Chapter 1—Introduction to Psychology

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.Psychology is defined as:

a. / the scientific investigation of thought processes
b. / the understanding of abnormal behavior
c. / the scientific study of behavior and mind
d. / the study of mental illness and inner feelings

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

2.The word psychology comes from the Greek psyche, which translates as:

a. / human
b. / mind
c. / soul
d. / behavior

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

3.Pavlov was:

a. / a famous Greek philosopher
b. / a trained psychologist
c. / not famed in psychology
d. / not a trained psychologist

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

4.Before the field of psychology became an independent science, the study of the mind was conducted mainly by:

a. / philosophers and physiologists
b. / psychiatrists and philosophers
c. / physiologists and psychiatrists
d. / scientists and physicians

ANS:APTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

5.Psychology and philosophy may deal with similar issues, but psychology:

a. / emphasizes the use of the scientific method
b. / developed before philosophy
c. / studies only behavior, not the mind
d. / studies abnormal behavior rather than normal behavior

ANS:APTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

6.Psychologists separate behavior from mind in defining psychology because:

a. / only behavior can be studied scientifically
b. / only behavior can be directly measured by an objective observer
c. / only the mind can be studied scientifically
d. / modern psychology focuses on the study of behavior, rather than the study of mental events

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:conceptualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

7.Psychologists use the term behavior to refer:

a. / only to obvious actions, such as moving about or talking
b. / only to physiological processes, such as the activity of the brain cells
c. / to anything that can be observed and measured in a systematic way
d. / to anything people or animals do or experience

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology

8. The general job description of a psychologist can be divided into three main categories. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

a. / applied psychologist
b. / eclectic psychologist
c. / clinical psychologist
d. / research psychologist

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Defining and Describing Psychology MSC: New

9.A clinical psychologist:

a. / extends the principles of psychology to practical, everyday problems in the real world
b. / conducts experiments in an attempt to discover the basic principles of behavior and mind
c. / is a medical doctor specializing in psychological problems
d. / diagnoses and treats psychological problems

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

10.Which of the following is NOT true about clinical psychologists?

a. / they work in clinics or in private practice
b. / they have a Ph.D. in psychology
c. / they routinely prescribe medications
d. / they diagnose and treats psychological problems

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

11.Which of the following is NOT true about clinical psychologists?

a. / They work in clinics or in private practice.
b. / They have a medical degree.
c. / They diagnose psychological problems.
d. / They treat psychological problems.

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

12.Rueben is a clinical psychologist. While he is at work, Rueben probably spends time:

a. / using scientific principles to solve practical, everyday problems
b. / delivering human services such as psychotherapy or counseling
c. / prescribing medications to patients to treat mental illness
d. / working with students in primary and secondary schools

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

13.Danielle is a counseling psychologist. While she is at work, Danielle probably spends time:

a. / solving practical problems in the real world
b. / trying to discover basic principles of behavior and mind
c. / working with individuals who have psychological disorders
d. / providing advice on adjustment problems

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

14.Harry works in a clinic where he often helps couples work through adjustment problems. Harry would most likely be classified as:

a. / an applied psychologist
b. / a counseling psychologist
c. / a clinical psychologist
d. / a psychiatrist

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

15.Juan is a counseling psychologist, and his sister Carmen is a clinical psychologist. The main difference between them would be that Juan:

a. / typically sees patients who have more severe problems than the patients Carmen sees
b. / can prescribe drugs in most states, while Carmen cannot prescribe drugs
c. / typically sees patients who have less severe problems than the patients Carmen sees
d. / cannot prescribe drugs, while Carmen can prescribe drugs in most states

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

MSC:New

16.A psychiatrist is:

a. / someone who can train psychologists but not practice independently
b. / someone who extends psychological principles to practical, everyday problems
c. / someone who uses experiments to discover basic principles of behavior and mind
d. / someone with a medical degree specializing in psychological problems

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

17.A medical doctor specializing in psychological problems is also called:

a. / a clinical psychologist
b. / a psychiatrist
c. / an applied psychologist
d. / a research psychologist

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

18.Dan is a psychiatrist. While he is at work, Dan probably spends time:

a. / prescribing drugs for patients with psychological problems
b. / working with engineers on the design of new products
c. / using scientific principles to solve practical, everyday problems
d. / conducting experiments or collecting and analyzing data

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

19.Stanley just graduated from medical school and plans to specialize in the treatment of mental disorders. Stanley would most likely be classified as:

a. / a clinical psychologist
b. / an applied psychologist
c. / a research psychologist
d. / a psychiatrist

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

20.Margaret works in a clinic, and often has clients with mental disorders referred to her so that appropriate mediation can be prescribed. Margaret would most likely be classified as:

a. / a clinical psychologist
b. / a psychiatrist
c. / an applied psychologist
d. / a research psychologist

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

21.An applied psychologist:

a. / diagnoses and treats psychological problems
b. / extends the principles of psychology to practical, everyday problems in the real world
c. / conducts experiments in an attempt to discover the basic principles of behavior and mind
d. / is a medical doctor specializing in psychological problems

