CHAPTER 1: Introduction
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In Chapter 1 of the text, the introductory vignette describes an incident in which Robert
Dziekañski arrived in the Vancouver International Airport to meet his mother. He spoke
no English and expressed frustration and agitation after a long series of meetings with
immigration officials. Four RCMP officers arrived on the scene and when Mr.
Dziekañski picked up a stapler they Tasered him five times and he died. Researchers in
psychology might be interested in this incident because:
a. it highlights how emotional stress causes otherwise innocent victims to act
irrationally
b. it highlights how emotional stress causes RCMP officers to Taser victims
c. it demonstrates the reliability of eyewitness testimony
d. it demonstrates how emotional stress can influence decision making
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Conceptual
2. Real-life situations such as the one in the opening vignette provide psychologists with the
opportunity to study all of these psychological issues EXCEPT:
a. decision making
b. group behaviour
c. brain changes during highly emotional experiences
d. accuracy of eyewitnesses
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Applied
,3. Why is studying racial attitudes difficult?
a. We are unable to peek inside the mind.
b. It is impossible to determine if an act is a racist behaviour.
c. Most people deny holding racist beliefs.
d. Racism is entirely subjective.
ANS: C DIF: Easy KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Factual
4. A psychologist is studying the psychological factors in a campus incident that involved
confrontational behaviours between racial groups. Which of the following would NOT be
helpful in understanding these behaviours?
a. the processes of visual perception
b. the emotional context of behaviours
c. the faculty response after the event
d. the location and situation in which the confrontation occurs
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Applied
5. The findings from the brain imaging study of racial attitudes conducted by Phelps and
Banaji indicated that:
a. some white university students showed activation in the frontal cortex when
viewing familiar black faces
b. some white university students showed activation in the frontal cortex when
viewing unfamiliar black faces
, c. some white university students showed heightened activation in the amygdala
when viewing familiar black faces
d. some white university students showed heightened activation in the amygdala
when viewing unfamiliar black faces
ANS: D DIF: Easy KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Factual
6. The fMRI study by Phelps and Banaji demonstrated that psychological scientists can:
a. change racial attitudes
b. know the cause of racial prejudice
c. measure the amount of racism relative to prejudice
d. see inside the brain with regard to the perceptions of race
ANS: D DIF: Easy KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Factual
7. Dr. Davis is studying the influence of racism on behaviour. Which of the following tools
might best allow her to examine the working brain?
a. fMRI c. psychoanalysis
b. brain chemistry assay d. introspection
ANS: A DIF: Easy KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Applied
8. The implicit association test (IAT) is used to measure:
a. people’s associations without their awareness
, b. people’s behaviour toward different groups of people
c. the sources of racial attitudes
d. the experiences that have affected people’s racial attitudes
ANS: A DIF: Easy KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Factual
9. Improvements in brain imaging have allowed scientists to:
a. isolate a particular thought
b. better localize brain functioning
c. understand the interaction of genes and environment
d. identify structures of the brain for the first time
ANS: B DIF: Moderate KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Factual
10. Which of the following is the best definition of psychological science?
a. the study of the brain and its inner function
b. the study of the mind and how it processes thoughts, social interactions, and
emotions
c. the study of the mind, brain, and behaviour
d. the study of the mind, the psyche, and behaviour
ANS: C DIF: Easy KEY: Psychological Science (I.B)
NOT: Factual
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In Chapter 1 of the text, the introductory vignette describes an incident in which Robert
Dziekañski arrived in the Vancouver International Airport to meet his mother. He spoke
no English and expressed frustration and agitation after a long series of meetings with
immigration officials. Four RCMP officers arrived on the scene and when Mr.
Dziekañski picked up a stapler they Tasered him five times and he died. Researchers in
psychology might be interested in this incident because:
a. it highlights how emotional stress causes otherwise innocent victims to act
irrationally
b. it highlights how emotional stress causes RCMP officers to Taser victims
c. it demonstrates the reliability of eyewitness testimony
d. it demonstrates how emotional stress can influence decision making
ANS: D DIF: Moderate KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Conceptual
2. Real-life situations such as the one in the opening vignette provide psychologists with the
opportunity to study all of these psychological issues EXCEPT:
a. decision making
b. group behaviour
c. brain changes during highly emotional experiences
d. accuracy of eyewitnesses
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Applied
,3. Why is studying racial attitudes difficult?
a. We are unable to peek inside the mind.
b. It is impossible to determine if an act is a racist behaviour.
c. Most people deny holding racist beliefs.
d. Racism is entirely subjective.
ANS: C DIF: Easy KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Factual
4. A psychologist is studying the psychological factors in a campus incident that involved
confrontational behaviours between racial groups. Which of the following would NOT be
helpful in understanding these behaviours?
a. the processes of visual perception
b. the emotional context of behaviours
c. the faculty response after the event
d. the location and situation in which the confrontation occurs
ANS: C DIF: Moderate KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Applied
5. The findings from the brain imaging study of racial attitudes conducted by Phelps and
Banaji indicated that:
a. some white university students showed activation in the frontal cortex when
viewing familiar black faces
b. some white university students showed activation in the frontal cortex when
viewing unfamiliar black faces
, c. some white university students showed heightened activation in the amygdala
when viewing familiar black faces
d. some white university students showed heightened activation in the amygdala
when viewing unfamiliar black faces
ANS: D DIF: Easy KEY: Psychological Science (I)
NOT: Factual
6. The fMRI study by Phelps and Banaji demonstrated that psychological scientists can:
a. change racial attitudes
b. know the cause of racial prejudice
c. measure the amount of racism relative to prejudice
d. see inside the brain with regard to the perceptions of race
ANS: D DIF: Easy KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Factual
7. Dr. Davis is studying the influence of racism on behaviour. Which of the following tools
might best allow her to examine the working brain?
a. fMRI c. psychoanalysis
b. brain chemistry assay d. introspection
ANS: A DIF: Easy KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Applied
8. The implicit association test (IAT) is used to measure:
a. people’s associations without their awareness
, b. people’s behaviour toward different groups of people
c. the sources of racial attitudes
d. the experiences that have affected people’s racial attitudes
ANS: A DIF: Easy KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Factual
9. Improvements in brain imaging have allowed scientists to:
a. isolate a particular thought
b. better localize brain functioning
c. understand the interaction of genes and environment
d. identify structures of the brain for the first time
ANS: B DIF: Moderate KEY: Role of Brain Imaging (I.A.1)
NOT: Factual
10. Which of the following is the best definition of psychological science?
a. the study of the brain and its inner function
b. the study of the mind and how it processes thoughts, social interactions, and
emotions
c. the study of the mind, brain, and behaviour
d. the study of the mind, the psyche, and behaviour
ANS: C DIF: Easy KEY: Psychological Science (I.B)
NOT: Factual
