up to the husband to decide what he wants to do. If it is worth risking his life, he will steal the drug.

(C) The husband should not steal the drug because then he will have to go to jail.

(D) The husband should steal the drug because the value of human life outweighs the economic cost of the drug.

(E) The husband should steal the drug to avoid

Answer 76

(A) It is against the law to steal, so the husband should not steal the drug.

Question 77

What term is best used to describe the smallest meaningful unit of a language?

(A) Phone

(B) Phoneme

(C) Morpheme

(D) Syntax

(E) Semantic

Answer 77

(C) Morpheme

Question 78

According to Johnston and Heinz’s multimode theory of attention, why is it dangerous to drive an automobile while talking on a cell phone?

(A) Driving is an automatic task, but talking requires attentional resources.

(B) Talking on the phone results in the filtering of all other stimuli, including those relevant to driving.

(C) People can both talk and drive effectively, but they will not be able to remember anything about either the phone conversation or events related to driving.

(D) Both talking and driving require attentional resources, and adequate attentional resources may not be allocated to driving.

(E) Talking is an automatic task, but attentional resources need to be allocated to driving.

Answer 78

(D) Both talking and driving require attentional resources, and adequate attentional resources may not be allocated to driving.

Question 79

The transformation of energy into electrical impulses is…

(A) neural processing

(B) transduction

(C) sensation

(D) a difference threshold

(E) an energy current

Answer 79

(B) transduction

Question 80

As a color blindness test, Hector and his friends are asked to judge whether or not a red jelly bean is similar to the blue and green jelly beans in a jar. Hector’s friends all state that the red jelly bean is similar to the blue and green ones. Hector knows this is not true, but he gives the same answer. Hector’s behavior here is an example of which of the following concepts?

(A) Private conformity

(B) Private self-consciousness

(C) Public conformity

(D) Public self-consciousness

(E) Public goods dilemma

Answer 80

(C) Public conformity

Question 81

The action potential is triggered at which of the following parts of a neuron?

(A) Dendrite

(B) Soma

(C) Terminal button

(D) Axon hillock

(E) Spine

Answer 81

(D) Axon hillock

Question 82

What function is served by the white myelin sheath that may cover an axon?

(A) It protects the axon from overheating.

(B) It protects the axon from microorganisms.

(C) It increases the speed of the electrical impulses.

(D) It provides the axon with nutrients.

(E) It prohibits the axon from carrying impulses.

Answer 82

(C) It increases the speed of the electrical impulses.

Question 83

Which of the following is the name given to the process of differentiating oneself from others by emphasizing one’s uniqueness?

(A) Personality

(B) Impression formation

(C) Deindividuation

(D) Individuation

(E) Social categorization

Answer 83

(D) Individuation

Question 84

Gonadal hormones can act early in life to irreversibly determine a rat’s mate selection through effects referred to as…

(A) activational

(B) distributional

(C) initiating

(D) organizational

(E) triggering

Answer 84

(D) organizational

Question 85

Which of the following theories places the greatest emphasis on the effects of early childhood experiences on personality?

(A) Psychodynamic

(B) Humanistic

(C) Trait

(D) Social cognitive

(E) Behavioral

Answer 85

(A) Psychodynamic

Question 86

A neuron that receives excitation from other neurons and conducts impulses from its soma in the spinal cord to muscle or gland cells is called a…

(A) sensory neuron

(B) motor neuron

(C) neuroglia

(D) oligodendrocyte

(E) Schwann cell

Answer 86

(B) motor neuron

Question 87

The inability to recognize a once-familiar face, while still being able to accurately describe elements of the face, is a characteristic symptom of…

(A) amnesia

(B) blindsight

(C) prosopagnosia

(D) sensory neglect

(E) transcortical aphasia

Answer 87

(C) prosopagnosia

Question 88

When Latoya was younger, she decided which ice cream cone was bigger by always picking the taller one. Now that she’s eight years old, she makes more-accurate choices by considering the width and depth of the cone as well as its height. Latoya has learned to…

(A) assimilate

(B) use seriation

(C) show formal operations

(D) display class inclusion

(E) decenter

Answer 88

(E) decenter

Question 89

Of the following, which is the most plausible source of deficits such as inability to recognize faces, tendency to ignore the left half of the body, and difficulty perceiving visual motion?

(A) Different kinds of dietary deficiencies

(B) Inadequate development through different Piagetian stages

(C) Fixation at different Freudian stages

(D) Damage to different areas of the brain

(E) Deficits of different neurotransmitters

Answer 89

(D) Damage to different areas of the brain

Question 90

Ability derived directly from previous experience is known as…

(A) crystallized intelligence

(B) fluid intelligence

(C) formal operations

(D) concrete operations

(E) prospective memory

Answer 90

(A) crystallized intelligence

Question 91

Cohorts born in different decades have been found to differ in their personality characteristics during adolescence. Such findings most directly suggest that personality development…

(A) follows a different course for males and for females during late childhood

(B) is influenced primarily by hormonal factors

(C) is based on experience during a critical period in early childhood

(D) is influenced by the historical context in which it occurs

(E) is influenced more by peers than by parents during adolescence

Answer 91

(D) is influenced by the historical context in which it occurs

Question 92

“Of several responses made to the same situation, those which are accompanied or closely followed by satisfaction to the animal will, other things being equal, be more firmly connected with the situation . . . ; those which are accompanied or closely followed by discomfort to the animal will, other things being equal, have their connections with that situation weakened.” The statement above was written by…

(A) Albert Bandura

(B) Edwin Guthrie

(C) Ivan Pavlov

(D) B. F. Skinner

(E) Edward Thorndike

Answer 92

(E) Edward Thorndike

Question 93

When Dr. Elkin interviewed Michael, she found that his behavior was very strange and his thinking seemed paranoid and bizarre. Michael seemed to be having a conversation with his mother, who he insisted was sitting in the room with him, although she had died two years earlier. When Michael spoke to Dr. Elkin, he told her that the cashiers at the local grocery store were intentionally contaminating the cereals and bottled water he customarily purchased. On one occasion he harmed a cashier as she picked up the telephone to do a price check. In explaining his action, Michael insisted that he heard his mother’s voice over the loudspeaker telling him to hurt the cashier.

Shortly after the death of his mother, Michael quit college, terminated all his social relationships and began an unhealthy diet consisting exclusively of sweetened cereals and water. Last year, Michael’s father had taken him to see a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Michael as having schizophrenia, and recommended psychotherapy and antipsychotic medication, but Michael vehemently refused both. Michael’s father indicated that Michael’s grandfather also had been classified as exhibiting schizophrenia.

Which of the following best represents Michael’s mental disorder according to the diathesis-stress model?

