ATI RN
Psychological Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
According to John Watson, behavior is governed primarily by?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: According to John Watson, behavior is primarily governed by environmental factors. Watson was a behaviorist who emphasized the influence of the environment on behavior. He believed that behavior is shaped by external stimuli and experiences, rather than internal factors like heredity or unconscious desires.
Therefore, choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not align with Watson's perspective on behaviorism.
Question 2 of 5
You are taking part in a survey that asks about your attitudes toward physical punishment of children. Even though you believe that spanking is sometimes necessary, you answer that you are opposed to any sort of physical punishment. Which of the following terms best describes why you answered the way you did?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, social desirability. Social desirability bias occurs when respondents answer questions in a way they think will be viewed favorably by others, rather than according to their true beliefs. In this scenario, the respondent may feel pressured to provide an answer that aligns with societal norms or expectations, even if it contradicts their personal beliefs.
Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Random responding refers to answering survey questions haphazardly, without consideration. Faking bad is intentionally providing extreme or negative responses. The placebo effect is a phenomenon where a person's belief in a treatment's effectiveness produces a positive outcome, unrelated to the treatment's actual effects.
Question 3 of 5
A male college student begins feeling sad and lonely. Although still able to go to classes and work at his job, he finds himself feeling down much of the time and worrying about what is happening to him. Which part of the definition of abnormality applies to his situation?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Personal distress. In this scenario, the student is experiencing personal distress as he feels sad and lonely, despite being able to function in his daily life. Personal distress is a key criterion for determining abnormality as it signifies significant emotional discomfort.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as cultural factors, impaired functioning, and violation of societal norms are not the primary factors highlighted in the student's situation.
Question 4 of 5
Which theoretical orientation insisted on the verifiability of observation?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, Behaviorism. Behaviorism emphasizes observable and measurable behaviors, making it essential for observations to be verifiable. Structuralism (
A) focuses on the structure of the mind, not verifiability of observations. Functionalism (
B) emphasizes the functions of the mind rather than verification of observations. Psychoanalysis (
D) delves into the unconscious mind and conflicts, not specifically on the verifiability of observations.
Question 5 of 5
Which approach contends that psychology must study internal mental events to fully understand behavior?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, Cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology focuses on studying internal mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving to understand behavior. Behaviorism (choice
A) emphasizes observable behavior over internal mental processes. Evolutionary psychology (choice
C) examines how evolutionary principles influence behavior, not solely focusing on internal mental events. Humanism (choice
D) emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization rather than internal mental events as the primary focus of study.