PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. How would drive reduction theory explain a person accepting a new job with a higher salary but that requires more work and responsibility?

(A) Money is a more powerful incentive for this individual than free time.

(B) This person seeks a higher activity level and takes the job in order to satisfy this drive.

(C) For this person, money is a higher-level need than free time.

(D) The person takes the job to satisfy the secondary drive of increased salary.

(E) Humans instinctively seek greater resources and control over their environment.

2. Which aspects of hunger are controlled by the lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus?

(A) contraction and expansion of the stomach, indicating too much or too little food

(B) body temperature and desire to eat

(C) desire to eat and physiological processes needed for eating and digestion (such as salivation)

(D) the binge and purge cycle in bulimics

(E) the desire to eat and the feeling of satiety, or fullness, that makes us stop eating

3. All of the following are identified by researchers as important factors in the causes of eating disorders EXCEPT

(A) cultural attitude toward weight.

(B) lack of willpower.

(C) genetic tendencies.

(D) family history of eating disorders.

(E) food obsessions.

4. The Yerkes-Dodson law predicts that most people would perform an easy task best if they are at a

(A) high level of arousal.

(B) low level of arousal.

(C) baseline state.

(D) level of self-actualization.

(E) state of homeostasis.

5. What is the principal difference between how achievement motivation theory and arousal theory explain human motivation?

(A) Achievement motivation is a specific example of arousal motivation.

(B) Arousal theory describes the optimum level of general arousal an individual seeks, while achievement motivation describes what type of goals the individual is motivated to achieve.

(C) Arousal theory describes motivation by referring to stages in our responses to stress (the general adaptation syndrome), while achievement motivation is not used to describe motivation due to stress.

(D) A person with a low optimum level of arousal according to arousal theory would have a high achievement motivation.

(E) Arousal theory is an older, outdated precursor to achievement motivation theory.

6. Which of the following are reasons why intrinsic motivation might be more advantageous than extrinsic motivation?

(A) Intrinsic motivation might be more enduring since extrinsic motivations are usually temporary.

(B) Intrinsic motivations are easier and more convenient to provide.

(C) Intrinsic motivations are higher on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, so we are motivated to meet them before extrinsic needs.

(D) Intrinsic motivations are more likely to be primary drives. Extrinsic motivations are secondary drives.

(E) Intrinsic motivations are more effective with a wider range of individuals.

7. Which sentence most closely describes the difference between theory X and theory Y types of management?

(A) Theory X managers are more active in work groups. Theory Y managers are more hands-off, letting groups work out problems on their own.

(B) The management theories differ in regard to what tasks they delegate to workers.

(C) Theory Y managers regard employees as intrinsically motivated. Theory X managers see them as extrinsically motivated.

(D) Management theory X is dominant in collectivist cultures. Theory Y is more prevalent in individualist cultures.

(E) Theory Y is used with workers who have high optimum levels of arousal. Theory X is used with those whose arousal levels are low.

8. What does Schachter’s two-factor theory state about the relationship between emotion and physiological reaction?

(A) Emotions are caused by physiological reactions. For example, we feel excited because our heart begins to race.

(B) Physiological reactions are caused by emotions. For example, our experience of fear causes our breathing rate to increase.

(C) A combination of physiological reactions and our cognitive interpretation of an event produces emotion.

(D) Physiological reactions and emotional response occur simultaneously.

(E) Cognitive emotions occur independently of physiological states and are unrelated.

9. Excessive time spent in the resistance phase of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome can contribute to

(A) increased time needed to adapt to new emotional situations.

(B) decreased motivation to perform novel tasks.

(C) stress-related diseases like ulcers or heart conditions.

(D) a reduction in the drive to achieve goals.

(E) resistance to learning skills needed for novel tasks.

10. Perceived control over a stressful event tends to result in

(A) less reported stress.

(B) more frustration regarding the stressful event.

(C) more motivation to solve the stressful problem.

(D) increased arousal.

(E) higher heart and respiration rates.

11. The balanced physiological state we are driven to attain by satisfying our needs is called

(A) equilibrium.

(B) homeostasis.

(C) self-actualization.

(D) primary satisfaction.

(E) secondary satisfaction.

12. The Garcia effect describes

(A) the increased motivation felt by individuals with high levels of arousal.

