Introduction to Psychology: cram pack

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

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1Practice problems

1.Cognitive psychologyMedium

Which statement best describes top-down processing in perception?

  1. AExpectations and knowledge shape how we interpret sensory input
  2. BPerception happens without any involvement of memory
  3. CPerception is built only from the raw features of the incoming stimulus
  4. DOnly the lower parts of the visual field are processed
2.Cognitive psychologyHard

The "tip-of-the-tongue" state is evidence that:

  1. AThe information was never encoded
  2. BInformation can be stored but temporarily not retrievable
  3. CLanguage is stored only in short-term memory
  4. DMemories decay within seconds
3.Developmental psychologyMedium

A 9-month-old finds a toy hidden under cloth A several times. The toy is then hidden under cloth B in full view, but the infant searches under A again. This is:

  1. ACentration
  2. BThe A-not-B error
  3. CAnimism
  4. DConservation failure
4.Developmental psychologyHard

Which finding is a major criticism of Piaget's formal operational stage?

  1. AMost children reach formal operations by about age 5
  2. BFormal operations usually appear before concrete operations
  3. CAdolescents cannot think abstractly at all, even with specific training
  4. DMany adults do not reason formally, and it depends on schooling
5.Social psychologyMedium

Research comparing American and Indian participants found that the fundamental attribution error was:

  1. AStronger among Americans, who live in a more individualist culture
  2. BAbsent in American participants
  3. CExactly the same in both cultures
  4. DStronger among Indians, who live in a more collectivist culture
6.Social psychologyHard

Moscovici's research showed that a consistent minority can influence a majority mainly through:

  1. APunishment of dissenters
  2. BObedience to authority
  3. CNormative pressure leading to quick public compliance with the minority
  4. DInformational influence leading to private, deeper attitude change
7.Clinical psychologyMedium

Benzodiazepines reduce anxiety mainly by:

  1. ABlocking dopamine D2 receptors
  2. BInhibiting monoamine oxidase
  3. CBlocking serotonin reuptake into presynaptic neurons
  4. DEnhancing the effect of GABA at GABA-A receptors
8.Clinical psychologyHard

Concordance rates for schizophrenia are higher in identical than in fraternal twins. What does this suggest?

  1. AGenes contribute to the risk, but the environment also matters
  2. BThe environment plays no role
  3. CTwins are more likely than other siblings to be misdiagnosed by clinicians
  4. DSchizophrenia is caused entirely by genes

2Solutions

1.Cognitive psychology

Answer: A · Expectations and knowledge shape how we interpret sensory input

Why this is the answer

Top-down processing uses prior knowledge, expectations and context to interpret sensations. Bottom-up processing starts from the stimulus features.

Answer

A · Expectations and knowledge shape how we interpret sensory input
2.Cognitive psychology

Answer: B · Information can be stored but temporarily not retrievable

Why this is the answer

Partial access to a word's features shows that the item is in memory but retrieval fails for the moment, supporting retrieval failure as a cause of forgetting.

Answer

B · Information can be stored but temporarily not retrievable
3.Developmental psychology

Answer: B · The A-not-B error

Why this is the answer

Piaget saw the A-not-B error as evidence that object permanence is still incomplete. Other researchers link it to immature memory and inhibitory control.

Answer

B · The A-not-B error
4.Developmental psychology

Answer: D · Many adults do not reason formally, and it depends on schooling

Why this is the answer

Research shows that formal reasoning is far from universal and is strongly linked to schooling and cultural experience, so it is not an automatic stage.

Answer

D · Many adults do not reason formally, and it depends on schooling
5.Social psychology

Answer: A · Stronger among Americans, who live in a more individualist culture

Why this is the answer

Miller found that people from collectivist cultures more often mention situational and social factors, so the bias is partly shaped by culture.

Answer

A · Stronger among Americans, who live in a more individualist culture
6.Social psychology

Answer: D · Informational influence leading to private, deeper attitude change

Why this is the answer

A consistent minority makes the majority think about the issue, producing conversion: private change that may appear later, unlike the public compliance typical of majority influence.

Answer

D · Informational influence leading to private, deeper attitude change
7.Clinical psychology

Answer: D · Enhancing the effect of GABA at GABA-A receptors

Why this is the answer

Benzodiazepines increase GABA-A receptor activity, producing rapid calming effects. Because of tolerance and dependence, they are usually recommended only for short-term use.

Answer

D · Enhancing the effect of GABA at GABA-A receptors
8.Clinical psychology

Answer: A · Genes contribute to the risk, but the environment also matters

Why this is the answer

Higher MZ than DZ concordance shows a genetic contribution, while concordance well below 100% means environmental factors are also important.

Answer

A · Genes contribute to the risk, but the environment also matters

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