In a discussion with your professor, she tells you that she believes that the focus of psychological study should be to break the conscious experience into its basic elements. Which of the following historical schools of thought is your professor's idea most consistent with?
- A. Behaviorism
- B. Functionalism
- C. Structuralism
- D. Psychoanalysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Structuralism. Structuralism, as introduced by Wundt, aimed to break down mental processes into their most basic elements. This aligns with the idea of breaking the conscious experience into its fundamental components. Choice A, Behaviorism, focuses on observable behavior and not on breaking down conscious experience. Choice B, Functionalism, emphasizes the purpose of behavior rather than breaking it down into basic elements. Choice D, Psychoanalysis, delves into unconscious processes and conflicts, which is different from breaking down conscious experiences into basic elements.
You may also like to solve these questions
Which of the following is a common criticism against Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
- A. The sequence of stages is not fixed.
- B. Research has not supported the existence of the preoperational stage.
- C. Piaget put a heavy emphasis on the environment, ignoring the importance of mental processes.
- D. Children develop abilities earlier than Piaget theorized.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because one common criticism of Piaget's theory is that children often acquire cognitive abilities earlier than Piaget proposed. This criticism suggests that Piaget's stages might not be as fixed or rigid as he believed. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect: A is a characteristic of Piaget's theory; B is not a common criticism, as research generally supports the existence of Piaget's stages; and C is inaccurate, as Piaget actually emphasized the importance of mental processes in cognitive development.
Dr. Smythe believes that in order to fully understand complex processes, such as taste, it is necessary to understand the purpose that taste plays in survival, not the elementary components that combine to produce taste sensations. Dr. Smythe's views are most consistent with?
- A. The behaviorist approach to psychology.
- B. The functionalist approach to psychology.
- C. The structuralist approach to psychology.
- D. The psychoanalytic approach to psychology.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dr. Smythe's belief that understanding the purpose of taste in survival is more critical than focusing on the elementary components aligns with the functionalist approach to psychology. Functionalism emphasizes understanding the purpose or function of mental processes and behavior, rather than just analyzing their individual components. This approach looks at how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment and survive. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not prioritize understanding the purpose of mental processes and behavior in the context of survival.
Who took the position that organisms tend to repeat responses that lead to positive outcomes and tend not to repeat responses that lead to neutral or negative outcomes?
- A. Sigmund Freud
- B. B.F. Skinner
- C. Carl Rogers
- D. Abraham Maslow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B.F. Skinner. Skinner proposed the theory of operant conditioning, where behavior is shaped by its consequences. Positive outcomes increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, while neutral or negative outcomes decrease it. Sigmund Freud (choice A) is known for his psychoanalytic theory, Carl Rogers (choice C) for person-centered therapy, and Abraham Maslow (choice D) for the hierarchy of needs.
In defining a mental disorder, deviance refers to?
- A. Amount of suffering the individual is experiencing due to the mental disorder
- B. Inability of an individual to fulfill a certain role (e.g., work or family obligation)
- C. The capacity of the individual to cause harm to the people around them
- D. The tendency of an individual to display behaviors that are culturally unexpected
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In defining a mental disorder, deviance refers to behavior that is culturally unexpected or violates social norms. This means that the individual displays behaviors that are not typical or acceptable within their specific culture or society. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not directly relate to the concept of deviance in the context of defining a mental disorder. The amount of suffering, inability to fulfill a role, or capacity to cause harm are important considerations in understanding mental disorders but are not specifically related to deviance.
In __, the individual can't recall everything about a certain period of time.
- A. Systematized amnesia
- B. Selective amnesia
- C. Collective amnesia
- D. Localized amnesia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Localized amnesia refers to the inability to recall all events during a specific period of time. This type of amnesia is characterized by the loss of memories related to a particular incident or period, while other memories remain intact. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they refer to different types of amnesia. Systematized amnesia is a term used to describe a selective loss of memory related to a specific category of information or knowledge. Selective amnesia involves the conscious or unconscious blocking out of specific memories, often due to psychological reasons. Collective amnesia pertains to a lack of shared memory or historical awareness within a group or society.