Psychology Exam Prep 2025–2026 | Harvard
University Psychology Course | 250+ Verified
Practice Questions with Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Complete Test Bank &
Study Guide for Behavioral, Cognitive &
Developmental Psychology
Question 1
Case: A psychologist observes a patient showing signs of anxiety in social situations.
What is the best initial intervention?
A) Suggest medication
B) Introduce cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques (Correct Option)
C) Recommend social isolation
D) Ignore the symptoms
Rationale: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help the patient identify and change
negative thought patterns contributing to anxiety.
Question 2
Case: During a therapy session, a patient describes recurrent, intrusive thoughts. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder
B) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Correct Option)
C) Generalized anxiety disorder
D) Post-traumatic stress disorder
Rationale: Recurrent intrusive thoughts are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD).
Question 3
Case: A child exhibits aggressive behavior after observing violent media. What theory
explains this behavior?
A) Social learning theory (Correct Option)
B) Psychoanalytic theory
C) Biological theory
D) Cognitive theory
Rationale: Social learning theory suggests that behavior is learned through observing
and imitating others, particularly in media.
Question 4
Case: A patient expresses feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. What is a key
,component to assess?
A) Suicidal ideation (Correct Option)
B) Dietary habits
C) Sleep patterns
D) Exercise frequency
Rationale: Assessing for suicidal ideation is crucial in patients expressing
hopelessness, as it indicates risk.
Question 5
Case: In a study, participants are asked to recall words from a list after a delay. What
type of memory is being tested?
A) Short-term memory
B) Long-term memory (Correct Option)
C) Working memory
D) Sensory memory
Rationale: Recalling words after a delay primarily tests long-term memory.
Question 6
Case: A therapist uses exposure therapy to treat a patient with a phobia. What is the
primary goal of this therapy?
A) Desensitization to the fear stimulus (Correct Option)
B) Avoidance of the stimulus
C) Medication management
D) Cognitive restructuring
Rationale: Exposure therapy aims to reduce fear by gradually desensitizing the patient
to the feared object or situation.
Question 7
Case: A psychologist is studying the effects of stress on health. What type of research
design is most appropriate for this investigation?
A) Case study
B) Longitudinal study (Correct Option)
C) Cross-sectional study
D) Experimental study
Rationale: A longitudinal study can track the effects of stress over time, providing
insight into its long-term health impacts.
,Question 8
Case: A patient with depression exhibits negative thought patterns. What cognitive
therapy technique can be helpful?
A) Cognitive restructuring (Correct Option)
B) Free association
C) Dream analysis
D) Behavioral activation
Rationale: Cognitive restructuring helps patients identify and change negative
thoughts, which can alleviate depressive symptoms.
Question 9
Case: A student is studying for exams and uses mnemonic devices to improve recall.
What cognitive process is being utilized?
A) Encoding (Correct Option)
B) Retrieval
C) Storage
D) Forgetting
Rationale: Encoding involves transforming information into a form that can be stored
and later retrieved.
Question 10
Case: A therapist notices that a patient frequently avoids discussing their childhood.
What defense mechanism might this indicate?
A) Projection
B) Repression (Correct Option)
C) Rationalization
D) Displacement
Rationale: Repression involves unconsciously blocking out painful or uncomfortable
memories, such as those from childhood.
Question 11
Case: A psychologist conducts a study examining the relationship between sleep and
academic performance. Which method is most appropriate?
A) Case study
B) Correlational study (Correct Option)
C) Experimental study
D) Longitudinal study
Rationale: A correlational study assesses the relationship between two variables
without manipulating them.
, Question 12
Case: A patient with bipolar disorder is experiencing a manic episode. What is a
common symptom?
A) Severe depression
B) Increased energy and euphoria (Correct Option)
C) Social withdrawal
D) Lack of motivation
Rationale: Manic episodes are characterized by increased energy, euphoria, and
impulsive behavior.
Question 13
Case: A researcher is studying attachment styles in children. What method is
commonly used in this type of research?
A) Strange situation procedure (Correct Option)
B) Survey
C) Case study
D) Longitudinal study
Rationale: The Strange Situation procedure is a widely used method to assess
children's attachment styles.
Question 14
Case: A therapist encourages a patient to express their feelings in a non-judgmental
environment. What therapeutic approach is being used?
A) Cognitive-behavioral therapy
B) Humanistic therapy (Correct Option)
C) Psychoanalysis
D) Behavioral therapy
Rationale: Humanistic therapy focuses on providing a supportive environment for self-
exploration and personal growth.
Question 15
Case: A psychologist is assessing a patient’s personality. What tool might they use?
