PSYCH10 MIDTERM PAQUETTE SMITH UCLA UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS VERIFIED 2027 EDITION
1. Psychology
The scientific study of mind and behavior. Psyche = soul, spirit, mind; Logos = the study of
2. Psychology in Ancient Civilizations
-Ancient Egyptian doctors linked traumatic brain injuries to behavioral changes -Ancient Greek
Philosophers contemplated the origins of knowledge: Nature (Plato) vs. Nurture (Aristotle) -> Plato =
innatist (believed that things are learned from birth) -> Aristotle = empiricist (you learn things through your
environment) -Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates developed the world's first personality classification ->
Greeks thought that if your blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile were all balanced, then you would be
healthy
3. Historical Roots of Psychology
-Psych = relatively new science -Psych has been influenced by Philosophy and the Sciences (Physics,
Evolution, Medicine/Physiology)
4. Influence of Evolution on Psychology
-1800s -Charles Darwin -Evolution by natural selection -> "Survival of the fittest" -> Behaviors are shaped by
natural selection
5. Influence of Medicine on Psychology
-1800s -Localization of brain function was studied using Phrenology (study of the shape and size of the
skull instead of character and mental abilities) -Case studies of brain injury: Phineas Gage -> Phineas
Gage's job was to pack explosives into a hole -> explosion made rod go up Gage's head -> prior to accident,
Phineas was conscientious, hard-working, and polite -> after the accident, Phineas swore a lot, had a
temper, and was impulsive
6. Contemporary Psychology
-1879 = first experimental psychology laboratory -Reaction time studies
7. Schools of Thought in Psychology
-Structuralism vs. Functionalism -Behaviorism -Cognitive psychology -Psychoanalytic -Cross-Cultural
Psychology
8. Structuralism
-Late 19th to early 20th century -Important historical figures: Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener -Focus:
How mind is structured, studied consciousness by breaking it down into basic elements (via introspection)
-Fundamental issues b/c experience differs from individual to individual -Introspection wasn't a good
technique b/c it was very subjective
9. Functionalism
-Late 19th to early 20th century (William James) -Influenced by Darwin's Theory of Evolution -Focus: What
the mind DOES and why?, purposed of behavior -The study of the purpose and function of behaviors and
mental processes
10. Psychoanalytic Perspective
-Late 19th to early 20th century -Important historical figures: Sigmund Freud -Psychoanalytic theory =
attempts to explain how behavior and personality are influenced by unconscious processes -Ego (practical
means of our life), superego (balance between what we experience consciously and unconsciously), and id
(basic drives given at birth i.e. hunger, sex, shelter, etc.)
1
, 11. Behaviorism
-Early to mid 20th century -Focus: Study of externally observable behavior ONLY, not mental state
-Behaviors were sets of stimuli and responses -Behavior is less subjective and more scientific
12. Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience
-Mid 20th century to present -Understanding what the mind is doing during these experiments -Contrasts
with Behaviorism b/c we want to know WHY the mind does what it does -Studied under what conditions
the brain functioned best -Observed behavior wasn't enough-> what is happening INSIDE the brain???
13. Cross-Cultural Psychology
-1980s -> Greater interest in how cultural factors influence behavior -A field that draws comparisons about
individual and group behaviors across cultures -aka comparing and contrasting behavior in different
human populations -The problem: most psychology studies are done on WEIRD populations
14. WEIRD
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic
15. Psychology today
Basic research: -Biological/Physiological/Neuroscience -> Brains, neurons, neurochemicals -Cognitive ->
Thinking, memory, attention -Developmental -> Change over time -Social -> How do people interact?
Applied research: -Clinical -> Mental illness -Educational -> Educational techniques, diagnosis -Forensic ->
Criminal and legal matters -Industrial-organizational -> In the workplace Fuzzy boundaries: -The distinction
is not always clear -> At UCLA, Clinical Psychologists are largely involved in research and not practice
-Sub-areas overlap in their interests, spawning new areas -> Social Cognitive Neuroscience
16. Why do we need to use research methods to study people?
-The media can misinterpret or over simplify research findings -Even things that may seem obvious are still
worthy of scientific study -> Higher quality education = better student outcomes -> Still need to understand
what aspects are beneficial -Assess reasons for research findings
17. Hindsight Bias
-Belief that an outcome was forseeable after it has occurred -> the "I knew it all along" effect (i.e. "Of
course the Lakers were going to win that game!", "Of course Trump was going to win that election!")
-Findings seem obvious once we know them, but were once controversial -ex: "I knew you were trouble
when you walked in"
18. Why do we need to use scientific methods to study psychology?
The scientific method helps reduce bias
19. Scientific Method
1. Formulate testable and falsifiable hypothesis 2. Design the study (and select the research method)-
operationalize your variables! 3. Collect data 4. Analyze data and draw conclusions 5. Report findings
20. What makes a good theory?
-It is falsifiable (it can be proven wrong) -> Darwin's Theory of Evolution vs. Freud's psychoanalytic
theory????!? -If findings support the hypothesis then confidence in the theory grows
