PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. Which process involves repeating information over and over to maintain it in short-term
memory?
A. Elaborative rehearsal
B. Encoding
C. Chunking
D. Maintenance rehearsal
Answer: D
Rationale: Maintenance rehearsal is the repetitive review of information to keep it active in short-term memory
without necessarily transferring it to long-term memory. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports
safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications.
2. In Pavlov’s classic experiments, what was the initially neutral stimulus that eventually
triggered salivation?
A. A bright light
B. Meat powder
C. The dog’s bowl
D. A bell
Answer: D
Rationale: The bell was the neutral stimulus that, through pairing with meat powder (the unconditioned
stimulus), became a conditioned stimulus. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe,
evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications.
3. Which type of reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the addition of a
desirable stimulus?
A. Negative reinforcement
B. Positive punishment
C. Negative punishment
D. Positive reinforcement
Answer: D
Rationale: Positive reinforcement involves adding something pleasant to increase the frequency of a behavior.
Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate
patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. Taking an aspirin to relieve a headache is an example of which behavioral principle?
A. Positive reinforcement
B. Negative reinforcement
C. Positive punishment
D. Extinction
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (the headache) to increase
a behavior (taking aspirin). Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice
and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
5. In operant conditioning, what is the term for adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a
behavior?
A. Negative punishment
B. Positive punishment
C. Negative reinforcement
D. Spontaneous recovery
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive punishment adds an aversive consequence to discourage a specific behavior. This is an
important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
6. What is the term for the process of removing a rewarding stimulus to decrease a behavior?
A. Positive punishment
B. Extinction
C. Negative reinforcement
D. Negative punishment
Answer: D
Rationale: Negative punishment involves taking away something desirable to reduce the frequency of a
behavior. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. Which process involves repeating information over and over to maintain it in short-term
memory?
A. Elaborative rehearsal
B. Encoding
C. Chunking
D. Maintenance rehearsal
Answer: D
Rationale: Maintenance rehearsal is the repetitive review of information to keep it active in short-term memory
without necessarily transferring it to long-term memory. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports
safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications.
2. In Pavlov’s classic experiments, what was the initially neutral stimulus that eventually
triggered salivation?
A. A bright light
B. Meat powder
C. The dog’s bowl
D. A bell
Answer: D
Rationale: The bell was the neutral stimulus that, through pairing with meat powder (the unconditioned
stimulus), became a conditioned stimulus. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe,
evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications.
3. Which type of reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the addition of a
desirable stimulus?
A. Negative reinforcement
B. Positive punishment
C. Negative punishment
D. Positive reinforcement
Answer: D
Rationale: Positive reinforcement involves adding something pleasant to increase the frequency of a behavior.
Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate
patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, PSY 101 Foundations of Psychology Exam 2 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. Taking an aspirin to relieve a headache is an example of which behavioral principle?
A. Positive reinforcement
B. Negative reinforcement
C. Positive punishment
D. Extinction
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (the headache) to increase
a behavior (taking aspirin). Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice
and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
5. In operant conditioning, what is the term for adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a
behavior?
A. Negative punishment
B. Positive punishment
C. Negative reinforcement
D. Spontaneous recovery
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive punishment adds an aversive consequence to discourage a specific behavior. This is an
important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
6. What is the term for the process of removing a rewarding stimulus to decrease a behavior?
A. Positive punishment
B. Extinction
C. Negative reinforcement
D. Negative punishment
Answer: D
Rationale: Negative punishment involves taking away something desirable to reduce the frequency of a
behavior. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
