PSYC290 EXAM 2 ACTUAL EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
GRADED A+
⩥ Theme 2 Psychology is theoretically diverse? Answer: . This is an
important concept because many students of psychology expect "black
and white" solutions to their questions about psychology. The fact is
that, in many areas, one of several theoretical explanations can be
correct.
⩥ Theme 3 Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context. Answer:
Unless you accept this concept, it is all too easy to ridicule or disparage
previous discoveries. For example, students often mock behaviourism in
favour of cognitive psychology because a strict behaviouristic
interpretation of the world "simply cannot be right." Without
understanding the context of behaviourism and its once dominant
position in psychology, it is far too easy to be deprecating. Simply
stated, no single theory can easily explain everything that is known
about behaviour.
⩥ Theme 4 Behaviour is determined by multiple causes. Answer: It is
common for introductory students to believe that there is a cause for a
behaviour, rather than accepting that complex behaviours are more
typically a function of multiple causation. The last 30 years have seen an
increasing tendency for psychologists to accept this truism and to
,investigate several factors that might affect behaviour within the design
of a single experiment.
⩥ Theme 5 Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage. Answer: Although
a common definition of psychology is "the science that studies
behaviour," a more accurate perception is that, until recently, it has been
largely the science of Caucasian male behaviour. Much of the early
experimental psychological research was based on the findings derived
from a restricted population: undergraduate students who were usually
male.
⩥ Theme 6Heredity and environment jointly influence behaviour.
Answer: While this statement may seem obvious, there was, in previous
years, a tendency to believe that behaviour could be either 100% genetic
or 100% environmental. For example, it used to be asked whether
instinct could be described as completely genetic. Now it is recognized
that all behaviours are a function of both environmental and genetic
factors.
⩥ Theme 7 People's experience of the world is highly subjective
Answer: . Students of psychology often believe that their own
interpretation of the world is the correct one and that everyone else
either does or should interpret the world in this way. Only when one
appreciates the need to overcome subjectivity can one really understand
the research approaches highlighted in Chapter 2 of the text that are
referred to throughout the course.
,⩥ • applied psychology (p. 15) Answer: The branch of psychology
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems
and disorders.
⩥ behaviour (p. 7) Answer: Refers to any overt observable response or
activity by an organism
⩥ behaviourism (p. 7) Answer: A theoretical orientation based on the
premise that scientific psychology should study only observable
behaviour
⩥ clinical psychology (p. 15) Answer: ):The branch of psychology
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems
and disorders
⩥ cognition (p. 16) Answer: Refers to the mental processes involved in
acquiring knowledge counselling psychology (p. 27): Overlaps with
clinical psychology in that specialists in both area engage in similar
activities interviewing, testing, and providing therapy however,
counselling psychologists usually work with a somewhat different
clientele, providing assistance to people struggling with everyday
problems of moderate severity. Thus, they often specialize in family,
marital or career conselling
⩥ critical thinking (p. 38) Answer: Is the use of cognitive skills and
strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome
, ⩥ culture (p. 29) Answer: Refers to the widely shared customs beliefs,
values ,norms, institution and other products of a community that are
transmitted socially across generations
⩥ developmental psychologist (p. 26) Answer: Looks at human
development across the life span. Developmental psychology one
focused primarly on child development but today devotes a great deal of
research to adolescent, adulthood and old age.
⩥ empiricism (p. 28) Answer: The premise that knowledge should be
acquired through observation
⩥ ethnocentrism (p. 18) Answer: The tendency to view one s own group
as superior to others and as the standard for judging the worth of foreign
ways,
⩥ evolutionary psychology (p. 20) Answer: Examines behavioural
processes in terms of their adaptive values for members of species over
the course of many generations
⩥ experimental psychologist (p. 26) Answer: Encompasses the
traditional core of topics that psychology focused on heavely in its half
century as a science sensation perception learning conditioning,
motivation and emotion. The name experimental psychology is
somewhat misleading as this is not the only area in which experiments
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
GRADED A+
⩥ Theme 2 Psychology is theoretically diverse? Answer: . This is an
important concept because many students of psychology expect "black
and white" solutions to their questions about psychology. The fact is
that, in many areas, one of several theoretical explanations can be
correct.
