1.Cognitive psychologyMedium
Rubin's vase, which can be seen as a vase or as two faces, illustrates:
- ASize constancy
- BRetinal disparity
- CFigure–ground organisation
- DThe law of closure
Introduction to Psychology: cram pack
Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.
1Practice problems
2.Cognitive psychologyHard
In rapid serial visual presentation, people often miss a second target that appears about 200–500 ms after the first. This is called:
- AIconic decay
- BInhibition of return
- CThe attentional blink
- DChange blindness
3.Developmental psychologyMedium
Bowlby's "44 thieves" study linked early prolonged separation from the mother to:
- AHigher intelligence scores
- BAdvanced moral reasoning
- CEarly language development
- DAffectionless psychopathy
4.Developmental psychologyHard
Cross-sectional studies suggested large declines in intelligence after middle age, but Schaie's longitudinal data showed smaller declines. A main reason for the difference is:
- AIntelligence tests do not work with older adults
- BCohort effects, such as differences in education between generations
- CLongitudinal studies always use younger samples
- DCross-sectional studies follow the same people over a long period of time
5.Social psychologyMedium
A website shows "Only 2 left in stock!" to increase sales. Which persuasion principle does this use?
- ASocial proof
- BReciprocity
- CScarcity
- DAuthority
6.Social psychologyHard
In Ross's quiz study, randomly assigned questioners wrote hard questions for contestants. Observers rated the questioners as more knowledgeable. Why is this an attribution error?
- AThe contestants knew the answers but chose to hide them
- BThe observers believed the roles were assigned by skill
- CThe questioners' role advantage was taken as ability
- DThe questioners really were more intelligent overall
7.Clinical psychologyMedium
Motivational interviewing is especially used to help clients who:
- AFeel ambivalent about changing a behaviour such as drinking
- BNeed a formal diagnosis for insurance
- CHave hallucinations that need immediate medication and hospital care
- DFear a single specific object
8.Clinical psychologyHard
A man says that a famous singer is secretly in love with him and sends him coded messages through her songs. Apart from this, his thinking and behaviour are normal, with no hallucinations. Which diagnosis fits best?
- ADelusional disorder, erotomanic type
- BBipolar disorder with mania
- CNarcissistic personality disorder
- DSchizophrenia, paranoid type
2Solutions
1.Cognitive psychology
Answer: C · Figure–ground organisation
Why this is the answer
Perception separates a scene into a figure and a background. In ambiguous figures like Rubin's vase, the two interpretations alternate.
Answer
C · Figure–ground organisation
2.Cognitive psychology
Answer: C · The attentional blink
Why this is the answer
The attentional blink shows a temporal limit on attention: processing the first target temporarily prevents the second from reaching awareness.
Answer
C · The attentional blink
3.Developmental psychology
Answer: D · Affectionless psychopathy
Why this is the answer
Bowlby found that many affectionless thieves had experienced early maternal separation. The study was retrospective and correlational, so it cannot prove cause.
Answer
D · Affectionless psychopathy
4.Developmental psychology
Answer: B · Cohort effects, such as differences in education between generations
Why this is the answer
Older cohorts often had less schooling, so cross-sectional comparisons overstate age decline. Longitudinal data separate ageing from generation, though they suffer from attrition.
Answer
B · Cohort effects, such as differences in education between generations
5.Social psychology
Answer: C · Scarcity
Why this is the answer
Cialdini's scarcity principle states that items or opportunities seem more desirable when they appear limited or about to disappear.
Answer
C · Scarcity
6.Social psychology
Answer: C · The questioners' role advantage was taken as ability
Why this is the answer
Observers failed to adjust for the role, which let questioners display knowledge while hiding gaps. This is the fundamental attribution error in action.
Answer
C · The questioners' role advantage was taken as ability
7.Clinical psychology
Answer: A · Feel ambivalent about changing a behaviour such as drinking
Why this is the answer
Motivational interviewing (Miller and Rollnick) is a collaborative style that resolves ambivalence and strengthens the client's own motivation for change, widely used in addiction.
Answer
A · Feel ambivalent about changing a behaviour such as drinking
8.Clinical psychology
Answer: A · Delusional disorder, erotomanic type
Why this is the answer
Delusional disorder involves one or more delusions for at least a month without meeting criteria for schizophrenia, and functioning is not markedly impaired apart from the delusion. Erotomanic delusions concern another person being in love with the patient.
Answer
A · Delusional disorder, erotomanic type
ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/introduction-to-psychology