PSY 121 EXAM 4 MSU QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE 2026

PSY 121 EXAM 4 MSU QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE 2026 Which neurotransmitter is very active in the brain as a result of sensation-seeking behavior? - Answers Dopamine Which neurotransmitter is responsible for the "runner's high" after an intense period of exercise? - Answers Endorphins Most psychologists define consciousness as the awareness of our ______ and __________ environment. - Answers internal; external This altered state of consciousness involves training the mind by using focused and regulated breathing, minimization of distractions, and mental imagery. - Answers Meditation Syed is sitting in a bustling restaurant listening to his friend talk about the test he just took. Syed is interested in the conversation because he is taking the test tomorrow but all of a sudden his interest is drawn across the room because he heard his name spoken. This is called ___________________. - Answers cocktail party phenomenon Sasha has her laptop open in class and is watching funny cat videos while the professor talks. After class is over, she hears the other students talking about the quiz they are having Friday. Which phenomenon explains why Sasha didn't hear her professor talk about the quiz? - Answers Selective inattention Multiple studies have shown that when students multitask during class or studying - Answers they do not learn effectively, which leads to lower grades. Brain waves that are lowest in frequency and highest in amplitude are called _____________ waves. - Answers delta Select the correct order of brain waves from actively awake to deep sleep. - Answers beta, alpha, theta, delta Choose the correct pairing of characteristic brain waves with their stages of sleep. - Answers Stage W || Beta Waves Stage N1 || Alpha Waves Stage N2 || Theta Waves Stage N3 || Delta Waves One of the many reasons psychologists believe we need to sleep is that our bodies tire during the day, and sleep helps the body recuperate and function at maximum capacity. This is a description of which theory? - Answers Body restoration In which stage of sleep do vivid dreams typically occur? - Answers REM Our ___________is a biological clock responsible for the regulation of body temperature and levels of arousal during our sleep and wake cycle. - Answers circadian rhythm The brain waves with the highest amplitude are referred to as _________ waves. - Answers delta Beta waves are associated with ___________, while theta waves are characteristic of the __________ stage. - Answers alert wakefulness; N2 Billy is having trouble with insomnia. He has difficulty going to sleep and wakes up numerous times throughout the night. Based on what you know about sleep hygiene, what should you recommend he start doing? - Answers Go to bed and get up at the same time each day According to Freud, the latent content of our dreams is __________ and contains the repressed _______ and drives of the dreamer. - Answers unconscious; wishes Depressants _____________ the functioning of the central nervous system. Some examples of these drugs include alcohol, __________, and ____________. - Answers decrease; barbiturates; benzodiazepines Which of the following correctly pairs the class of drugs with specific drugs from that category? - Answers depressants = Xanax stimulants = Methamphetamine narcotics = Oxycodone hallucinogens = LSD Kirsten started taking her mother's prescription for Vicodin. While this drug use doesn't appear to be significantly affecting her life in any way, she has noticed over the past few months that she needs to take more Vicodin to feel its effects. Kirsten is experiencing ____________. - Answers Physiological dependence Darrin started using drugs when he was 15 . He started by taking morphine that was given to him by his friend. Now, at age 20, Darrin shoots heroin as often as he can. He does not have a job, lives on the street most of the time, and spends his days trying to get money to buy drugs. If he is unable to get any heroin for a day or two, he gets very sick. His entire body hurts, he has diarrhea, and he sweats uncontrollably. Which of the following is Darrin experiencing? - Answers all of the answers are correct Physiological dependence on a substance typically includes __________ and __________ - Answers tolerance; withdrawal Markita promised her parents she would stop smoking marijuana. Every time she worried about school and bills, she would remember how marijuana relaxed her and made her feel good. She ended up smoking again and again, even though she hated disappointing her parents. This is an example of what type of dependence? - Answers Psychological Rina works hard all week long. On the weekend, she engages in binge drinking with her friends. How many drinks must she have in one night for it to be considered binge drinking? - Answers 4 Which neurotransmitter receptors does methamphetamine destroy in the brain? - Answers Dopamine Benzodiazepines come from the class of drugs called _______________, which ______________ the functioning of the central nervous system. - Answers depressants; decrease Heroin is classified as a ________ and directly _______ stress-related emotions. - Answers narcotic; decreases Petra feels really alive and an overwhelming sense of well-being after her 4-mile morning run. We could say Petra has entered a(n) __________state of consciousness after exercise. - Answers altered This type of meditation trains a person to become a nonjudgmental observer of all their thoughts and emotions. - Answers