EXAM D570 WGU: COGNITIVE
PSYCHOLOGY D570, 2025/2026 WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE AMSWERS
Newell and Simon created the General Problem Solver, which is?
One of the first computer programs designed to simulate human
problem-solving.
Behaviorism focused solely on?
Observable behaviors and dismissed internal mental states (e.g.,
thoughts, memories, beliefs)
What is an everyday memory?
Refers to memory processes that occur naturally in daily life,
focusing on real-world, personal, and practical situations. It
contrasts with artificial lab-based memory tasks.
What is an fMRI?
is a brain imaging technique used to measure and map brain
activity by detecting changes in blood flow.
Explain the Reminiscence Bump
People tend to recall more memories from ages 10-30 compared
to other life periods, especially for significant events.
Why: This is a period of many "firsts" (e.g., first job, first love),
identity formation, and culturally important milestones.
Explain the Self-Image Hypothesis
,The reminiscence bump happens because many events during
this time contribute to forming your self-identity.
Remembering graduating Basic Military Training because of how it
shaped you.
What is the Cognitive Hypothesis?
Memories from ages 10-30 are better remembered because they
occur during a time of rapid change followed by stability.
Explain the Cultural Life Script Hypothesis
Memories are enhanced because they align with cultural
expectations of major life events.
Example: In many cultures, getting married or starting a career
typically happens in this age range, making these events
memorable.
Explain Youth Bias
People tend to believe that the most significant events in their
lives occur when they are young, even if this isn't true.
How are memory and emotion related?
Emotional, Stimulating, Arousing things tend to be remembered
better.
Explain the Narrative Rehearsal Hypothesis
The idea that repeated discussion or media coverage of an event
strengthens the memory but may also introduce inaccuracies.
Key Insight: Memories may feel vivid not because of the event
itself, but due to frequent rehearsal and exposure.
Explain the Constructive Nature of Memory
,refers to the idea that memories are not perfect recordings of
events but are actively built and reconstructed each time we
recall them. This process often combines actual details from the
event with other information, leading to inaccuracies.
When it comes to memory, explain the active process.
Memory is influenced by prior knowledge, expectations, and new
information.
Example: Filling in gaps in a memory with details that "make
sense."
Explain Schemas and Scripts and how they can alter memories
Memory relies on schemas (general knowledge) and scripts
(expected sequences of events).
Example: Remembering you "paid the bill" at a restaurant even if
you didn't, because that's typical behavior.
Explain Source Monitoring Errors
Misremembering the source of information.
Example: Thinking you read a fact in a book when you actually
heard it in a podcast.
Explain Source Monitoring Errors
Misremembering the source of information.
Example: Thinking you read a fact in a book when you actually
heard it in a podcast.
Explain the Illusory Truth Effect
Repeated exposure to false information increases the likelihood of
believing it's true.
, Example: Hearing a fake statistic multiple times and eventually
thinking it's accurate.
Explain how Repeated Reproduction can alter memory
Recalling a story or event repeatedly, which leads to changes
over time as details are simplified, omitted, or altered.
Example: In Bartlett's "War of the Ghosts" study, participants'
retellings became more consistent with their cultural
understanding rather than the original story.
Explain Pragmatic Interference
Drawing conclusions or "filling in" details based on what's implied,
even if it wasn't explicitly stated.
Example: Reading "The baby stayed awake all night" and later
remembering "The baby cried all night," even though crying
wasn't mentioned.
Explain what the Gestalt Psychologists showed
Gestalt psychologists showed that problem-solving is not just
about logic and steps—it involves creativity, perception, and
breaking out of fixed ways of thinking. Insight often comes from
reinterpreting problems in new ways.
What does the Tower of Hanoi puzzle show Newell and Simon
(1972)
Introduced the idea of problem space, where solving involves
moving through a series of intermediate states to reach the goal
while following specific rules. Creating small steps to reach big
goal
Explain the Think-Aloud Protocol
PSYCHOLOGY D570, 2025/2026 WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE AMSWERS
Newell and Simon created the General Problem Solver, which is?
