PSY1012
Intro to Psychology
EXAM Q & A
2024
1. John is a 25-year-old man who suffers from social anxiety disorder. He avoids going to
parties, meeting new people, and speaking in public. He feels very nervous and self-
conscious whenever he has to interact with others. He wants to overcome his fear and
improve his social skills. Which of the following psychological treatments is most likely to
help John?
a) Psychoanalysis
b) Cognitive-behavioral therapy*
c) Humanistic therapy
d) Biomedical therapy
Rationale: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on
changing negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. CBT helps clients
identify and challenge their irrational beliefs, learn coping skills, and practice exposure to
feared situations. CBT has been shown to be effective for treating social anxiety disorder.
2. Mary is a 40-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
She has been feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless for the past six months. She has lost
interest in her hobbies, friends, and family. She has trouble sleeping, eating, and
concentrating. She sometimes thinks about ending her life. Which of the following
biological factors is most likely to be involved in Mary's depression?
a) Low levels of serotonin*
b) High levels of dopamine
c) Low levels of acetylcholine
d) High levels of norepinephrine
Rationale: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, sleep, and
cognition. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and suicidal behavior.
, Antidepressant drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by
increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain.
3. Sam is a 10-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). He has difficulty paying attention, staying focused, and following
instructions. He is easily distracted, restless, and impulsive. He often acts without thinking
and gets into trouble at school and at home. Which of the following psychological
perspectives is most likely to explain Sam's behavior?
a) Behavioral*
b) Psychodynamic
c) Cognitive
d) Humanistic
Rationale: The behavioral perspective emphasizes the role of learning and reinforcement
in shaping behavior. According to this perspective, Sam's behavior is influenced by the
consequences of his actions and the environmental stimuli that trigger his responses. Sam
may have learned to behave in an attention-seeking or disruptive way because it rewards
him with attention or escape from boring tasks. Alternatively, Sam may have difficulty
controlling his impulses because he lacks consistent rules and boundaries.
4. Lisa is a 20-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. She has a
distorted body image and believes that she is fat even though she is severely underweight.
She restricts her food intake, exercises excessively, and weighs herself obsessively. She
is afraid of gaining weight and losing control over her eating. Which of the following
psychological factors is most likely to contribute to Lisa's eating disorder?
a) Low self-esteem*
b) High intelligence
c) Perfectionism
d) All of the above
Rationale: Low self-esteem is a common psychological factor that underlies eating
disorders such as anorexia nervosa. People with low self-esteem may base their self-
worth on their appearance and weight, and may use food as a way of coping with negative
emotions or stress. They may also have unrealistic or distorted standards of beauty and
attractiveness that are influenced by social or cultural norms.
5. Tom is a 30-year-old man who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He experiences
hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms such as flat affect,
social withdrawal, and lack of motivation. He has difficulty functioning in daily life and
maintaining relationships. Which of the following brain structures is most likely to be
abnormal in Tom's case?
a) Amygdala
b) Hippocampus
c) Thalamus*
d) Cerebellum
Rationale: The thalamus is a brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory
Intro to Psychology
EXAM Q & A
2024
1. John is a 25-year-old man who suffers from social anxiety disorder. He avoids going to
parties, meeting new people, and speaking in public. He feels very nervous and self-
conscious whenever he has to interact with others. He wants to overcome his fear and
improve his social skills. Which of the following psychological treatments is most likely to
help John?
a) Psychoanalysis
b) Cognitive-behavioral therapy*
c) Humanistic therapy
d) Biomedical therapy
Rationale: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on
changing negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. CBT helps clients
identify and challenge their irrational beliefs, learn coping skills, and practice exposure to
feared situations. CBT has been shown to be effective for treating social anxiety disorder.
2. Mary is a 40-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
She has been feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless for the past six months. She has lost
interest in her hobbies, friends, and family. She has trouble sleeping, eating, and
concentrating. She sometimes thinks about ending her life. Which of the following
biological factors is most likely to be involved in Mary's depression?
a) Low levels of serotonin*
b) High levels of dopamine
c) Low levels of acetylcholine
d) High levels of norepinephrine
Rationale: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, sleep, and
cognition. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and suicidal behavior.
, Antidepressant drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by
increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain.
3. Sam is a 10-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). He has difficulty paying attention, staying focused, and following
instructions. He is easily distracted, restless, and impulsive. He often acts without thinking
and gets into trouble at school and at home. Which of the following psychological
perspectives is most likely to explain Sam's behavior?
a) Behavioral*
b) Psychodynamic
c) Cognitive
d) Humanistic
Rationale: The behavioral perspective emphasizes the role of learning and reinforcement
in shaping behavior. According to this perspective, Sam's behavior is influenced by the
consequences of his actions and the environmental stimuli that trigger his responses. Sam
may have learned to behave in an attention-seeking or disruptive way because it rewards
him with attention or escape from boring tasks. Alternatively, Sam may have difficulty
controlling his impulses because he lacks consistent rules and boundaries.
4. Lisa is a 20-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. She has a
distorted body image and believes that she is fat even though she is severely underweight.
She restricts her food intake, exercises excessively, and weighs herself obsessively. She
is afraid of gaining weight and losing control over her eating. Which of the following
psychological factors is most likely to contribute to Lisa's eating disorder?
a) Low self-esteem*
b) High intelligence
c) Perfectionism
d) All of the above
Rationale: Low self-esteem is a common psychological factor that underlies eating
disorders such as anorexia nervosa. People with low self-esteem may base their self-
worth on their appearance and weight, and may use food as a way of coping with negative
emotions or stress. They may also have unrealistic or distorted standards of beauty and
attractiveness that are influenced by social or cultural norms.
5. Tom is a 30-year-old man who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He experiences
hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms such as flat affect,
social withdrawal, and lack of motivation. He has difficulty functioning in daily life and
maintaining relationships. Which of the following brain structures is most likely to be
abnormal in Tom's case?
a) Amygdala
b) Hippocampus
c) Thalamus*
d) Cerebellum
Rationale: The thalamus is a brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory
