COMPLETE TEST BANK:
ESSENTIALS OF UNDERSTANDING
PSYCHOLOGY, 14TH EDITION
(ROBERT S. FELDMAN)
CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Psychology
1) Psychology is defined as the
A) intuition-based approach to study human behavior.
B) speculative method to find answers about human cognition.
C) study of mental disorders and their treatment.
D) scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. This
definition encompasses both observable behaviors and internal mental processes such as thoughts,
feelings, and memories. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because psychology relies on the scientific
method rather than intuition or speculation, and it is not limited to mental disorders.
2) Akira has declared psychology as his major. He will be studying
A) internal medicine.
B) behavior and mental processes.
C) mental disorders and their diagnosis and treatment.
D) the disorders of the central nervous system.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. While some
psychologists specialize in mental disorders (option C), this is not the entire field. Internal medicine (A)
and central nervous system disorders (D) are medical fields, not psychology.
3) A single-sentence definition of psychology may be misleading because
A) it is very difficult to study the mind and behavior scientifically.
B) psychology is a narrower, more specific field than a general definition might suggest.
,C) psychologists disagree on how broad psychology should really be.
D) the discipline of psychology really has no core or center.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Psychologists disagree on how broad psychology should be, which makes a single-sentence
definition potentially misleading. The field encompasses many subfields and perspectives, and there is
ongoing debate about the boundaries of the discipline.
4) In order to study mind and behavior, psychologists
A) rely on the scientific method.
B) use their intuition.
C) rely on the study of internal medicine.
D) use speculation.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Psychologists rely on the scientific method to study behavior and mental processes. This
involves systematic observation, hypothesis testing, and empirical evidence rather than intuition or
speculation.
5) In which of the following scenarios is a scientific explanation being provided to explain a
phenomenon?
A) When asked if violent video games have an impact on players, Dr. Lee replies that there is substantial
empirical evidence to suggest a change in the gamers' behavior.
B) When asked if mood influences social behavior, Dr. Sessler replies that he believes that it does.
C) When asked if addiction is a disease or a choice, Dr. Smith replies that he knows many addicts and he
feels that they have a disease.
D) When asked if he can train his mind to not feel physical pain, Dr. Farnworth replies that he focuses on
his breathing when he feels pain to increase his tolerance for it.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A scientific explanation relies on empirical evidence gathered through systematic research.
Dr. Lee's response references "substantial empirical evidence," which is the hallmark of a scientific
explanation. The other options rely on personal beliefs, anecdotal experience, or personal techniques
rather than scientific evidence.
6) Which of the following statements is true of the diverse subfields of psychology?
,A) They allow psychologists to explain different types of behavior using the same techniques and
experiments.
B) Though they are individually separate and distinct, they all share a common goal of understanding
behavior.
C) They always lead to an MD (doctor of medicine) degree.
D) They are not related at all other than being considered a part of psychology.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Despite their diversity, all subfields of psychology share the common goal of understanding
behavior and mental processes. They use different techniques and focus on different aspects of
behavior, but they are united by this overarching goal.
7) Dr. Alvarez is currently studying how the degeneration of certain components of nerve cells in the
brain leads to Lewy body disease. Dr. Alvarez's work is most likely to be a part of the subfield of
psychology.
A) evolutionary
B) developmental
C) industrial-organization
D) behavioral neuroscience
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Behavioral neuroscience examines how biological structures and functions of the body affect
behavior. Studying nerve cell degeneration and its relationship to disease falls within this subfield.
8) Which of the following is the focus of experimental psychology?
A) exploring the relationship between psycho-logical factors and physical ailments or disease
B) investigating the relationship between people and their physical environment
C) studying the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world
D) analyzing how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Experimental psychology focuses on studying the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning,
and thinking about the world. It uses experimental methods to understand basic psychological
processes. Option A describes health psychology, B describes environmental psychology, and D
describes developmental psychology.
9) Which of the following subfields of psychology matches with its description?
, A) Cognitive psychology examines the relationship between the nervous system and behavior.
B) Developmental psychology examines how people grow and change from conception through death.
C) Experimental psychology explores the relationship between psycho-logical factors and physical
ailments or disease.
D) Clinical psychology focuses on the consistency in people's behavior over time and the traits that
differentiate one per-son from another.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Developmental psychology examines how people grow and change from conception through
death. Option A describes behavioral neuroscience, C describes health psychology, and D describes
personality psychology.
10) Which of the following subfields of psychology is CORRECTLY matched with a sample topic?
A) behavioral neuroscience: the influence of chronic stress on physical health
B) developmental psychology: the effectiveness of drug therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder
C) cognitive psychology: the influence of an event on people's thinking
D) health psychology: the role that frustration plays in producing aggression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cognitive psychology studies thinking, memory, reasoning, and related mental processes. The
influence of an event on people's thinking is a cognitive psychology topic. Option A is more related to
health psychology, B to clinical psychology, and D to social psychology.
11) Which of the following is true of cognitive psychology?
A) It studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior.
B) It stems from Charles Darwin's arguments in his book, On the Origin of Species.
C) It is a subspecialty of experimental psychology.
D) It includes subfields such as developmental and personality psychology.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cognitive psychology is considered a subspecialty of experimental psychology. It focuses on
higher mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem solving. Option A describes behavioral
genetics, B describes evolutionary psychology, and D is incorrect because developmental and
personality psychology are separate subfields.
12) ______ psychology focuses on higher mental processes, including thinking, memory, reasoning,
problem solving, judging, decision making, and language.