Diathesis Stress

(A) Genetic history of schizophrenia Death of his mother

(B) Death of his mother Genetic history of schizophrenia

(C) Genetic history of schizophrenia Paranoid beliefs

(D) Death of his mother Paranoid beliefs

(E) Dropping out of college Death of his mother

Answer 93

Diathesis Stress

(A) Genetic history of schizophrenia Death of his mother

Question 94

When Dr. Elkin interviewed Michael, she found that his behavior was very strange and his thinking seemed paranoid and bizarre. Michael seemed to be having a conversation with his mother, who he insisted was sitting in the room with him, although she had died two years earlier. When Michael spoke to Dr. Elkin, he told her that the cashiers at the local grocery store were intentionally contaminating the cereals and bottled water he customarily purchased. On one occasion he harmed a cashier as she picked up the telephone to do a price check. In explaining his action, Michael insisted that he heard his mother’s voice over the loudspeaker telling him to hurt the cashier.

Shortly after the death of his mother, Michael quit college, terminated all his social relationships and began an unhealthy diet consisting exclusively of sweetened cereals and water. Last year, Michael’s father had taken him to see a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Michael as having schizophrenia, and recommended psychotherapy and antipsychotic medication, but Michael vehemently refused both. Michael’s father indicated that Michael’s grandfather also had been classified as exhibiting schizophrenia.

Michael’s false belief that the cashiers were plotting against him is an example of…

(A) a hallucination

(B) a delusion

(C) a cognitive distortion

(D) an attribution error

(E) a dysfunctional attitude

Answer 94

(B) a delusion

Question 95

When Dr. Elkin interviewed Michael, she found that his behavior was very strange and his thinking seemed paranoid and bizarre. Michael seemed to be having a conversation with his mother, who he insisted was sitting in the room with him, although she had died two years earlier. When Michael spoke to Dr. Elkin, he told her that the cashiers at the local grocery store were intentionally contaminating the cereals and bottled water he customarily purchased. On one occasion he harmed a cashier as she picked up the telephone to do a price check. In explaining his action, Michael insisted that he heard his mother’s voice over the loudspeaker telling him to hurt the cashier.

Shortly after the death of his mother, Michael quit college, terminated all his social relationships and began an unhealthy diet consisting exclusively of sweetened cereals and water. Last year, Michael’s father had taken him to see a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Michael as having schizophrenia, and recommended psychotherapy and antipsychotic medication, but Michael vehemently refused both. Michael’s father indicated that Michael’s grandfather also had been classified as exhibiting schizophrenia.

Michael reported that he harmed the cashier in response to an instruction from his dead mother. This phenomenon is called…

(A) a delusion of reference

(B) a somatic delusion

(C) a gustatory hallucination

(D) a command hallucination

(E) magical thinking

Answer 95

(D) a command hallucination

Question 96

When Dr. Elkin interviewed Michael, she found that his behavior was very strange and his thinking seemed paranoid and bizarre. Michael seemed to be having a conversation with his mother, who he insisted was sitting in the room with him, although she had died two years earlier. When Michael spoke to Dr. Elkin, he told her that the cashiers at the local grocery store were intentionally contaminating the cereals and bottled water he customarily purchased. On one occasion he harmed a cashier as she picked up the telephone to do a price check. In explaining his action, Michael insisted that he heard his mother’s voice over the loudspeaker telling him to hurt the cashier.

Shortly after the death of his mother, Michael quit college, terminated all his social relationships and began an unhealthy diet consisting exclusively of sweetened cereals and water. Last year, Michael’s father had taken him to see a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Michael as having schizophrenia, and recommended psychotherapy and antipsychotic medication, but Michael vehemently refused both. Michael’s father indicated that Michael’s grandfather also had been classified as exhibiting schizophrenia.

Which section of a report would most likely include a description of Michael’s life experiences that are relevant to his mental disorder?

(A) Diagnosis

(B) Mental status

(C) General assessment of functioning

(D) Treatment plan

(E) Psychosocial history

Answer 96

(E) Psychosocial history

Question 97

When Dr. Elkin interviewed Michael, she found that his behavior was very strange and his thinking seemed paranoid and bizarre. Michael seemed to be having a conversation with his mother, who he insisted was sitting in the room with him, although she had died two years earlier. When Michael spoke to Dr. Elkin, he told her that the cashiers at the local grocery store were intentionally contaminating the cereals and bottled water he customarily purchased. On one occasion he harmed a cashier as she picked up the telephone to do a price check. In explaining his action, Michael insisted that he heard his mother’s voice over the loudspeaker telling him to hurt the cashier.

Shortly after the death of his mother, Michael quit college, terminated all his social relationships and began an unhealthy diet consisting exclusively of sweetened cereals and water. Last year, Michael’s father had taken him to see a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Michael as having schizophrenia, and recommended psychotherapy and antipsychotic medication, but Michael vehemently refused both. Michael’s father indicated that Michael’s grandfather also had been classified as exhibiting schizophrenia.

In the case of Michael, which of the following statements is true regarding the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

(A) Hearing voices is a positive symptom.

(B) The fact that Michael’s grandfather had schizophrenia is a positive symptom.

(C) The perception of his mother instructing him to harm the cashier is a negative symptom.

(D) Michael’s vehement refusal to take medication is a negative symptom.

(E) Michael’s unhealthy diet is a negative symptom.

Answer 97

(A) Hearing voices is a positive symptom.

Question 98

Which of the following approaches to assessment of intelligence is most consistent with the theories of both Howard Gardner and Robert Sternberg?

(A) Using biological indexes of intelligence instead of the Stanford-Binet IQ test

(B) Narrowing the definition of intelligence to include fewer key skill areas

(C) Increasing the reliability of IQ tests

(D) Increasing the emphasis on measuring g rather than specific abilities

(E) Increasing the emphasis on measuring specific abilities rather than g

Answer 98

(E) Increasing the emphasis on measuring specific abilities rather than g

Question 99

Personality disorders are characterized by which specific symptoms?

(A) Permanent severe deficits of cognitive functioning

(B) Loss of contact with reality

(C) Long-term maladaptive traits and behavior patterns

(D) Unexplained physical symptoms

(E) Extreme alternations in mood

Answer 99

(C) Long-term maladaptive traits and behavior patterns

Question 100

Which of the following are two competing theories of color vision that describe events that take place at different levels of the nervous system?

(A) Frequency versus place

(B) Trichromatic versus opponent-process

(C) Specificity versus pattern

(D) Frequency versus pattern

(E) Trichromatic versus specificity

Answer 100

(B) Trichromatic versus opponent-process

Question 101

Smokers were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Those in the experimental group were told that they would be listening to tapes with subliminal messages urging them to quit smoking. Those in the control group did not listen to the tapes, nor were they told about them. A week after listening to the tapes, members of the experimental group had decreased their smoking significantly more than members of the control group. The investigator concluded that listening to the subliminal messages reduces smoking. Which of the following, if true, casts the greatest doubt on the investigator’s conclusion?