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

22.A psychologist who extends the principles of psychology to practical, everyday problems in the real world would be:

a. / a clinical psychologist
b. / a research psychologist
c. / an eclectic psychologist
d. / an applied psychologist

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

23.Inez is an applied psychologist, while her brother Estefan is a research psychologist. The main difference between what they do is that:

a. / Inez studies the basic principles of behavior, while Estefan works on solving practical everyday problems
b. / when performing psychotherapy, Inez can prescribe drugs while Estefan cannot
c. / Inez works on solving practical everyday problems, while Estefan studies the basic principles of behavior
d. / when performing psychotherapy, Inez cannot prescribe drugs but Estefan can

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

MSC:New

24.Maxine is an applied psychologist. While she is at work, Maxine probably spends time:

a. / treating abnormal behavior or providing advice on adjustment problems
b. / trying to discover basic principles of behavior and mind through scientific experiments
c. / solving practical problems in the real world, using principles of scientific psychology
d. / studying how behavior and mental processes change over the course of a lifetime

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

25.School psychologists help identify children with learning disabilities or other problems that affect education, and they develop plans for helping these children perform well in school. School psychologists are one type of:

a. / clinical psychologist
b. / eclectic psychologist
c. / applied psychologist
d. / counseling psychologist

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:conceptualREF:What Psychologists Do

26.Elena is a psychologist who works with the FBI to improve methods of interviewing eyewitnesses to crimes. Elena would most likely be classified as:

a. / an organizational psychologist
b. / a forensic psychologist
c. / an industrial psychologist
d. / a human factors psychologist

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

MSC:New

27.Signet Air recently hired a psychologist to help redesign the cockpit of a new aircraft. The goal is to reduce the probability of pilot error in reading the instrument panel. The psychologist the company hired is most likely:

a. / a human factors psychologist
b. / a social psychologist
c. / a developmental psychologist
d. / an industrial/organizational psychologist

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

28.Human factors psychologists:

a. / work with industry to train new recruits and establish effective lines of employee communication
b. / work with students in primary and secondary schools
c. / work on the design and engineering of new products
d. / are concerned with the internal factors that lead people to act consistently across situations

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

29.An automaker moved the location of the horn to a lever on the steering column for one of its car models, when they introduced air bags. It was later found that motorists were confused by the new location of the horn, and often flicked the wipers or turned on the lights, instead of sounding the horn. The company asked a psychologist to help solve this design problem. The psychologist the company hired to help is most likely:

a. / a social psychologist
b. / a developmental psychologist
c. / an industrial/organizational psychologist
d. / a human factors psychologist

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

30.The intensity of the lights in Jim’s car increases when he pushes a control lever up, and decreases when he pushes the same control lever down. Using natural mappings like these in design is a principle favored by:

a. / functionalists
b. / psychoanalytic psychologists
c. / human factors psychologists
d. / social psychologists

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

31.A psychologist who conducts experiments in an attempt to discover the basic principles of behavior and mind would be:

a. / a research psychologist
b. / a clinical psychologist
c. / an applied psychologist
d. / a psychiatrist

ANS:APTS:1DIF:factualREF:What Psychologists Do

32.Which of the following would NOT be a type of applied psychologist?

a. / a school psychologist
b. / an industrial/organizational psychologist
c. / a human factors psychologist
d. / a developmental psychologist

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

MSC:New

33.Martin is a psychologist who is currently conducting experiments in an attempt to understand how physical or genetic factors influence and determine behavior. Martin would most likely be classified as:

a. / a clinical psychologist
b. / an applied psychologist
c. / a psychiatrist
d. / a research psychologist

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

34.Anne is a psychologist who is currently collecting data in an attempt to understand how people influence and relate to each other. Anne would most likely be classified as:

a. / a clinical psychologist
b. / a research psychologist
c. / an applied psychologist
d. / a psychiatrist

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

35.You are scheduled to take part in an experiment examining basic processes in memory and reasoning. The psychologist in charge is most likely:

a. / a research psychologist
b. / an applied psychologist
c. / a clinical psychologist
d. / a school psychologist

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

36.Daniel is a graduate student whose major area of interest is personality psychology. You should expect that Daniel is most interested in:

a. / the internal factors that lead people to act consistently across various situations
b. / the ways in which physical or genetic factors influence and determine behavior
c. / how people relate to each other and influence each other
d. / how behavior and mental processes change over a lifetime

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

37.Larry is a graduate student whose major area of interest is cognitive psychology. You should expect that Larry is most interested in:

a. / understanding mental processes such as memory and learning
b. / the ways in which physical or genetic factors influence and determine behavior
c. / the internal factors that lead people to act consistently across various situations
d. / how people relate to each other and influence each other

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

38.June is a graduate student whose major area of interest is social psychology. You should expect that June is most interested in:

a. / how people relate to each other and influence each other
b. / the ways in which physical or genetic factors influence and determine behavior
c. / the internal factors that lead people to act consistently across various situations
d. / how behavior and mental processes change over a lifetime

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:What Psychologists Do

39.Which of the following is TRUE regarding psychology and the topic of remembering classroom material, according to the “Practical Solutions” section of Chapter 1?

a. / Psychologists have had little to say about successful learning and retention.
b. / What psychology has discovered about learning and retention confirms conventional wisdom.
c. / Psychologists have studied learning in the laboratory but not in the classroom.
d. / What psychology has discovered about learning and retention flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:Practical Solutions

MSC:New

40.The Practical Solutions section of Chapter 1 describes the results of research on learning and memory. Which of the following statements LEAST matches the results of that research?

a. / Repeated reading of material does little to improve comprehension.
b. / Repeated reading of material is the most efficient way to memorize the material.
c. / Repeated testing improves the actual comprehension of material.
d. / Repeated testing leads to better memory for information than repeated reading.

