Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
1. Module One is introduced with a discussion of autism and test
anxiety. In doing so, the author of your textbook is suggesting:
*a. that psychology attempts to answer questions about complex
problems
b. the importance of accurate diagnoses
c. that a careful definition of maladaptive behavior is important
d. that psychology’s main focus is on abnormal behaviors
2. Which of the following people is most likely to be diagnosed with
autism?
a. Ryan, a five-year-old who is retarded but has a special
ability to relate well with others
*b. Paul, a two-year-old who avoids people and spends long
periods of time flipping his fingers
c. Ben, a six-year-old who has a history of depression
d. Anne, a ten-year-old who just recently has begun to withdraw
from others
3. According to Module One, some parents blame ____ for their child’s
autism.
a. prenatal viruses
b. diet
*c. vaccinations during childhood
d. brain injury during childbirth
4. The disorder characterized by impaired development in social
interactions, communication, and ritualistic behavior is:
a. childhood depression
b. attention deficit disorder
*c. autism
d. Down syndrome
5. Who is most likely to be diagnosed with autism and why?
a. Perry—autism is more likely to affect firstborn children
b. Daleesha—autism affects 10 times as many African Americans
than other ethnic groups
c. Mi—autism affects 2 times as many girls than boys
*d. Ryan—autism affects 3 to 4 times as many boys than girls
6. The local theater group is putting on a play depicting the struggles
of a 16-year old autistic male. Since the director wants the acting to
be as realistic as possible, he should tell the actor portraying the
autistic child to:
1
, Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
a. “show normal social behavior on stage”
b. “display moody behavior”
c. “demonstrate purposeful behavior”
*d. “act disinterested in the other actors on stage”
7. You’ve just read a case history of an individual. This person has a
difficult time relating to other people, has very serious problems in
communication, and spends a lot of his time rocking back and forth.
Which of the following is the most appropriate title for this case
history?
*a. “Autism: A Serious Developmental Disorder”
b. “Mental Retardation: Lower Than Average Intelligence”
c. “A Case History of Munchausen Syndrome”
d. “The Effects of Avoidance Disorder”
8. While doing an internship at a group home for those with mental and
physical disabilities, you meet a resident who can tell you what day
any date fell on for the past 100 years. This person is probably:
a. a shaman
*b. a savant
c. suffering from schizophrenia
d. very good at critical thinking
9. You are on a game show that awards one million dollars to successful
contestants. One of the questions asks you for the term given to an
autistic individual who possesses a special memory or artistic skill.
If you want to win the money, you should say:
*a. a savant
b. a person with Type II schizophrenia
c. a humanist
d. an individual with fragile X syndrome
10. Researchers working on the causes of autism have recently found:
a. a virus is involved
b. toxins in groundwater play a role
*c. several genetic factors are involved
d. poor health care is involved
11. Dr. Myerson, a noted authority on autism, argues that science is
getting closer to understanding the cause of the disorder. Which of the
following suspected causes is among the most promising?
a. unconscious conflicts
b. parenting styles
*c. genetic links
2
, Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
d. childhood vaccinations
12. With only a couple of moments left in class, your professor says,
“In the next class meeting, we will discuss a condition found in very
few autistic people where they possess some unusual ability.” Since you
keep up on the textbook reading, you know that the professor is
referring to:
a. metacognition
*b. savants
c. ritual behavior
d. ADHD
13. The prevalence of autism in the last 20 years has:
a. stayed about the same
b. increased slightly
c. decreased to a moderate degree
*d. increased significantly
14. You are trying to convince your friend who is the mother of an
autistic child that psychology is a worthwhile field of study. Which
statement would be most effective?
a. Introduction to Psychology is a required course.
b. Most employers expect a class in psychology.
*c. Psychology can provide insights into the causes of complex
behavior.
d. The unconscious mind is the focus of study in psychology.
15. The increase in autism is most probably due to:
a. the breakdown of the family
b. increased air and water pollution
c. childhood vaccinations
*d. better awareness by parents and doctors
16. The definition of psychology presented in your textbook is:
*a. the systematic, scientific study of behaviors and mental
processes.
b. the study of abnormal behaviors and ways to psychoanalyze
individuals.
c. the systematic application of science to helping people who
are mentally disturbed.
d. the systematic, scientific study of human behavior.
17. Who is least likely to have taken a psychology course?
3
, Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
a. Kevin believes that behavior refers to observable actions.
*b. Kyle argues that thinking and dreaming are examples of
behaviors.
c. Karen says, “Psychology is the systematic, scientific study of
behaviors and mental processes.”
d. Kesha believes that mental processes are not directly
observable.
18. Inez was attempting to recite the definition of psychology she read
in her psychology textbook. She said that psychology is the systematic
study of behavior and mental processes. What important word did she
omit?
a. rigorous
b. controlled
c. psychoanalytical
*d. scientific
19. Based upon Module One, for a phenomenon to be studied in
psychology, it must be:
*a. a behavior or a mental process
b. an abnormal behavior or abnormal mental process
c. an unconscious mental process
d. approved by the American Psychological Association
20. In the definition of psychology presented in your text, the term
behavior refers to:
a. mental processes
*b. observable actions or responses
c. thinking
d. actions performed only by human beings
21. Professor Yates is lecturing on the definition of psychology. Which
example of “behavior” should he use to most effectively communicate the
definition?
a. “Behavior consists of activities such as thinking, forgetting,
and problem-solving.”
*b. “Acts such as eating, walking, and running are examples of
behavior.”
c. “Behavior is synonymous with internal processes like memory
and learning.”
d. “We make no distinction between the observable and the
unobservable—anything that a person does is behavior.”
