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PSYC290 FINAL EXAM REVIEW Questions and Answers with
Complete Solutions UPDATED!!!
Theme 1 Psychology is empirical. - ANSWER It is important to
understand the need to acquire knowledge through systematic
observation rather than through intuition, common sense, or
speculation. Understanding this concept will allow you to
recognize the problems some psychologists have with such
topics as extrasensory perception (ESP) or with psychoanalytic
suppositions.
Theme 2 Psychology is theoretically diverse - ANSWER . This is
an important concept because many students of psychology
expect "black and white" solutions to their questions about
psychology. The fact is that, in many areas, one of several
theoretical explanations can be correct.
Theme 3 Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context. -
ANSWER Unless you accept this concept, it is all too easy to
ridicule or disparage previous discoveries. For example,
students often mock behaviourism in favour of cognitive
psychology because a strict behaviouristic interpretation of the
world "simply cannot be right." Without understanding the
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context of behaviourism and its once dominant position in
psychology, it is far too easy to be deprecating. Simply stated,
no single theory can easily explain everything that is known
about behaviour.
Theme 4 Behaviour is determined by multiple causes. -
ANSWER It is common for introductory students to believe that
there is a cause for a behaviour, rather than accepting that
complex behaviours are more typically a function of multiple
causation. The last 30 years have seen an increasing tendency
for psychologists to accept this truism and to investigate several
factors that might affect behaviour within the design of a single
experiment.
Theme 5 Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage. - ANSWER
Although a common definition of psychology is "the science
that studies behaviour," a more accurate perception is that,
until recently, it has been largely the science of Caucasian male
behaviour. Much of the early experimental psychological
research was based on the findings derived from a restricted
population: undergraduate students who were usually male.
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Theme 6Heredity and environment jointly influence behaviour. -
ANSWER While this statement may seem obvious, there was, in
previous years, a tendency to believe that behaviour could be
either 100% genetic or 100% environmental. For example, it
used to be asked whether instinct could be described as
completely genetic. Now it is recognized that all behaviours are
a function of both environmental and genetic factors.
Theme 7 People's experience of the world is highly subjective -
ANSWER . Students of psychology often believe that their own
interpretation of the world is the correct one and that everyone
else either does or should interpret the world in this way. Only
when one appreciates the need to overcome subjectivity can
one really understand the research approaches highlighted in
Chapter 2 of the text that are referred to throughout the
course.
• applied psychology (p. 15) - ANSWER The branch of
psychology concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of
psychological problems and disorders.
behaviour (p. 7) - ANSWER Refers to any overt observable
response or activity by an organism
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behaviourism (p. 7) - ANSWER A theoretical orientation based
on the premise that scientific psychology should study only
observable behaviour
clinical psychology (p. 15) - ANSWER ):The branch of psychology
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological
problems and disorders
cognition (p. 16) - ANSWER Refers to the mental processes
involved in acquiring knowledge counselling psychology (p. 27):
Overlaps with clinical psychology in that specialists in both area
engage in similar activities interviewing, testing, and providing
therapy however, counselling psychologists usually work with a
somewhat different clientele, providing assistance to people
struggling with everyday problems of moderate severity. Thus,
they often specialize in family, marital or career conselling
critical thinking (p. 38) - ANSWER Is the use of cognitive skills
and strategies that increase the probability of a desirable
outcome
PSYC290 FINAL EXAM REVIEW Questions and Answers with
Complete Solutions UPDATED!!!
Theme 1 Psychology is empirical. - ANSWER It is important to
understand the need to acquire knowledge through systematic
observation rather than through intuition, common sense, or
speculation. Understanding this concept will allow you to
recognize the problems some psychologists have with such
topics as extrasensory perception (ESP) or with psychoanalytic
suppositions.
Theme 2 Psychology is theoretically diverse - ANSWER . This is
an important concept because many students of psychology
expect "black and white" solutions to their questions about
psychology. The fact is that, in many areas, one of several
theoretical explanations can be correct.
Theme 3 Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context. -
ANSWER Unless you accept this concept, it is all too easy to
ridicule or disparage previous discoveries. For example,
students often mock behaviourism in favour of cognitive
psychology because a strict behaviouristic interpretation of the
world "simply cannot be right." Without understanding the
,2|Page
context of behaviourism and its once dominant position in
psychology, it is far too easy to be deprecating. Simply stated,
no single theory can easily explain everything that is known
about behaviour.
Theme 4 Behaviour is determined by multiple causes. -
ANSWER It is common for introductory students to believe that
there is a cause for a behaviour, rather than accepting that
complex behaviours are more typically a function of multiple
causation. The last 30 years have seen an increasing tendency
for psychologists to accept this truism and to investigate several
factors that might affect behaviour within the design of a single
experiment.
Theme 5 Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage. - ANSWER
Although a common definition of psychology is "the science
that studies behaviour," a more accurate perception is that,
until recently, it has been largely the science of Caucasian male
behaviour. Much of the early experimental psychological
research was based on the findings derived from a restricted
population: undergraduate students who were usually male.
,3|Page
Theme 6Heredity and environment jointly influence behaviour. -
ANSWER While this statement may seem obvious, there was, in
previous years, a tendency to believe that behaviour could be
either 100% genetic or 100% environmental. For example, it
used to be asked whether instinct could be described as
completely genetic. Now it is recognized that all behaviours are
a function of both environmental and genetic factors.
Theme 7 People's experience of the world is highly subjective -
ANSWER . Students of psychology often believe that their own
interpretation of the world is the correct one and that everyone
else either does or should interpret the world in this way. Only
when one appreciates the need to overcome subjectivity can
one really understand the research approaches highlighted in
Chapter 2 of the text that are referred to throughout the
course.
• applied psychology (p. 15) - ANSWER The branch of
psychology concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of
psychological problems and disorders.
behaviour (p. 7) - ANSWER Refers to any overt observable
response or activity by an organism
, 4|Page
behaviourism (p. 7) - ANSWER A theoretical orientation based
on the premise that scientific psychology should study only
observable behaviour
clinical psychology (p. 15) - ANSWER ):The branch of psychology
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological
problems and disorders
cognition (p. 16) - ANSWER Refers to the mental processes
involved in acquiring knowledge counselling psychology (p. 27):
Overlaps with clinical psychology in that specialists in both area
engage in similar activities interviewing, testing, and providing
therapy however, counselling psychologists usually work with a
somewhat different clientele, providing assistance to people
struggling with everyday problems of moderate severity. Thus,
they often specialize in family, marital or career conselling
critical thinking (p. 38) - ANSWER Is the use of cognitive skills
and strategies that increase the probability of a desirable
outcome
