Psychology Practice Exam Questions

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Questions and Answers

What defines social facilitation?

Diminished performance due to group presence

Increased effort in individual tasks

Performance boost in competitive settings

Improved performance in group tasks (correct)

Which of the following best describes social loafing?

Heightened sense of responsibility

Improved collective intelligence

Increased motivation in a group setting

Reduced effort by individuals in a group (correct)

What is the main characteristic of deindividuation?

Increased critical thinking in collaboration

Loss of individual identity in a group (correct)

Enhanced self-awareness in groups

Strong adherence to social norms

According to Freud, how do the id, ego, and superego primarily interact?

They work together to manage anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What are common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Chronic worry and tension Signup and view all the answers

Which symptoms are typical of panic disorder?

Sudden and repeated panic attacks Signup and view all the answers

What key symptoms are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Intrusive memories and social withdrawal Signup and view all the answers

What main symptoms are found in bipolar disorder?

Mood swings between mania and depression Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Asch Conformity experiment?

The impact of group pressure on individual judgment Signup and view all the answers

Which type of learning is associated with B.F. Skinner?

Operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What best explains the phenomenon of scapegoating?

Assigning blame to an individual or group to divert attention from the problem Signup and view all the answers

What ethical concerns are raised by the Baby Albert experiment?

Informed consent and the long-term effects of conditioning Signup and view all the answers

How do cognitive psychologists typically view psychological disorders?

As disruptions in cognitive processes like memory and problem-solving Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the central route to persuasion from the peripheral route?

The central route engages critical thinking, while the peripheral route appeals to emotion Signup and view all the answers

What concept is examined through the Milgram Obedience Experiment?

The extent to which individuals obey authority figures Signup and view all the answers

Which figure is primarily associated with classical conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov Signup and view all the answers

What are the three major components of a neuron?

Dendrites, Cell body, Axon Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines a teratogen?

An external agent that causes malformation in embryos Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, what is the difference between extinction and discrimination?

Extinction occurs when a response diminishes, while discrimination involves differentiating between stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Who studied observational learning and is known for the Bobo doll experiment?

Albert Bandura Signup and view all the answers

Deep processing and shallow processing differ in which key aspect?

Deep processing relates to semantic understandings, while shallow processing typically relies on structural features Signup and view all the answers

What are defense mechanisms according to Sigmund Freud?

Unconscious techniques to manage anxiety and internal conflicts Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes Freud's id, ego, and superego?

The id is about immediate gratification, the ego balances demands, and the superego imposes morality Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary finding of the Milgram Obedience Experiment?

Many individuals will follow orders from authority figures even when it conflicts with their personal conscience Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between hallucinations and delusions?

Hallucinations involve sensory experiences without external stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT identified as a main symptom of schizophrenia?

Increased sociability Signup and view all the answers

What does the biopsychosocial approach emphasize in understanding psychological disorders?

The integration of biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors Signup and view all the answers

Which brain division is primarily responsible for processing visual information?

Occipital Lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the thalamus in the brain?

It processes and relays sensory information. Signup and view all the answers

The corpus callosum is important for what function in the brain?

Connecting the left and right hemispheres Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately defines REM sleep?

A stage associated with increased heart rate and vivid dreams. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory of dreaming posits that dreams serve a psychological purpose for processing emotions and experiences?

Psychoanalytic Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which our sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli?

Sensory adaptation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines absolute threshold?

The minimum level of stimulus intensity needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of rods in the human eye?

Seeing in low light conditions Signup and view all the answers

In the information-processing model of memory, which stage involves the retention of information over time?

Storage Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following explains the phenomenon where pain can be reduced by distraction according to the gate-control theory?

Pain signals can be inhibited by non-painful input through a gate in the spinal cord. Signup and view all the answers

How do cones differ from rods in terms of their function in vision?

Cones are responsible for color vision and detail in bright light. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes explicit memory from implicit memory?

