Psychology Test Bank 2025 – Wade 12th Edition
1. Which part of the brain regulates basic life functions such as breathing and
heartbeat?
A) Cerebellum
B) Medulla
C) Hippocampus
D) Amygdala
Answer: B) Medulla
Rationale: The medulla controls vital autonomic functions like breathing and heartbeat.
2. Classical conditioning involves:
A) Rewarding voluntary behaviors
B) Associating two stimuli
C) Punishing undesirable behaviors
D) Observational learning
Answer: B) Associating two stimuli
Rationale: Classical conditioning pairs a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
to elicit a conditioned response.
3. Piaget’s stage in which children begin logical reasoning about concrete events is
called:
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Answer: C) Concrete operational
,Rationale: This stage (ages 7–11) is marked by logical thinking about concrete
situations.
4. The neurotransmitter primarily involved in muscle movement is:
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) GABA
Answer: C) Acetylcholine
Rationale: Acetylcholine transmits signals between nerves and muscles, enabling
movement.
5. Which type of memory has the shortest duration?
A) Short-term memory
B) Long-term memory
C) Sensory memory
D) Episodic memory
Answer: C) Sensory memory
Rationale: Sensory memory lasts only a fraction of a second.
6. Observational learning was demonstrated by:
A) Pavlov
B) Skinner
C) Bandura
D) Thorndike
Answer: C) Bandura
Rationale: Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment showed that individuals can learn by
observing others.
,7. Erikson’s stage of identity vs. role confusion occurs during:
A) Infancy
B) Adolescence
C) Early adulthood
D) Middle adulthood
Answer: B) Adolescence
Rationale: Adolescents explore personal identity and social roles.
8. Which brain lobe is associated with visual processing?
A) Frontal
B) Parietal
C) Occipital
D) Temporal
Answer: C) Occipital
Rationale: The occipital lobe processes visual information from the eyes.
9. The fight-or-flight response is primarily regulated by:
A) Parasympathetic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Central nervous system
D) Somatic nervous system
Answer: B) Sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for stress or danger.
10. Which neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and reward?
A) Serotonin
, B) Dopamine
C) GABA
D) Acetylcholine
Answer: B) Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine is critical for the brain’s reward and pleasure pathways.
11. Cognitive dissonance refers to:
A) Conflict between behavior and attitudes
B) Conflict between two people’s beliefs
C) Misremembering past events
D) A state of deep concentration
Answer: A) Conflict between behavior and attitudes
Rationale: Cognitive dissonance occurs when behavior contradicts beliefs, causing
psychological discomfort.
12. Thorndike’s Law of Effect states:
A) Behavior is influenced by consequences
B) Learning occurs through observation
C) Behavior is instinctual
D) Conditioning only works on reflexes
Answer: A) Behavior is influenced by consequences
Rationale: Responses followed by positive outcomes are more likely to recur.
13. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is associated with:
A) Synaptic weakening
B) Memory formation
C) Muscle contraction
1. Which part of the brain regulates basic life functions such as breathing and
heartbeat?
A) Cerebellum
B) Medulla
C) Hippocampus
D) Amygdala
Answer: B) Medulla
Rationale: The medulla controls vital autonomic functions like breathing and heartbeat.
2. Classical conditioning involves:
A) Rewarding voluntary behaviors
B) Associating two stimuli
C) Punishing undesirable behaviors
D) Observational learning
Answer: B) Associating two stimuli
Rationale: Classical conditioning pairs a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
to elicit a conditioned response.
3. Piaget’s stage in which children begin logical reasoning about concrete events is
called:
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Answer: C) Concrete operational
,Rationale: This stage (ages 7–11) is marked by logical thinking about concrete
situations.
4. The neurotransmitter primarily involved in muscle movement is:
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) GABA
Answer: C) Acetylcholine
Rationale: Acetylcholine transmits signals between nerves and muscles, enabling
movement.
5. Which type of memory has the shortest duration?
A) Short-term memory
B) Long-term memory
C) Sensory memory
D) Episodic memory
Answer: C) Sensory memory
Rationale: Sensory memory lasts only a fraction of a second.
6. Observational learning was demonstrated by:
A) Pavlov
B) Skinner
C) Bandura
D) Thorndike
Answer: C) Bandura
Rationale: Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment showed that individuals can learn by
observing others.
,7. Erikson’s stage of identity vs. role confusion occurs during:
A) Infancy
B) Adolescence
C) Early adulthood
D) Middle adulthood
Answer: B) Adolescence
Rationale: Adolescents explore personal identity and social roles.
8. Which brain lobe is associated with visual processing?
A) Frontal
B) Parietal
C) Occipital
D) Temporal
Answer: C) Occipital
Rationale: The occipital lobe processes visual information from the eyes.
9. The fight-or-flight response is primarily regulated by:
A) Parasympathetic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Central nervous system
D) Somatic nervous system
Answer: B) Sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for stress or danger.
10. Which neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and reward?
A) Serotonin
, B) Dopamine
C) GABA
D) Acetylcholine
Answer: B) Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine is critical for the brain’s reward and pleasure pathways.
11. Cognitive dissonance refers to:
A) Conflict between behavior and attitudes
B) Conflict between two people’s beliefs
C) Misremembering past events
D) A state of deep concentration
Answer: A) Conflict between behavior and attitudes
Rationale: Cognitive dissonance occurs when behavior contradicts beliefs, causing
psychological discomfort.
12. Thorndike’s Law of Effect states:
A) Behavior is influenced by consequences
B) Learning occurs through observation
C) Behavior is instinctual
D) Conditioning only works on reflexes
Answer: A) Behavior is influenced by consequences
Rationale: Responses followed by positive outcomes are more likely to recur.
13. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is associated with:
A) Synaptic weakening
B) Memory formation
C) Muscle contraction
