PSYCH 460 Test Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025-2026 Graded A+
What are human emotions - Answers brief, specific stated of body and mind (moods are more
prolonged)
Neural responses, physiological
Subjective feelings
Emotional expression
Desire to take actions
discrete emotions theory - Answers emotions are innate and each emotion has distinct body and facial
reaction (6 distinct)
functionalist perspective - Answers function of emotions is to promote action toward goal.
Cultural smile study - Answers ability to recognize facial expressions from different cultures improves
with more exposure (native born vs immigrant)
emergence of positive emotions - Answers Smiling and laughter
social smile - Answers smile directed at others (emerges at 2-3 months)
engagement laughter - Answers laughter when engaged in activity
generalized distress - Answers hunger, pain, overstimulation in newborns. Easy for adults to recognize
anger vs sadness in babies - Answers babies make facial expressions, but hard to differentiate until age 2
fear in babies - Answers fear of novel events, stranger wariness, and separation anxiety
Social referencing - Answers use cues of caregivers to understand novel situations
Still face experiment - Answers babies expect emotions, become distressed when do not share
emotional engagement
Display rules - Answers cultural norms about how emotions should be expressed
Disappointing Gift study - Answers Children asked how they would respond to a disappointing gift. From
preschool on, children become better at masking emotions.
emotional regulation - Answers monitoring and modulation states and behaviors in service of one's
goals
co-regulation - Answers the process by which a caregiver provides the needed comfort or distraction to
help a child reduce his or her distress
, self-comforting behaviors - Answers repetitive actions that regulate arousal by providing a mildly
positive physical sensation ex. thumb sucking
self-distraction - Answers looking away from upsetting stimulus
role of family in emotion regulation - Answers parental sensitivity to children's emotions is important for
their emotion regulation development. Balance btw warmth and responsiveness is key
temperament - Answers a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
Easy Temperament (40%) - Answers cheerful, adaptable, easily establish routines
Difficult Temperament (10%) - Answers active, irritable, unpredictable
Slow-to-warm-up temperament (15%) - Answers often inactive, adapt slowly and can be withdrawn and
show a negative mood
measuring temperament - Answers parent questionnaires, observational studies, physiological measures
stability of temperament - Answers seems to predict future outcomes in infancy, but more stable in
childhood
genetic influence on temperament - Answers identical twins have more similar temperament than
fraternal
nurture role on temperament - Answers stability of environment, temperament alters environment
attachment - Answers an emotional tie with another person; reciprocal, develops over time, enduring
Harlow Monkey Study - Answers baby monkeys removed from mothers; given choice of cloth or wire
mother, preferred cloth- "CONTACT COMFORT"
Bowlby's attachment theory - Answers there is a biological basis for attachment that triggers a
protective response
internal working model of attachment - Answers the child's mental representation of the self, of
attachment figure(s), and of relationships in general that is constructed as a result of experiences with
caregivers.
strange situations task - Answers 1. Warm up
2. Parent & child alone
3. Stranger enters
4. Parent leaves
5. Parent reenters; stranger leaves
What are human emotions - Answers brief, specific stated of body and mind (moods are more
prolonged)
Neural responses, physiological
Subjective feelings
Emotional expression
Desire to take actions
discrete emotions theory - Answers emotions are innate and each emotion has distinct body and facial
reaction (6 distinct)
functionalist perspective - Answers function of emotions is to promote action toward goal.
Cultural smile study - Answers ability to recognize facial expressions from different cultures improves
with more exposure (native born vs immigrant)
emergence of positive emotions - Answers Smiling and laughter
social smile - Answers smile directed at others (emerges at 2-3 months)
engagement laughter - Answers laughter when engaged in activity
generalized distress - Answers hunger, pain, overstimulation in newborns. Easy for adults to recognize
anger vs sadness in babies - Answers babies make facial expressions, but hard to differentiate until age 2
fear in babies - Answers fear of novel events, stranger wariness, and separation anxiety
Social referencing - Answers use cues of caregivers to understand novel situations
Still face experiment - Answers babies expect emotions, become distressed when do not share
emotional engagement
Display rules - Answers cultural norms about how emotions should be expressed
Disappointing Gift study - Answers Children asked how they would respond to a disappointing gift. From
preschool on, children become better at masking emotions.
emotional regulation - Answers monitoring and modulation states and behaviors in service of one's
goals
co-regulation - Answers the process by which a caregiver provides the needed comfort or distraction to
help a child reduce his or her distress
, self-comforting behaviors - Answers repetitive actions that regulate arousal by providing a mildly
positive physical sensation ex. thumb sucking
self-distraction - Answers looking away from upsetting stimulus
role of family in emotion regulation - Answers parental sensitivity to children's emotions is important for
their emotion regulation development. Balance btw warmth and responsiveness is key
temperament - Answers a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
Easy Temperament (40%) - Answers cheerful, adaptable, easily establish routines
Difficult Temperament (10%) - Answers active, irritable, unpredictable
Slow-to-warm-up temperament (15%) - Answers often inactive, adapt slowly and can be withdrawn and
show a negative mood
measuring temperament - Answers parent questionnaires, observational studies, physiological measures
stability of temperament - Answers seems to predict future outcomes in infancy, but more stable in
childhood
genetic influence on temperament - Answers identical twins have more similar temperament than
fraternal
nurture role on temperament - Answers stability of environment, temperament alters environment
attachment - Answers an emotional tie with another person; reciprocal, develops over time, enduring
Harlow Monkey Study - Answers baby monkeys removed from mothers; given choice of cloth or wire
mother, preferred cloth- "CONTACT COMFORT"
Bowlby's attachment theory - Answers there is a biological basis for attachment that triggers a
protective response
internal working model of attachment - Answers the child's mental representation of the self, of
attachment figure(s), and of relationships in general that is constructed as a result of experiences with
caregivers.
strange situations task - Answers 1. Warm up
2. Parent & child alone
3. Stranger enters
4. Parent leaves
5. Parent reenters; stranger leaves
