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WGU C180 Introduction to
Psychology
Practice Test
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Topic Focus: Psychology — Comprehensive Practice Test
Practice Test Edition · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Test Questions 2
WGU C180 · Western Governors University Page 1
,WGU C180 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE TEST INSTRUCTIONS & QUESTIONS
How to Use This Practice Test
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is. This practice test contains 55 questions covering all major topics in WGU C180
Introduction to Psychology.
Practice Test — All Topics
1 Which belief illustrates situational attribution?
A The driver is a reckless person who always speeds
B When a vehicle suddenly moves in front of another car, the driver must have had an
emergency
C The driver is incompetent and should not have a license
D The driver was intentionally trying to cause an accident
Why B is correct: Situational attribution attributes behavior to external circumstances.
Believing the driver had an emergency explains the behavior by situational factors rather
than dispositional traits.
A — This is a dispositional attribution, attributing behavior to the person's character.
C — This is a dispositional attribution about the driver's competence.
D — This attributes intent to the driver, a dispositional attribution.
,2 Which type of therapy is based on the belief that an individual's interpretation of
events is what causes unhappiness, rather than unhappiness being caused by the
actual events?
A Rational-emotive therapy
B Behavioral therapy
C Psychoanalysis
D Humanistic therapy
Why A is correct: Rational-emotive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, focuses on changing
irrational beliefs and interpretations that lead to emotional distress.
B — Behavioral therapy focuses on changing observable behaviors, not interpretations.
C — Psychoanalysis focuses on unconscious conflicts.
D — Humanistic therapy focuses on self-actualization and unconditional positive regard.
3 Neural impulses are able to travel the neural pathways with assistance from
chemicals called neurotransmitters. What is the function of the neurotransmitter
serotonin?
A It affects mood
B It enables muscle action
C It regulates heart rate
D It controls digestion
Why A is correct: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, and appetite.
Low serotonin levels are associated with depression.
B — Acetylcholine enables muscle action, not serotonin.
C — Norepinephrine affects heart rate.
D — Acetylcholine controls digestion.
, 4 A firefighter hears the station alarm each time a fire is reported. Later, while fighting
the fire, the firefighter's heart is racing. According to Pavlov, which learned
association is most likely to develop in this scenario?
A The firefighter learns to ignore the alarm over time
B The firefighter learns to react emotionally in a similar way to the alarm as to the fire
C The firefighter learns to fear the alarm but not the fire
D The firefighter learns to prefer the alarm over the fire
Why B is correct: In classical conditioning, the alarm (neutral stimulus) becomes associated
with the fire (unconditioned stimulus) that causes emotional arousal. The alarm eventually
elicits a similar emotional response through conditioning.
A — This would be habituation or extinction.
C — The emotional response generalizes to the alarm.
D — This is not a typical conditioning outcome.
5 Which component of the nervous system is integral in activating the body's fight-or-
flight response?
A Parasympathetic nervous system
B Sympathetic nervous system
C Somatic nervous system
D Central nervous system
Why B is correct: The sympathetic nervous system activates the body's fight-or-flight
response, preparing the body for stress and emergencies with increased heart rate and
breathing.
A — The parasympathetic nervous system slows systems down (rest and digest).
C — The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement.
D — The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, not the fight-or-flight
response specifically.
WGU C180 Introduction to
Psychology
Practice Test
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Topic Focus: Psychology — Comprehensive Practice Test
Practice Test Edition · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Test Questions 2
WGU C180 · Western Governors University Page 1
,WGU C180 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE TEST INSTRUCTIONS & QUESTIONS
How to Use This Practice Test
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is. This practice test contains 55 questions covering all major topics in WGU C180
Introduction to Psychology.
Practice Test — All Topics
1 Which belief illustrates situational attribution?
A The driver is a reckless person who always speeds
B When a vehicle suddenly moves in front of another car, the driver must have had an
emergency
C The driver is incompetent and should not have a license
D The driver was intentionally trying to cause an accident
Why B is correct: Situational attribution attributes behavior to external circumstances.
Believing the driver had an emergency explains the behavior by situational factors rather
than dispositional traits.
A — This is a dispositional attribution, attributing behavior to the person's character.
C — This is a dispositional attribution about the driver's competence.
D — This attributes intent to the driver, a dispositional attribution.
,2 Which type of therapy is based on the belief that an individual's interpretation of
events is what causes unhappiness, rather than unhappiness being caused by the
actual events?
A Rational-emotive therapy
B Behavioral therapy
C Psychoanalysis
D Humanistic therapy
Why A is correct: Rational-emotive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, focuses on changing
irrational beliefs and interpretations that lead to emotional distress.
B — Behavioral therapy focuses on changing observable behaviors, not interpretations.
C — Psychoanalysis focuses on unconscious conflicts.
D — Humanistic therapy focuses on self-actualization and unconditional positive regard.
3 Neural impulses are able to travel the neural pathways with assistance from
chemicals called neurotransmitters. What is the function of the neurotransmitter
serotonin?
A It affects mood
B It enables muscle action
C It regulates heart rate
D It controls digestion
Why A is correct: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, and appetite.
Low serotonin levels are associated with depression.
B — Acetylcholine enables muscle action, not serotonin.
C — Norepinephrine affects heart rate.
D — Acetylcholine controls digestion.
, 4 A firefighter hears the station alarm each time a fire is reported. Later, while fighting
the fire, the firefighter's heart is racing. According to Pavlov, which learned
association is most likely to develop in this scenario?
A The firefighter learns to ignore the alarm over time
B The firefighter learns to react emotionally in a similar way to the alarm as to the fire
C The firefighter learns to fear the alarm but not the fire
D The firefighter learns to prefer the alarm over the fire
Why B is correct: In classical conditioning, the alarm (neutral stimulus) becomes associated
with the fire (unconditioned stimulus) that causes emotional arousal. The alarm eventually
elicits a similar emotional response through conditioning.
A — This would be habituation or extinction.
C — The emotional response generalizes to the alarm.
D — This is not a typical conditioning outcome.
5 Which component of the nervous system is integral in activating the body's fight-or-
flight response?
A Parasympathetic nervous system
B Sympathetic nervous system
C Somatic nervous system
D Central nervous system
Why B is correct: The sympathetic nervous system activates the body's fight-or-flight
response, preparing the body for stress and emergencies with increased heart rate and
breathing.
A — The parasympathetic nervous system slows systems down (rest and digest).
C — The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement.
D — The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, not the fight-or-flight
response specifically.