(A) During the week, some participants in the control group read articles on the hazards of smoking.

(B) During the week, only a few of the experimental participants reduced their smoking appreciably.

(C) Participants in the experimental group were influenced by their expectations of the tapes’ effects.

(D) The two groups had similar initial (baseline) smoking rates.

(E) The two groups were both quite large, but unequal in size.

Answer 101

(C) Participants in the experimental group were influenced by their expectations of the tapes’ effects.

Question 102

A researcher conducted a study to determine the effects of gender and status on the perceived credibility of an eyewitness testifying in a trial. Participants watched one of four video recordings depicting the eyewitness and rated the credibility of the eyewitness.

What type of design was used in this study?

(A) Between-subjects

(B) Within-subjects

(C) Between- and within-subjects

(D) Multivariate correlational

(E) Longitudinal

Answer 102

(A) Between-subjects

Question 103

A researcher conducted a study to determine the effects of gender and status on the perceived credibility of an eyewitness testifying in a trial. Participants watched one of four video recordings depicting the eyewitness and rated the credibility of the eyewitness.

In order to determine whether gender, as a specific variable, had an effect on perceived credibility of the eyewitness, which of the following must be significant?

(A) The main effect of gender

(B) A post hoc analysis of gender

(C) The main effect of status

(D) A post hoc analysis of status

(E) The interaction between gender and status

Answer 103

(A) The main effect of gender

Question 104

Correlations of IQ scores are highest for which of the following pairs?

(A) Mother and child, when the child is reared by both birth parents

(B) Father and child, when the child is reared by both birth parents

(C) Siblings reared together in a birth family

(D) Monozygotic twins reared apart in adoptive families

(E) Dizygotic twins reared together in a birth family

Answer 104

(D) Monozygotic twins reared apart in adoptive families

Question 105

Melody exclaims, “I got a C- on the statistics exam, and I was miserable until I thought how terrible it must be for those who got F’s.” Melody’s attitude is an example of which of the following?

(A) Social facilitation

(B) Social comparison

(C) Social anxiety

(D) Social learning

(E) Social validation

Answer 105

(B) Social comparison

Question 106

Damage to which area of the brain leads to a decrease in physically aggressive behavior and social rank?

(A) Lateral hypothalamus

(B) Hippocampus

(C) Amygdala

(D) Basal ganglia

(E) Medial geniculate

Answer 106

(C) Amygdala

Question 107

Consider the following version of an interference task.

As fast as possible, say how many items are in each row for set 1 and for set 2.

Set 1__Set 2

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If participants can say how many items are in set 1 faster than they can say how many are in set 2, the result is most consistent with

(A) task-general resources

(B) the pop-out effect

(C) context-dependent memory

(D) the Stroop effect

(E) task-specific resources

Answer 107

(D) the Stroop effect

Question 108

Researchers using a variety of methods, peoples, and cultures have concluded that five major personality traits exist. The traits are…

(A) sociability, suspiciousness, practicality, dependency, and shyness

(B) enthusiasm, calmness, adventure, docility, and hypochondria

(C) extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience

(D) obedience, self-control, astuteness, tension, and self-criticism

(E) emotional stability, apprehension, social awareness, independence, and avoidance

Answer 108

(C) extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience

Question 109

Mel is doing very well academically in college, but feels academically incompetent. His therapist has instructed him to explain in writing how his hard work and personal abilities contributed to each of the good grades he received during the previous semester. This activity is characteristic of which of the following therapeutic approaches?

(A) Psychoanalytic

(B) Cognitive

(C) Biomedical

(D) Behavioral

(E) Gestalt

Answer 109

(B) Cognitive

Question 110

The Flynn effect is the phenomenon of…

(A) the gradual increase in IQ scores over the last century

(B) higher IQ scores among children who were breast-fed

(C) higher IQ scores among people with higher levels of education

(D) a stronger correlation between the IQ scores of monozygotic twins than between those of dizygotic twins

(E) a stronger correlation between the IQ scores of siblings reared together than between those of siblings reared apart

Answer 110

(A) the gradual increase in IQ scores over the last century

Question 111

In which of the following cognitive tasks do the performances of older adults show the greatest difference compared to the scores of young adults?

(A) Divided attention task

(B) Recognition memory of narrative

(C) Recognition memory of word list

(D) Semantic memory test

(E) Implicit memory test

Answer 111

(A) Divided attention task

Question 112

Sertraline (Zoloft® ) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are designed to treat depression by…

(A) altering genetic factors

(B) increasing production of norepinephrine

(C) increasing metabolism of epinephrine

(D) decreasing levels of dopamine in the synapse

(E) decreasing reuptake of serotonin

Answer 112

(E) decreasing reuptake of serotonin

Question 113

According to current conceptions, working memory is characterized by…

(A) stress on episodic rather than semantic memory

(B) its unitary nature

(C) maintenance of information in current use

(D) greater importance for procedural than for declarative memory

(E) required use of mnemonics

Answer 113

(C) maintenance of information in current use

Question 114

Before taking an exam, Sinead imagines that she will get the worst grade in the class, even though she usually performs very well. Imagining the worst seems to help her deal with the anxiety associated with the exam. What term best describes Sinead’s strategy?

(A) Intrinsic motivation

(B) Defensive pessimism

(C) Self-handicapping

(D) Self-monitoring

(E) Self-regulation

Answer 114

(B) Defensive pessimism

Question 115

A patient is administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-RF® (MMPI-2-RF® ) by an experienced clinician. The clinician concludes that the patient has schizophrenia. The clinician’s diagnosis best supports which of the following additional conclusions?

(A) The patient’s pattern of responses to the MMPI-2-RF® resembles that of people who are known to have schizophrenia.

(B) A brief interview with the patient would reveal that the patient harbors delusions of grandeur.

(C) The clinician’s interpretation of the MMPI-2-RF® findings is based on knowledge of projective testing.

(D) The patient received a low score on the lie scale of the MMPI-2-RF® .

(E) The patient received a high score on the lie scale of the MMPI-2-RF® .

Answer 115

(A) The patient’s pattern of responses to the MMPI-2-RF® resembles that of people who are known to have schizophrenia.

Question 116

Some students were informed by their teacher that they had scored high on their aptitude tests and had strong potential for academic achievement. Consequently, those students started participating more in class and studying longer hours to achieve high grades. This is an example of what social construct?

(A) Fundamental attribution error

(B) Elaboration likelihood model

(C) Cognitive dissonance

(D) Norm crystallization

(E) Self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 116

(E) Self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 117

Between eight and ten months of age, babies will watch a parent’s face in a new situation before responding to the situation themselves. This monitoring of adults’ emotional reactions is called…

(A) temperament

(B) behavioral inhibition

(C) social referencing

(D) synchrony

(E) emotional display

Answer 117

(C) social referencing

Question 118

Which of the following techniques of studying the brain involves the use of x-rays?