Open monitoring meditation _________ perception is an example of awareness without attention. - Answers Subliminal In a study on inattentional blindness, what percentage of radiologists failed to detect the intentional insertion of the image of a gorilla in CT scans? - Answers 83% Justin installed a blue tooth device in his car. He now believes he will be safe from distracted driving because he does not have to use his hands to hold his phone. Justin doesn't understand that distracted driving stems from impaired _______ caused by redirection of ________. - Answers cognition; attention This small part of the hypothalamus controls the circadian clock and is responsive to light. - Answers Suprachiasmatic nucleus Quincy notices that he feels much more focused and aware later in the day and struggles to concentrate in his 8 a.m. meeting at work. Based on his circadian rhythm, Quincy is most likely in what age group? - Answers 20-25 In order to study sleep in natural conditions, researchers took people out to camp in the woods for one week. What did they discover about the influence of natural light on the participant's biological clocks? - Answers It shifted the increase and decrease of melatonin in their bodies to 2 hours earlier to correspond with the natural light-dark conditions. Cal was worried because of how much his newborn son was sleeping. He called the doctor to check how many hours a typical 2-month-old sleeps. The doctor told him newborns are supposed to sleep _____ hours each day. - Answers 14-17 Adolescents need _____ hours of sleep each night but on average only get ______ hours of sleep each night. - Answers 8-10; 7 Jaebok stayed up studying most of the night for his calculus final. He only slept about 4 hours. According to research, his memory and cognitive functioning will be decreased by approximately what percentage? - Answers 30% The American Academy of Sleep Medicine changed the sleep cycle system in 2012 and now recognizes which stage of sleep as the deepest stage? - Answers N3 Andre sometimes will wake himself up because his body jerks as he is drifting off to sleep and he says it feels like he is falling. Researchers refer to this bodily sensation as a _______________. - Answers hypnagogic jerk ____________ waves emerge in sleep Stage N1 and continue into Stage N2. - Answers Theta This disorder involves excessive daytime sleepiness and periodic, uncontrolled sleep attacks that may leave the sufferer falling asleep at odd and inconvenient times. - Answers Narcolepsy Katie who is 10 years old will occasionally find herself asleep at the foot of her parents' bed in the morning, even though she went to sleep in her own bed. She never remembers leaving her room and walking to her parents' room. Katie is experiencing _______, which tends to occur during ______ sleep. - Answers sleepwalking; NREM Cyan told her friend that she believes her dreams are just random neural activity and they have no deeper meaning. Cyan believes in: - Answers the activation-synthesis hypothesis. The information-processing perspective on dreaming suggests dreams allow us to consolidate experiences from the day into ___________. - Answers memories People commonly dream of their teeth falling out; if you ascribe to the idea that dreams have hidden meanings, what is a way to interpret this dream? - Answers Anxiety about self-image and appearance Drugs that alter brain functions resulting in changes in consciousness, perception, and/or mood are called ___________ drugs. - Answers psychoactive A person can be diagnosed with a substance use disorder when the pattern of drug use causes _________ impairment or ___________ in the person's life. - Answers significant; distress Mia gets so drunk at college parties that she passes out and wakes up in a different location. She is not concerned about her behavior; however, her actions would fit into which diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder? - Answers Using the substance in risky situations What is one of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines on college campuses? - Answers Xanax What is the most widely used stimulant drug in the world? - Answers Caffeine Ritalin, a stimulant drug, is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. How does a stimulant help people who already have difficulties with distraction and hyperactivity? - Answers By providing internal stimulation of neurotransmitters within the brain instead of the person seeking external stimulation Narcotics are a type of __________that work by stimulating the body's internal pain management system or ___________. - Answers depressant; endorphins Sam has been taking opioids she buys from her friend for more than a year. She has spent all her savings on buying these pills and is considering dropping out of school so she can work more to make more money to buy drugs. If she goes too long without taking a pill, she begins to sweat and feel nauseated. Sam is experiencing ______________. - Answers a substance use disorder and physiological dependence Drew is an 18-year-old senior in high school. He has been using marijuana for 2 years on a daily basis and believes it has no long-term side effects. What does the research show as a potential side effect for Drew? - Answers Lower IQ score Which of the following can lead to a decreased level of consciousness? - Answers Alcohol Janel goes to sleep at night around 11 p.m. and usually drifts off quickly. She wakes up every morning at 3:45 and tosses and turns for 2 hours until she falls into a restless sleep to wake up at 6:30 feeling