ESSENTIALS OF UNDERSTANDING
PSYCHOLOGY, 14TH EDITION
(ROBERT S. FELDMAN)
CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Psychology
1) Psychology is defined as the
A) intuition-based approach to study human behavior.
B) speculative method to find answers about human cognition.
C) study of mental disorders and their treatment.
D) scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. This
definition encompasses both observable behaviors and internal mental processes such as thoughts,
feelings, and memories. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because psychology relies on the scientific
method rather than intuition or speculation, and it is not limited to mental disorders.
2) Akira has declared psychology as his major. He will be studying
A) internal medicine.
B) behavior and mental processes.
C) mental disorders and their diagnosis and treatment.
D) the disorders of the central nervous system.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. While some
psychologists specialize in mental disorders (option C), this is not the entire field. Internal medicine (A)
and central nervous system disorders (D) are medical fields, not psychology.
3) A single-sentence definition of psychology may be misleading because
A) it is very difficult to study the mind and behavior scientifically.
B) psychology is a narrower, more specific field than a general definition might suggest.
,C) psychologists disagree on how broad psychology should really be.
D) the discipline of psychology really has no core or center.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Psychologists disagree on how broad psychology should be, which makes a single-sentence
definition potentially misleading. The field encompasses many subfields and perspectives, and there is
ongoing debate about the boundaries of the discipline.
4) In order to study mind and behavior, psychologists
A) rely on the scientific method.
B) use their intuition.
C) rely on the study of internal medicine.
D) use speculation.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Psychologists rely on the scientific method to study behavior and mental processes. This
involves systematic observation, hypothesis testing, and empirical evidence rather than intuition or
speculation.
5) In which of the following scenarios is a scientific explanation being provided to explain a
phenomenon?
A) When asked if violent video games have an impact on players, Dr. Lee replies that there is substantial
empirical evidence to suggest a change in the gamers' behavior.
B) When asked if mood influences social behavior, Dr. Sessler replies that he believes that it does.
C) When asked if addiction is a disease or a choice, Dr. Smith replies that he knows many addicts and he
feels that they have a disease.
D) When asked if he can train his mind to not feel physical pain, Dr. Farnworth replies that he focuses on
his breathing when he feels pain to increase his tolerance for it.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A scientific explanation relies on empirical evidence gathered through systematic research.
Dr. Lee's response references "substantial empirical evidence," which is the hallmark of a scientific
explanation. The other options rely on personal beliefs, anecdotal experience, or personal techniques
rather than scientific evidence.
6) Which of the following statements is true of the diverse subfields of psychology?
,A) They allow psychologists to explain different types of behavior using the same techniques and
experiments.
B) Though they are individually separate and distinct, they all share a common goal of understanding
behavior.
C) They always lead to an MD (doctor of medicine) degree.
D) They are not related at all other than being considered a part of psychology.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Despite their diversity, all subfields of psychology share the common goal of understanding
behavior and mental processes. They use different techniques and focus on different aspects of
behavior, but they are united by this overarching goal.
7) Dr. Alvarez is currently studying how the degeneration of certain components of nerve cells in the
brain leads to Lewy body disease. Dr. Alvarez's work is most likely to be a part of the subfield of
psychology.
A) evolutionary
B) developmental
C) industrial-organization
D) behavioral neuroscience
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Behavioral neuroscience examines how biological structures and functions of the body affect
behavior. Studying nerve cell degeneration and its relationship to disease falls within this subfield.
8) Which of the following is the focus of experimental psychology?
A) exploring the relationship between psycho-logical factors and physical ailments or disease
B) investigating the relationship between people and their physical environment
C) studying the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world
D) analyzing how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Experimental psychology focuses on studying the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning,
and thinking about the world. It uses experimental methods to understand basic psychological
processes. Option A describes health psychology, B describes environmental psychology, and D
describes developmental psychology.
9) Which of the following subfields of psychology matches with its description?
, A) Cognitive psychology examines the relationship between the nervous system and behavior.
B) Developmental psychology examines how people grow and change from conception through death.
C) Experimental psychology explores the relationship between psycho-logical factors and physical
ailments or disease.
D) Clinical psychology focuses on the consistency in people's behavior over time and the traits that
differentiate one per-son from another.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Developmental psychology examines how people grow and change from conception through
death. Option A describes behavioral neuroscience, C describes health psychology, and D describes
personality psychology.
10) Which of the following subfields of psychology is CORRECTLY matched with a sample topic?
A) behavioral neuroscience: the influence of chronic stress on physical health
B) developmental psychology: the effectiveness of drug therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder
C) cognitive psychology: the influence of an event on people's thinking
D) health psychology: the role that frustration plays in producing aggression
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cognitive psychology studies thinking, memory, reasoning, and related mental processes. The
influence of an event on people's thinking is a cognitive psychology topic. Option A is more related to
health psychology, B to clinical psychology, and D to social psychology.
11) Which of the following is true of cognitive psychology?
A) It studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior.
B) It stems from Charles Darwin's arguments in his book, On the Origin of Species.
C) It is a subspecialty of experimental psychology.
D) It includes subfields such as developmental and personality psychology.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cognitive psychology is considered a subspecialty of experimental psychology. It focuses on
higher mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem solving. Option A describes behavioral
genetics, B describes evolutionary psychology, and D is incorrect because developmental and
personality psychology are separate subfields.
12) ______ psychology focuses on higher mental processes, including thinking, memory, reasoning,
problem solving, judging, decision making, and language.
