Social Science (Psychology) | Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Exam, Questions &
Answers, Psychology Exam Prep Test Bank,
Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology,
Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology,
Research Methods, Personality Theories, Mental
Health, Behavioral Science, Detailed Rationales,
Complete Review
Question 1: According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development,
which stage is characterized by the primary challenge of developing a sense of
purpose and the ability to initiate activities, or else feeling guilty about one's
efforts?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Initiative vs. Guilt
Rationale:Erikson's third stage, Initiative vs. Guilt, occurs during the preschool years
(ages 3-5). Children begin to assert their power and control over the world by directing
play and other social interactions. Successfully navigating this stage leads to a sense of
purpose, while failure results in feelings of guilt about their self-initiated activities.
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is the preceding stage, Industry vs. Inferiority is the
following stage, and Identity vs. Role Confusion is the challenge of adolescence.
Question 2: Which of the following research designs is most effective for
establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?
A. Case Study
B. Correlational Study
C. Naturalistic Observation
D. Experimental Design
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Experimental Design
Rationale:The experimental design is the only research method that can establish
causality. This is achieved by the researcher's manipulation of the independent variable,
controlling for extraneous variables, and using random assignment to conditions. A
correlational study can only identify relationships, not causation, while case studies and
naturalistic observation are descriptive and lack the control needed to infer causality.
,Question 3: The "Big Five" personality trait that is most strongly associated
with being organized, disciplined, and dependable is:
A. Agreeableness
B. Openness to Experience
C. Conscientiousness
D. Neuroticism
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Conscientiousness
Rationale:Conscientiousness is one of the five broad dimensions of personality in the
Five-Factor Model. Individuals high in this trait are typically efficient, well-organized,
and reliable. Agreeableness relates to being cooperative and compassionate; Openness
to Experience relates to curiosity and creativity; and Neuroticism relates to emotional
instability and negative affect.
Question 4: In classical conditioning, the initial stage of learning during which
a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit
a conditioned response is known as:
A. Acquisition
B. Extinction
C. Spontaneous Recovery
D. Generalization
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Acquisition
Rationale:Acquisition is the initial phase of learning in classical conditioning where the
association between the conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is
established. Extinction is the weakening of the CR when the CS is presented without the
UCS. Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of the CR after a rest period, and
generalization is the tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS.
Question 5: Damage to the hippocampus would most likely result in which of
the following cognitive deficits?
A. An inability to speak fluently
B. Difficulty forming new explicit memories
C. Impaired performance on a motor skills task
D. A loss of emotional regulation
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Difficulty forming new explicit memories
Rationale:The hippocampus is a crucial structure in the medial temporal lobe and is
essential for the consolidation of explicit (declarative) memories. Damage to this area
often results in anterograde amnesia, the inability to form new long-term memories.
Language difficulties are more associated with Broca's and Wernicke's areas, motor
,skills with the cerebellum and basal ganglia, and emotional regulation with the
amygdala.
Question 6: Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of free will,
self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of people?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
C. Humanism
D. Structuralism
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Humanism
Rationale:Humanistic psychology, championed by figures like Abraham Maslow and
Carl Rogers, emerged as a "third force" in psychology, focusing on subjective
experience, personal growth, and the innate potential for good in all humans.
Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior, psychoanalysis on unconscious drives, and
structuralism on the basic elements of consciousness.
Question 7: A therapist who uses systematic desensitization to treat a client's
phobia is most likely operating from which theoretical orientation?
A. Humanistic
B. Cognitive
C. Psychodynamic
D. Behavioral
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Behavioral
Rationale:Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy technique based on
classical conditioning. It involves gradually exposing a client to an anxiety-provoking
stimulus while teaching relaxation techniques to countercondition the fear response.
This is a core application of behavioral principles, unlike humanistic, cognitive, or
psychodynamic approaches which focus on different mechanisms of change.
Question 8: According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children in
the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) commonly exhibit egocentrism, which is
defined as:
A. The ability to understand that quantities remain constant despite changes in shape.
B. An inability to mentally reverse a sequence of events.
C. The difficulty in seeing a situation from another person's point of view.
D. The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities.
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. The difficulty in seeing a situation from another
person's point of view.
Rationale:Egocentrism in Piaget's theory refers to a child's inability to decenter or take
on the perspective of another person. It is a hallmark of the preoperational stage. Option
A describes conservation, which is mastered in the concrete operational stage. Option B
describes irreversibility, and Option D describes animism, both of which are also
characteristics of this stage but are not the definition of egocentrism.
Question 9: A researcher finds that the correlation between hours of study and
exam scores is +0.85. This means that:
A. Studying for more hours causes exam scores to increase.
B. There is a strong, positive, and linear relationship between study hours and exam
scores.
C. There is a weak, negative relationship between the two variables.
D. Students who study less tend to have higher exam scores.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. There is a strong, positive, and linear relationship
between study hours and exam scores.
Rationale:A correlation coefficient of +0.85 indicates a strong positive relationship. The
"+" sign indicates that as one variable increases, the other increases. The magnitude of
0.85 suggests a strong relationship. It is crucial to remember that correlation does not
equal causation, so we cannot infer that studying causes higher scores.
Question 10: Which of the following is a classic symptom of major depressive
disorder, as defined by the DSM-5?
A. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
B. Episodes of mania
C. Hallucinations and delusions
D. A persistent fear of social situations
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Rationale:Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or hypersomnia, are one of the key
diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Episodes of mania are characteristic of
bipolar disorder. Hallucinations and delusions are more typical of psychotic disorders,
and a persistent fear of social situations is a symptom of social anxiety disorder.
