intro to psych

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Questions and Answers

What primarily characterizes Alzheimer's disease in its initial stages?

Anterograde amnesia (correct)

Visual memory loss

Complete memory loss

Retrograde amnesia

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of senile dementia?

Enhanced problem-solving skills (correct)

Mood swings

Severe forgetfulness

Mental confusion

Mental imagery can include which of the following forms?

Only verbal concepts

Only auditory memories

Written words and phrases

Visual images and sounds (correct)

How do people generally form natural concepts?

Using a variety of personal rules Signup and view all the answers

When processing information, what additional cognitive functions accompany memory?

Decision-making and comparison Signup and view all the answers

What type of information is NOT typically associated with mental imagery?

Complex mathematical equations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a vehicle based on natural concepts?

Broader classifications including unconventional types like bobsleds Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable characteristic of short-term memory encoding?

It can include both sounds and visual images Signup and view all the answers

What limitation does drive-reduction theory have in explaining human motivation?

It fails to explain behaviors that increase inner arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What is the need for affiliation according to McClelland?

The psychological need for social interactions. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of person is characterized as being a good team player according to McClelland's concept of affiliation?

A person high in affiliation motivation. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines a person with a high need for power according to McClelland?

They seek to have influence over others. Signup and view all the answers

What drives people to engage in activities that increase inner arousal, such as bungee jumping or watching horror movies?

A psychological need for tension and excitement. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the need for power have on a person's approach to collaboration?

They may prioritize their own influence over teamwork. Signup and view all the answers

What might motivate a person to consume food even when they are not hungry?

A response to emotional or psychological needs. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT explained by drive-reduction theory regarding human motivation?

The motivations for risk-taking behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term motivation refer to in psychology?

The process of initiating and guiding behaviors to meet needs Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of extrinsic motivation?

Studying to earn a good grade Signup and view all the answers

How do evolutionary theorists describe human instincts?

As innate drives similar to those in animals Signup and view all the answers

What is a psychological drive?

The tension created by unmet physical needs Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what drives a person in extrinsic motivation?

External rewards or consequences Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to psychological tension in individuals?

Having an unmet need Signup and view all the answers

What does the Latin word 'movere' mean in relation to motivation?

To move Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of intrinsic motivation?

Seeking external validation or reward Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the first stage of selective attention according to Treisman & Gelade?

Filtering based on simple physical characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of elaborative rehearsal?

It connects new information with existing knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes nondeclarative (implicit) memory?

Procedural knowledge such as riding a bicycle Signup and view all the answers

What happens to unselected sensory stimuli during the second stage of selective attention?

They remain present but are attenuated Signup and view all the answers

How can one access attenuated stimuli even when deeply asleep?

By assigning personal importance to them Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'long-term' imply regarding the duration of memories?

Memories can have a relatively permanent presence in the brain Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a task typically associated with nondeclarative memory?

Recalling historical facts Signup and view all the answers

What does the filtering process in selective attention allow a person to do?

Identify and process important stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is a schema?

A mental representation of generalizations about various objects and situations. Signup and view all the answers

How does an algorithm differ from a heuristic?

An algorithm will always lead to a solution; a heuristic may not. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a heuristic?

Using past experiences to estimate project completion time. Signup and view all the answers

What role do concepts play in problem-solving?

They provide a framework for understanding and categorizing information. Signup and view all the answers

What defines problem-solving in decision-making?

It involves evaluating and choosing among several alternatives to achieve a goal. Signup and view all the answers

What does the representativeness heuristic enable an individual to do?

It categorizes objects based on shared characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

Why might someone use a heuristic in problem-solving?

To save time when making a decision. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would NOT be considered a schema?

A list of ingredients for a recipe. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Thinking

Thinking is a complex mental activity that involves processing, organizing, understanding, and communicating information.
While memory is a part of thinking, it is not the only component.
Thinking involves making decisions, comparing information, and using it to solve problems.

Mental Imagery

Short-term memories are encoded as sounds and visual images, creating a mental picture of the world.
Echoic memory is helpful for processing meaningful incoming stimuli.

Selective Attention and Sensory Memory

Selective attention operates in two stages, filtering incoming stimuli based on simple physical characteristics and then further processing stimuli that meet a certain threshold of importance.
Sensory memory stores every single experience but only long-lasting memories of meaningful and important events and concepts are stored as long-term memories.

Elaborative Rehearsal

Elaborative rehearsal transfers information from short-term memory to long-term memory by making the information meaningful.
Connecting new information with existing knowledge is an effective way to achieve elaborate rehearsal.

Types of Long-Term Memory

Nondeclarative (Implicit) LTM stores memories for skills and procedures, such as tying shoes or riding a bicycle.
Declarative (Explicit) LTM stores factual information that can be consciously recalled and verbalized.

Schemas and Scripts

Schemas are mental generalizations about objects, places, events, and people.
Scripts are schemas that involve familiar sequences of activities.

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Strategies

Images and concepts are mental tools used for problem-solving and decision-making.
Problem-solving involves achieving a goal through thinking and specific actions.
Decision-making involves identifying, evaluating, and choosing amongst alternatives.

Algorithms and Heuristics

Algorithms are specific rules that guarantee a solution.
Heuristics are educated guesses based on prior experiences that help narrow down potential solutions.

Representativeness Heuristic

The representativeness heuristic categorizes objects based on their similarity to members of a particular group.

Motivation

Motivation is the process that initiates, directs, and sustains activities to fulfill physical or psychological needs or wants.
Motivation can be driven by external rewards or the avoidance of unpleasant consequences.

Extrinsic Motivation

In extrinsic motivation, actions are performed to achieve an outcome separate from the individual.

Drive-Reduction Theory

Drive-reduction theory proposes that needs lead to psychological tension and a physical arousal that motivates action to fulfill the need and reduce the tension.
This tension is called a drive.

Needs and Drives

Needs are essential requirements for an organism's survival.
When a need is not met, it creates psychological tension (a drive) that motivates action to satisfy the need.

Need for Affiliation

The need for affiliation (nAff) is a psychological need for friendly social interactions and relationships.
Individuals high in nAff seek to be liked and respected by others.

Need for Power

The need for power (nPow) is a desire to control and influence others.
Individuals high in nPow want to have an impact on others and see their ideas implemented.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of thinking and memory in this psychology quiz. Discover how mental imagery, selective attention, and elaborative rehearsal play crucial roles in processing information. Test your understanding of these cognitive processes and their significance in everyday life.