One of the first computer programs designed to simulate human
problem-solving.
Behaviorism focused solely on?
Observable behaviors and dismissed internal mental states (e.g.,
thoughts, memories, beliefs)
What is an everyday memory?
Refers to memory processes that occur naturally in daily life,
focusing on real-world, personal, and practical situations. It
contrasts with artificial lab-based memory tasks.
What is an fMRI?
is a brain imaging technique used to measure and map brain
activity by detecting changes in blood flow.
Explain the Reminiscence Bump
People tend to recall more memories from ages 10-30 compared
to other life periods, especially for significant events.
Why: This is a period of many "firsts" (e.g., first job, first love),
identity formation, and culturally important milestones.
Explain the Self-Image Hypothesis
,The reminiscence bump happens because many events during
this time contribute to forming your self-identity.
Remembering graduating Basic Military Training because of how it
shaped you.
What is the Cognitive Hypothesis?
Memories from ages 10-30 are better remembered because they
occur during a time of rapid change followed by stability.
Explain the Cultural Life Script Hypothesis
Memories are enhanced because they align with cultural
expectations of major life events.
Example: In many cultures, getting married or starting a career
typically happens in this age range, making these events
memorable.
Explain Youth Bias
People tend to believe that the most significant events in their
lives occur when they are young, even if this isn't true.
How are memory and emotion related?
Emotional, Stimulating, Arousing things tend to be remembered
better.
Explain the Narrative Rehearsal Hypothesis
The idea that repeated discussion or media coverage of an event
strengthens the memory but may also introduce inaccuracies.
Key Insight: Memories may feel vivid not because of the event
itself, but due to frequent rehearsal and exposure.
Explain the Constructive Nature of Memory
,refers to the idea that memories are not perfect recordings of
events but are actively built and reconstructed each time we
recall them. This process often combines actual details from the
event with other information, leading to inaccuracies.
When it comes to memory, explain the active process.
Memory is influenced by prior knowledge, expectations, and new
information.
Example: Filling in gaps in a memory with details that "make
sense."
Explain Schemas and Scripts and how they can alter memories
Memory relies on schemas (general knowledge) and scripts
(expected sequences of events).
Example: Remembering you "paid the bill" at a restaurant even if
you didn't, because that's typical behavior.
Explain Source Monitoring Errors
Misremembering the source of information.
Example: Thinking you read a fact in a book when you actually
heard it in a podcast.
Explain Source Monitoring Errors
Misremembering the source of information.
Example: Thinking you read a fact in a book when you actually
heard it in a podcast.
Explain the Illusory Truth Effect
Repeated exposure to false information increases the likelihood of
believing it's true.
, Example: Hearing a fake statistic multiple times and eventually
thinking it's accurate.
Explain how Repeated Reproduction can alter memory
Recalling a story or event repeatedly, which leads to changes
over time as details are simplified, omitted, or altered.
Example: In Bartlett's "War of the Ghosts" study, participants'
retellings became more consistent with their cultural
understanding rather than the original story.
Explain Pragmatic Interference
Drawing conclusions or "filling in" details based on what's implied,
even if it wasn't explicitly stated.
Example: Reading "The baby stayed awake all night" and later
remembering "The baby cried all night," even though crying
wasn't mentioned.
Explain what the Gestalt Psychologists showed
Gestalt psychologists showed that problem-solving is not just
about logic and steps—it involves creativity, perception, and
breaking out of fixed ways of thinking. Insight often comes from
reinterpreting problems in new ways.
What does the Tower of Hanoi puzzle show Newell and Simon
(1972)
Introduced the idea of problem space, where solving involves
moving through a series of intermediate states to reach the goal
while following specific rules. Creating small steps to reach big
goal
Explain the Think-Aloud Protocol