A) Personality inventory (Correct Option)
B) Intelligence test
C) Behavioral assessment
D) Neuropsychological test
University Psychology Course | 250+ Verified
Practice Questions with Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Complete Test Bank &
Study Guide for Behavioral, Cognitive &
Developmental Psychology
Question 1
Case: A psychologist observes a patient showing signs of anxiety in social situations.
What is the best initial intervention?
A) Suggest medication
B) Introduce cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques (Correct Option)
C) Recommend social isolation
D) Ignore the symptoms
Rationale: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help the patient identify and change
negative thought patterns contributing to anxiety.
Question 2
Case: During a therapy session, a patient describes recurrent, intrusive thoughts. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Major depressive disorder
B) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (Correct Option)
C) Generalized anxiety disorder
D) Post-traumatic stress disorder
Rationale: Recurrent intrusive thoughts are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD).
Question 3
Case: A child exhibits aggressive behavior after observing violent media. What theory
explains this behavior?
A) Social learning theory (Correct Option)
B) Psychoanalytic theory
C) Biological theory
D) Cognitive theory
Rationale: Social learning theory suggests that behavior is learned through observing
and imitating others, particularly in media.
Question 4
Case: A patient expresses feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. What is a key
,component to assess?
A) Suicidal ideation (Correct Option)
B) Dietary habits
C) Sleep patterns
D) Exercise frequency
Rationale: Assessing for suicidal ideation is crucial in patients expressing
hopelessness, as it indicates risk.
Question 5
Case: In a study, participants are asked to recall words from a list after a delay. What
type of memory is being tested?
A) Short-term memory
B) Long-term memory (Correct Option)
C) Working memory
D) Sensory memory
Rationale: Recalling words after a delay primarily tests long-term memory.
Question 6
Case: A therapist uses exposure therapy to treat a patient with a phobia. What is the
primary goal of this therapy?
A) Desensitization to the fear stimulus (Correct Option)
B) Avoidance of the stimulus
C) Medication management
D) Cognitive restructuring
Rationale: Exposure therapy aims to reduce fear by gradually desensitizing the patient
to the feared object or situation.
Question 7
Case: A psychologist is studying the effects of stress on health. What type of research
design is most appropriate for this investigation?
A) Case study
B) Longitudinal study (Correct Option)
C) Cross-sectional study
D) Experimental study
Rationale: A longitudinal study can track the effects of stress over time, providing
insight into its long-term health impacts.
,Question 8
Case: A patient with depression exhibits negative thought patterns. What cognitive
therapy technique can be helpful?
A) Cognitive restructuring (Correct Option)
B) Free association
C) Dream analysis
D) Behavioral activation
Rationale: Cognitive restructuring helps patients identify and change negative
thoughts, which can alleviate depressive symptoms.
Question 9
Case: A student is studying for exams and uses mnemonic devices to improve recall.
What cognitive process is being utilized?
A) Encoding (Correct Option)
B) Retrieval
C) Storage
D) Forgetting
Rationale: Encoding involves transforming information into a form that can be stored
and later retrieved.
Question 10
Case: A therapist notices that a patient frequently avoids discussing their childhood.
What defense mechanism might this indicate?
A) Projection
B) Repression (Correct Option)
C) Rationalization
D) Displacement
Rationale: Repression involves unconsciously blocking out painful or uncomfortable
memories, such as those from childhood.
Question 11
Case: A psychologist conducts a study examining the relationship between sleep and
academic performance. Which method is most appropriate?
A) Case study
B) Correlational study (Correct Option)
C) Experimental study
D) Longitudinal study
Rationale: A correlational study assesses the relationship between two variables
without manipulating them.
, Question 12
Case: A patient with bipolar disorder is experiencing a manic episode. What is a
common symptom?
A) Severe depression
B) Increased energy and euphoria (Correct Option)
C) Social withdrawal
D) Lack of motivation
Rationale: Manic episodes are characterized by increased energy, euphoria, and
impulsive behavior.
Question 13
Case: A researcher is studying attachment styles in children. What method is
commonly used in this type of research?
A) Strange situation procedure (Correct Option)
B) Survey
C) Case study
D) Longitudinal study
Rationale: The Strange Situation procedure is a widely used method to assess
children's attachment styles.
Question 14
Case: A therapist encourages a patient to express their feelings in a non-judgmental
environment. What therapeutic approach is being used?
A) Cognitive-behavioral therapy
B) Humanistic therapy (Correct Option)
C) Psychoanalysis
D) Behavioral therapy
Rationale: Humanistic therapy focuses on providing a supportive environment for self-
exploration and personal growth.
Question 15
Case: A psychologist is assessing a patient’s personality. What tool might they use?
A) Personality inventory (Correct Option)
B) Intelligence test
C) Behavioral assessment
D) Neuropsychological test