(A) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

(B) Computed tomography (CT)

(C) Electroencephalography (EEG)

(D) Immunohistochemistry

(E) Microiontophoresis

Answer 118

(B) Computed tomography (CT)

Question 119

Damage to the lateral hypothalamus of rats is known to produce deficits in regulation of…

(A) respiration

(B) pupillary reflexes

(C) sleep

(D) eating and drinking

(E) oxytocin levels

Answer 119

(D) eating and drinking

Question 120

According to a current model, learned helplessness in humans is determined by causal explanations of prior uncontrollable events. These causal explanations are referred to as…

(A) aggregation

(B) attributions

(C) circular reasoning

(D) personal constructs

(E) valuations

Answer 120

(B) attributions

Question 121

Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are most often characteristic of…

(A) substance-induced persisting amnestic disorder

(B) Alzheimer’s disease

(C) Parkinson’s disease

(D) bipolar disorder

(E) schizophrenia

Answer 121

(B) Alzheimer’s disease

Question 122

Participants in an experiment are asked to look at a display and to find the one straight line among a number of circles. The participants are able to find the line just as quickly among twenty circles as they are among five circles. These results suggest that finding the straight line depends on…

(A) a preattentive process

(B) serial processing

(C) shape constancy

(D) size constancy

(E) habituation

Answer 122

(A) a preattentive process

Question 123

When asked to name all of the states in the United States, Steven mentally pictures a map and starts naming states from west to east. Steven’s strategy is useful during the process of…

(A) retrieval

(B) encoding

(C) storage

(D) flashbulb memory

(E) selective attention

Answer 123

(A) retrieval

Question 124

Albert recently noticed that he has difficulty hearing people at crowded parties even though his hearing seems fine in quiet surroundings. He most likely has damage to his…

(A) pinna

(B) eardrum

(C) stapes

(D) oval window

(E) hair cells

Answer 124

(E) hair cells

Question 125

John recently moved to a large city and experienced an increase in the level of noise. His new home was located adjacent to a railroad track. The rail service was frequent and maintained a consistent schedule. John was awakened frequently each night as trains passed his home. However, after several months he was not awakened and he became less aware of the trains passing by his home. What mechanism accounts for John’s adaptation to his environment?

(A) Orienting response

(B) Sensitization

(C) Habituation

(D) Conditioned response

(E) Conditioned stimulus

Answer 125

(C) Habituation

Question 126

Which of the following tests measures ability, intellect, and knowledge?

(A) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-RF® (MMPI-2-RF® )

(B) Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

(C) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS® –IV)

(D) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI® )

(E) Strong Interest Inventory®

Answer 126

(C) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS® –IV)

Question 127

Which of the following is a chronic condition that can cause anterograde amnesia in some people?

(A) Alcoholism

(B) Fibromyalgia

(C) Muscular dystrophy

(D) Panic disorder

(E) Bipolar disorder

Answer 127

(A) Alcoholism

Question 128

Lo is an advocate of personal construct theory. Which of the following processes does Lo believe are most important in the study of personality?

(A) Biological

(B) Unconscious

(C) Cultural

(D) Emotional

(E) Cognitive

Answer 128

(E) Cognitive

Question 129

According to Albert Bandura’s approach to observational learning, which of the following is the best example of vicarious punishment?

(A) A child stops throwing pencils after watching a teacher scold another child for throwing a pencil across the room.

(B) A child watches a teacher say to another child, “You did so well on that homework that you do not need to take the test tomorrow.”

(C) A child acquires a schema about the difference between socially punished behavior and socially rewarded behavior.

(D) A child escapes punishment by cleaning up a mess before anyone notices it.

(E) A child is punished on a variable ratio schedule, rather than being punished every time a mistake is made.

Answer 129

(A) A child stops throwing pencils after watching a teacher scold another child for throwing a pencil across the room.

Question 130

A psychologist who studies aggression from a social-cognitive theoretical perspective would be most interested in…

(A) differences in aggressive and nonaggressive children’s attributions of hostile motives to other people’s behavior

(B) the adaptive value of the aggression

(C) the relation between children’s level of aggression and parents’ negative reinforcement of children’s coercive behaviors

(D) the link between testosterone levels and frequencies of aggressive episodes in adolescent males

(E) changes over time in the incidence of diagnoses of conduct disorders

Answer 130

(A) differences in aggressive and nonaggressive children’s attributions of hostile motives to other people’s behavior

Question 131

Cephalocaudal development refers to development that proceeds from…

(A) the trunk outward

(B) head to tail

(C) bottom to top

(D) the perimeter toward the center

(E) the general to the specific

Answer 131

(B) head to tail

Question 132

Which of the following best states the major shortcomings of the place and the frequency-matching (volley) theories of audition?

(A) Neither theory can be studied empirically.

(B) Initial evidence in support of these theories cannot be replicated.

(C) Neither theory can account for auditory disorders that are caused by structural defects in the temporal lobe.

(D) Place theory applies primarily to loud sounds, whereas frequency-matching theory applies primarily to barely audible sounds.

(E) Place theory does not explain the coding of very low frequencies, whereas frequency matching theory does not explain the coding of very high frequencies.

Answer 132

(E) Place theory does not explain the coding of very low frequencies, whereas frequency matching theory does not explain the coding of very high frequencies.

Question 133

Which of the following represents the correct order of stages in Bibb Latané and John Darley’s model of helping?

I. Interpretation

II. Knowing how to help

III. Noticing

IV. Perception of responsibility

V. Deciding to help

(A) I, III, V, IV, II

(B) III, I, IV, II, V

(C) III, IV, I, II, V

(D) III, IV, II, V, I

(E) III, IV, I, V, II

Answer 133

(B) III, I, IV, II, V

Question 134

What is a limitation of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s stages of coping with death (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) ?

(A) The stages are not relevant to terminally ill patients.

(B) The stages are based on a study with fewer than twenty individuals.

(C) Not all people experience every stage.

(D) Few people in Western cultures experience the depression stage.

(E) The stages are generally not relevant to younger adults.

Answer 134

(C) Not all people experience every stage.

Question 135

According to Carl Jung, there are tendencies that shape human behavior and can be represented by terms such as “the hero” or “the shadow.” Such tendencies are known as…

(A) personas

(B) traits

(C) schemas

(D) archetypes

(E) complexes

Answer 135

(D) archetypes

Question 136

If a student hears a list of words such as night, bed, pillow, blanket, dream, and snore, she is likely to later remember the word sleep even though it was never presented. This can best be explained by…

(A) the activation of schematic knowledge

(B) high sensitivity in a signal detection model

(C) appropriate use of rote recall

(D) a failure of the encoding specificity mechanism

(E) too much retroactive interference

Answer 136

(A) the activation of schematic knowledge

Question 137

Which of the following statements about subliminal messages is most accurate?

