,PSYC 101 Module 10 | General Psychology Exam Q&A |
Portage Learning
1. Which of the following best defines personality in psychology?
A) A person's intelligence quotient as measured by standardized testing
B) An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving
C) A temporary emotional state triggered by environmental stimuli
D) The collection of unconscious drives that motivate behavior
Correct Answer: An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving
Rationale: Personality refers to the enduring, distinctive patterns of thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors that characterize an individual and produce consistency across situations. It is
shaped by genetics, environment, and experiences. Intelligence quotient and temporary
emotional states are not synonymous with personality.
2. According to Freud, which structure of personality operates on the pleasure principle and
seeks immediate gratification?
A) Ego
B) Superego
C) Id
D) Collective unconscious
Correct Answer: Id
Rationale: Freud's structural model divides personality into the id, ego, and superego. The id
is the primitive, instinctual component that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking
immediate satisfaction of basic drives. The ego operates on the reality principle, and the
superego represents internalized morals.
,3. A person who is highly organized, dependable, and self-disciplined would likely score high
on which Big Five personality trait?
A) Openness
B) Conscientiousness
C) Extraversion
D) Neuroticism
Correct Answer: Conscientiousness
Rationale: Conscientiousness reflects a person's level of organization, reliability, and self-
discipline. People high in this trait are goal-oriented and dependable. Openness involves
curiosity and creativity, extraversion involves sociability, and neuroticism involves emotional
instability.
4. What did Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment demonstrate about human behavior?
A) That people will conform to group pressure even when the answer is obviously wrong
B) That people will obey an authority figure even when instructed to harm an innocent person
C) That people are less likely to help in emergencies when others are present
D) That people perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others
Correct Answer: That people will obey an authority figure even when instructed to harm an
innocent person
Rationale: Milgram's experiment showed that a majority of participants administered what
they believed were painful electric shocks to a stranger because an authority figure instructed
them to do so. This demonstrated the powerful influence of obedience to authority.
Conformity, bystander effect, and social facilitation are different phenomena.
5. What is the primary focus of behavior genetics?
A) The study of how unconscious drives influence behavior
B) The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on
behavior
, C) The study of how people's thoughts and behaviors are influenced by others
D) The study of how mental processes such as memory and problem-solving operate
Correct Answer: The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental
influences on behavior
Rationale: Behavior genetics examines the extent to which individual differences in behavior
are attributable to genetic factors versus environmental factors. It uses twin studies, adoption
studies, and molecular genetics to disentangle nature and nurture. It is distinct from
psychoanalysis, social psychology, and cognitive psychology.
6. A researcher finds that identical twins raised apart are more similar in extraversion than
fraternal twins raised together. What does this finding suggest?
A) Extraversion is entirely determined by environmental factors
B) Genetic factors play a significant role in extraversion
C) Fraternal twins are more genetically similar than identical twins
D) Extraversion is not influenced by genetics
Correct Answer: Genetic factors play a significant role in extraversion
Rationale: If identical twins (who share 100% of their genes) raised in different
environments are more similar than fraternal twins (who share about 50% of their genes)
raised in the same environment, this suggests a strong genetic contribution to extraversion.
Environmental factors still play a role, but genetics appear influential.
7. What is heritability in the context of behavior genetics?
A) The extent to which an individual's traits are caused by their genes
B) The extent to which variation among individuals in a group can be attributed to their
differing genes
C) The degree to which a trait is passed from parent to offspring
D) The percentage of an individual's DNA that is unique to them
Portage Learning
1. Which of the following best defines personality in psychology?
A) A person's intelligence quotient as measured by standardized testing
B) An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving
C) A temporary emotional state triggered by environmental stimuli
D) The collection of unconscious drives that motivate behavior
Correct Answer: An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving
Rationale: Personality refers to the enduring, distinctive patterns of thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors that characterize an individual and produce consistency across situations. It is
shaped by genetics, environment, and experiences. Intelligence quotient and temporary
emotional states are not synonymous with personality.
2. According to Freud, which structure of personality operates on the pleasure principle and
seeks immediate gratification?
A) Ego
B) Superego
C) Id
D) Collective unconscious
Correct Answer: Id
Rationale: Freud's structural model divides personality into the id, ego, and superego. The id
is the primitive, instinctual component that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking
immediate satisfaction of basic drives. The ego operates on the reality principle, and the
superego represents internalized morals.
,3. A person who is highly organized, dependable, and self-disciplined would likely score high
on which Big Five personality trait?
A) Openness
B) Conscientiousness
C) Extraversion
D) Neuroticism
Correct Answer: Conscientiousness
Rationale: Conscientiousness reflects a person's level of organization, reliability, and self-
discipline. People high in this trait are goal-oriented and dependable. Openness involves
curiosity and creativity, extraversion involves sociability, and neuroticism involves emotional
instability.
4. What did Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment demonstrate about human behavior?
A) That people will conform to group pressure even when the answer is obviously wrong
B) That people will obey an authority figure even when instructed to harm an innocent person
C) That people are less likely to help in emergencies when others are present
D) That people perform better on simple tasks when in the presence of others
Correct Answer: That people will obey an authority figure even when instructed to harm an
innocent person
Rationale: Milgram's experiment showed that a majority of participants administered what
they believed were painful electric shocks to a stranger because an authority figure instructed
them to do so. This demonstrated the powerful influence of obedience to authority.
Conformity, bystander effect, and social facilitation are different phenomena.
5. What is the primary focus of behavior genetics?
A) The study of how unconscious drives influence behavior
B) The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on
behavior
, C) The study of how people's thoughts and behaviors are influenced by others
D) The study of how mental processes such as memory and problem-solving operate
Correct Answer: The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental
influences on behavior
Rationale: Behavior genetics examines the extent to which individual differences in behavior
are attributable to genetic factors versus environmental factors. It uses twin studies, adoption
studies, and molecular genetics to disentangle nature and nurture. It is distinct from
psychoanalysis, social psychology, and cognitive psychology.
6. A researcher finds that identical twins raised apart are more similar in extraversion than
fraternal twins raised together. What does this finding suggest?
A) Extraversion is entirely determined by environmental factors
B) Genetic factors play a significant role in extraversion
C) Fraternal twins are more genetically similar than identical twins
D) Extraversion is not influenced by genetics
Correct Answer: Genetic factors play a significant role in extraversion
Rationale: If identical twins (who share 100% of their genes) raised in different
environments are more similar than fraternal twins (who share about 50% of their genes)
raised in the same environment, this suggests a strong genetic contribution to extraversion.
Environmental factors still play a role, but genetics appear influential.
7. What is heritability in the context of behavior genetics?
A) The extent to which an individual's traits are caused by their genes
B) The extent to which variation among individuals in a group can be attributed to their
differing genes
C) The degree to which a trait is passed from parent to offspring
D) The percentage of an individual's DNA that is unique to them
