1.Cognitive psychologyMedium
The availability heuristic means people judge how likely an event is by:
- AHow similar it is to a typical case
- BHow easily examples come to mind
- CThe first number they hear
- DIts actual statistical frequency
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
When older adults recall autobiographical memories, they recall a disproportionately large number from roughly ages 10 to 30. This is called:
- AThe recency effect
- BInfantile amnesia
- CFlashbulb memory
- DThe reminiscence bump
3.Developmental psychologyMedium
Which feature is typical of infant-directed speech ("parentese")?
- ALong sentences with complex grammar
- BFast speech with very few pauses
- CHigher pitch and exaggerated intonation
- DA flat, quiet and monotonous tone
4.Developmental psychologyHard
Temperament research by Thomas and Chess classified infants into which three main groups?
- ASecure, avoidant and resistant
- BIntroverted, extroverted and ambiverted
- CAuthoritative, authoritarian and permissive
- DEasy, difficult and slow-to-warm-up
5.Social psychologyMedium
People overestimate how often a minority group performs rare negative behaviours, because two distinctive things seem to go together. This is:
- AThe just-world belief
- BOut-group homogeneity
- CThe halo effect
- DIllusory correlation
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:
- AFraming a test can create performance gaps via stereotype threat
- BAbility differences between groups are fixed and cannot change
- CThe way a test is described has no effect on how well people perform
- DHard verbal tests are equally difficult for every student
7.Clinical psychologyMedium
In the two-factor model of phobias (Mowrer), how is a phobia maintained?
- APunishment of approach behaviour by others, which strengthens the fear itself
- BThe fear is learned by watching others only
- CAvoidance reduces anxiety, which negatively reinforces the avoidance
- DPositive reinforcement of fear by rewards
8.Clinical psychologyHard
An older patient becomes confused over two days after starting a new medication, with attention that varies through the day. Her daughter says her memory was normal last week. What is the most appropriate interpretation?
- AEarly Alzheimer's disease, which needs a referral to a memory clinic
- BLate-onset schizophrenia
- CNormal ageing
- DDelirium, which needs a search for a physical or drug cause
2Solutions
1.Cognitive psychology
Answer: B · How easily examples come to mind
Why this is the answer
Tversky and Kahneman showed that people overestimate events that are easy to recall, such as dramatic or recent ones.
Answer
B · How easily examples come to mind
2.Cognitive psychology
Answer: D · The reminiscence bump
Why this is the answer
The reminiscence bump may reflect many novel, identity-forming experiences in adolescence and early adulthood that are well encoded and frequently rehearsed.
Answer
D · The reminiscence bump
3.Developmental psychology
Answer: C · Higher pitch and exaggerated intonation
Why this is the answer
Infant-directed speech uses higher pitch, slower pace, simple words and exaggerated intonation. Infants prefer it and it may help them pick out words.
Answer
C · Higher pitch and exaggerated intonation
4.Developmental psychology
Answer: D · Easy, difficult and slow-to-warm-up
Why this is the answer
The New York Longitudinal Study described easy, difficult and slow-to-warm-up temperaments; some infants did not fit any group.
Answer
D · Easy, difficult and slow-to-warm-up
5.Social psychology
Answer: D · Illusory correlation
Why this is the answer
An illusory correlation is a perceived link between variables that are not actually related. Distinctive pairings attract attention and are overremembered.
Answer
D · Illusory correlation
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 · Avoidance reduces anxiety, which negatively reinforces the avoidance
Why this is the answer
Fear is acquired through classical conditioning and maintained because avoiding the feared object reduces anxiety, negatively reinforcing avoidance.
Answer
C · Avoidance reduces anxiety, which negatively reinforces the avoidance
8.Clinical psychology
Answer: D · Delirium, which needs a search for a physical or drug cause
Why this is the answer
Acute onset with fluctuating attention suggests delirium, a medical emergency with causes such as drugs, infection or dehydration. Dementia develops gradually over months to years.
Answer
D · Delirium, which needs a search for a physical or drug cause
ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/introduction-to-psychology