(B) the increased susceptibility to illness experienced in the exhaustion phase of the stress response.

(C) classical conditioning associating nausea with food or drink.

(D) the effect of a theory Y management style.

(E) the effect the hypothalamus has on perceiving hunger.

13. Which of the following factors does research indicate may influence sexual orientation?

(A) parenting styles

(B) degree of masculinity or femininity expressed in childhood

(C) traumatic childhood experiences

(D) genetic influences

(E) being raised by homosexual parents

14. Selye’s general adaptation syndrome describes

(A) how the central nervous system processes emotions.

(B) the effect of low levels of arousal on emotion.

(C) our reactions to stress.

(D) our reactions to the different levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

(E) the sexual response cycle in humans.

15. A high score on Holmes and Rahe’s social readjustment rating scale correlates with

(A) high optimum levels of arousal.

(B) level of need reduction.

(C) incidence of eating disorders.

(D) incidence of stress-related illness.

(E) levels of perceived control.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. According to Freud, which part of the mind acts as a person’s conscience?

(A) Eros

(B) ego

(C) libido

(D) superego

(E) id

2. Cettina fills out a personality inventory several times over the course of one year. The results of each administration of the test are extremely different. Cettina’s situation suggests that this personality inventory may not be

(A) reliable.

(B) standardized.

(C) normed.

(D) projective.

(E) fair.

3. Which approach toward personality is the least deterministic?

(A) psychoanalytic

(B) humanistic

(C) trait

(D) behaviorist

(E) biological

4. One of your classmates remarks that “Mary is all id.” What does she likely mean?

(A) Mary uses a lot of defense mechanisms.

(B) Mary is a highly ethical person.

(C) Mary is a perfectionist.

(D) Mary frequently pursues immediate gratification.

(E) Mary is in constant conflict over the proper course of action to take.

5. The belief that personality is created by the interaction between a person, his or her behavior, and the environment is known as

(A) combination theory.

(B) interactionist perspective.

(C) reciprocal determinism.

(D) mutuality.

(E) circular creation.

6. Juan has a huge crush on Sally, but he never admits it. Instead, he tells all who will listen that Sally is really “into him.” Psychoanalysts would see Juan’s bragging as an example of

(A) displacement.

(B) reaction formation.

(C) sublimation.

(D) denial.

(E) projection.

7. Dr. Li asks her clients to interpret ambiguous pictures of people in various settings. The method she is using is called

(A) the Rorschach test.

(B) the MMPI.

(C) the TAT.

(D) factor analysis.

(E) the WISC.

8. One personality trait that is thought to be highly heritable is

(A) generosity.

(B) sense of humor.

(C) neatness.

(D) introversion.

(E) diligence.

9. Humanistic psychologists assert that people are motivated to self-actualize. Which of the following statements best describes the meaning of this term?

(A) accepting themselves the way they are

(B) encouraging others to pursue their dreams

(C) identifying core principles by which to live

(D) trying to achieve their full potential

(E) bringing their actions into line with their desires

10. Which is NOT one of the big five personality traits?

(A) extraversion

(B) openness

(C) agreeableness

(D) honesty

(E) conscientiousness

11. Feminist psychoanalytic critics of Freud most commonly argue that

(A) there is no proof that the unconscious exists.

(B) Freud devoted too much attention to childhood.

(C) women’s superegos are just as strong as men’s.

(D) men and women use different defense mechanisms.

(E) while women all suffer from penis envy, men all suffer from womb envy.

12. Jamal sucked his thumb until age eight. As an adult, he smokes, chews gum, and thinks constantly of food. Psychoanalysts would describe Jamal as having a (an)

(A) obsession.

(B) orally controlled libido.

(C) Oedipus complex.

(D) oral fixation.

(E) mother complex.

13. Someone who has an external locus of control is likely to have a

(A) positive self-concept.

(B) high sense of self-efficacy.

(C) strong libido.

(D) belief in luck.

(E) high IQ.

14. What kind of psychologist would be most likely to use a projective personality assessment?

(A) social cognitive

(B) trait

(C) behaviorist

(D) humanistic

(E) psychoanalytic

15. Redirecting one’s unacceptable urges into more socially acceptable pursuits best defines which of the following defense mechanisms?

(A) intellectualization

(B) denial

(C) sublimation

(D) rationalization

(E) regression