PSYC 331 CORE EXAM TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔What is the 'Lost in Mall' study? - ✔✔A study by Elizabeth Loftus that demonstrated
how false memories can be created in participants.
✔✔What effect did the verb 'smashed' have on participants' speed estimates in Loftus's
study? - ✔✔Participants estimated higher speeds when they heard the word 'smashed'
compared to other verbs.
✔✔What was Loftus's stance on the reliability of eyewitness testimony? - ✔✔She was
skeptical about the reliability of eyewitness accounts and the recovery of 'lost'
memories.
✔✔What did Loftus and her student Jacqueline Pickrell demonstrate in their study? -
✔✔They showed that it is possible to create false memories in individuals.
✔✔What was a significant outcome of Milgram's findings regarding obedience? -
✔✔They highlighted the potential for ordinary people to commit harmful acts under
authoritative pressure.
✔✔How did Milgram's experiment challenge previous assumptions about human
behavior? - ✔✔It revealed that many individuals are willing to obey authority figures
even when it conflicts with their personal conscience.
✔✔What was the primary method of data collection in Milgram's study? -
✔✔Participants administered electric shocks to a confederate posing as a learner.
✔✔What was the main ethical guideline established after Milgram's and Zimbardo's
studies? - ✔✔Research must now require informed consent and ensure participant
welfare.
✔✔What was the significance of Milgram's findings for social psychology? - ✔✔They
sparked discussions on the ethics of research and the nature of obedience in social
contexts.
✔✔What did Milgram's study reveal about the influence of situational factors on
behavior? - ✔✔It demonstrated that situational pressures can lead individuals to act
against their moral beliefs.
✔✔What was the reaction of participants when the learner feigned unconsciousness? -
✔✔Many participants continued to administer shocks despite the learner's apparent
distress.
, ✔✔What did Milgram's experiment suggest about the nature of authority? - ✔✔It
suggested that authority figures can exert significant influence over individuals' actions.
✔✔What was the primary criticism of Milgram's experimental design? - ✔✔The ethical
implications of deceiving participants and the potential psychological harm caused.
✔✔What did Loftus and Pickrell's study demonstrate? - ✔✔That false memories can be
created through suggestion.
✔✔What are false memories? - ✔✔Fictitious recollections of events that can be created
through suggestion.
✔✔What type of memory did Loftus's study focus on? - ✔✔Childhood events, such as
being lost in a mall.
✔✔What percentage of participants remembered the false event in Loftus's study? -
✔✔25% of individuals chose the lost in the mall story as true.
✔✔Who was a major influence on the understanding of children's testimony and
memory? - ✔✔Alfred Binet.
✔✔What is the significance of Loftus's research on recovered memories? - ✔✔It
requires extensive verification before being accepted as evidence in court.
✔✔What was the main focus of early psychoanalysts? - ✔✔Understanding and treating
the causes of mental illness through unconscious processes.
✔✔How did early psychoanalysts differ from the medical establishment? - ✔✔They
emphasized unconscious processes rather than physical events as causes of mental
illness.
✔✔Who is considered the leader of psychoanalysis? - ✔✔Sigmund Freud.
✔✔What philosophical influence did Freud have in his early studies? - ✔✔He studied
with Franz Brentano, who influenced his ideas on consciousness.
✔✔What concept did Herbart introduce that influenced Freud? - ✔✔The concept of a
threshold for consciousness and repression.
✔✔What metaphor did Freud borrow from Fechner to explain consciousness? - ✔✔The
iceberg metaphor.
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔What is the 'Lost in Mall' study? - ✔✔A study by Elizabeth Loftus that demonstrated
how false memories can be created in participants.
✔✔What effect did the verb 'smashed' have on participants' speed estimates in Loftus's
study? - ✔✔Participants estimated higher speeds when they heard the word 'smashed'
compared to other verbs.
✔✔What was Loftus's stance on the reliability of eyewitness testimony? - ✔✔She was
skeptical about the reliability of eyewitness accounts and the recovery of 'lost'
memories.
✔✔What did Loftus and her student Jacqueline Pickrell demonstrate in their study? -
✔✔They showed that it is possible to create false memories in individuals.
✔✔What was a significant outcome of Milgram's findings regarding obedience? -
✔✔They highlighted the potential for ordinary people to commit harmful acts under
authoritative pressure.
✔✔How did Milgram's experiment challenge previous assumptions about human
behavior? - ✔✔It revealed that many individuals are willing to obey authority figures
even when it conflicts with their personal conscience.
✔✔What was the primary method of data collection in Milgram's study? -
✔✔Participants administered electric shocks to a confederate posing as a learner.
✔✔What was the main ethical guideline established after Milgram's and Zimbardo's
studies? - ✔✔Research must now require informed consent and ensure participant
welfare.
✔✔What was the significance of Milgram's findings for social psychology? - ✔✔They
sparked discussions on the ethics of research and the nature of obedience in social
contexts.
✔✔What did Milgram's study reveal about the influence of situational factors on
behavior? - ✔✔It demonstrated that situational pressures can lead individuals to act
against their moral beliefs.
✔✔What was the reaction of participants when the learner feigned unconsciousness? -
✔✔Many participants continued to administer shocks despite the learner's apparent
distress.
, ✔✔What did Milgram's experiment suggest about the nature of authority? - ✔✔It
suggested that authority figures can exert significant influence over individuals' actions.
✔✔What was the primary criticism of Milgram's experimental design? - ✔✔The ethical
implications of deceiving participants and the potential psychological harm caused.
✔✔What did Loftus and Pickrell's study demonstrate? - ✔✔That false memories can be
created through suggestion.
✔✔What are false memories? - ✔✔Fictitious recollections of events that can be created
through suggestion.
✔✔What type of memory did Loftus's study focus on? - ✔✔Childhood events, such as
being lost in a mall.
✔✔What percentage of participants remembered the false event in Loftus's study? -
✔✔25% of individuals chose the lost in the mall story as true.
✔✔Who was a major influence on the understanding of children's testimony and
memory? - ✔✔Alfred Binet.
✔✔What is the significance of Loftus's research on recovered memories? - ✔✔It
requires extensive verification before being accepted as evidence in court.
✔✔What was the main focus of early psychoanalysts? - ✔✔Understanding and treating
the causes of mental illness through unconscious processes.
✔✔How did early psychoanalysts differ from the medical establishment? - ✔✔They
emphasized unconscious processes rather than physical events as causes of mental
illness.
✔✔Who is considered the leader of psychoanalysis? - ✔✔Sigmund Freud.
✔✔What philosophical influence did Freud have in his early studies? - ✔✔He studied
with Franz Brentano, who influenced his ideas on consciousness.
✔✔What concept did Herbart introduce that influenced Freud? - ✔✔The concept of a
threshold for consciousness and repression.
✔✔What metaphor did Freud borrow from Fechner to explain consciousness? - ✔✔The
iceberg metaphor.