(A) Visual messages are more effective than auditory messages in influencing attitude and behavior change.

(B) There is evidence they can influence short-term attitude change.

(C) They are one of the most common techniques used by advertisers to influence attitude and behavior change.

(D) They are more effective than personal testimonial advertising campaigns in influencing attitude and behavior change.

(E) They are consciously perceived by participants nearly 100% of the time.

Answer 137

(B) There is evidence they can influence short-term attitude change.

Question 138

Brain imaging techniques have shown that compared to unaffected individuals, individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have…

(A) enlarged ventricles and a reduction of the prefrontal cortex

(B) reduced ventricles and a reduction of the parietal cortex

(C) an enlarged parietal cortex and a reduction of the hypothalamus

(D) lesions in the parietal lobe and increased cells in the orbital frontal cortex

(E) lesions in the temporal lobe and increased cells in the prefrontal cortex

Answer 138

(A) enlarged ventricles and a reduction of the prefrontal cortex

Question 139

According to Edward Tolman, behavior is best understood as…

(A) molar and purposive

(B) a collection of S-R connections

(C) a series of associated muscle twitches

(D) a consequence of trial-and-error learning

(E) the expression of underlying psychodynamic conflicts

Answer 139

(A) molar and purposive

Question 140

Research by Solomon Asch supports which of the following?

(A) Conformity increases as group size increases from two people to four or five people.

(B) The presence of one dissenter in a group is not strong enough to reduce conformity.

(C) Higher levels of conformity are found in individualistic societies than in collectivist societies.

(D) A person’s behavior changes when that person plays a role as a prisoner or prison guard in an experiment.

(E) Individuals will follow orders to shock innocent strangers.

Answer 140

(A) Conformity increases as group size increases from two people to four or five people.

Question 141

Which of the following is most commonly associated with creative thinking?

(A) Convergent thinking

(B) Divergent thinking

(C) Representativeness heuristic

(D) Availability heuristic

(E) Functional fixedness

Answer 141

(B) Divergent thinking

Question 142

In which of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development is the central task to develop and exercise self-control and independence?

(A) Trust versus mistrust

(B) Autonomy versus shame and doubt

(C) Initiative versus guilt

(D) Industry versus inferiority

(E) Generativity versus stagnation

Answer 142

(B) Autonomy versus shame and doubt

Question 143

A recent article in an educational journal described a university at which the average age is 26. This article also mentioned that 38 percent of the students are over 25 years of age. What can be concluded from this information?

(A) The median age must be greater than the mean age.

(B) The standard deviation must be relatively small.

(C) The mode must be either 25 or 26.

(D) The distribution must be skewed.

(E) The distribution must be bimodal.

Answer 143

(D) The distribution must be skewed.

Question 144

Which of the following concepts does the figure above illustrate?

(A) The general adaptation syndrome

(B) An intermittent schedule of reinforcement

(C) A continuous schedule of reinforcement

(D) The diathesis-stress model

(E) Signal detection theory

Answer 144

(A) The general adaptation syndrome

Question 145

When people first sense a new stimulus, only temporary changes in neurons take place, but eventually more permanent changes occur. This is called…

(A) consolidation

(B) transduction

(C) a reverberating circuit

(D) confabulation

(E) rehearsal

Answer 145

(A) consolidation

Question 146

If adjacent lights flash on and off in sequence, individuals will often perceive apparent motion even though there is no motion. This experience is referred to as…

(A) linear perspective

(B) texture gradient

(C) motion parallax

(D) the phi phenomenon

(E) the Ponzo illusion

Answer 146

(D) the phi phenomenon

Question 147

An experimenter predicts that bright colors enhance creativity. She provides brightly colored crayons to the first 15 children who show up for an experiment and muted colored crayons for the remaining 15. She then examines their drawings and judges the brightly colored drawings to be more creative. The study is flawed because it lacks…

(A) a double-blind procedure and an independent variable

(B) an independent variable and demand characteristics

(C) demand characteristics and a dependent variable

(D) a dependent variable and random assignment

(E) random assignment and a double-blind procedure

Answer 147

(E) random assignment and a double-blind procedure

Question 148

Which of the following is an example of a self-conscious emotion?

(A) Joy

(B) Fear

(C) Guilt

(D) Sadness

(E) Disgust

Answer 148

(C) Guilt

Question 149

A behavioral approach to personality would argue that the root of pathology lies in…

(A) unrealistic beliefs

(B) maladaptive learned-response patterns

(C) disordered functioning of construct systems

(D) fixation and regression

(E) incongruence

Answer 149

(B) maladaptive learned-response patterns

Question 150

Five randomly selected groups of participants are shown a list of words, one word at a time. Each group of participants is assigned a different task to perform on each word on the list. After completing the list, the participants are given a surprise test for recall of the words. Which of the following assigned tasks is most likely to result in the best recall?

(A) Counting the number of vowels in each of the words

(B) Indicating whether each of the words contains the letter “t”

(C) Producing a rhyme for each of the words

(D) Saying each of the words three times in rapid succession

(E) Producing a synonym for each of the words

Answer 150

(E) Producing a synonym for each of the words

Question 151

Participants are asked to look at a picnic scene and to indicate several ways that the people in the scene might deal with a sudden rainstorm. One of the objects in the scene is a picnic basket. However, most of the participants fail to notice that the basket could be used as a protection from the rain. This failure is most likely a manifestation of…

(A) the Purkinje effect

(B) the availability heuristic

(C) the law of common fate

(D) functional fixedness

(E) illusory correlation

Answer 151

(D) functional fixedness

Question 152

In a lexical decision task, two groups of participants are instructed to make a fast decision on whether each item is or is not an English word. The first group of participants is presented with the word “robin,” followed by the word “bird.” The second group is presented with the word “chair,” followed by the word “bird.” The first group’s responses to “bird” will most likely be…

(A) slower because of Stroop-like interference

(B) slower because of lateral inhibition

(C) slower because of a sequence effect

(D) faster because of semantic priming

(E) faster because of response bias

Answer 152

(D) faster because of semantic priming

Question 153

The antianxiety effects of benzodiazepines such as diazepam result from their binding with the receptor for which of the following neurotransmitters found in the amygdala?

(A) Serotonin

(B) Acetylcholine

(C) Substance P

(D) Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

(E) Norepinephrine

Answer 153

(D) Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Question 154

The fact that Laura still knows how to ride a bicycle even though she has not ridden one in ten years best exemplifies which of the following types of memory?

