PSYCH 101 FINAL EXAM – GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2026 EDITION) PSYC 101 | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+ | PORTAGE LEARNING
Overview:
This comprehensive exam assesses mastery of foundational concepts in psychology, covering the
full spectrum of PSYCH 101 topics. It includes 130 questions across multiple formats—
multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and true/false—with each correct answer provided in bold
along with a rationale for review.
The exam is organized into seven key sections:
1. Biological Bases of Behavior (Questions 1–25) – Neurons, brain structures,
neurotransmitters, nervous system, and endocrine system.
2. Sensation & Perception (Questions 26–45) – Sensory processes, perception, thresholds,
vision, hearing, taste, smell, and balance.
3. Learning (Questions 46–65) – Classical conditioning, operant conditioning,
observational learning, reinforcement, punishment, and problem-solving.
4. Memory & Cognition (Questions 66–85) – Memory systems, encoding, storage,
retrieval, forgetting, heuristics, problem-solving, and decision-making.
5. Development & Personality (Questions 86–105) – Cognitive development, attachment,
moral development, temperament, personality theories, and lifespan psychosocial stages.
6. Psychological Disorders & Therapy (Questions 106–120) – DSM-5 disorders, anxiety,
mood, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, and therapy approaches including CBT,
psychodynamic, and humanistic therapies.
7. Social Psychology, Motivation & Emotion (Questions 121–130) – Social influence,
conformity, obedience, group behavior, motivation types, Maslow’s hierarchy, and
theories of emotion
Section 1: Biological Bases of Behavior (Questions 1–25)
1. The basic building block of the nervous system is the:
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Neuron
D) Synapse
, Rationale: Neurons are the fundamental units that transmit signals
throughout the nervous system.
2. The part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons is the:
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Myelin sheath
D) Soma
Rationale: Dendrites receive signals from other neurons and transmit
them to the cell body.
3. Neurotransmitters are:
A) Hormones secreted by glands
B) Electrical impulses traveling along neurons
C) Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse
D) Proteins that repair neurons
Rationale: Neurotransmitters allow neurons to communicate across
synapses.
4. The ________ coordinates voluntary movements and balance.
Answer: Cerebellum
Rationale: The cerebellum integrates sensory input and motor
coordination.
5. The part of the brain that regulates heartbeat and breathing is the:
A) Cerebellum
B) Hypothalamus
C) Medulla
D) Corpus callosum
Rationale: The medulla controls autonomic functions necessary for
survival.
6. Which lobe of the brain processes visual information?
A) Frontal
B) Parietal
, C) Temporal
D) Occipital
Rationale: The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for vision.
7. The division of the nervous system that controls voluntary movement is
the:
A) Autonomic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Parasympathetic nervous system
D) Somatic nervous system
Rationale: The somatic system controls skeletal muscles for voluntary
movement.
8. The “fight or flight” response is controlled by the:
A) Somatic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Parasympathetic nervous system
D) Central nervous system
Rationale: The sympathetic system triggers physiological arousal in
stress situations.
9. The release of hormones into the bloodstream is controlled by the:
A) Nervous system only
B) Endocrine system
C) Limbic system
D) Cerebral cortex
Rationale: The endocrine system secretes hormones to regulate body
functions.
10. Which brain imaging technique measures activity by detecting blood
flow changes?
A) CT scan
B) MRI
C) fMRI
D) PET scan
(2026 EDITION) PSYC 101 | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+ | PORTAGE LEARNING
Overview:
This comprehensive exam assesses mastery of foundational concepts in psychology, covering the
full spectrum of PSYCH 101 topics. It includes 130 questions across multiple formats—
multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and true/false—with each correct answer provided in bold
along with a rationale for review.
The exam is organized into seven key sections:
1. Biological Bases of Behavior (Questions 1–25) – Neurons, brain structures,
neurotransmitters, nervous system, and endocrine system.
2. Sensation & Perception (Questions 26–45) – Sensory processes, perception, thresholds,
vision, hearing, taste, smell, and balance.
3. Learning (Questions 46–65) – Classical conditioning, operant conditioning,
observational learning, reinforcement, punishment, and problem-solving.
4. Memory & Cognition (Questions 66–85) – Memory systems, encoding, storage,
retrieval, forgetting, heuristics, problem-solving, and decision-making.
5. Development & Personality (Questions 86–105) – Cognitive development, attachment,
moral development, temperament, personality theories, and lifespan psychosocial stages.
6. Psychological Disorders & Therapy (Questions 106–120) – DSM-5 disorders, anxiety,
mood, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, and therapy approaches including CBT,
psychodynamic, and humanistic therapies.
7. Social Psychology, Motivation & Emotion (Questions 121–130) – Social influence,
conformity, obedience, group behavior, motivation types, Maslow’s hierarchy, and
theories of emotion
Section 1: Biological Bases of Behavior (Questions 1–25)
1. The basic building block of the nervous system is the:
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Neuron
D) Synapse
, Rationale: Neurons are the fundamental units that transmit signals
throughout the nervous system.
2. The part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons is the:
A) Axon
B) Dendrite
C) Myelin sheath
D) Soma
Rationale: Dendrites receive signals from other neurons and transmit
them to the cell body.
3. Neurotransmitters are:
A) Hormones secreted by glands
B) Electrical impulses traveling along neurons
C) Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse
D) Proteins that repair neurons
Rationale: Neurotransmitters allow neurons to communicate across
synapses.
4. The ________ coordinates voluntary movements and balance.
Answer: Cerebellum
Rationale: The cerebellum integrates sensory input and motor
coordination.
5. The part of the brain that regulates heartbeat and breathing is the:
A) Cerebellum
B) Hypothalamus
C) Medulla
D) Corpus callosum
Rationale: The medulla controls autonomic functions necessary for
survival.
6. Which lobe of the brain processes visual information?
A) Frontal
B) Parietal
, C) Temporal
D) Occipital
Rationale: The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for vision.
7. The division of the nervous system that controls voluntary movement is
the:
A) Autonomic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Parasympathetic nervous system
D) Somatic nervous system
Rationale: The somatic system controls skeletal muscles for voluntary
movement.
8. The “fight or flight” response is controlled by the:
A) Somatic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Parasympathetic nervous system
D) Central nervous system
Rationale: The sympathetic system triggers physiological arousal in
stress situations.
9. The release of hormones into the bloodstream is controlled by the:
A) Nervous system only
B) Endocrine system
C) Limbic system
D) Cerebral cortex
Rationale: The endocrine system secretes hormones to regulate body
functions.
10. Which brain imaging technique measures activity by detecting blood
flow changes?
A) CT scan
B) MRI
C) fMRI
D) PET scan