21. What makes a good hypothesis?
-It is SPECIFIC and testable -It is falsifiable (refutable) aka there exists at least one outcome, whether or not
it actually occurs, that could prove the hypothesis is incorrect -i.e. "Drivers who use cell phones more
frequently will get in more accidents" -> "Drivers who use cell phones while they are driving are more likely
to get into a car accident"
2
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS VERIFIED 2027 EDITION
1. Psychology
The scientific study of mind and behavior. Psyche = soul, spirit, mind; Logos = the study of
2. Psychology in Ancient Civilizations
-Ancient Egyptian doctors linked traumatic brain injuries to behavioral changes -Ancient Greek
Philosophers contemplated the origins of knowledge: Nature (Plato) vs. Nurture (Aristotle) -> Plato =
innatist (believed that things are learned from birth) -> Aristotle = empiricist (you learn things through your
environment) -Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates developed the world's first personality classification ->
Greeks thought that if your blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile were all balanced, then you would be
healthy
3. Historical Roots of Psychology
-Psych = relatively new science -Psych has been influenced by Philosophy and the Sciences (Physics,
Evolution, Medicine/Physiology)
4. Influence of Evolution on Psychology
-1800s -Charles Darwin -Evolution by natural selection -> "Survival of the fittest" -> Behaviors are shaped by
natural selection
5. Influence of Medicine on Psychology
-1800s -Localization of brain function was studied using Phrenology (study of the shape and size of the
skull instead of character and mental abilities) -Case studies of brain injury: Phineas Gage -> Phineas
Gage's job was to pack explosives into a hole -> explosion made rod go up Gage's head -> prior to accident,
Phineas was conscientious, hard-working, and polite -> after the accident, Phineas swore a lot, had a
temper, and was impulsive
6. Contemporary Psychology
-1879 = first experimental psychology laboratory -Reaction time studies
7. Schools of Thought in Psychology
-Structuralism vs. Functionalism -Behaviorism -Cognitive psychology -Psychoanalytic -Cross-Cultural
Psychology
8. Structuralism
-Late 19th to early 20th century -Important historical figures: Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener -Focus:
How mind is structured, studied consciousness by breaking it down into basic elements (via introspection)
-Fundamental issues b/c experience differs from individual to individual -Introspection wasn't a good
technique b/c it was very subjective
9. Functionalism
-Late 19th to early 20th century (William James) -Influenced by Darwin's Theory of Evolution -Focus: What
the mind DOES and why?, purposed of behavior -The study of the purpose and function of behaviors and
mental processes
10. Psychoanalytic Perspective
-Late 19th to early 20th century -Important historical figures: Sigmund Freud -Psychoanalytic theory =
attempts to explain how behavior and personality are influenced by unconscious processes -Ego (practical
means of our life), superego (balance between what we experience consciously and unconsciously), and id
(basic drives given at birth i.e. hunger, sex, shelter, etc.)
1
, 11. Behaviorism
-Early to mid 20th century -Focus: Study of externally observable behavior ONLY, not mental state
-Behaviors were sets of stimuli and responses -Behavior is less subjective and more scientific
12. Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience
-Mid 20th century to present -Understanding what the mind is doing during these experiments -Contrasts
with Behaviorism b/c we want to know WHY the mind does what it does -Studied under what conditions
the brain functioned best -Observed behavior wasn't enough-> what is happening INSIDE the brain???
13. Cross-Cultural Psychology
-1980s -> Greater interest in how cultural factors influence behavior -A field that draws comparisons about
individual and group behaviors across cultures -aka comparing and contrasting behavior in different
human populations -The problem: most psychology studies are done on WEIRD populations
14. WEIRD
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic
15. Psychology today
Basic research: -Biological/Physiological/Neuroscience -> Brains, neurons, neurochemicals -Cognitive ->
Thinking, memory, attention -Developmental -> Change over time -Social -> How do people interact?
Applied research: -Clinical -> Mental illness -Educational -> Educational techniques, diagnosis -Forensic ->
Criminal and legal matters -Industrial-organizational -> In the workplace Fuzzy boundaries: -The distinction
is not always clear -> At UCLA, Clinical Psychologists are largely involved in research and not practice
-Sub-areas overlap in their interests, spawning new areas -> Social Cognitive Neuroscience
16. Why do we need to use research methods to study people?
-The media can misinterpret or over simplify research findings -Even things that may seem obvious are still
worthy of scientific study -> Higher quality education = better student outcomes -> Still need to understand
what aspects are beneficial -Assess reasons for research findings
17. Hindsight Bias
-Belief that an outcome was forseeable after it has occurred -> the "I knew it all along" effect (i.e. "Of
course the Lakers were going to win that game!", "Of course Trump was going to win that election!")
-Findings seem obvious once we know them, but were once controversial -ex: "I knew you were trouble
when you walked in"
18. Why do we need to use scientific methods to study psychology?
The scientific method helps reduce bias
19. Scientific Method
1. Formulate testable and falsifiable hypothesis 2. Design the study (and select the research method)-
operationalize your variables! 3. Collect data 4. Analyze data and draw conclusions 5. Report findings
20. What makes a good theory?
-It is falsifiable (it can be proven wrong) -> Darwin's Theory of Evolution vs. Freud's psychoanalytic
theory????!? -If findings support the hypothesis then confidence in the theory grows
21. What makes a good hypothesis?
-It is SPECIFIC and testable -It is falsifiable (refutable) aka there exists at least one outcome, whether or not
it actually occurs, that could prove the hypothesis is incorrect -i.e. "Drivers who use cell phones more
frequently will get in more accidents" -> "Drivers who use cell phones while they are driving are more likely
to get into a car accident"
2
