PSY 102 Exam 2 V2 | PSY 102 General Psychology | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (PSY102 Exam 2) | Grand Canyon University
1. According to Jean Piaget, during which stage do children develop object permanence?
A. Preoperational
B. Sensorimotor
C. Concrete Operational
D. Formal Operational
Answer: B
Rationale: The sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to approximately age two. During this
period, infants learn that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or
touched. This cognitive milestone is known as object permanence and marks a significant
shift in an infant’s understanding of the world.
2. Which of Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development occurs during adolescence?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Generativity vs. Stagnation
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Answer: D
Rationale: Adolescence is defined by the struggle between forming a personal identity and
experiencing confusion about one’s role in society. Teenagers explore different values,
beliefs, and goals to establish a sense of self. Successfully navigating this stage results in the
virtue of fidelity and a strong sense of personal continuity.
3. In the Big Five personality traits, which factor describes a person who is organized,
dependable, and disciplined?
A. Openness
B. Conscientiousness
C. Agreeableness
D. Extraversion
Answer: B
,Rationale: Conscientiousness refers to a person’s tendency to be reliable, hardworking,
and goal-oriented. Individuals scoring high in this trait often prefer planned rather than
spontaneous behavior. Research indicates that conscientiousness is a strong predictor of
job performance and academic success across various domains.
4. Which social psychology concept explains the tendency for people to exert less effort when
working in a group than when working individually?
A. Social Facilitation
B. Groupthink
C. Social Loafing
D. Deindividuation
Answer: C
Rationale: Social loafing occurs because individuals feel less accountable for the final
outcome when responsibilities are shared. The diffusion of responsibility leads to a
decrease in motivation and individual output. This phenomenon is most likely to happen
when individual contributions are not specifically evaluated or recognized.
5. Stanley Milgram’s famous experiment was designed to study which of the following?
A. Obedience to authority
B. Cognitive dissonance
C. Conformity to group pressure
D. The bystander effect
Answer: A
Rationale: Milgram’s study investigated how far participants would go in obeying an
authority figure’s instructions to harm another person. The participants were told to
administer increasingly severe electric shocks to a learner for incorrect answers. The
results revealed that a high percentage of people are willing to perform actions that conflict
with their conscience when ordered by a perceived legitimate authority.
6. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or
feelings to someone else?
A. Projection
B. Repression
C. Reaction Formation
D. Displacement
Answer: A
, Rationale: Projection allows an individual to avoid the anxiety associated with recognizing
their own negative traits by seeing them in others. For instance, a person who is dishonest
may constantly accuse others of lying. This mechanism serves to protect the ego from the
discomfort of acknowledging internal conflicts.
7. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, what characterizes the postconventional level of moral
reasoning?
A. Obedience to avoid punishment
B. Conforming to social rules and laws
C. Seeking approval from others
D. Actions based on self-chosen ethical principles
Answer: D
Rationale: At the postconventional level, morality is defined by abstract principles and
values that transcend specific laws. Individuals at this stage recognize that legal rules are
social contracts that can be changed if they violate universal human rights. Moral decisions
are guided by a personal conscience that prioritizes justice and human dignity above all
else.
8. What is the term for the environmental agents, such as chemicals or viruses, that can reach
the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm?
A. Teratogens
B. Placebos
C. Mutagens
D. Pathogens
Answer: A
Rationale: Teratogens include substances like alcohol, nicotine, and certain drugs, as well
as infections like rubella. The impact of these agents depends on the timing, dose, and
genetic susceptibility of the developing organism. Exposure during critical periods can lead
to physical deformities or cognitive impairments later in life.
9. In Mary Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ test, an infant who explores the room when the
mother is present and is easily comforted upon her return displays:
A. Avoidant attachment
B. Resistant attachment
C. Disorganized attachment
D. Secure attachment
Rationale (PSY102 Exam 2) | Grand Canyon University
1. According to Jean Piaget, during which stage do children develop object permanence?
A. Preoperational
B. Sensorimotor
C. Concrete Operational
D. Formal Operational
Answer: B
Rationale: The sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to approximately age two. During this
period, infants learn that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or
touched. This cognitive milestone is known as object permanence and marks a significant
shift in an infant’s understanding of the world.
2. Which of Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development occurs during adolescence?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Generativity vs. Stagnation
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Answer: D
Rationale: Adolescence is defined by the struggle between forming a personal identity and
experiencing confusion about one’s role in society. Teenagers explore different values,
beliefs, and goals to establish a sense of self. Successfully navigating this stage results in the
virtue of fidelity and a strong sense of personal continuity.
3. In the Big Five personality traits, which factor describes a person who is organized,
dependable, and disciplined?
A. Openness
B. Conscientiousness
C. Agreeableness
D. Extraversion
Answer: B
,Rationale: Conscientiousness refers to a person’s tendency to be reliable, hardworking,
and goal-oriented. Individuals scoring high in this trait often prefer planned rather than
spontaneous behavior. Research indicates that conscientiousness is a strong predictor of
job performance and academic success across various domains.
4. Which social psychology concept explains the tendency for people to exert less effort when
working in a group than when working individually?
A. Social Facilitation
B. Groupthink
C. Social Loafing
D. Deindividuation
Answer: C
Rationale: Social loafing occurs because individuals feel less accountable for the final
outcome when responsibilities are shared. The diffusion of responsibility leads to a
decrease in motivation and individual output. This phenomenon is most likely to happen
when individual contributions are not specifically evaluated or recognized.
5. Stanley Milgram’s famous experiment was designed to study which of the following?
A. Obedience to authority
B. Cognitive dissonance
C. Conformity to group pressure
D. The bystander effect
Answer: A
Rationale: Milgram’s study investigated how far participants would go in obeying an
authority figure’s instructions to harm another person. The participants were told to
administer increasingly severe electric shocks to a learner for incorrect answers. The
results revealed that a high percentage of people are willing to perform actions that conflict
with their conscience when ordered by a perceived legitimate authority.
6. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or
feelings to someone else?
A. Projection
B. Repression
C. Reaction Formation
D. Displacement
Answer: A
, Rationale: Projection allows an individual to avoid the anxiety associated with recognizing
their own negative traits by seeing them in others. For instance, a person who is dishonest
may constantly accuse others of lying. This mechanism serves to protect the ego from the
discomfort of acknowledging internal conflicts.
7. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, what characterizes the postconventional level of moral
reasoning?
A. Obedience to avoid punishment
B. Conforming to social rules and laws
C. Seeking approval from others
D. Actions based on self-chosen ethical principles
Answer: D
Rationale: At the postconventional level, morality is defined by abstract principles and
values that transcend specific laws. Individuals at this stage recognize that legal rules are
social contracts that can be changed if they violate universal human rights. Moral decisions
are guided by a personal conscience that prioritizes justice and human dignity above all
else.
8. What is the term for the environmental agents, such as chemicals or viruses, that can reach
the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm?
A. Teratogens
B. Placebos
C. Mutagens
D. Pathogens
Answer: A
Rationale: Teratogens include substances like alcohol, nicotine, and certain drugs, as well
as infections like rubella. The impact of these agents depends on the timing, dose, and
genetic susceptibility of the developing organism. Exposure during critical periods can lead
to physical deformities or cognitive impairments later in life.
9. In Mary Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ test, an infant who explores the room when the
mother is present and is easily comforted upon her return displays:
A. Avoidant attachment
B. Resistant attachment
C. Disorganized attachment
D. Secure attachment
