PSC 142 Final Exam Question and
answers already passed 2025/2026
social referencing
When does it occur? - correct answer ✔use of others' emotional expressions to gain information or
infer the meaning of otherwise ambiguous situations
occurs around 9 to 10 months
When do young children differentiate people from objects? - correct answer ✔at 3-4 months, children
understand ppl are capable of causing their own actions and respond to you
When do young children start acting according to their intentions? - correct answer ✔15-18 months
Why is it hard for young children to understand the hidden psychological qualities that cause ppl to act
as they do? - correct answer ✔as adults we understand others in terms of psychological qualities
(intentions, beliefs, desires, etc.)
could be due to children not being able to talk yet, lack of understanding of own/other emotions, ppl
show emotions in diff ways (hard for child to observe all diff ways)
Desire psychology - correct answer ✔2-3 years old
believe ppl act according to their feelings, desires, and intentions
theory of mind in which a person's actions are thought to be a reflection of his/her desires rather than
other mental states such as beliefs
,does not yet understand that what a person BELIEVES might also affect his BEHAVIOR
"I always knew it was a fake!"
"She took the candy b/c she wanted it"
False belief - correct answer ✔whether one understands that ppl can hold inaccurate beliefs that can
influence their conduct, wrong as these beliefs may be
false belief task example: Sam puts cookies in blue cupboard and leaves. Mom comes and puts cookies
in green cupboard. Sam comes back, where will he look?
If child answers green --> then they believe beliefs reflect reality for them
If child answers blue --> understands belief-desire theory of mind (that beliefs are merely mental
representations of reality that other may not share)
Belief-desire psychology - correct answer ✔4 year olds
knows that ppl sometimes act according to false belief
understand that beliefs and desires are different mental states and that one or both can influence one's
conduct
will try to change other's desires by first altering their beliefs
beginning of social deception (break vase and tries to explain to mom it's just an accident), emotional
display rules, privacy of personal experience
, "I may feel bad, but nobody has to know"
Appearance-reality distinction
what stage/theory does this understanding begin? - correct answer ✔understanding starts in belief-
desire psychology (age 4)
the understanding that contents of mind REPRESENT rather than REPRODUCE the contents of the world
Interpretive psychology - correct answer ✔6 year olds
children understand that the mind itself shapes understanding
expectations, biases, and prior knowledge are all used to interpret experience and the knowledge that
results
gain more control over their minds for intended purposes (e.g concentrate on learning spelling words)
"If I really concentrate, I can learn this stuff"
"Bob's dad is a fireman, thats why hes always thinking about safety"
Psychology of individual differences - correct answer ✔7-8 year olds
children begin to notice that ppl act consistently in diff situations (personality)
answers already passed 2025/2026
social referencing
When does it occur? - correct answer ✔use of others' emotional expressions to gain information or
infer the meaning of otherwise ambiguous situations
occurs around 9 to 10 months
When do young children differentiate people from objects? - correct answer ✔at 3-4 months, children
understand ppl are capable of causing their own actions and respond to you
When do young children start acting according to their intentions? - correct answer ✔15-18 months
Why is it hard for young children to understand the hidden psychological qualities that cause ppl to act
as they do? - correct answer ✔as adults we understand others in terms of psychological qualities
(intentions, beliefs, desires, etc.)
could be due to children not being able to talk yet, lack of understanding of own/other emotions, ppl
show emotions in diff ways (hard for child to observe all diff ways)
Desire psychology - correct answer ✔2-3 years old
believe ppl act according to their feelings, desires, and intentions
theory of mind in which a person's actions are thought to be a reflection of his/her desires rather than
other mental states such as beliefs
,does not yet understand that what a person BELIEVES might also affect his BEHAVIOR
"I always knew it was a fake!"
"She took the candy b/c she wanted it"
False belief - correct answer ✔whether one understands that ppl can hold inaccurate beliefs that can
influence their conduct, wrong as these beliefs may be
false belief task example: Sam puts cookies in blue cupboard and leaves. Mom comes and puts cookies
in green cupboard. Sam comes back, where will he look?
If child answers green --> then they believe beliefs reflect reality for them
If child answers blue --> understands belief-desire theory of mind (that beliefs are merely mental
representations of reality that other may not share)
Belief-desire psychology - correct answer ✔4 year olds
knows that ppl sometimes act according to false belief
understand that beliefs and desires are different mental states and that one or both can influence one's
conduct
will try to change other's desires by first altering their beliefs
beginning of social deception (break vase and tries to explain to mom it's just an accident), emotional
display rules, privacy of personal experience
, "I may feel bad, but nobody has to know"
Appearance-reality distinction
what stage/theory does this understanding begin? - correct answer ✔understanding starts in belief-
desire psychology (age 4)
the understanding that contents of mind REPRESENT rather than REPRODUCE the contents of the world
Interpretive psychology - correct answer ✔6 year olds
children understand that the mind itself shapes understanding
expectations, biases, and prior knowledge are all used to interpret experience and the knowledge that
results
gain more control over their minds for intended purposes (e.g concentrate on learning spelling words)
"If I really concentrate, I can learn this stuff"
"Bob's dad is a fireman, thats why hes always thinking about safety"
Psychology of individual differences - correct answer ✔7-8 year olds
children begin to notice that ppl act consistently in diff situations (personality)
