WGU C180 INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which psychological perspective focuses on the role of unconscious conflicts and early
childhood experiences in determining behavior?
A. Behaviorism
B. Humanism
C. Psychoanalysis
D. Cognitive Psychology
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the
influence of the unconscious mind and childhood events on adult personality and behavior.
2. In an experiment, the variable that the researcher manipulates to see its effect on another
variable is called the:
A. Dependent variable
B. Independent variable
C. Extraneous variable
,D. Confounding variable
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the factor controlled or changed by
the experimenter to observe its impact on the dependent variable.
3. Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving incoming signals from other
neurons?
A. Axon
B. Myelin sheath
C. Dendrites
D. Terminal buttons
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Dendrites are the branch-like structures that receive messages
and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
4. Which brain structure acts as a relay station, routing incoming sensory information to the
appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Hippocampus
C. Amygdala
D. Thalamus
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The thalamus serves as the brain’s sensory switchboard,
directing signals (except smell) to the relevant sensory processing areas.
5. Damage to Broca’s area in the left frontal lobe would most likely result in difficulty with:
A. Understanding spoken language
B. Hearing high-frequency sounds
C. Producing speech
D. Maintaining balance
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Broca’s area is crucial for speech production; damage results in
Broca’s aphasia, where speech is labored and non-fluent.
6. Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with the ‘reward system’ of the brain
and implicated in addiction?
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Serotonin
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: A
PSYCHOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which psychological perspective focuses on the role of unconscious conflicts and early
childhood experiences in determining behavior?
A. Behaviorism
B. Humanism
C. Psychoanalysis
D. Cognitive Psychology
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the
influence of the unconscious mind and childhood events on adult personality and behavior.
2. In an experiment, the variable that the researcher manipulates to see its effect on another
variable is called the:
A. Dependent variable
B. Independent variable
C. Extraneous variable
,D. Confounding variable
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the factor controlled or changed by
the experimenter to observe its impact on the dependent variable.
3. Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving incoming signals from other
neurons?
A. Axon
B. Myelin sheath
C. Dendrites
D. Terminal buttons
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Dendrites are the branch-like structures that receive messages
and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
4. Which brain structure acts as a relay station, routing incoming sensory information to the
appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Hippocampus
C. Amygdala
D. Thalamus
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The thalamus serves as the brain’s sensory switchboard,
directing signals (except smell) to the relevant sensory processing areas.
5. Damage to Broca’s area in the left frontal lobe would most likely result in difficulty with:
A. Understanding spoken language
B. Hearing high-frequency sounds
C. Producing speech
D. Maintaining balance
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Broca’s area is crucial for speech production; damage results in
Broca’s aphasia, where speech is labored and non-fluent.
6. Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with the ‘reward system’ of the brain
and implicated in addiction?
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Serotonin
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: A
