WGU C180 Introduction to Psychology
Exam | Latest Update 2026/2027 | 200
Questions and Verified Answers |
Complete Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
Question 1
What is the primary focus of psychology as a scientific discipline?
A) The study of brain structure only
B) The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
C) The analysis of social institutions and cultural norms
D) The examination of spiritual and philosophical questions
Answer: B
Rationale: Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes. This includes observable actions (behavior) and internal experiences
like thoughts, emotions, and perceptions (mental processes). Option A is too
narrow, focusing only on biology. Option C describes sociology or anthropology.
Option D describes philosophy or theology.
Question 2
Which early school of psychology used introspection to examine the basic
elements of conscious experience?
A) Behaviorism
B) Functionalism
,C) Structuralism
D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: C
Rationale: Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, used
introspection (self-report of conscious experiences) to break down mental
processes into their most basic components. Behaviorism (A) rejected the study of
consciousness. Functionalism (B) focused on how mental processes function.
Psychoanalysis (D) focused on unconscious processes.
Question 3
Who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, marking psychology's
emergence as a scientific discipline?
A) William James
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Wilhelm Wundt
D) John B. Watson
Answer: C
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology
laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879, separating psychology from
philosophy and biology. William James (A) was a functionalist who wrote
"Principles of Psychology." Sigmund Freud (B) developed psychoanalysis. John B.
Watson (D) founded behaviorism.
Question 4
The psychological perspective that emphasizes observable behavior and
,environmental influences is:
A) Cognitive psychology
B) Behaviorism
C) Humanistic psychology
D) Psychodynamic psychology
Answer: B
Rationale: Behaviorism focuses exclusively on observable behavior and how it is
learned through environmental interactions, rewards, and punishments. Cognitive
psychology (A) studies mental processes. Humanistic psychology (C) emphasizes
free will and self-actualization. Psychodynamic psychology (D) focuses on
unconscious drives and conflicts.
Question 5
Which perspective in psychology is most concerned with how people process,
store, and retrieve information?
A) Behavioral
B) Biological
C) Cognitive
D) Humanistic
Answer: C
Rationale: The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes including
thinking, memory, problem-solving, and language. The behavioral perspective (A)
focuses on observable behavior. The biological perspective (B) examines genetic
and neurological influences. The humanistic perspective (D) emphasizes personal
growth and self-actualization.
, Question 6
The psychodynamic perspective, associated with Sigmund Freud, emphasizes:
A) Observational learning
B) Unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences
C) Self-actualization and personal growth
D) Information processing and decision-making
Answer: B
Rationale: The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes how unconscious drives,
conflicts, and childhood experiences shape behavior and personality.
Observational learning (A) is associated with Bandura and social learning theory.
Self-actualization (C) is associated with humanistic psychology. Information
processing (D) is associated with cognitive psychology.
Question 7
The humanistic perspective, associated with Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow,
emphasizes:
A) The role of reinforcement and punishment
B) Unconscious sexual and aggressive drives
C) Free will, self-actualization, and personal growth
D) The influence of genes and brain chemistry
Answer: C
Rationale: Humanistic psychology emphasizes free will, the drive toward self-
actualization, and the inherent goodness of people. It focuses on the whole person
and their potential for growth. Reinforcement and punishment (A) are emphasized
in behaviorism. Unconscious drives (B) are emphasized in psychodynamic theory.
Biological influences (D) are emphasized in the biological perspective.
Exam | Latest Update 2026/2027 | 200
Questions and Verified Answers |
Complete Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
Question 1
What is the primary focus of psychology as a scientific discipline?
A) The study of brain structure only
B) The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
C) The analysis of social institutions and cultural norms
D) The examination of spiritual and philosophical questions
Answer: B
Rationale: Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental
processes. This includes observable actions (behavior) and internal experiences
like thoughts, emotions, and perceptions (mental processes). Option A is too
narrow, focusing only on biology. Option C describes sociology or anthropology.
Option D describes philosophy or theology.
Question 2
Which early school of psychology used introspection to examine the basic
elements of conscious experience?
A) Behaviorism
B) Functionalism
,C) Structuralism
D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: C
Rationale: Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, used
introspection (self-report of conscious experiences) to break down mental
processes into their most basic components. Behaviorism (A) rejected the study of
consciousness. Functionalism (B) focused on how mental processes function.
Psychoanalysis (D) focused on unconscious processes.
Question 3
Who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, marking psychology's
emergence as a scientific discipline?
A) William James
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Wilhelm Wundt
D) John B. Watson
Answer: C
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology
laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879, separating psychology from
philosophy and biology. William James (A) was a functionalist who wrote
"Principles of Psychology." Sigmund Freud (B) developed psychoanalysis. John B.
Watson (D) founded behaviorism.
Question 4
The psychological perspective that emphasizes observable behavior and
,environmental influences is:
A) Cognitive psychology
B) Behaviorism
C) Humanistic psychology
D) Psychodynamic psychology
Answer: B
Rationale: Behaviorism focuses exclusively on observable behavior and how it is
learned through environmental interactions, rewards, and punishments. Cognitive
psychology (A) studies mental processes. Humanistic psychology (C) emphasizes
free will and self-actualization. Psychodynamic psychology (D) focuses on
unconscious drives and conflicts.
Question 5
Which perspective in psychology is most concerned with how people process,
store, and retrieve information?
A) Behavioral
B) Biological
C) Cognitive
D) Humanistic
Answer: C
Rationale: The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes including
thinking, memory, problem-solving, and language. The behavioral perspective (A)
focuses on observable behavior. The biological perspective (B) examines genetic
and neurological influences. The humanistic perspective (D) emphasizes personal
growth and self-actualization.
, Question 6
The psychodynamic perspective, associated with Sigmund Freud, emphasizes:
A) Observational learning
B) Unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences
C) Self-actualization and personal growth
D) Information processing and decision-making
Answer: B
Rationale: The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes how unconscious drives,
conflicts, and childhood experiences shape behavior and personality.
Observational learning (A) is associated with Bandura and social learning theory.
Self-actualization (C) is associated with humanistic psychology. Information
processing (D) is associated with cognitive psychology.
Question 7
The humanistic perspective, associated with Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow,
emphasizes:
A) The role of reinforcement and punishment
B) Unconscious sexual and aggressive drives
C) Free will, self-actualization, and personal growth
D) The influence of genes and brain chemistry
Answer: C
Rationale: Humanistic psychology emphasizes free will, the drive toward self-
actualization, and the inherent goodness of people. It focuses on the whole person
and their potential for growth. Reinforcement and punishment (A) are emphasized
in behaviorism. Unconscious drives (B) are emphasized in psychodynamic theory.
Biological influences (D) are emphasized in the biological perspective.
