2026 WGU C180 Foundations of
Psychology Test Bank All Latest Versions
Exam Questions and Answers Study
Guide 100% Distinctions Guaranteed
Grade A+ Updated 2025/2026
1. What is the formal definition of psychology?
• A) The study of human evolution and cultural development
• B) The scientific study of the mind and behavior
• C) The analysis of social structures and group dynamics
• D) The examination of brain structure and function only
Answer: B – The scientific study of the mind and behavior
2. Which of the following are the four primary goals of psychology?
• A) Observe, describe, predict, and treat
• B) Describe, explain, predict, and control/influence
• C) Analyze, diagnose, treat, and prevent
• D) Describe, analyze, predict, and change
Answer: B – Describe, explain, predict, and control/influence
3. Who is considered the "father of psychology"?
• A) Sigmund Freud
, • B) William James
• C) Wilhelm Wundt
• D) B.F. Skinner
Answer: C – Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory
in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879
4. Which school of psychology focused on the structure of the mind
using introspection?
• A) Functionalism
• B) Behaviorism
• C) Structuralism
• D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: C – Structuralism, led by Edward Titchener, aimed to break
down mental processes into basic components
5. Which psychologist emphasized the adaptive functions of behavior
(functionalism)?
• A) Wilhelm Wundt
• B) William James
• C) John B. Watson
• D) Sigmund Freud
Answer: B – William James was influenced by Darwin's theory of natural
selection
6. Which perspective in psychology emphasizes observable behavior
and environmental influences?
• A) Humanistic psychology
• B) Cognitive psychology
, • C) Behaviorism
• D) Psychodynamic psychology
Answer: C – Behaviorism, pioneered by John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner
7. What is the main idea of humanistic psychology?
• A) Behavior is determined by unconscious drives
• B) Psychology should study only observable behavior
• C) Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and self-actualization
• D) Mental processes should be broken down into basic elements
Answer: C – Humanistic psychology emphasizes free will, personal
growth, and the drive toward self-actualization
8. What do psychologists study when they focus on "biological
foundations"?
• A) Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions
• B) Brain processes, hormones, and genes
• C) Social interactions and relationships
• D) Developmental changes across the lifespan
Answer: B – Psychologists study biological processes in the brain,
hormones, and DNA that influence thoughts and behaviors
9. What does it mean when psychologists study "mental life"?
• A) They study brain structures and functions
• B) They study thought processes such as problem-solving and
memory
• C) They study how people change as they age
• D) They study how people relate to others
, Answer: B – Psychologists study thought processes of people, including
how they solve problems, interact with others, or recall past events
10. What does it mean when psychologists study "change"?
• A) They study how the brain changes during learning
• B) They study how individuals change mentally, emotionally, and
socially as they age
• C) They study changes in behavior due to reinforcement
• D) They study changes in personality over time
Answer: B – Psychologists study how individuals change mentally,
emotionally, and socially across the lifespan
11. What does it mean when psychologists study "self and others"?
• A) They study how the brain processes social information
• B) They study how individuals judge themselves and relate to other
individuals
• C) They study group dynamics and social influence
• D) They study cultural differences in behavior
Answer: B – Psychologists study how individuals come to regard or judge
themselves and how they relate to other individuals
12. What does it mean when psychologists study "potential and
dysfunction"?
• A) They study only mental disorders
• B) They study variations in perception, cognition, and emotions to
define normal and abnormal
• C) They study how to improve human performance
• D) They study genetic potential and limitations
Psychology Test Bank All Latest Versions
Exam Questions and Answers Study
Guide 100% Distinctions Guaranteed
Grade A+ Updated 2025/2026
1. What is the formal definition of psychology?
• A) The study of human evolution and cultural development
• B) The scientific study of the mind and behavior
• C) The analysis of social structures and group dynamics
• D) The examination of brain structure and function only
Answer: B – The scientific study of the mind and behavior
2. Which of the following are the four primary goals of psychology?
• A) Observe, describe, predict, and treat
• B) Describe, explain, predict, and control/influence
• C) Analyze, diagnose, treat, and prevent
• D) Describe, analyze, predict, and change
Answer: B – Describe, explain, predict, and control/influence
3. Who is considered the "father of psychology"?
• A) Sigmund Freud
, • B) William James
• C) Wilhelm Wundt
• D) B.F. Skinner
Answer: C – Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory
in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879
4. Which school of psychology focused on the structure of the mind
using introspection?
• A) Functionalism
• B) Behaviorism
• C) Structuralism
• D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: C – Structuralism, led by Edward Titchener, aimed to break
down mental processes into basic components
5. Which psychologist emphasized the adaptive functions of behavior
(functionalism)?
• A) Wilhelm Wundt
• B) William James
• C) John B. Watson
• D) Sigmund Freud
Answer: B – William James was influenced by Darwin's theory of natural
selection
6. Which perspective in psychology emphasizes observable behavior
and environmental influences?
• A) Humanistic psychology
• B) Cognitive psychology
, • C) Behaviorism
• D) Psychodynamic psychology
Answer: C – Behaviorism, pioneered by John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner
7. What is the main idea of humanistic psychology?
• A) Behavior is determined by unconscious drives
• B) Psychology should study only observable behavior
• C) Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and self-actualization
• D) Mental processes should be broken down into basic elements
Answer: C – Humanistic psychology emphasizes free will, personal
growth, and the drive toward self-actualization
8. What do psychologists study when they focus on "biological
foundations"?
• A) Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions
• B) Brain processes, hormones, and genes
• C) Social interactions and relationships
• D) Developmental changes across the lifespan
Answer: B – Psychologists study biological processes in the brain,
hormones, and DNA that influence thoughts and behaviors
9. What does it mean when psychologists study "mental life"?
• A) They study brain structures and functions
• B) They study thought processes such as problem-solving and
memory
• C) They study how people change as they age
• D) They study how people relate to others
, Answer: B – Psychologists study thought processes of people, including
how they solve problems, interact with others, or recall past events
10. What does it mean when psychologists study "change"?
• A) They study how the brain changes during learning
• B) They study how individuals change mentally, emotionally, and
socially as they age
• C) They study changes in behavior due to reinforcement
• D) They study changes in personality over time
Answer: B – Psychologists study how individuals change mentally,
emotionally, and socially across the lifespan
11. What does it mean when psychologists study "self and others"?
• A) They study how the brain processes social information
• B) They study how individuals judge themselves and relate to other
individuals
• C) They study group dynamics and social influence
• D) They study cultural differences in behavior
Answer: B – Psychologists study how individuals come to regard or judge
themselves and how they relate to other individuals
12. What does it mean when psychologists study "potential and
dysfunction"?
• A) They study only mental disorders
• B) They study variations in perception, cognition, and emotions to
define normal and abnormal
• C) They study how to improve human performance
• D) They study genetic potential and limitations