⩥ Theme 3 Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context. Answer:
Unless you accept this concept, it is all too easy to ridicule or disparage
previous discoveries. For example, students often mock behaviourism in
favour of cognitive psychology because a strict behaviouristic
interpretation of the world "simply cannot be right." Without
understanding the context of behaviourism and its once dominant
position in psychology, it is far too easy to be deprecating. Simply
stated, no single theory can easily explain everything that is known
about behaviour.
⩥ Theme 4 Behaviour is determined by multiple causes. Answer: It is
common for introductory students to believe that there is a cause for a
behaviour, rather than accepting that complex behaviours are more
typically a function of multiple causation. The last 30 years have seen an
increasing tendency for psychologists to accept this truism and to
,investigate several factors that might affect behaviour within the design
of a single experiment.
⩥ Theme 5 Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage. Answer: Although
a common definition of psychology is "the science that studies
behaviour," a more accurate perception is that, until recently, it has been
largely the science of Caucasian male behaviour. Much of the early
experimental psychological research was based on the findings derived
from a restricted population: undergraduate students who were usually
male.
⩥ Theme 6Heredity and environment jointly influence behaviour.
Answer: While this statement may seem obvious, there was, in previous
years, a tendency to believe that behaviour could be either 100% genetic
or 100% environmental. For example, it used to be asked whether
instinct could be described as completely genetic. Now it is recognized
that all behaviours are a function of both environmental and genetic
factors.
⩥ Theme 7 People's experience of the world is highly subjective
Answer: . Students of psychology often believe that their own
interpretation of the world is the correct one and that everyone else
either does or should interpret the world in this way. Only when one
appreciates the need to overcome subjectivity can one really understand
the research approaches highlighted in Chapter 2 of the text that are
referred to throughout the course.
,⩥ • applied psychology (p. 15) Answer: The branch of psychology
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems
and disorders.
⩥ behaviour (p. 7) Answer: Refers to any overt observable response or
activity by an organism
⩥ behaviourism (p. 7) Answer: A theoretical orientation based on the
premise that scientific psychology should study only observable
behaviour
⩥ clinical psychology (p. 15) Answer: ):The branch of psychology
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems
and disorders
⩥ cognition (p. 16) Answer: Refers to the mental processes involved in
acquiring knowledge counselling psychology (p. 27): Overlaps with
clinical psychology in that specialists in both area engage in similar
activities interviewing, testing, and providing therapy however,
counselling psychologists usually work with a somewhat different
clientele, providing assistance to people struggling with everyday
problems of moderate severity. Thus, they often specialize in family,
marital or career conselling
⩥ critical thinking (p. 38) Answer: Is the use of cognitive skills and
strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome
, ⩥ culture (p. 29) Answer: Refers to the widely shared customs beliefs,
values ,norms, institution and other products of a community that are
transmitted socially across generations
⩥ developmental psychologist (p. 26) Answer: Looks at human
development across the life span. Developmental psychology one
focused primarly on child development but today devotes a great deal of
research to adolescent, adulthood and old age.
⩥ empiricism (p. 28) Answer: The premise that knowledge should be
acquired through observation
⩥ ethnocentrism (p. 18) Answer: The tendency to view one s own group
as superior to others and as the standard for judging the worth of foreign
ways,
⩥ evolutionary psychology (p. 20) Answer: Examines behavioural
processes in terms of their adaptive values for members of species over
the course of many generations
⩥ experimental psychologist (p. 26) Answer: Encompasses the
traditional core of topics that psychology focused on heavely in its half
century as a science sensation perception learning conditioning,
motivation and emotion. The name experimental psychology is
somewhat misleading as this is not the only area in which experiments