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:Practical Solutions

MSC:New

41.The Practical Solutions section of Chapter 1 describes the results of research on learning and memory. Which of the following statements BEST matches the results of that research?

a. / Repeated reading of material greatly enhances comprehension of the material.
b. / Repeated reading of material is the best way to improve memory for the material.
c. / Repeated testing is better than repeated reading when trying to improve memory.
d. / Repeated testing does little to improve the comprehension of material.

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:Practical Solutions

MSC:New

42. A friend is asking you the best way to study for an upcoming biology test. Based on what you’ve learned from the Practical Solutions section of Chapter 1, you would MOST likely say:

a. / test yourself on the material several times, and be sure to check if your answers are right
b. / outline the material as you read; it’s the best way to improve memory
c. / test yourself on the material several times; it doesn’t matter if your answers are right
d. / repeatedly read the material; it’s the best way to improve memory

ANS:APTS:1DIF:appliedREF:Practical Solutions

MSC:New

43. A friend says “I have a biology test next week, and the professor says we need to comprehend the material, not just know it. What’s the best way to study?” Based on what you’ve learned from the Practical Solutions section of Chapter 1, you would MOST likely say:

a. / repeatedly read the material; it’s the best way to improve comprehension
b. / outline the material as your read; it’s the best way to improve comprehension
c. / test yourself on the material several times; it doesn’t matter if your answers are right
d. / test yourself on the material several times, and be sure to check if your answers are right

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:Practical Solutions

MSC:New

44. The intellectual roots of modern psychology lie in the disciplines of:

a. / mathematics and philosophy
b. / philosophy and physiology
c. / biology and physics
d. / anthropology and sociology

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:factualREF:The Science of Psychology

45.Which of the following people first argued that the mind is a kind of tabula rasa or blank tablet?

a. / René Descartes
b. / John Watson
c. / Plato
d. / Aristotle

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:factualREF:The Science of Psychology

46.The term tabula rasa is translated into which of the following English phrases?

a. / red table
b. / infinite number
c. / blank tablet
d. / full container

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:The Science of Psychology

47.Empiricism is the view that:

a. / knowledge comes directly from experience
b. / certain kinds of knowledge and ideas are innate
c. / the focus for psychology should be the study of conscious experience
d. / the mind arises entirely from the physical properties of the brain

ANS:APTS:1DIF:factualREF:The Science of Psychology

48.With respect to emotional development, Dr. Pendergrast has an empiricist view. This means that Dr. Pendergrast is most likely to believe that:

a. / certain aspects of emotional expression are innate
b. / researchers should be most concerned with the function emotions serve
c. / to understand emotions fully, researchers must understand each component of emotional expression
d. / experience determines which emotions an individual will eventually display

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:conceptualREF:The Science of Psychology

49.Dr. Cline believes that experience determines which specific aspects of language an individual will eventually master. With respect to language development, Dr. Cline takes:

a. / a nativist approach
b. / an empiricist approach
c. / a functionalist approach
d. / a structuralist approach

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:conceptualREF:The Science of Psychology

50.Dr. Greene believes that experience determines the degree and form of intelligence an individual will eventually display. With respect to intelligence, Dr. Greene takes:

a. / a nativist approach
b. / a functionalist approach
c. / an empiricist approach
d. / a structuralist approach

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:conceptualREF:The Science of Psychology

51.In describing the relationship between the mind and the body, René Descartes argued that:

a. / the mind and body are separate
b. / the mind and body are one and the same
c. / the mind is of greater importance than the body
d. / the body is of greater importance than the mind

ANS:APTS:1DIF:factualREF:Mind and Body

52.Frieda knows how the environment produces physical reactions in the nervous system that then produce brain activity. What she has trouble understanding is how cellular activity becomes consciousness, emotion, or knowledge. Frieda is considering the:

a. / cognitive revolution
b. / structuralist-functionalist debate
c. / nature-nurture problem
d. / mind-body problem

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:appliedREF:Mind and Body

53.René Descartes introduced the notion of the:

a. / tabula rasa
b. / structuralist approach
c. / reflex arc
d. / natural selection of behaviors

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Mind and Body

MSC:New

54.Who was the first person to introduce the concept of the reflex, an automatic, involuntary reaction of the body?

a. / Aristotle
b. / Johannes Müller
c. / René Descartes
d. / Thomas Hobbes

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:factualREF:Mind and Body

55.With respect to the mind-body problem, most modern psychologists: