1.Cognitive psychologyMedium
Counting the windows in your house by picturing walking around it mainly uses which working memory component?
- AThe visuospatial sketchpad
- BLong-term procedural memory
- CThe episodic buffer
- DThe phonological loop
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
According to Lavie's load theory of attention, an irrelevant distractor is most likely to be processed when:
- AThe main task has high perceptual load
- BThe main task has low perceptual load
- CThe distractor is presented to the blind spot
- DThe participant is told to ignore it
3.Developmental psychologyMedium
Bowlby's "44 thieves" study linked early prolonged separation from the mother to:
- AEarly language development
- BAffectionless psychopathy
- CAdvanced moral reasoning
- DHigher intelligence scores
4.Developmental psychologyHard
Wynn showed 5-month-olds one doll, then a second doll being added behind a screen. When the screen dropped to reveal only one doll, infants looked longer. This suggests infants:
- AHave already learned to count aloud
- BHave basic expectations about small numbers
- CCannot see objects behind screens
- DPrefer one doll to two dolls
5.Social psychologyMedium
A smoker who knows smoking is harmful tells himself "the research isn't really conclusive". In dissonance terms, he is reducing dissonance by:
- AChanging one of the conflicting cognitions
- BIncreasing the importance of the conflict
- CChanging his behaviour
- DConforming to a group norm
6.Social psychologyHard
Gaertner and Dovidio found that White participants helped Black and White victims equally when they were the only witness, but helped Black victims less when other bystanders were present. This supports the idea of:
- AOpen, old-fashioned racism that appears in every situation
- BDiffusion of responsibility that affects all victims equally
- CA complete absence of prejudice among the participants
- DAversive racism, shown when a non-racial excuse is available
7.Clinical psychologyMedium
Which personality disorder is marked by instability in relationships, self-image and emotions, together with marked impulsivity?
- ABorderline personality disorder
- BNarcissistic personality disorder
- CSchizoid personality disorder
- DAvoidant personality disorder
8.Clinical psychologyHard
The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is supported by the observation that:
- AAntipsychotics increase dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway and reduce symptoms
- BDrugs that increase dopamine, such as amphetamines, can trigger psychotic symptoms
- CSerotonin levels alone predict symptoms
- DAll patients respond equally well to antidepressants
2Solutions
1.Cognitive psychology
Answer: A · The visuospatial sketchpad
Why this is the answer
The visuospatial sketchpad stores and manipulates visual and spatial information, such as a mental image of a building and its layout.
Answer
A · The visuospatial sketchpad
2.Cognitive psychology
Answer: B · The main task has low perceptual load
Why this is the answer
When the main task uses little perceptual capacity, leftover capacity processes distractors involuntarily. High perceptual load uses up capacity and reduces distractor processing.
Answer
B · The main task has low perceptual load
3.Developmental psychology
Answer: B · 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
B · Affectionless psychopathy
4.Developmental psychology
Answer: B · Have basic expectations about small numbers
Why this is the answer
Infants seemed to expect 1 + 1 to make 2. Wynn interpreted this as an early sense of number, though some argue simpler perceptual explanations are possible.
Answer
B · Have basic expectations about small numbers
5.Social psychology
Answer: A · Changing one of the conflicting cognitions
Why this is the answer
Dissonance can be reduced by changing behaviour, changing a belief or adding new justifying beliefs. Doubting the evidence changes a belief.
Answer
A · Changing one of the conflicting cognitions
6.Social psychology
Answer: D · Aversive racism, shown when a non-racial excuse is available
Why this is the answer
Aversive racism theory proposes that people who hold egalitarian views still show bias when their behaviour can be explained by other factors, such as others being present.
Answer
D · Aversive racism, shown when a non-racial excuse is available
7.Clinical psychology
Answer: A · Borderline personality disorder
Why this is the answer
Borderline personality disorder involves unstable relationships and identity, affective instability, fear of abandonment, impulsivity and recurrent self-harm. DBT is a well-supported treatment.
Answer
A · Borderline personality disorder
8.Clinical psychology
Answer: B · Drugs that increase dopamine, such as amphetamines, can trigger psychotic symptoms
Why this is the answer
Amphetamines can induce psychosis and D2-blocking antipsychotics reduce positive symptoms. Negative symptoms are less well explained, so the hypothesis has been revised.
Answer
B · Drugs that increase dopamine, such as amphetamines, can trigger psychotic symptoms
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