1. Psychology is defined as the ____.
a. scientific study of why people do what they do
b. scientific study of behavior and mental processes
c. study of the unconscious determinants of personality
d. study of mental illness and its treatment
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
2. Psychology is best described as a(n) ____.
a. theory
b. science
c. pseudoscience
d. hypothesis
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
3. Which area of study is one of the American Psychological Association’s foundational areas of contemporary
psychology?
a. research design and statistical analysis
b. psychodynamic theory
c. history of psychology
d. developmental and social psychology
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
4. Psychologists attempt to understand behavior and mental processes by ____.
a. using the scientific method
b. thinking deeply about the reasons for our behavior
c. using common sense to understand why we do what we do
d. studying the behavior of people with mental illnesses
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
5. Which statement is the most accurate?
a. We are either left-brain or right-brain thinkers.
b. No new neurons develop after infancy.
, c. Both legal and illegal drugs can cause brain damage.
d. During sleep, the brain rests.
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
6. Which statement is the most accurate?
a. Genes are only active during prenatal development.
b. Stress can be caused by both good and bad life events.
c. Our memory works like a video recorder.
d. People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
7. A scientific theory is a(n) ____.
a. opinion that has very limited supporting facts
b. prediction of some future event
c. explanation of why and how a behavior occurs
d. method for testing hypotheses
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
8. A common misconception that people have about psychology is that ____.
a. it involves the use of the scientific method
b. nearly all psychologists are involved in counseling
c. psychologists study behavior but ignore the underlying biology
d. psychologists only study abnormal behavior
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
9. Many people have misconceptions about psychology. This fact suggests that psychology is ____.
a. not a science
b. merely a collection of random theories
c. more than just common sense
d. rarely applicable to everyday life
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
, 10. Which statement is best classified as pseudopsychology?
a. By visualizing that a cancerous tumor is dying, you can cure yourself of cancer without chemotherapy.
b. Research published in professional journals shows that dogs can detect the scent of certain cancers.
c. A number of studies of childhood cancers show that there can be psychological effects long after successful
treatment has ended.
d. According to research, successful pain control for persons with terminal cancer is possible.
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
11. What is a common myth about psychology?
a. Psychology includes the study of the biological basis of behavior.
b. Psychology studies both abnormal and normal development.
c. Psychological theories can be used to explain both normal and abnormal behavior.
d. Psychology does not involve true experimental research because it cannot.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
12. What is the best example of a pseudopsychological finding?
a. Studies show you a relationship between academic achievement and class attendance.
b. Research suggests that we tend to be attracted to people who are similar to us.
c. Surveys have found that men tend to report falling in love faster than women.
d. We use only 10% of our brains and therefore, nearly everyone is actually a genius.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Application
13. Who is engaging in critical thinking?
a. Thomas, who typically develops a list of pros and cons for any important decision
b. Celeste, who relies on Consumer Reports for information about which product to purchase
c. Dalton, weighs only expert opinions when making important decisions
d. Maria, who goes with her gut when deciding which new car to buy
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1.1 What Is Psychology?
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Thinking Critically
14. A scientific theory ____.
a. is typically a gross oversimplification
b. rarely has a basis in experimentation
c. provides a summary to guide thinking
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