Explicit memory requires intentional retrieval while implicit memory does not. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the ear is primarily responsible for converting sound waves into mechanical vibrations?

Eardrum Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Practice Exam Questions

Neurons: What are the three major components of a neuron and their function? How do they work together to carry out an action potential?
Teratogens: Define teratogen. Provide an example and explain its impact on fetal development.
Classical Conditioning: Compare and contrast generalization, discrimination, and extinction in the context of classical conditioning.
Reinforcement and Punishment: Provide examples of both positive and negative reinforcement and both positive and negative punishment.
Albert Bandura: Who was Albert Bandura and what type of learning did he study?
Deep and Shallow Processing: Describe the difference between deep processing and shallow processing, and provide examples of each.
Effortful and Automatic Processing: Explain the difference between effortful and automatic processing, and provide examples.
Sigmund Freud: Who was Sigmund Freud? What were some of his key ideas about the structure of the mind and the development of personality?
Defense Mechanisms: According to Freud, what are defense mechanisms and why do people use them? Describe at least three defense mechanisms and give an example of each.
Milgram Obedience Experiment: What is the Milgram Obedience Experiment? What did this experiment teach us about obedience to authority?
Classical and Operant Conditioning: Compare and contrast classical and operant conditioning. Who were the key figures associated with each type of learning?
Baby Albert Experiment: Describe the Baby Albert experiment and its ethical concerns.
Conformity: Define conformity. Describe the Asch Conformity experiment and its findings.
Scapegoat Theory: What is scapegoat theory? Give an example of how scapegoating might occur.
Key Figures in Cognitive Psychology: Name three key figures in cognitive psychology and describe their main accomplishments.
Psychological Disorders: How do cognitive psychologists explain psychological disorders?
Routes to Persuasion: What is the difference between the central route to persuasion and the peripheral route to persuasion? Give an example of each.
Social Psychology Concepts: What are social facilitation, social loafing, and deindividuation?
Psychoanalytic Theory Concepts: What is the difference between the id, ego, and superego, according to Freud? How do these three structures interact to influence behavior?
Anxiety Disorders: What are the main symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Panic Disorder: What are the main symptoms of panic disorder?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): What are the main symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): What are the main symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Major Depressive Disorder: What are the main symptoms of major depressive disorder?
Bipolar Disorder: What are the main symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Schizophrenia: What is the difference between a hallucination and a delusion? What are the main symptoms of schizophrenia?
Biopsychosocial Approach: Define the biopsychosocial approach. Give an example of how this approach might be used to explain a psychological disorder.
Vertebrate Brain Divisions: What are the three main divisions of the vertebrate brain? What are their major functions?
Brain Structures: Describe the functions of the following brain structures: Synapse, Occipital Lobe
Dreams: Describe three different theories of why we dream.
Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development: Describe the four stages of Piaget's theory of cognitive development.
Sensation and Perception: What is the difference between sensation and perception? Illustrate the difference with an example.
Absolute and Difference Thresholds: Define absolute threshold and difference threshold. Give an example of each.
Sensory Adaptation: What is sensory adaptation? Give an example.
Vision Process: Describe the process of how we see, beginning with light entering the eye and ending with the brain processing the visual information.
Hearing: What is the difference between rods and cones? Compare and contrast trichromatic theory and opponent-process theory. What are the main parts of the ear and how do they work together to allow us to hear? What are the difference between sensorineural and conductive hearing loss?
Memory: What are the three stages of memory according to the information-processing model? Describe each stage. What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory? Give an example of each. What are some strategies that can be used to improve memory? What is the misinformation effect?
Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Stages: Define Erik Erikson's stage of psychosocial development referred to as "identity vs. role confusion".
Adulthood Changes: What are some of the physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur during adulthood?

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Test your knowledge with these practice exam questions covering key concepts in psychology. From neuron functions to classical conditioning, explore a range of topics including famous psychologists and their theories. This quiz will challenge your understanding of both foundational and advanced psychological principles.