Chapter 1: Introducing Psychology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The disorder characterized by impaired development in social behavior, communication, and
motor behavior is:
a. childhood depression c. autism
b. attention deficit disorder d. Down syndrome
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.1 Introduction, Textbook | Video - Autism - Christina, Online | Video - Autism: A
Spectrum Disorder, Online OBJ: LO1: Describe autism. MSC: TYPE: Easy
2. The prevalence of autism in the last 20 years has:
a. stayed about the same c. decreased
b. increased, but only among girls d. increased
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.1 Introduction, Textbook OBJ: LO1: Describe autism.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
3. The increase in autism is most probably due to:
a. the breakdown of the family c. childhood vaccinations
b. increased air and water pollution d. better diagnosis
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.1 Introduction, Textbook OBJ: LO1: Describe autism.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
4. 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.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
5. 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 c. psychoanalytical
b. controlled d. scientific
, ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
6. 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. behaviors performed only by human beings
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
7. As Professor Gilpin is lecturing on the definition of psychology, he asks a student, Rita, to think
about an example of a mental process. After thinking about it, Rita is still confused by the term
mental processes. To clarify the term, Professor Gilpin should:
a. ask a brighter student to define mental processes
b. point out to Rita that mental processes are emphasized by the cognitive approach
c. suggest that Rita use the SQ3R approach described in her text
d. suggest that Rita, in her attempt to think about mental processes, was in fact giving an
example of a mental process
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology
MSC: TYPE: Medium
8. The definition of psychology has evolved over time:
a. without much dissent or discussion
b. from specific to more general
c. from general to more specific
d. from a focus on humans to a focus on animals
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Understand
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology
MSC: TYPE: Difficult
, 9. Which one of the following is not one of the four goals of psychology?
a. to explain the causes of behavior c. to judge behavior
b. to predict behavior d. to control behavior
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
10. The four goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and:
a. test c. observe
b. interact d. control
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
11. People smile. This statement best illustrates the “____” goal of psychology.
a. describe c. explain
b. analyze d. summarize
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
12. People smile because they are happy. This statement best illustrates the “____” goal of
psychology.
a. describe c. explain
b. analyze d. summarize
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
13. “I bet you will smile when you hear good news.” This best illustrates the “____” goal of
psychology.
a. predict c. explain
b. analyze d. summarize
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
, OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
14. Joseph said that several years ago in a long food line in the Soviet Union, an elderly woman fell
to the ground and died of a heart attack. No one helped her. He added that this lack of helping is
probably due to diffusion of responsibility. Joseph is fulfilling which goal of psychology?
a. to explain behavior c. to control behavior
b. to predict behavior d. to influence behavior
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
15. In a documentary on TV, you hear of juvenile delinquents who have a hard time managing their
anger. A psychologist has taught these troubled youths to think of how other people feel when
they lose their temper. This application of psychology illustrates which goal?
a. to explain behavior c. to control behavior
b. to predict behavior d. to influence behavior
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
16. A 4th grade teacher says to one of his students, “The next time you get away from your desk, I am
going to take away five minutes from your recess time.” This example best illustrates the “____”
goal of psychology.
a. describe c. predict
b. explain d. control
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
17. You are participating in a field experience this semester in a local third grade class. One of the
boys, Isaac, has autism. During one of your visits, the regular teacher was gone and a substitute
took her place. Isaac’s most likely reaction to this new person would be:
a. to take advantage of the situation and get his way
b. to increase his focus on the lesson that the substitute is teaching
c. to ignore her
d. to have a difficult time adjusting to the substitute and other new stimuli
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
18. Structuralists focused on ____, whereas functionalists focused on ____.
a. elements of the mind; adaptability of the mind
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The disorder characterized by impaired development in social behavior, communication, and
motor behavior is:
a. childhood depression c. autism
b. attention deficit disorder d. Down syndrome
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.1 Introduction, Textbook | Video - Autism - Christina, Online | Video - Autism: A
Spectrum Disorder, Online OBJ: LO1: Describe autism. MSC: TYPE: Easy
2. The prevalence of autism in the last 20 years has:
a. stayed about the same c. decreased
b. increased, but only among girls d. increased
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.1 Introduction, Textbook OBJ: LO1: Describe autism.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
3. The increase in autism is most probably due to:
a. the breakdown of the family c. childhood vaccinations
b. increased air and water pollution d. better diagnosis
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.1 Introduction, Textbook OBJ: LO1: Describe autism.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
4. 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.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
5. 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 c. psychoanalytical
b. controlled d. scientific
, ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
6. 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. behaviors performed only by human beings
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology.
MSC: TYPE: Easy
7. As Professor Gilpin is lecturing on the definition of psychology, he asks a student, Rita, to think
about an example of a mental process. After thinking about it, Rita is still confused by the term
mental processes. To clarify the term, Professor Gilpin should:
a. ask a brighter student to define mental processes
b. point out to Rita that mental processes are emphasized by the cognitive approach
c. suggest that Rita use the SQ3R approach described in her text
d. suggest that Rita, in her attempt to think about mental processes, was in fact giving an
example of a mental process
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology
MSC: TYPE: Medium
8. The definition of psychology has evolved over time:
a. without much dissent or discussion
b. from specific to more general
c. from general to more specific
d. from a focus on humans to a focus on animals
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Understand
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook OBJ: LO2: Define
psychology
MSC: TYPE: Difficult
, 9. Which one of the following is not one of the four goals of psychology?
a. to explain the causes of behavior c. to judge behavior
b. to predict behavior d. to control behavior
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
10. The four goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and:
a. test c. observe
b. interact d. control
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Remember
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
11. People smile. This statement best illustrates the “____” goal of psychology.
a. describe c. explain
b. analyze d. summarize
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
12. People smile because they are happy. This statement best illustrates the “____” goal of
psychology.
a. describe c. explain
b. analyze d. summarize
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
13. “I bet you will smile when you hear good news.” This best illustrates the “____” goal of
psychology.
a. predict c. explain
b. analyze d. summarize
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
, OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Easy
14. Joseph said that several years ago in a long food line in the Soviet Union, an elderly woman fell
to the ground and died of a heart attack. No one helped her. He added that this lack of helping is
probably due to diffusion of responsibility. Joseph is fulfilling which goal of psychology?
a. to explain behavior c. to control behavior
b. to predict behavior d. to influence behavior
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
15. In a documentary on TV, you hear of juvenile delinquents who have a hard time managing their
anger. A psychologist has taught these troubled youths to think of how other people feel when
they lose their temper. This application of psychology illustrates which goal?
a. to explain behavior c. to control behavior
b. to predict behavior d. to influence behavior
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
16. A 4th grade teacher says to one of his students, “The next time you get away from your desk, I am
going to take away five minutes from your recess time.” This example best illustrates the “____”
goal of psychology.
a. describe c. predict
b. explain d. control
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
17. You are participating in a field experience this semester in a local third grade class. One of the
boys, Isaac, has autism. During one of your visits, the regular teacher was gone and a substitute
took her place. Isaac’s most likely reaction to this new person would be:
a. to take advantage of the situation and get his way
b. to increase his focus on the lesson that the substitute is teaching
c. to ignore her
d. to have a difficult time adjusting to the substitute and other new stimuli
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Bloom's: Apply
REF: 1.2 Definition and Historical Overview, Textbook
OBJ: LO3: List and describe the goals of psychology. MSC: TYPE: Medium
18. Structuralists focused on ____, whereas functionalists focused on ____.
a. elements of the mind; adaptability of the mind
