Critical Thinking Assignments-General Psychology

Diane Davis Ashe, Ph.D.

(Exam 3 material)

Critical thinking questions are designed to encourage you to think more deeply about the topics. You are to provide thoughtful responses to the questions. Your responses must be typed and double-spaced. Choose 2 of the following questions. Your paper should be 1-3 pages in length.

1. (Ch. 8) What advice would you give a friend who has just become pregnant? Be specific. Be sure to discuss the prenatal stages and teratogens.

2. (Ch. 8) Do you think heredity or environment best explains who you are today? Give 3 specific, clear examples of the ways in which heredity and/or environment have affected your development. Specify how the examples are related to heredity or the environment.

3. (Ch. 12) In what ways are the methods used by cults on new recruits similar to the methods used by the military when training new soldiers? Is it ethical for family members to an adult to “kidnap” and deprogram a cult member? Which methods of compliance do cults seem to use to recruit new members?

4. (Ch. 12) Identify 3 attitudes that you possess. Explain the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of each. What factors/experiences might have influenced the development of these attitudes?