Question 11: The process by which a previously conditioned response
gradually diminishes when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the
unconditioned stimulus is known as:
Study Guide, Practice Exam, Questions &
Answers, Psychology Exam Prep Test Bank,
Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology,
Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology,
Research Methods, Personality Theories, Mental
Health, Behavioral Science, Detailed Rationales,
Complete Review
Question 1: According to Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development,
which stage is characterized by the primary challenge of developing a sense of
purpose and the ability to initiate activities, or else feeling guilty about one's
efforts?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Initiative vs. Guilt
Rationale:Erikson's third stage, Initiative vs. Guilt, occurs during the preschool years
(ages 3-5). Children begin to assert their power and control over the world by directing
play and other social interactions. Successfully navigating this stage leads to a sense of
purpose, while failure results in feelings of guilt about their self-initiated activities.
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is the preceding stage, Industry vs. Inferiority is the
following stage, and Identity vs. Role Confusion is the challenge of adolescence.
Question 2: Which of the following research designs is most effective for
establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?
A. Case Study
B. Correlational Study
C. Naturalistic Observation
D. Experimental Design
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Experimental Design
Rationale:The experimental design is the only research method that can establish
causality. This is achieved by the researcher's manipulation of the independent variable,
controlling for extraneous variables, and using random assignment to conditions. A
correlational study can only identify relationships, not causation, while case studies and
naturalistic observation are descriptive and lack the control needed to infer causality.
,Question 3: The "Big Five" personality trait that is most strongly associated
with being organized, disciplined, and dependable is:
A. Agreeableness
B. Openness to Experience
C. Conscientiousness
D. Neuroticism
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Conscientiousness
Rationale:Conscientiousness is one of the five broad dimensions of personality in the
Five-Factor Model. Individuals high in this trait are typically efficient, well-organized,
and reliable. Agreeableness relates to being cooperative and compassionate; Openness
to Experience relates to curiosity and creativity; and Neuroticism relates to emotional
instability and negative affect.
Question 4: In classical conditioning, the initial stage of learning during which
a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit
a conditioned response is known as:
A. Acquisition
B. Extinction
C. Spontaneous Recovery
D. Generalization
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Acquisition
Rationale:Acquisition is the initial phase of learning in classical conditioning where the
association between the conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is
established. Extinction is the weakening of the CR when the CS is presented without the
UCS. Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of the CR after a rest period, and
generalization is the tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS.
Question 5: Damage to the hippocampus would most likely result in which of
the following cognitive deficits?
A. An inability to speak fluently
B. Difficulty forming new explicit memories
C. Impaired performance on a motor skills task
D. A loss of emotional regulation
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Difficulty forming new explicit memories
Rationale:The hippocampus is a crucial structure in the medial temporal lobe and is
essential for the consolidation of explicit (declarative) memories. Damage to this area
often results in anterograde amnesia, the inability to form new long-term memories.
Language difficulties are more associated with Broca's and Wernicke's areas, motor
,skills with the cerebellum and basal ganglia, and emotional regulation with the
amygdala.
Question 6: Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of free will,
self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of people?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
C. Humanism
D. Structuralism
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Humanism
Rationale:Humanistic psychology, championed by figures like Abraham Maslow and
Carl Rogers, emerged as a "third force" in psychology, focusing on subjective
experience, personal growth, and the innate potential for good in all humans.
Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior, psychoanalysis on unconscious drives, and
structuralism on the basic elements of consciousness.
Question 7: A therapist who uses systematic desensitization to treat a client's
phobia is most likely operating from which theoretical orientation?
A. Humanistic
B. Cognitive
C. Psychodynamic
D. Behavioral
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Behavioral
Rationale:Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy technique based on
classical conditioning. It involves gradually exposing a client to an anxiety-provoking
stimulus while teaching relaxation techniques to countercondition the fear response.
This is a core application of behavioral principles, unlike humanistic, cognitive, or
psychodynamic approaches which focus on different mechanisms of change.
Question 8: According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children in
the preoperational stage (ages 2-7) commonly exhibit egocentrism, which is
defined as:
A. The ability to understand that quantities remain constant despite changes in shape.
B. An inability to mentally reverse a sequence of events.
C. The difficulty in seeing a situation from another person's point of view.
D. The belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities.
, CORRECT ANSWER: C. The difficulty in seeing a situation from another
person's point of view.
Rationale:Egocentrism in Piaget's theory refers to a child's inability to decenter or take
on the perspective of another person. It is a hallmark of the preoperational stage. Option
A describes conservation, which is mastered in the concrete operational stage. Option B
describes irreversibility, and Option D describes animism, both of which are also
characteristics of this stage but are not the definition of egocentrism.
Question 9: A researcher finds that the correlation between hours of study and
exam scores is +0.85. This means that:
A. Studying for more hours causes exam scores to increase.
B. There is a strong, positive, and linear relationship between study hours and exam
scores.
C. There is a weak, negative relationship between the two variables.
D. Students who study less tend to have higher exam scores.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. There is a strong, positive, and linear relationship
between study hours and exam scores.
Rationale:A correlation coefficient of +0.85 indicates a strong positive relationship. The
"+" sign indicates that as one variable increases, the other increases. The magnitude of
0.85 suggests a strong relationship. It is crucial to remember that correlation does not
equal causation, so we cannot infer that studying causes higher scores.
Question 10: Which of the following is a classic symptom of major depressive
disorder, as defined by the DSM-5?
A. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
B. Episodes of mania
C. Hallucinations and delusions
D. A persistent fear of social situations
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Rationale:Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or hypersomnia, are one of the key
diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. Episodes of mania are characteristic of
bipolar disorder. Hallucinations and delusions are more typical of psychotic disorders,
and a persistent fear of social situations is a symptom of social anxiety disorder.
Question 11: The process by which a previously conditioned response
gradually diminishes when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the
unconditioned stimulus is known as:
