Introduction to Psychology: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

New problemsBack to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

1Practice problems

1.Cognitive psychologyMedium

People verify "A robin is a bird" faster than "A penguin is a bird". This finding supports:

  1. AFeature integration theory
  2. BThe classical view that all members are equally good examples
  3. CThe multi-store model of memory
  4. DPrototype theory and graded category membership
2.Cognitive psychologyHard

Linda is described as outspoken and concerned with social justice. Many people judge "Linda is a bank teller and a feminist" more likely than "Linda is a bank teller". What is the error?

  1. ACorrect base-rate use: feminists are common among bank tellers
  2. BThe conjunction fallacy: A and B cannot be likelier than A
  3. CThe gambler's fallacy: past events change the future odds
  4. DAnchoring: the first description fixes the later estimate
3.Developmental psychologyMedium

Which ability is most likely to decline from early adulthood onwards?

  1. AGeneral knowledge about the world
  2. BExpertise in one's own profession
  3. CSpeed in solving new, unfamiliar problems
  4. DKnowledge of word meanings
4.Developmental psychologyHard

Rovee-Collier tied a ribbon from a mobile to infants' ankles so that kicking moved it. Days later, infants kicked more on seeing the same mobile. This shows that young infants:

  1. ARemember only events that happened to others
  2. BCan retain learned associations over days
  3. COnly remember things they can name
  4. DCannot form any long-term memories
5.Social psychologyMedium

Tom says he tripped because the floor was wet, but when he sees someone else trip he thinks they are clumsy. This is the:

  1. AActor–observer bias
  2. BHalo effect
  3. CSelf-serving bias
  4. DFalse consensus effect
6.Social psychologyHard

Steele and Aronson found that Black students did worse than White students on a hard verbal test when it was described as a measure of ability, but equally well when it was described as a non-diagnostic task. This shows that:

  1. AFraming a test can create performance gaps via stereotype threat
  2. BAbility differences between groups are fixed and cannot change
  3. CHard verbal tests are equally difficult for every student
  4. DThe way a test is described has no effect on how well people perform
7.Clinical psychologyMedium

Which personality disorder is characterised by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others?

  1. ABorderline personality disorder
  2. BAvoidant personality disorder
  3. CAntisocial personality disorder
  4. DDependent personality disorder
8.Clinical psychologyHard

A soldier develops PTSD while most comrades exposed to the same battle do not. Which model best explains this difference?

  1. AThe token economy model
  2. BThe medical model of infection
  3. CThe statistical infrequency model
  4. DThe diathesis–stress model

2Solutions

1.Cognitive psychology

Answer: D · Prototype theory and graded category membership

Why this is the answer

The typicality effect shows that category membership is graded. Items close to the prototype are classified faster, which the classical definitional view cannot explain.

Answer

D · Prototype theory and graded category membership
2.Cognitive psychology

Answer: B · The conjunction fallacy: A and B cannot be likelier than A

Why this is the answer

Tversky and Kahneman explained the error by representativeness: the description resembles a feminist, so people ignore the rule that P(A and B) cannot exceed P(A).

Answer

B · The conjunction fallacy: A and B cannot be likelier than A
3.Developmental psychology

Answer: C · Speed in solving new, unfamiliar problems

Why this is the answer

Fluid intelligence and processing speed tend to decline gradually from early adulthood, while vocabulary and knowledge often remain stable or increase.

Answer

C · Speed in solving new, unfamiliar problems
4.Developmental psychology

Answer: B · Can retain learned associations over days

Why this is the answer

The mobile paradigm showed that even young infants remember a learned contingency over time, especially when the test context matches the training context.

Answer

B · Can retain learned associations over days
5.Social psychology

Answer: A · Actor–observer bias

Why this is the answer

As actors we see the situation around us, so we make situational attributions for ourselves and dispositional attributions for others.

Answer

A · Actor–observer bias
6.Social psychology

Answer: A · Framing a test can create performance gaps via stereotype threat

Why this is the answer

When the test seemed to measure ability, the threat of confirming a stereotype impaired performance. Removing that framing removed the gap.

Answer

A · Framing a test can create performance gaps via stereotype threat
7.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Antisocial personality disorder

Why this is the answer

Antisocial personality disorder includes deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression and lack of remorse, with evidence of conduct disorder in childhood.

Answer

C · Antisocial personality disorder
8.Clinical psychology

Answer: D · The diathesis–stress model

Why this is the answer

The diathesis–stress model holds that a stressor causes disorder mainly in people with pre-existing vulnerabilities, such as genetic risk, prior trauma or poor social support.

Answer

D · The diathesis–stress model

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/introduction-to-psychology