22. Mental processes are described in your textbook as:
4
1. Module One is introduced with a discussion of autism and test
anxiety. In doing so, the author of your textbook is suggesting:
*a. that psychology attempts to answer questions about complex
problems
b. the importance of accurate diagnoses
c. that a careful definition of maladaptive behavior is important
d. that psychology’s main focus is on abnormal behaviors
2. Which of the following people is most likely to be diagnosed with
autism?
a. Ryan, a five-year-old who is retarded but has a special
ability to relate well with others
*b. Paul, a two-year-old who avoids people and spends long
periods of time flipping his fingers
c. Ben, a six-year-old who has a history of depression
d. Anne, a ten-year-old who just recently has begun to withdraw
from others
3. According to Module One, some parents blame ____ for their child’s
autism.
a. prenatal viruses
b. diet
*c. vaccinations during childhood
d. brain injury during childbirth
4. The disorder characterized by impaired development in social
interactions, communication, and ritualistic behavior is:
a. childhood depression
b. attention deficit disorder
*c. autism
d. Down syndrome
5. Who is most likely to be diagnosed with autism and why?
a. Perry—autism is more likely to affect firstborn children
b. Daleesha—autism affects 10 times as many African Americans
than other ethnic groups
c. Mi—autism affects 2 times as many girls than boys
*d. Ryan—autism affects 3 to 4 times as many boys than girls
6. The local theater group is putting on a play depicting the struggles
of a 16-year old autistic male. Since the director wants the acting to
be as realistic as possible, he should tell the actor portraying the
autistic child to:
1
, Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
a. “show normal social behavior on stage”
b. “display moody behavior”
c. “demonstrate purposeful behavior”
*d. “act disinterested in the other actors on stage”
7. You’ve just read a case history of an individual. This person has a
difficult time relating to other people, has very serious problems in
communication, and spends a lot of his time rocking back and forth.
Which of the following is the most appropriate title for this case
history?
*a. “Autism: A Serious Developmental Disorder”
b. “Mental Retardation: Lower Than Average Intelligence”
c. “A Case History of Munchausen Syndrome”
d. “The Effects of Avoidance Disorder”
8. While doing an internship at a group home for those with mental and
physical disabilities, you meet a resident who can tell you what day
any date fell on for the past 100 years. This person is probably:
a. a shaman
*b. a savant
c. suffering from schizophrenia
d. very good at critical thinking
9. You are on a game show that awards one million dollars to successful
contestants. One of the questions asks you for the term given to an
autistic individual who possesses a special memory or artistic skill.
If you want to win the money, you should say:
*a. a savant
b. a person with Type II schizophrenia
c. a humanist
d. an individual with fragile X syndrome
10. Researchers working on the causes of autism have recently found:
a. a virus is involved
b. toxins in groundwater play a role
*c. several genetic factors are involved
d. poor health care is involved
11. Dr. Myerson, a noted authority on autism, argues that science is
getting closer to understanding the cause of the disorder. Which of the
following suspected causes is among the most promising?
a. unconscious conflicts
b. parenting styles
*c. genetic links
2
, Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
d. childhood vaccinations
12. With only a couple of moments left in class, your professor says,
“In the next class meeting, we will discuss a condition found in very
few autistic people where they possess some unusual ability.” Since you
keep up on the textbook reading, you know that the professor is
referring to:
a. metacognition
*b. savants
c. ritual behavior
d. ADHD
13. The prevalence of autism in the last 20 years has:
a. stayed about the same
b. increased slightly
c. decreased to a moderate degree
*d. increased significantly
14. You are trying to convince your friend who is the mother of an
autistic child that psychology is a worthwhile field of study. Which
statement would be most effective?
a. Introduction to Psychology is a required course.
b. Most employers expect a class in psychology.
*c. Psychology can provide insights into the causes of complex
behavior.
d. The unconscious mind is the focus of study in psychology.
15. The increase in autism is most probably due to:
a. the breakdown of the family
b. increased air and water pollution
c. childhood vaccinations
*d. better awareness by parents and doctors
16. The definition of psychology presented in your textbook is:
*a. the systematic, scientific study of behaviors and mental
processes.
b. the study of abnormal behaviors and ways to psychoanalyze
individuals.
c. the systematic application of science to helping people who
are mentally disturbed.
d. the systematic, scientific study of human behavior.
17. Who is least likely to have taken a psychology course?
3
, Test Bank For Introduction to Psychology
a. Kevin believes that behavior refers to observable actions.
*b. Kyle argues that thinking and dreaming are examples of
behaviors.
c. Karen says, “Psychology is the systematic, scientific study of
behaviors and mental processes.”
d. Kesha believes that mental processes are not directly
observable.
18. Inez was attempting to recite the definition of psychology she read
in her psychology textbook. She said that psychology is the systematic
study of behavior and mental processes. What important word did she
omit?
a. rigorous
b. controlled
c. psychoanalytical
*d. scientific
19. Based upon Module One, for a phenomenon to be studied in
psychology, it must be:
*a. a behavior or a mental process
b. an abnormal behavior or abnormal mental process
c. an unconscious mental process
d. approved by the American Psychological Association
20. In the definition of psychology presented in your text, the term
behavior refers to:
a. mental processes
*b. observable actions or responses
c. thinking
d. actions performed only by human beings
21. Professor Yates is lecturing on the definition of psychology. Which
example of “behavior” should he use to most effectively communicate the
definition?
a. “Behavior consists of activities such as thinking, forgetting,
and problem-solving.”
*b. “Acts such as eating, walking, and running are examples of
behavior.”
c. “Behavior is synonymous with internal processes like memory
and learning.”
d. “We make no distinction between the observable and the
unobservable—anything that a person does is behavior.”
22. Mental processes are described in your textbook as:
4