tired and groggy. She struggles throughout her day to stay awake and concentrate. Janel most likely suffers from which sleep disorder? - Answers Insomnia For conditions with a large genetic component, which would be higher: the concordance rate between identical twins or fraternal twins? - Answers identical For traits with a high environmental component, would you expect identical twins raised apart to be highly similar or different on that trait when compared to identical twins raised together? - Answers different What type of research study examines individuals of different ages at one point in time to track the differences related to age? - Answers Cross-sectional study Darius is a 6-year-old boy who can throw and catch a ball like a 10-year-old. Researchers would say that his developmental age is more advanced than his_______________. - Answers chronological age The question of whether a person's development is more influenced by genetics or by life experience is considered ____________. - Answers nature vs. nurture Ellie is a healthy 12-month-old baby. She has been crawling for several months but her mother recently looked up to see Ellie walking over toward her in a wobbly fashion. When her mother described the day to Ellie's pediatrician, she stated, "it was like she took a giant step over night in her development." This is an example of which type of developmental model? - Answers Discontinuous model Which of the following examples best represents Piaget's notion of assimilation? - Answers A child learns the word "dog" and begins to call every 4-legged animal "doggie." Which of the following statements is true of Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development? - Answers Cognitive development is primarily influenced by cultural experiences. During which stage of pregnancy is the developing baby most susceptible to damage from harmful agents like drugs or alcohol? - Answers Embryonic period Brittany is 12 weeks pregnant and has been drinking a few beers followed by a glass or two of wine a night. She hasn't told her doctor, but she knows from looking online that alcohol is considered a(n) _________ that can have an extremely negative impact on the development of her baby. - Answers teratogen During the second trimester, a fetus creates ________neurons a minute. - Answers 250,000 Tyrone is a 12-month-old who, like most other children, was able to hold his head up, roll over, and sit up before he could walk. This sequence of motor skill development follows the ________. - Answers cephalocaudal rule DeShawn learned to call his father "Daddy" and then began calling other men "Daddy," including the police officer, mail carrier, and nurse. This is an example of Piaget's process of ____________. - Answers assimilation A 5-year-old may struggle to complete a puzzle by himself, but when his mother helps him he is able to accomplish the task. This is an example of what Vygotsky called _____________. - Answers zone of proximal development Harry Harlow's famous study in the 1950s about infant attachment could be summarized in these few words: - Answers Physical contact from a caregiver is more important than nourishment or food when attachments are being formed. Keesha grew up in a home where there were guidelines and rules. She was expected to complete chores, do her best in school, and be respectful. Her parents also gave her praise when she did well, hugged her before she left for school, and told her they loved her. She was able to talk to them about her ideas and offer her own opinions, even if they differed from her parents. This is an example of what type of parenting? - Answers Authoritative The theory that cognitive development is like a computer model where the environment provides the input and the human mind is a "computer processor" that encodes, stores, and transforms information to produce some output is called ___________. - Answers information processing Which of the following correctly identifies the two postconventional stages of Kohlberg's theory of moral development? - Answers Social Contract; Universal Ethical Principles Imagine that Kerry goes to an ATM and requests 100 dollars but the machine gives her 1,000 dollars instead. The question is whether or not she should she inform the bank. Which of the following suggests that Kerry is in the preconventional level of moral reasoning? - Answers "What are the chances that I'll get caught if I keep the money?" Tabby's friend asked her if she would honestly tell her if she liked her new outfit and Tabby responded "of course I'll tell you the truth." However, the same friend got a new haircut that Tabby did not like but Tabby told her friend she thought it looked great. This example highlights the difference between: - Answers Moral reasoning and moral action Which of the following suggests that a person's moral reasoning and their moral actions are in alignment? - Answers Andrietta gives a speech on campus about the importance of academic honesty. On her walk back to her dorm, a friend offers to tell her what is on the exam the next day but she tells the friend she does not want to know the information. What are the physical changes in an adolescent's body that lead to sexual maturation called? - Answers Puberty Which hormone increases in production during puberty and plays an important role in the development of sexual interest? - Answers Adrenal androgen Which part of the brain is not fully developed in adolescence? - Answers Frontal lobes Luke is an 18-year-old who argues with his parents about politics. He feels very strongly