(A) Procedural

(B) Propositional

(C) Semantic

(D) Episodic

(E) Iconic

Answer 154

(A) Procedural

Question 155

A persistent, unreasonable, and unwanted thought is known as…

(A) a negative symptom

(B) a hallucination

(C) a compulsion

(D) an obsession

(E) a fugue

Answer 155

(D) an obsession

Question 156

Which of the following distinguishes experts from novices in many fields of endeavor?

(A) More social connections

(B) Speed in recognizing relevant complex patterns

(C) Innate talent for performing in the particular field

(D) Greater short-term memory capacity

(E) Shorter reaction times to simple stimuli

Answer 156

(B) Speed in recognizing relevant complex patterns

Question 157

Randy is exceptionally organized. For example, he color codes all his bills and alphabetizes the groceries in his cupboards. According to Freud’s theory, Randy is most likely fixated at which stage of psychosexual development?

(A) Oral

(B) Anal

(C) Phallic

(D) Latent

(E) Genital

Answer 157

(B) Anal

Question 158

Which of the following psychological schools of thought was heavily influenced by pragmatism?

(A) Structuralism

(B) Functionalism

(C) Gestalt

(D) Evolutionary

(E) Humanistic

Answer 158

(B) Functionalism

Question 159

Consider the diagram above in which the outcomes for two people (Joanne and Malik) are represented as a series of numbers, depending on their own behavior and the behavior of the other person. A scientist uses these outcomes to predict the likely behavior of each of the individuals. The scientist is most likely studying which of the following?

(A) Self-perception

(B) Cognitive heuristics

(C) The self-fulfilling prophecy

(D) Attribution theory

(E) Social exchange

Answer 159

(E) Social exchange

Question 160

Who is reported to be the first researcher to utilize a twin studies methodology in attempting to resolve the nature-nurture controversy?

(A) Sigmund Freud

(B) Francis Galton

(C) Carl Jung

(D) James Watson

(E) Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 160

(B) Francis Galton

Question 161

Eliciting sympathy in order to create a positive impression is consistent with which of the following self-presentation strategies?

(A) Modesty

(B) Intimidation

(C) Exemplification

(D) Supplication

(E) Conformity

Answer 161

(D) Supplication

Question 162

Which of the following statements describes normative influence?

(A) The process by which we come to evaluate and know others

(B) The tendency for impressions of others to be heavily influenced by information gathered early in an interaction

(C) A set of theories describing how people explain causes of behavior

(D) Conformity motivated by a fear of social rejection

(E) Conformity motivated by the belief that others are correct

Answer 162

(D) Conformity motivated by a fear of social rejection

Question 163

A group of researchers was interested in learning whether a newly developed exam would be useful in determining whether a student will be successful in college. The researchers designed a study in which students took the new exam prior to entering college. At the conclusion of the first year of college, the students took another exam, which was designed to measure how much information they had learned during their first year. The score on this exam was then correlated with the student’s score on the newly developed exam. What type of validity was being evaluated in the study?

(A) Concurrent

(B) Predictive

(C) Face

(D) Discriminant

(E) Content

Answer 163

(B) Predictive

Question 164

Which of the following hormones is responsible for preparing the uterus for the implantation of an ovum that has been fertilized?

(A) Progesterone

(B) Melatonin

(C) Oxytocin

(D) Vasopressin

(E) Aldosterone

Answer 164

(A) Progesterone

Question 165

An adolescent who says, “I won’t become ill from smoking; I never get sick,” is most likely operating under which aspect of egocentrism?

(A) Personal fable

(B) Imaginary audience

(C) Deductive reasoning

(D) Immanent justice

(E) Hypothetical reasoning

Answer 165

(A) Personal fable

Question 166

Alfred Adler developed his theory of individual psychology as a result of his disagreement with which of the following?

(A) Carl Roger’s belief that human growth is dependent on unconditional positive regard

(B) Sigmund Freud’s emphasis on universal biological forces in the personality

(C) Albert Bandura’s focus on reciprocal determinism as a key factor in shaping personality

(D) Gordon Allport’s belief that personality is made up of individual fundamental traits

(E) Abraham Maslow’s emphasis on a hierarchy of needs in creating motivation

Answer 166

(B) Sigmund Freud’s emphasis on universal biological forces in the personality

Question 167

Which school of psychology rejected the concept of consciousness and defined psychology as an objective natural science?

(A) Structuralism

(B) Functionalism

(C) Behaviorism

(D) Humanistic psychology

(E) Gestalt psychology

Answer 167

(C) Behaviorism

Question 168

Which of the following is a memory store that is highly sensitive to masking stimuli presented within 200–300 milliseconds of the presentation of an array of letters?

(A) Sensory memory

(B) Short-term memory

(C) Working memory

(D) Implicit memory

(E) Semantic memory

Answer 168

(A) Sensory memory

Question 169

The neural hub of the central executive portion of working memory is thought to be located in the…

(A) prefrontal cortex

(B) somatosensory cortex

(C) brainstem

(D) temporal lobe

(E) occipital lobe

Answer 169

(A) prefrontal cortex

Question 170

In an experimental procedure, an animal receives a half second of foot shock, then a half second of no stimulus, and then a tone. In a later presentation of the tone, the animal displays a fear response. This result most likely indicates the occurrence of…

(A) backward conditioning

(B) forward conditioning

(C) delayed conditioning

(D) simultaneous conditioning

(E) operant conditioning

Answer 170

(A) backward conditioning

Question 171

In what way does delirium differ from dementia?

(A) Delirium is a permanent state, whereas dementia is a temporary state.

(B) Delirium is a temporary state, whereas dementia is a permanent state.

(C) Delirium can result from the use of substances, whereas dementia cannot result from the use of substances.

(D) Delirium is sometimes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, whereas dementia is never associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

(E) Delirium affects younger people, whereas dementia affects older people.

Answer 171

(B) Delirium is a temporary state, whereas dementia is a permanent state.

Question 172

The full Moon looks much larger when it is on the horizon than when it is high in the sky. Which of the following is the best explanation for this phenomenon?

(A) More rods are stimulated by the Moon when it is just above the horizon than when it is high in the sky.

(B) Size judgment is based on visual cues between the viewer and the image of the Moon.

(C) Brightness constancy cues are disrupted by interfering stimulation.

(D) The image of the Moon high in the sky exceeds the difference threshold.

(E) Judgment is based on the Gestalt principle of proximity.

Answer 172

(B) Size judgment is based on visual cues between the viewer and the image of the Moon.

Question 173

When newborn baby Yasmin’s cheek is stroked, she turns her head in the direction of the stimulus. Which reflex is Yasmin demonstrating?

(A) Moro

(B) Babinski

(C) Palmar

(D) Tonic neck

(E) Rooting

Answer 173

(E) Rooting

Question 174

Which of the following philosophers insisted that the mind at birth is like a blank slate devoid of character or ideas?

