CNUR 106 Exam Questions with Correct Answers Graded A+
Theory - Answers a belief or idea that develops based on information or evidence; a proposed
explanation for observed phenomena
Psychoanalytic theory - Answers Freud's theory of the development of personality; emphasis on the role
of the unconscious
Psychosexual stages - Answers Freud's five distinct stages of development in which a pleasure centre
must be satisfied in order for the individual to resolve the inner conflicts relating to his or her wants or
needs
Defence mechanisms - Answers psychological strategies to cope with anxiety or perceived threats
Repression - Answers a defence mechanism in which traumatic and unacceptable thoughts and
memories are removed from consciousness and pushed to the unconscious level
Id - Answers Freud's structure of mind relating to our basic instincts; strikes to secure pleasure
Ego - Answers Freud's notion of the central part of our personality; keeps id in check
Superego - Answers Freud's concept of our conscience; internal determinant of right and wrong
Psychosocial theory - Answers Erikson's stage theory that emphasizes the impact of social experiences
throughout human development
Life crisis - Answers Erik son's term to describe the main tension that individuals experience and seek to
resolve during each of eight life stages
Identity crisis - Answers Erik son's term for a situation, usually in adolescence, that causes us to make
major decisions about our identity
Object permanence - Answers the realization that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be
seen, heard, or touched
Cognitive structures - Answers Piaget's term to describe the basic tools of cognitive development
Adaptation - Answers a mechanism that consists of the two functional invariants- assimilation and
accommodation- in Piaget's theory
Assimilation - Answers Piaget's term to describe the manner in which we incorporate date into our
cognitive structures
Accommodation - Answers Piaget's term to describe the manner by which cognitive structures change
Equilibration - Answers Piaget's term to describe the balance between assimilation and accommodation
Schemes - Answers Piaget's term for organized patterns of thought and action
, Zone of proximal development (ZPD) - Answers Vygotsky's term for a range of ability in a given task,
where the higher limit is achieved through interaction with others
Information-processing theory - Answers cognitive theory that uses a computer metaphor to understand
how the human mind processes information
Classical conditioning - Answers the learning process in which a neutral stimulus produces an involuntary
response that is usually elicited by another stimulus
Positive reinforcement - Answers an event that increases the likelihood of a desired response in the
future
Negative reinforcement - Answers an event that, when it ceases to occur, makes that response more
likely to happen in the future
Operant conditioning - Answers the use of consequences (reinforcement, punishment) to modify or
shape voluntary behaviour or actions
Punishment - Answers process by which an unpleasant response is paired with an undesired behaviour
to decrease the likelihood of that behaviour occurring in the future
Extinction - Answers the systematic process in which behaviours are de-conditioned or eliminated
Modelling - Answers Bandura's term for observational learning
Observational learning - Answers Bandura's term to explain the information we obtain from observing
other people, things, and events
Social (cognitive) learning theory - Answers Bandura's explanation for the process whereby the
information we glean from observing others influences our behaviour
Self-efficacy - Answers a person's belief that she can behave in a certain way to achieve a desired goal
Reciprocal interactions - Answers our responses to others around us, which causes changes in those
other people; their responses to us then change, which intern produces new changes in us
Bioecological model - Answers the continuity and change in the biopsychosocial characteristics of
human beings, both as individuals and as groups
Microsystem - Answers according to Bronfenbrenner, the innermost environment for the developing
individual, such as the home or school
Mesosystem - Answers the relationship among different microsystems; for example, between the
quality of school that a child attends and the neighbourhood in which they reside
Exosystem - Answers environment in which the developing person is not present but that nevertheless
affects development
Theory - Answers a belief or idea that develops based on information or evidence; a proposed
explanation for observed phenomena
Psychoanalytic theory - Answers Freud's theory of the development of personality; emphasis on the role
of the unconscious
Psychosexual stages - Answers Freud's five distinct stages of development in which a pleasure centre
must be satisfied in order for the individual to resolve the inner conflicts relating to his or her wants or
needs
Defence mechanisms - Answers psychological strategies to cope with anxiety or perceived threats
Repression - Answers a defence mechanism in which traumatic and unacceptable thoughts and
memories are removed from consciousness and pushed to the unconscious level
Id - Answers Freud's structure of mind relating to our basic instincts; strikes to secure pleasure
Ego - Answers Freud's notion of the central part of our personality; keeps id in check
Superego - Answers Freud's concept of our conscience; internal determinant of right and wrong
Psychosocial theory - Answers Erikson's stage theory that emphasizes the impact of social experiences
throughout human development
Life crisis - Answers Erik son's term to describe the main tension that individuals experience and seek to
resolve during each of eight life stages
Identity crisis - Answers Erik son's term for a situation, usually in adolescence, that causes us to make
major decisions about our identity
Object permanence - Answers the realization that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be
seen, heard, or touched
Cognitive structures - Answers Piaget's term to describe the basic tools of cognitive development
Adaptation - Answers a mechanism that consists of the two functional invariants- assimilation and
accommodation- in Piaget's theory
Assimilation - Answers Piaget's term to describe the manner in which we incorporate date into our
cognitive structures
Accommodation - Answers Piaget's term to describe the manner by which cognitive structures change
Equilibration - Answers Piaget's term to describe the balance between assimilation and accommodation
Schemes - Answers Piaget's term for organized patterns of thought and action
, Zone of proximal development (ZPD) - Answers Vygotsky's term for a range of ability in a given task,
where the higher limit is achieved through interaction with others
Information-processing theory - Answers cognitive theory that uses a computer metaphor to understand
how the human mind processes information
Classical conditioning - Answers the learning process in which a neutral stimulus produces an involuntary
response that is usually elicited by another stimulus
Positive reinforcement - Answers an event that increases the likelihood of a desired response in the
future
Negative reinforcement - Answers an event that, when it ceases to occur, makes that response more
likely to happen in the future
Operant conditioning - Answers the use of consequences (reinforcement, punishment) to modify or
shape voluntary behaviour or actions
Punishment - Answers process by which an unpleasant response is paired with an undesired behaviour
to decrease the likelihood of that behaviour occurring in the future
Extinction - Answers the systematic process in which behaviours are de-conditioned or eliminated
Modelling - Answers Bandura's term for observational learning
Observational learning - Answers Bandura's term to explain the information we obtain from observing
other people, things, and events
Social (cognitive) learning theory - Answers Bandura's explanation for the process whereby the
information we glean from observing others influences our behaviour
Self-efficacy - Answers a person's belief that she can behave in a certain way to achieve a desired goal
Reciprocal interactions - Answers our responses to others around us, which causes changes in those
other people; their responses to us then change, which intern produces new changes in us
Bioecological model - Answers the continuity and change in the biopsychosocial characteristics of
human beings, both as individuals and as groups
Microsystem - Answers according to Bronfenbrenner, the innermost environment for the developing
individual, such as the home or school
Mesosystem - Answers the relationship among different microsystems; for example, between the
quality of school that a child attends and the neighbourhood in which they reside
Exosystem - Answers environment in which the developing person is not present but that nevertheless
affects development
