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?

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Exam 4 Psychology Questions

Question 1 of 5

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?

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.

Question 2 of 5

Which of the following statements is least likely to be made by a humanist?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The corrected question assesses the least likely statement made by a humanist. Choice B, 'The behavior of humans tends to be influenced by environmental circumstances,' is least likely to be made by a humanist. Humanists believe that human behavior is not simply dictated by environmental circumstances but is influenced by a combination of factors, including personal experiences, emotions, and conscious decisions. Choices A, C, and D are more aligned with humanist perspectives. Choice A acknowledges the uniqueness of humans, which is a common theme in humanistic psychology. Choice C reflects the humanistic belief that individuals strive to reach their full potential and self-actualization. Choice D contrasts with humanist views as humanists often consider research on animals to be relevant in understanding human behavior due to shared basic psychological processes.

Question 3 of 5

What is the branch of psychology concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders called?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Clinical psychology. Clinical psychology specifically deals with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Industrial psychology (choice A) focuses on behavior in the workplace, social psychology (choice B) studies how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others, and developmental psychology (choice C) is the study of how and why people change over time.

Question 4 of 5

Which psychological perspective, emerging in the 1950s and 1960s, reflects a renewed interest in studying the mind or consciousness, similar to psychology's early days as a science in the late 1800s?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is the Cognitive perspective. The cognitive perspective indeed emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, reflecting a renewed interest in studying the mind and consciousness, akin to early psychology's focus when it first established as a science in the late 1800s. This perspective emphasizes mental processes, problem-solving, decision-making, and information processing. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the mental perspective is too generic and does not capture the emphasis on processes, the philosophical perspective is more focused on theories and concepts, and the biological perspective centers on the influence of biology on behavior rather than consciousness and mental processes.

Question 5 of 5

A psychologist who is interested in the psychological effect of aging would most likely specialize in?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A psychologist interested in the psychological effect of aging would most likely specialize in developmental psychology. Developmental psychology focuses on studying the psychological changes that occur throughout a person's lifespan, including the effects of aging. Experimental psychology primarily deals with conducting experiments to study behavior and cognitive processes. Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving. Psychometrics involves the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits, but it does not specifically address the psychological effects of aging as in developmental psychology.

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