1.Cognitive psychologyMedium
In January you keep writing last year's date on forms. This is an example of:
- AEncoding failure
- BAnterograde amnesia
- CRetroactive interference
- DProactive interference
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
Chase and Simon showed chess positions briefly to experts and novices. Experts recalled real game positions much better, but not random positions. This suggests expertise relies on:
- ABetter eyesight
- BPhotographic iconic memory
- CA larger short-term memory capacity in general
- DChunks of meaningful patterns stored in long-term memory
3.Developmental psychologyMedium
Fantz showed infants pairs of patterns and measured how long they looked at each. Many young infants looked longest at:
- AFace-like patterns
- BBlank grey cards
- CPrinted text
- DPlain coloured discs
4.Developmental psychologyHard
Romanian orphan studies (Rutter and colleagues) found that children adopted after about 6 months of severe deprivation:
- ARecovered completely regardless of adoption age
- BWere more likely to show lasting difficulties than those adopted earlier
- CShowed no differences from non-adopted children raised in their birth families
- DHad better outcomes than children adopted earlier
5.Social psychologyMedium
The self-serving bias is the tendency to:
- ARecall only negative information about ourselves, especially after failure
- BAttribute successes to ourselves and failures to external factors
- CUnderestimate our own abilities
- DAttribute others' failures to bad luck
6.Social psychologyHard
The contact hypothesis states that contact reduces prejudice best when groups:
- AHave equal status, shared goals, cooperation and institutional support
- BCompete against each other
- CMeet only once briefly
- DAre brought together by force, without any support from the authorities
7.Clinical psychologyMedium
In suicide risk assessment, which factor is one of the strongest predictors of a future suicide attempt?
- AA previous suicide attempt
- BBeing a university student
- CTalking openly to a therapist
- DHaving a large circle of friends
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?
- ANormal ageing
- BDelirium, which needs a search for a physical or drug cause
- CEarly Alzheimer's disease, which needs a referral to a memory clinic
- DLate-onset schizophrenia
2Solutions
1.Cognitive psychology
Answer: D · Proactive interference
Why this is the answer
In proactive interference, older learning (last year's date) disrupts the recall of newer information (this year's date).
Answer
D · Proactive interference
2.Cognitive psychology
Answer: D · Chunks of meaningful patterns stored in long-term memory
Why this is the answer
Experts recognise familiar configurations as chunks, so they can encode more pieces at once. Their general memory capacity is not larger.
Answer
D · Chunks of meaningful patterns stored in long-term memory
3.Developmental psychology
Answer: A · Face-like patterns
Why this is the answer
Fantz's research suggested that even very young infants prefer complex, face-like stimuli, supporting an early bias towards social information.
Answer
A · Face-like patterns
4.Developmental psychology
Answer: B · Were more likely to show lasting difficulties than those adopted earlier
Why this is the answer
Children adopted later from institutional deprivation were more likely to show disinhibited attachment and cognitive difficulties, supporting a sensitive period for early care.
Answer
B · Were more likely to show lasting difficulties than those adopted earlier
5.Social psychology
Answer: B · Attribute successes to ourselves and failures to external factors
Why this is the answer
The self-serving bias protects self-esteem by taking credit for success and blaming circumstances for failure.
Answer
B · Attribute successes to ourselves and failures to external factors
6.Social psychology
Answer: A · Have equal status, shared goals, cooperation and institutional support
Why this is the answer
Allport argued contact reduces prejudice under conditions of equal status, common goals, intergroup cooperation and support from authorities or norms.
Answer
A · Have equal status, shared goals, cooperation and institutional support
7.Clinical psychology
Answer: A · A previous suicide attempt
Why this is the answer
A history of suicide attempts is among the strongest risk factors. Asking directly about suicidal thoughts does not increase risk and is part of good assessment.
Answer
A · A previous suicide attempt
8.Clinical psychology
Answer: B · 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
B · Delirium, which needs a search for a physical or drug cause
ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/introduction-to-psychology