(A) François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire

(B) James Mill

(C) John Stuart Mill

(D) David Hume

(E) John Locke

Answer 174

(E) John Locke

Question 175

On his first date with Sue, Bill walks into a party, trips coming through the doorway, and falls flat on the floor. Bill thinks that the floor must have been uneven, thus making him trip, while Sue thinks Bill is probably clumsy. Their different attributions represent…

(A) the discounting principle

(B) the actor-observer bias

(C) self-handicapping

(D) the foot-in-the-door technique

(E) the covariation principle

Answer 175

(B) the actor-observer bias

Question 176

The overjustification effect states which of the following?

(A) Positive reinforcement is consistently more effective than negative reinforcement.

(B) Extrinsic rewards can diminish children’s intrinsic motivation to learn.

(C) Extrinsic rewards are best when used with intrinsically motivated students.

(D) Academic grades increase students’ intrinsic motivation to learn.

(E) Behavior modification improves internal motivation in large classrooms.

Answer 176

(B) Extrinsic rewards can diminish children’s intrinsic motivation to learn.

Question 177

The belief that differences among spoken languages cause differences in the thinking and problem-solving styles of speakers is called…

(A) taxonomic bias

(B) whole-object bias

(C) the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon

(D) the typicality effect

(E) the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Answer 177

(E) the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Question 178

Volunteers are trying to get people to donate money to a charity. Which of the following is an example of the foot-in-the-door principle?

(A) Ask people to donate ten dollars. If they refuse, ask if they would consider donating one dollar.

(B) Ask people to donate only one dollar. If they accept, ask them to donate ten dollars.

(C) Ask people to donate ten dollars. If they refuse, immediately ask them again.

(D) Ask people to donate ten dollars during a popular sporting event when arousal is high.

(E) Ask people to donate ten dollars when they are relaxing at home.

Answer 178

(B) Ask people to donate only one dollar. If they accept, ask them to donate ten dollars.

Question 179

Which of the following is the correct sequence of stages of prenatal development?

(A) Embryo, gestation, neonate

(B) Gestation, embryo, fertilized ovum

(C) Embryo, fertilized ovum, fetus

(D) Fertilized ovum, embryo, fetus

(E) Fetus, embryo, fertilized ovum

Answer 179

(D) Fertilized ovum, embryo, fetus

Question 180

Participants in a social psychological experiment observe through a one-way glass as two students take an oral quiz. The situation is arranged such that both Arthur and Sheri get 15 of the 25 questions correct, but Arthur gets each of the first 5 questions correct, while Sheri gets none of the first 5 correct. Most participant observers would likely conclude that…

(A) Arthur is a better student than Sheri

(B) Sheri is a better student than Arthur

(C) Arthur and Sheri are approximately equally able students

(D) the experiment does not provide any information about the ability of Arthur or Sheri

(E) Arthur and Sheri are confederates in the experiment

Answer 180

(A) Arthur is a better student than Sheri

Question 181

Which of the following is a characteristic of the authoritarian personality?

(A) Liberal religious attitude

(B) Hostility toward outgroups

(C) Challenge of rules

(D) A high need for cognition

(E) A firm but warm parental style

Answer 181

(B) Hostility toward outgroups

Question 182

The confirmation bias leads people to draw incorrect conclusions because they…

(A) use algorithms when they should use heuristics

(B) use deductive reasoning when they should use inductive reasoning

(C) do not seek evidence that would disprove their hypotheses

(D) do not consider alternative uses for a well-known object

(E) mistakenly attribute the causes of other people’s behavior to internal factors

Answer 182

(C) do not seek evidence that would disprove their hypotheses

Question 183

Dr. Wang is a theorist who is interested in how a given behavior increases an organism’s chance of reproductive success and perpetuates the species. Dr. Wang is most likely…

(A) an evolutionary psychologist

(B) a neuropsychologist

(C) a cognitive theorist

(D) a sociologist

(E) a learning theorist

Answer 183

(A) an evolutionary psychologist

Question 184

In his study of schizophrenia, Dr. Perez collects data on the number of new cases of this diagnosis in the United States in the past year. This statistic is known as the…

(A) prevalence

(B) incidence

(C) base rate

(D) correlation

(E) sample

Answer 184

(B) incidence

Question 185

A security screener in an airport checks by hand everything that seems suspicious. It is critical that she never let any potentially dangerous item through her security checkpoint. In terms of signal detection theory, this screener is likely to make…

(A) a large number of misses and a small number of hits

(B) a large number of hits and a large number of false alarms

(C) a large number of misses and a large number of false alarms

(D) a small number of hits and a small number of false alarms

(E) a large number of correct rejections and a large number of false alarms

Answer 185

(B) a large number of hits and a large number of false alarms

Question 186

The Premack principle states that…

(A) a more frequent behavior will reinforce a less frequent behavior

(B) intrinsic motivation is reduced when it is overused

(C) there is a contingent relationship between stimulus and response

(D) reinforcement is illusory when it is noncontingent

(E) reinforcement increases expectation and motivation

Answer 186

(A) a more frequent behavior will reinforce a less frequent behavior

Question 187

Elizabeth Loftus and her colleagues ask students to talk about various events that have occurred in their lives, including one that never occurred. If the students have trouble remembering, the researchers provide cues. They record whether the students remember the events that never occurred and how confident the students are in these false memories. Which of the following best describes the findings?

(A) About 25% of the students remember the false event, and many are quite confident in it.

(B) Students almost never remember false events, although they remember about 80% of the real events.

(C) About 80% of the students remember the false event, but their confidence is uniformly low.

(D) Students almost never remember false events, and their memory for the actual events is also quite low.

(E) False memories can be implanted in about 40% of the students, but these memories are forgotten within about a week

Answer 187

(A) About 25% of the students remember the false event, and many are quite confident in it.

Question 188

Melvin has a set of Von Frey hairs of different diameters. He starts by pressing a thin hair against a participant’s toe and continues with increasingly thicker hairs until the participant feels pressure. Melvin then starts with a thick hair and uses increasingly thinner hairs until the participant does not feel pressure. Melvin is using the method of…

(A) limits

(B) adjustment

(C) constant stimuli

(D) magnitude estimation

(E) loci

Answer 188

(A) limits

Question 189

Long-term potentiation is widely assumed to be the physiological mechanism of…

(A) attention

(B) learning

(C) epilepsy

(D) emotion

(E) sexuality

Answer 189

(B) learning

Question 190

A psychologist wishes to compare the performances of an experimental group and a control group on a continuous measure. Which of the following would be the most typical way to make this comparison?

