ATI RN
Psychological Exam Questions
Question 1 of 9
Which field of psychology studies attitude change and group behavior?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Social psychology. Social psychology specifically focuses on studying topics like attitude change and group behavior. Developmental psychology (Choice A) primarily deals with human growth and development across the lifespan. Psychoanalysis (Choice C) is a theoretical approach to psychology developed by Sigmund Freud focusing on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences. Psychometrics (Choice D) involves the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, personality traits, and abilities.
Question 2 of 9
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.
Question 3 of 9
Which of the following is an appropriate description of a child with conduct disorder?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Children with conduct disorder often exhibit behaviors such as arguing with adults, ignoring rules, deliberately annoying others, and displaying anger and resentment. Choice B describes symptoms more characteristic of ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Choice C describes symptoms commonly seen in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Choice D outlines behaviors associated with oppositional defiant disorder rather than conduct disorder.
Question 4 of 9
Dr. Kali works with clients to help them learn deep relaxation. Next, he has them list their fears from least to most anxiety-provoking. Finally, Dr. Kali slowly exposes his clients to each of their fears and assists them in gaining control of their anxiety. His approach is best known as?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, systematic desensitization. This therapy involves a step-by-step exposure to feared stimuli, helping individuals manage and reduce their anxiety. In this case, Dr. Kali's method of listing fears from least to most anxiety-provoking and gradually exposing clients to them aligns with the principles of systematic desensitization. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Aversion therapy involves associating an undesirable behavior with an unpleasant stimulus, flooding involves immediate and intense exposure to feared stimuli, and 'fear therapy' is a broad term that does not specifically describe the systematic exposure and relaxation techniques used in systematic desensitization.
Question 5 of 9
When interviewing a new member of the psychology department for the university newspaper, the faculty member states, 'Internal states undoubtedly exist, but it is not necessary to draw inferences about unobservable states in order to understand behavior.' This faculty member's views are most similar to the views held by?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: F. Skinner's views emphasized the importance of observable behavior and dismissed the need to infer unobservable mental states. This aligns with the faculty member's statement that internal states exist but are not essential for understanding behavior. William James, known for his work in functionalism, did consider internal mental states important. Sigmund Freud focused on unconscious motives and internal conflicts. Carl Rogers emphasized the importance of subjective experiences and personal growth, which differs from the faculty member's perspective.
Question 6 of 9
While the term psychology has existed since at least the early 1700s, psychology did not come to be considered a science until?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Psychology became recognized as a science in the late 1800s, aligning with broader trends in scientific inquiry during that period. This marked the establishment of psychology as a distinct field of study based on empirical research and experimentation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because psychology's formal recognition as a science occurred later, specifically in the late 1800s.
Question 7 of 9
Professor Immel believes that behaviors that are predominant in certain species probably serve some adaptive function. Professor Immel's beliefs are most consistent with which perspective?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Professor Immel's belief that behaviors in certain species serve an adaptive function aligns with the evolutionary perspective. The evolutionary perspective posits that behaviors have developed over time because they provide an advantage for survival and reproduction. This perspective emphasizes the role of natural selection in shaping behaviors based on their adaptive value. Choices A, B, and C do not specifically address the idea that behaviors have evolved to serve specific functions for survival, making them inconsistent with Professor Immel's beliefs.
Question 8 of 9
When the parent returned in the strange situation experiment, babies with ____ attachment tend to remain upset for long periods of time, kicking, screaming, refusing to be distracted with toys, and sometimes arching back and away from contact?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the strange situation experiment, babies with ambivalent attachment display distress and have difficulty calming down when a parent returns. They may kick, scream, refuse toys, and show signs of physical discomfort or resistance. This behavior is characteristic of ambivalent attachment, where the infant shows mixed emotions and finds it hard to be soothed by the returning parent. Secure attachment (Choice A) refers to babies who seek comfort from the parent but can be soothed upon return. Avoidant attachment (Choice B) involves babies showing little emotion upon reunion with the parent. Disorganized attachment (Choice D) displays inconsistent or confused behaviors in the strange situation experiment.
Question 9 of 9
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.