that the United States should have a comprehensive socialized medicine program. This demonstrates his ability to ___________, or organize information and his beliefs into coherent arguments. - Answers reason Nunzio, an 8-year-old boy, stole a candy bar from the grocery store. His parents never found out about it, and Nunzio didn't feel it was wrong because he was never punished for it. This level of reasoning would fit into which of Kohlberg's stages? - Answers Preconventional morality According to Kohlberg, someone who makes a moral decision by focusing on the opinions of others and conforming to social laws is likely at which level of moral reasoning? - Answers Conventional According to Erikson's theory, which crisis is to be resolved in adolescence? - Answers Identity vs. role confusion Keneesha, Tory, and Bev have been best friends since the seventh grade. They do everything together and share all their secrets. They gossip about boys, and when one of them has a problem they call each other rather than their moms. This is considered which type of peer group? - Answers Clique The developmental period of emerging adulthood typically occurs between the ages of ____________. - Answers 18 and 25 The trend for women to delay childbirth until their late 20s or early 30s has ___________ while the peak years for female fertility are ____________. - Answers continued; late adolescence and early adulthood The Japanese term for menopause, "konenki," means ____________. - Answers "time of renewal" Tyrone is 18 years old and challenges his 55-year-old father to a memory test. Tyrone would be most likely to win a memory test based on ____________. - Answers recall of information Older adults recall more _______ events, while younger adults recall both ___________ events. - Answers positive; positive and negative In general, marriage is a good predictor of ________, health, _______, and income level. - Answers happiness; sexual satisfaction For most people to enjoy their work, it needs to be complex, varied, and ________. - Answers not closely supervised Dr. Samuelson wants to study the impact of social media on the friendships of 20-, 40-, 60-, and 80-year-olds. He plans to follow each age group for 10 years and study their use of social media and their relationships. What type of study is Dr. Samuelson conducting? - Answers Cross-sequential study While longitudinal studies produce valuable data, there are some limitations to these research designs. What are two of the problems? - Answers Dropout rate of participants; large amount of time and effort required Dr. Tomas is interested in studying how a person's biological makeup vs. environment affects criminal behavior. Who would be the ideal candidates for this study? - Answers Monozygotic twins raised in different homes and dizygotic twins raised together As a child, Liam was an outgoing boy who made friends easily. Today, he is the top salesman in his company and he is still outgoing and engaging. Liam's case would be interesting to developmental psychologists studying the consistency of traits and characteristics over time to answer the question of ____________. - Answers stability versus change At which month of pregnancy does the fetus have fully developed organs and a chance of survival if born prematurely? - Answers 6 months Once a sperm and egg have fused into a single fertilized cell, it is called a(n) ____________. - Answers zygote After baby Lorenzo was born, the nurses checked him for these five reflexes to make sure he was a functioning normally. - Answers Stepping, Babinski, grasping, Moro, and rooting Sa'dia is an 18-month-old girl whose parents use flash cards to teach her the alphabet and simple words, they use videos and music to teach her other languages, and they use infant swimming and movement classes to improve her coordination. Despite all these classes, Sa'dia walked at 12 months and spoke her first word at 13 months. What would developmental psychologists tell Sa'dia's parents? - Answers There is little one can do to rush motor skill development. Babies have to have adequate muscular and neural maturity to reach developmental milestones. Marcy was 3 years old when she went to the zoo for the first time. She saw her first leopard and called it a "kitty." Her mother responded, "that is a leopard, which looks like a kitty but is much bigger and has spots." The next time Marcy saw a leopard, she said "leopard!" This is an example of Piaget's notion of ____________. - Answers accommodation Which of the following stages of cognitive development occur first according to Piaget's theory? - Answers Sensorimotor stage Latetia, age 5, has learned to do simple addition problems through using small objects in her environment like toys. Her teacher has assisted her in this process and now is challenging Latetia to use subtraction in her work. As Latetia gains confidence in each stage, the teacher allows her to do the problems on her own. Latetia's teacher is using the process of scaffolding based on which theory of cognitive development? - Answers Vgotsky's theory of cognitive development Baby George is 4 months old. He typically has a hard time falling asleep and then only sleeps 2 hours at a time. George doesn't like it if the routine changes and usually responds with crying and frustration. He only wants to be held and fed by his mother and cries when passed off to another person. George would be considered what type of temperament? - Answers Difficult Chen is a 3-year-old who likes to dress himself and insists on helping with the dishes, even though he