(A) Computing a single correlation coefficient

(B) Computing a multiple correlation

(C) Showing that both groups are normally distributed on the dependent variable

(D) Conducting a chi-square test

(E) Conducting a t test on the two means

Answer 190

(E) Conducting a t test on the two means

Question 191

We process information relevant to the self more efficiently than we process other types of information. This phenomenon is called the…

(A) perseverance effect

(B) self-reference effect

(C) slime effect

(D) halo effect

(E) mood-congruence effect

Answer 191

(B) self-reference effect

Question 192

Every time he hears the name of his favorite restaurant, Jacob begins to salivate. In Pavlovian terms, the restaurant’s name is serving as…

(A) a conditioned stimulus

(B) a conditioned response

(C) an unconditioned stimulus

(D) an unconditioned response

(E) a neutral stimulus

Answer 192

(A) a conditioned stimulus

Question 193

Which of the following is a type of glial cell that is responsible for producing the myelin sheaths that cover axons?

(A) Oligodendrocyte

(B) Astrocyte

(C) Microglia

(D) Monocyte

(E) Endothelial cell

Answer 193

(A) Oligodendrocyte

Question 194

Roberta lives on the first floor of her dorm. She notices that she has made more friends with others who live on her floor than with others on other floors. This is an example of…

(A) self-reference

(B) perseverance

(C) propinquity

(D) overjustification

(E) bystander

Answer 194

(C) propinquity

Question 195

Some researchers believe that people acquire a second language better if they learn it prior to adolescence, whereas other researchers believe that people can easily learn most aspects of a second language, even if they are beyond adolescence. However, based on the most frequently observed limitation in second language use, both groups would expect to observe less than native-like competence after adolescence in which of the following?

(A) Syntax

(B) Pronunciation

(C) Fluency of speech production

(D) Discourse comprehension

(E) Semantics

Answer 195

(B) Pronunciation

Question 196

The legal requirement that professionals notify appropriate authorities about suspected child abuse is known as…

(A) mandatory reporting

(B) duty to warn

(C) duty to protect

(D) parens patriae

(E) privileged communication

Answer 196

(A) mandatory reporting

Question 197

In a study of a new psychopharmacological treatment for clinical depression, 40 participants diagnosed with depression each received four different amounts of a new medication called Deplow. The first week, they were given a placebo. During the second week of the study, they took 1 mg of Deplow each day. During the third week, they took 3 mg of Deplow each day, and during the fourth week, they took 5 mg of Deplow each day. Although the participants took different amounts of the medication each week, they were not informed about the amount they were taking. The participants also completed a depression symptom checklist at the end of each week. Results are presented below. The score on the checklist could range from 0 to 30, with 0 indicating no depression and 30 indicating severe depression. Assume statistical significance for differences greater than 3.0.

Which of the following effects is the most serious limitation of this study?

(A) Selection

(B) Ceiling

(C) Sleeper

(D) Cohort

(E) Carryover

Answer 197

(E) Carryover

Question 198

In a study of a new psychopharmacological treatment for clinical depression, 40 participants diagnosed with depression each received four different amounts of a new medication called Deplow. The first week, they were given a placebo. During the second week of the study, they took 1 mg of Deplow each day. During the third week, they took 3 mg of Deplow each day, and during the fourth week, they took 5 mg of Deplow each day. Although the participants took different amounts of the medication each week, they were not informed about the amount they were taking. The participants also completed a depression symptom checklist at the end of each week. Results are presented below. The score on the checklist could range from 0 to 30, with 0 indicating no depression and 30 indicating severe depression. Assume statistical significance for differences greater than 3.0.

What type of design was used in this study?

(A) Single factor between subjects

(B) Single factor within subjects

(C) Multifactor between subjects

(D) Multifactor within subjects

(E) Cross-sectional

Answer 198

(B) Single factor within subjects

Question 199

In a study of a new psychopharmacological treatment for clinical depression, 40 participants diagnosed with depression each received four different amounts of a new medication called Deplow. The first week, they were given a placebo. During the second week of the study, they took 1 mg of Deplow each day. During the third week, they took 3 mg of Deplow each day, and during the fourth week, they took 5 mg of Deplow each day. Although the participants took different amounts of the medication each week, they were not informed about the amount they were taking. The participants also completed a depression symptom checklist at the end of each week. Results are presented below. The score on the checklist could range from 0 to 30, with 0 indicating no depression and 30 indicating severe depression. Assume statistical significance for differences greater than 3.0.

Which of the following would make it difficult to conclude that any decrease in depressive symptoms is due to Deplow and not to other aspects of the study?

(A) The increasing doses of Deplow

(B) The lack of a control group

(C) The low sample size

(D) The lack of comparison with an established antipsychotic medication

(E) The lack of comparison with participants diagnosed with mania

Answer 199

(B) The lack of a control group

Question 200

Conducting a study by analyzing United States census data from previous years is an example of using which of the following research approaches?

(A) Experimentation

(B) Case history

(C) Naturalistic observation

(D) Surveys

(E) Archival analysis

Answer 200

(E) Archival analysis

Question 201

Dr. Chen is interested in feminist attitudes of young adult women in the United States. Consequently, she administered a feminist attitude questionnaire to a total of 100 young adult women from three universities. The 100 women tested and the number of young adult women in the United States are which of the following, respectively?

(A) Effect size and population

(B) Meta-analysis and effect size

(C) Sample and population

(D) Random assignment and random selection

(E) Independent variable and dependent variable

Answer 201

(C) Sample and population

Question 202

Which of the following are the two individuals credited with the founding of psychology, as indicated by the formation of psychology laboratories in the 1870s?

(A) Mary Calkins and Wilhelm Wundt

(B) Ernst Weber and Gustav Fechner

(C) Gustav Fechner and E. B. Titchener

(D) Wilhelm Wundt and William James

(E) William James and Sigmund Freud

Answer 202

(D) Wilhelm Wundt and William James

Question 203

Which of the following best describes the role of arousal in the proposed diagram depicting causal relationships among viewing violent television, arousal, and aggressive behavior?

Violent Television → Arousal → Aggressive Behavior

(A) Predictor variable

(B) Mediating variable

(C) Spurious variable

(D) Extraneous variable

(E) Alpha variable

Answer 203

(B) Mediating variable

Question 204

An action that a person does for no external reward that intentionally benefits another person is an example of which of the following concepts?

(A) Pure altruism

(B) Social facilitation

(C) Genuineness

(D) Empathic concern

(E) Reactance

Answer 204

(A) Pure altruism

Question 205

Which of the following best supports the all-or-none principle of neural impulses?

(A) A neuron will fire a complete action potential once the threshold is reached.

(B) During the absolute refractory period, a neuron cannot fire again.

(C) An impulse loses strength the further it travels along an axon.

(D) Drugs affect neurons by causing them to release all stored neurotransmitters.

(E) A neuron is at its resting potential when only positive ions are inside its membrane.

Answer 205

(A) A neuron will fire a complete action potential once the threshold is reached.